GB2309138A - Message Storing and Forwarding in a Radio Communication System - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile handset periodically powers down ("sleep" mode) to save battery power. A message received during such a period is stored at a base station of the communication system. At a preset time, or after a predetermined interval, the mobile unit automatically calls up the base station, and, if there is a stored message, receives and stores the message at the mobile unit. The presence of the message may be shown by an LED.

Description

RADIO COLEUNICATION APPARATUS The present invention relates to a mobile radio communication apparatus and, more particularly, to a mobile radio communication apparatus having an answering function.

A cordless phone system, for example, has a master unit connected to an exchange by wire, and a slave unit connected to the master station by radio. While persons are absent around the cordless phone system, the master unit may automatically answer a calling person and record a received message, as taught in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 262149. So long as conversation is not held on the master unit or the slave unit, the master unit can perform the automatic answering and message recording operation.

The above answering function is similarly applicable to a mobile phone, e.g., a handy phone or an on-board phone.

However, the problem with the mobile phone is that the answering function is not available when, e.g., a power switch provided on the phone is in its OFF state, when a battery voltage is low, when power supply from the outside of the phone is shut off, or when the phone itself is located outside of a service area. In light of this, a communication system using the mobile phone may assign the answering function to an answering service connected to a base station. With this kind of system, the user of the phone can access the answering service and hear a message recorded by the service. However, because the user cannot see the message unless the user performs an operation for connecting the phone to the service center, it is difficult to determine whether or not a message meant for the user is present at the service center.

It is therefore an object of at least the preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a radio communication apparatus allowing the user of the apparatus to easily see whether or not a message recorded by the answering function is present.

It is another such object to provide a radio communication apparatus allowing the user to see the presence/absence of such a message even when, e.g., the apparatus is not powered or when it is located outside of a service area.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a radio communication apparatus comprising time counting means; setting means for allowing one of a predetermined time and a predetermined time interval to be set in said time counting means; control means for automatically calling a base station on determining that one of the time and the time interval set in said time counting means is reached; receiving means for receiving a message from the base station; and storing means for storing said message received from the base station.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides radio communication apparatus comprising means for setting a predetermined time interval or a predetermined time; means for automatically calling, upon expiry of said time interval or the arrival of said time, remote storage apparatus adapted to store a message to be sent to said radio communication apparatus; means for receiving from said storage apparatus a message sent to said radio communication apparatus; and means for storing said message.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides radio telephone system comprising a base station having means for storing a message for a mobile phone when the mobile phone is unavailable, the mobile phone having means automatically operative at a set time or after a predetermined time interval to call the base station and to receive and store the message stored at the base station.

A preferred embodiment of the radio communication apparatus of the present invention includes a time counting section. A setting section allows a preselected time or a preselected time interval to be set in the time counting section. A memory records a speech. A receiver section receives a recorded message from a base station. A controller automatically calls the base station on determining that the time or the time interval set in the time counting section is reached.

Preferably, power is fed at least to the controller at the time or the time interval set in the time counting section.

Also, it is preferable to display, when the recorded message is received from the base station, the presence of the recorded message on a display section.

A decision section should preferably be provided for determining, after the supply of the power to the controller, whether or not the apparatus is located in a service area.

With the above configuration, the apparatus receives the message recorded at the base station at the preselected time or time interval and stores it without restoring the user's operation. In addition, even when the power source is in its OFF state or when the apparatus is located outside of a service area, the apparatus can automatically store the recorded message.

Preferred features of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a radio communication system to which the present invention is applied; FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a radio communication apparatus embodying the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a flowchart demonstrating a specific operation of the illustrative embodiment.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same structural elements.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a radio communication system is shown to which a radio communication apparatus embodying the present invention is applied. In the illustrative embodiment, the radio communication apparatus is implemented as a radio phone by way of example. As shown, the system includes a base station 200 and a mobile phone, e.g., handy phone or on-board phone 100. The base station 200 and mobile phone 100 are capable of communicating with each other by radio. An answering service center for recording a message meant for the phone 100 when the phone 100 snotans'eracall is associated with the base station 200.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the construction of the mobile phone 100. As shown, the phone 100 has a transmitter/receiver circuit 1, a controller 2, a timer 3, a speech memory 4, a keyboard 5, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 6, a light emitting diode (LED) 7, an antenna 8, two speakers 9 and 11, a microphone 10, a power source 12, and a power switch 13. A signal sent from the base station 200 comes in through the antenna 8. The transmitter/receiver circuit 1 demodulates the signal received via the antenna 8. The controller 2 determines whether or not the demodulated signal is meant for the phone 100. If the demodulated signal is meant for the phone 100, the controller 2 drives the speaker 9 in order to produce an alert tone. At the same time, the controller 2 may turn on the LED 7, if desired. When the user of the phone 100 pushes an off-hook switch, not snown, included in the keyboard 5, a speech signal received from the base station 200 is output via the speaker 11.

On the other hand, to originate a call on the phone 100, the user inputs a desired phone number representative of the other party on the keyboard 5. The controller 2 displays the phone number on the LCD 6. The transmitter/receiver circuit 1 modulates a carrier by the phone number and sends the modulated carrier via the antenna 8. Assume that the other party answers the call after a channel has been set up between the base station 200 and the phone 100. Then, the user's speech input via the microphone 10 is sent to the base station 200 via the antenna 8. The power source 12 delivers power to the various sections of the phone 100. The power switch 13 is used to turn on and turn off the power source 12.

