Dual display portable telephone device and allocation means for display process thereof

Abstract

The present invention is a portable telephone device that is composed of two displays of substantially a same size, and can continuously perform two display processes in parallel by allocating different display processes to each of the displays.

1. A portable telephone device comprising:
 two displays of substantially a same size, positioned so that display content on each of the displays is visible in one field of vision; and 
 allocation means unit for allocating a different display process to each of the displays, each display process being a process for outputting different display data including at least one of image data and character data, 
 wherein the allocation means unit includes:
 a storage unit for storing a table showing a correspondence between each of the displays and the display process being allocated thereto; 
 a specification unit for specifying a display process to be allocated to one of the displays; 
 a selection unit for selecting, according to the stored correspondence shown in the table, one of the displays to allocate the specified display process to; and 
 an updating unit for updating the table so as to show the stored correspondence between the selected display and the specified display process; 
 
 the specification unit includesa detection unit for detecting an arrival signal, wherein:
 a detection unit for detecting a call signal,   wherein the specification unit, on detecting the call signal, specifies a display process which outputs display data forming an image showing to a communication state and which is to be newly allocated to one of the displays; and   
 the selection unit includes:
 a judgement judgment unit for on detecting the arrival signal, judging, based on the table stored correspondence, whether a state of either of the displays is one of (a) having no display process allocated thereto, and (b) having a display process outputting the display data forming an image of stand-by display allocated thereto, wherein 
 the specification unit specifies a display process which outputs display data forming an image showing a communication state and which is to be newly allocated to one of the displays, and  
 the selection unit, when the judgement judgment unit judges the state of one of the displays to be one of (a) and (b), selects the display as a display to which the specified display process is to be newly allocated, and 
 the allocation means unit allocates the specified display process to the selected display. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The portable telephone device of  claim 1  wherein the selection unit further includes:
 a saving unit for saving, when the state of the displays is not one of (a) and (b), data being displayed on one of the displays, 
 wherein the selection unit selects the display whose data has been saved as a display to which the specified display process is to be newly allocated, and 
 the allocation unit allocates the specified display process to the selected display and restores the saved data on the selected display, when the specified display process has ended. 
 
     
     
       3. The portable telephone device of  claim 2  wherein the selection unit further includes:
 a restoration unit for restoring, on completion of the specified display process, the saved data on the display on which the specified display process has ended. 
 
     
     
       4. The portable telephone device of claim  3  2 wherein the communication state is one of an incoming-call being received, electronic mail having been received, and a call in progress. 
     
     
       5. The portable telephone device of  claim 1  wherein the communication state is one of an incoming-call being received, electronic mail having been received, and a call in progress. 
     
     
       6. The portable telephone device of  claim 2  wherein the communication state is one of an incoming-call being received, electronic mail having been received, and a call in progress. 
     
     
       7. The portable telephone device of claim 1 wherein the two displays have substantially the same size. 
     
     
       8. The portable telephone device of claim 1 wherein the two displays are positioned so that display content on each of the displays are visible in one field of vision of a user. 
     
     
       9. The portable telephone device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of display processes include a display process which outputs the display data forming an image relating to at least one of electronic mail, a game, telephone directory creation, and a photograph. 
     
     
       10. The portable telephone device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of display processes include a display process which outputs the display data forming an image relating one of electronic mail, a game, and telephone directory creation. 
     
     
       11. The portable telephone device of claim 1 wherein the allocation unit includes:
 a selection instruction reception unit for receiving from the user a selection instruction for selecting, from the displays having a different display process allocated thereto, a display to respond to user display instructions; and   a display selection unit for selecting, according to the selection instruction, a display to respond to user display instructions.   
     
     
       12. The portable telephone of claim 11 wherein the selection instruction reception unit includes at least one selection key for receiving the selection instruction, and receives the selection instruction by the selection key being continuously operated for a set amount of time. 
     
     
       13. The portable telephone of claim 1 wherein the allocation unit further includes:
 a position storing unit which stores cursor position information, the cursor position information showing a position of a cursor on a display screen of the selected display;   a position updating unit for updating, each time the cursor is moved according to a user display instruction, the cursor position information into cursor position information which shows a position to which the cursor has been moved; and   a display selection unit for displaying the cursor in the position shown in the position information stored in the position storing unit.   
     
     
       14. The portable telephone of claim 1 further including a screen switching key for enabling a user to switch between the plurality of displays. 
     
     
       15. The portable telephone of claim 1 further including an automatic switching unit for switching a display based on the display process enabled by a call signal. 
     
     
       16. A method of operating a portable telephone call receiving device having a plurality of displays, each driven by one of a plurality of display processes, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of display processes, each display process outputting display data including at least one of image data and character data on one of the plurality of displays;   allocating a display process to control one of the plurality of displays;   storing a status correspondence between an allocated display and the display process controlling the allocated display to provide one of image data and character data;   detecting a transmission of a call signal to the portable telephone call receiving device; and   on detecting the call signal, selecting a display to be allocated to the call signal according to the stored status correspondence between display processes allocated to each of the plurality of displays including judging, based on the stored correspondence, whether a state of (a) at least one of the plurality of displays have no display process allocated thereto, and (b) a display process is allocated to each of the plurality of displays;   wherein the respective status of the plurality of displays are judged to be one of (a) and (b) and one of the plurality of displays is assigned a display process for enabling the transmission call signal if no display process has been assigned to that display and a display that is active with a display process is pre-empted to display an indication of receipt of the transmission call signal if each of the plurality of displays are allocated a display process.   
     
     
       17. A portable telephone call receiving device comprising:
 a portable housing member;   a plurality of displays mounted on the housing member;   user input unit for inputting signals;   a plurality of display processes stored in the portable housing member;   an allocation unit for allocating a display process to control one of the plurality of displays;   a storage unit for storing a status correspondence between an allocated display and the display process controlling the allocated display;   a detection unit for detecting a transmission call signal;   a selection unit for, on detecting the call signal, selecting a display to be allocated to the call signal according to the stored status correspondence between display processes allocated to each of the plurality of displays including judging, based on the stored correspondence, whether a state of (a) at least one of the plurality of displays have no display process allocated thereto, and (b) a display process is allocated to each of the plurality of displays;   wherein the respective status of the plurality of displays are judged to be one of (a) and (b) and one of the plurality of displays is assigned a display process for enabling the transmission call signal if no display process has been assigned to that display and a display that is active with a display process is pre-empted to display an indication of receipt of the transmission call signal if each of the plurality of displays are allocated a display process.   
     
     
       18. The portable telephone call receiving device of claim 17 wherein a pair of displays are mounted on the housing member in one field of vision for a user. 
     
     
       19. The portable telephone call receiving device of claim 17 wherein the plurality of display processes include a display process which outputs the display data forming an image relating to at least one of electronic mail, a game, telephone directory creation, and a photograph. 
     
     
       20. The portable telephone call receiving device of claim 17 wherein the allocation unit includes:
 a selection instruction reception unit for receiving from the user a selection instruction for selecting, from the displays having a different display process allocated thereto, a display to respond to user display instructions; and   a display selection unit for selecting, according to the selection instruction, a display to respond to user display instructions.