Portable information apparatus having communications tools, a control system for controlling such portable information apparatus, and an apparatus having such control system

Abstract

A portable information apparatus 20 having communications tools is provided with a switch 22 a for instructing enablement/disenablement of transmission functions of the wireless transmission/reception section 21 of the portable information apparatus 20 . The portable information apparatus 20 , upon receipt of a transmission prohibition signal from an prohibition signal transmitter 31 installed in a public facility 30 , determines whether the transmission functions must be disenabled and automatically controls enablement/disenablement of the transmission functions. The portable information apparatus is thus automatically turned off even when the carrier of the apparatus has forgotten to turn off the transmission functions, thereby allowing the carrier to perform necessary operations not involving transmission of electromagnetic waves without causing a nuisance to others.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A portable information apparatus having communications tools, said portable information apparatus including: 
 a wireless transmission/reception section for transmitting to and receiving from an external wireless transmitter/receiver electromagnetic signals;    said portable information apparatus further comprising reception means, within or outside said wireless transmission/reception section, for receiving a communication prohibition signal and/or a communication permission signal transmitted by the electromagnetic waves from an external facility, and for enabling/disenabling said transmission functions of said wireless transmission/reception section upon receipt of said communication prohibition signal and/or said communication permission signal, wherein    said communication prohibition signal and/or said communication permission signal are/is weaker than the electromagnetic waves transmitted from said wireless transmission/reception section of said portable information apparatus.    
     
     
         14 . The portable information apparatus having communications tools according to  claim 13 , wherein said wireless transmission/reception section is adapted to serve as a dedicated wireless receiver when said transmission functions of said wireless transmission/reception section are disenabled.  
     
     
         15 . The portable information apparatus having communications tools according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a data section for storing data regarding the portable information apparatus;    a discrimination section, adapted to receive the results of the reception from the reception means and receive data from the data section, for setting the transmission function of the wireless transmission/reception section enabled or disenabled, based on the results received from the reception means and the data received from the data section.