The controller 2 automatically calls the answering service center at a particular time or a particular interval set in the timer 3, as will be described specifically later.

If a message meant for the phone 100 has been recorded at the answering service center 200, the controller 2 receives the message and writes it in the speech memory 4. At the same time, the controller 2 may turn on the LED 7.

A reference will be made to FIG. 3 for describing a specific operation of the phone 100. As shown, when the power switch 13 is turned on (step S101), the power source 12 feeds power to the various sections of the phone 100. When the user inputs a desired time or a desired time interval for the automatic connection of the phone to the answering service center 200 on the keyboard 5 (step S102), the controller 2 writes the time or the time interval in a storage included therein (step S103). At this instant, it is preferable that a phone number assigned to the answering service center 200 be also input on the keyboard 5 and written to the storage of the controller 2.

Subsequently, when the power switch 13 is turned off (step 104), a main power source is turned off, but the power supply to the controller 2, timer 3 and LED 7 continues (step Sl05). It is preferable that the power source 12 directly powers the controller 2, timer 3 and LED 7 without the intermediary of the switch 13. The LED 7 is used to indicate whether or not a message is present. For example, when the main power sources is in its OFF state or when the telephone 100 is located outside of a service area, a message sent from a calling person is recorded at the answering service center.

Assume that the time set in the timer 3 is reached, or the time interval set in the timer 3 elapses (YES, step S106).

Then, the controller 2 determines whether or not the power switch 13 is in its OFF state (step S107). If the answer of the step S107 is positive (YES), the controller 2 turns on the main power source (step S108) in order to feed power to the various sections of the phone 100. Subsequently, the controller 2 measures the field strength of a signal being received from the base station 200 via the antenna 8 and transmitter/receiver circuit 1, thereby determining whether or not conversation can be held on the phone 100 (step S109). If the answer of the step S109 is YES, meaning that the phone 100 is located in the service area, the controller 2 automatically calls the base station 200 (step S110). At this instant, a phone number assigned to the phone 100 is also sent to the answering service center.

When the phone 100 is connected to the answering service center (YES, step Sill), the controller 2 determines whether or not any message meant for the phone 100 is present on the basis of an identification signal received from the service center (step 112). If such a message is present (YES, step S112), the controller 2 sends a signal for reproducing the message to the service center (step S113). In response, the service center reproduces the message and sends the reproduced message to the phone 100.

On receiving the message from the service center 200 (step S114), the controller 2 writes the message in the speech memory 4 (step S115) and turns on the LED 7 to show the presence of the message (step S116) . Assume that the user recognizes the presence of the received message and operates the keyboard 5. Then, the message stored in the speech memory 4 is output via the speaker 9 assigned to speeches.

In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides a radio communication apparatus having various unprecedented advantages, as follows. The apparatus automatically accesses a base station at a time or a time interval selected by the user of the apparatus beforehand, receives a message recorded at the base station, and stores the received message. Therefore, the user can hear the stored message easily without performing any particular operation for connecting the apparatus to the base station. Because an LED turns on to show the user the presence of the stored message, the user is prevented from forgetting to hear the message.

Further, the user is allowed to cause the apparatus to access the base station at any desired time, e.g., midnight during which the call fee is low or a time other than evening hours during which the communication traffic is heavy.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous variations, modifications, and embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the - scope of the invention.

For example, while the illustrative embodiment has concentrated on a radio phone, the present invention is similarly applicable to a two-way pager.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (which term includes the claims) and/or shown in the drawings may be incorporated in the invention independently of other disclosed and/or illustrated features.

The text of the abstract filed herewith is repeated here as part of the specification.

A radio communication apparatus of the present invention includes a timer 3 for allowing the user of the apparatus to set a desired time or a time interval, and a memory 4 for recording speeches. At the set time or set time interval, the apparatus automatically turns on a main power source 12 and accesses an answering service center. If any message meant for the apparatus has been recorded at the answering service center, the apparatus receives the message and records it in the memory 4 while turning on a light emitting diode 7.

Claims (8)

1. Radio communication apparatus comprising: means for setting a predetermined time interval or a predetermined time; means for automatically calling, upon expiry of said time interval or the arrival of said time, remote storage apparatus adapted to store a message to be sent to said radio communication apparatus; means for receiving from said storage apparatus a message sent to said radio communication apparatus; and means for storing said message.

2. Radio communication apparatus comprising: time counting means; setting means for allowing one of a predetermined time and a predetermined time interval to be set in said time counting means; control means for automatically calling a base station on determining that one of the time and the time interval set in said time counting means is reached; receiving means for receiving a stored message from the base station; and storing means for storing said message received from the base station.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, further comprising display means for notifying, when the stored message is received from the base station, the presence of said stored message.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein power is fed at least to said control means at the time or at the end of the time interval set in said time counting means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, further comprising decision means for determining, after supply of the power to said control means, whether or not said apparatus is located in a service area.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said apparatus comprises one of a handy phone and an on-board phone.

7. A radio telephone system comprising a base station having means for storing a message for a mobile phone when the mobile phone is unavailable, the mobile phone having means automatically operative at a set time or after a predetermined time interval to call the base station and to receive and store the message stored at the base station.

8. Radio communication apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.