JP2000324541A - Portable telephone device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] When a communication partner terminal is in a service area of its own telephone device, a telephone call of a user can be automatically performed by prioritizing a public telephone line to enable communication by a transceiver. Provided is a portable telephone device that can reduce the burden of charges. SOLUTION: When making a call, a call partner is selected, and a call mode is further selected. When the fixed call mode is selected, the portable telephone device 1X is connected to the portable telephone device 1Y, which is the other party's communication terminal, via the base station 3A and the PHS line, which is a public line, to enable communication. Become. When the automatic call mode is selected, a call is made by the transceiver function, and when no response is made, a connection is made through the PHS line. Since the communication by the transceiver function can be prioritized, it is possible to perform the communication without charge when the partner terminal is in the service area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable telephone device for transmitting and receiving at least voice information wirelessly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a simplified information communication terminal (portable telephone device) having a PHS function and a data communication function is a
If you are out of the service area of the HS line, PHS
Communication via a line cannot be performed. However, a simplified information communication terminal is provided with a transceiver function capable of performing wireless communication without using a PHS line. Therefore, such a simplified information communication terminal can be used outside or within the service area. If the information communication terminals are within a certain distance, the transceiver function enables direct communication.

[0003]

Incidentally, not only so-called portable telephones, but also simple information communication terminals using PHS lines have higher call costs than those using ordinary wired telephone lines. Is common. Therefore,
Attempts have been made to reduce the burden of call charges as much as possible by enabling contracts for various call forms suitable for users. If the above transceiver function can be used, no PHS line is used, so that there is no call charge.

[0004] Further, the situation is the same when a video phone system using a PHS line is constructed by attaching an adapter of a camera unit to the above-mentioned simplified information communication terminal, or by integrating a camera. The image information handled in the videophone system naturally has a large amount of data to be communicated,
The above problems tend to be more pronounced.

According to the present invention, when a communication partner terminal is in a service area of its own telephone device, communication by a transceiver is automatically enabled in preference to a public telephone line, thereby reducing a user's call charge. It is an object to provide a portable telephone device that can reduce a burden.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In a portable telephone device that transmits and receives voice information at least wirelessly, a telephone mode for transmitting and receiving information via a telephone line and a transceiver mode for transmitting and receiving information wirelessly without using a telephone line can be used. Along with
A calling procedure executing means for selecting a telephone mode and a transceiver mode at the time of calling, and a number storage unit storing a telephone number and a transceiver number of a communication partner terminal,
When the telephone mode is selected by the calling procedure executing means, a communication partner terminal is called via a telephone line, and when the transceiver mode is selected by the calling procedure executing means, the number storage is performed. When a call is made in the transceiver mode with reference to the transceiver number stored in the section and the communication partner terminal answers, the information is transmitted and received in the transceiver mode as it is, and when there is no response from the communication partner terminal, the telephone mode is set. It is characterized in that switching is performed and a call is made to a communication partner terminal via a telephone line with reference to the telephone number stored in the number storage unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the calling procedure execution means has a fixed call mode and an automatic call mode, and when the fixed call mode is selected, the call mode is set to the telephone mode to call the communication partner terminal. When a call is made via a line, or when the automatic call mode is selected, the transceiver mode is set, and a call is made to the communication partner terminal in the transceiver mode. Is performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the portable telephone device is provided with at least display means for displaying image information, and an image input unit having an image pickup function. It is a portable videophone device that transmits image information input by an image input unit and displays the received image information on the display unit.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a portable telephone device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Here, as an example of the portable telephone device, for example, PH
A function capable of performing telephone communication via a telephone line such as an S line (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “PHS line”);
An example having a transceiver function capable of performing direct wireless communication without using an S line will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a communication mode in a portable telephone device according to the present invention. In this portable telephone device 1, when the transceiver function can be used, direct communication is performed wirelessly without using a PHS line.
The greatest feature is that it has a communication mode for performing communication via the S line.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1A, when the service areas of the portable telephone devices 1X and 1Y are included in the service areas A and B of the radio base stations 3A and 3B, respectively, The device 1X has a PH
S-line wireless base station 3A, public line network, wireless base station 3B
Is connected to the portable telephone device 1Y as a communication partner terminal. In this case, since the service area A of the portable telephone device 1X does not overlap with the service area B of the portable telephone device 1Y, in this state, communication cannot be directly performed without passing through the PHS line by the transceiver function.

However, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the portable telephone devices 1X and 1Y are located at positions where the respective service areas A and B overlap each other, it is possible to make a telephone call on the PHS line. However, priority is given to using the transceiver function to perform direct wireless communication without using a PHS line. As is well known, PHS
Telephone lines, such as telephone lines, are charged for telephone calls, whereas direct wireless communication does not incur charges. Therefore, by adopting the above-mentioned telephone call form, the cheapest (no telephone charge) telephone calls can be made. The route is automatically selected.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show a specific example of the portable telephone device 1X or 1Y. In this case, not only telephone communication using ordinary voice information but also image information is exchanged. A portable videophone device (portable telephone device) 10 capable of performing so-called videophone communication will be described as an example. FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the appearance of the portable videophone device 10, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are side views illustrating the appearance of the portable videophone device 10, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the portable videophone device 10 is provided with a monitor (display means) 11 made of a liquid crystal plate at the front of the device body 10a. The monitor 11 displays communication function information and / or image information of the mobile phone device such as a telephone number and an electric field pictogram.

The apparatus main body 10a is provided with a camera (image input section) 12 at an upper portion on the front side thereof, and an image is taken by the camera 12. A plurality of operation keys 13 are provided below the monitor 11, and various operations can be performed by pressing these keys 13. The operation key 13 is also provided on one side of the apparatus main body 10a.

The apparatus main body 10a has a camera 1 above it.
2, a speaker 15 is provided on the side, and a microphone 16 is provided below.
The voice input is performed by the microphone 16, and the other party's voice, ringtone, alarm, and the like are emitted from the speaker 15. In addition, the device body 10
A telescopic antenna 17 is provided at the upper end of a, and a built-in data transmission / reception unit (not shown) communicates image data and audio data via the antenna 17. Further, on the other side of the apparatus main body 10a, an external power supply connection section 18 connected to an AC power supply such as an outlet via an adapter and an external audio output section 19 connected to an earphone or the like are provided.

A battery cover 14 is provided on the back side of the apparatus main body 10a so as to be attached to and detached from a storage section in which a battery is stored. A stand 14a rotatably connected is provided. By rotating the stand 14a to widen the angle, the apparatus main body 10a is supported in a state of being inclined with respect to the installation surface.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the portable videophone device 10. As shown in FIG. The portable videophone device 10 includes an A / D converter 21 that converts an output of an imaging element 12a that converts a subject image formed by the camera 12 into an electric signal (pixel signal) into a digital signal, and an A / D converter 21.
The processing unit 22 includes a dither image processing unit 22a that converts the output of the D converter 21 into dither image data and a processing unit 22 that includes an audio processing unit 22b. Further, the CPU 23 controls the PHS function and the data communication function, executes the first application program for executing the telephone function, the second application program for executing the data communication function, and executes the videophone communication function. Registration unit 24 for storing a third application program for storing the data such as characters and image data transmitted and received by data communication, and a memory unit (number) for storing a transceiver number and a PHS number (telephone number) for each communication partner (Storage unit) 25, a monitor driving circuit 26 for displaying incoming / outgoing call information, characters, control contents, and displaying images, and for photographing, reproducing and displaying and transferring images by the camera 12 for telephone and data communication. Key input interface for connecting operation keys for Using Esu portion 27, PHS line is configured to include an RF unit 28 and antenna 17 to the correspondent terminal and data communications.

The CPU 23 has a function of a calling procedure executing means 23a for selecting either the PHS mode (telephone mode) or the transceiver mode according to the procedure. Also, a transceiver mode executing means 23b for executing a transceiver function for performing communication without using a PHS line by a unique protocol different from a general-purpose protocol using a PHS line, and a PHS mode executing means for performing communication using a PHS line 23c.

When the portable videophone device 10 receives an incoming call of videophone communication consisting of image information and audio information, the third application program is activated, and the CPU 23 operates the videophone function. It performs control, displays the received image information on the monitor in addition to the normal voice call, transmits the image data captured by the camera 12 to the communication terminal of the other party, and can make a telephone call by videophone communication. ing. Whether the call is a videophone call involving image data or a call using only normal audio information can be identified by information included in the header of the transmitted data.

Next, such a portable videophone device 1 will be described.
The calling operation when a call is made at 0 will be described with reference to a flowchart.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the calling operation at the time of calling. First, a telephone directory or the like is displayed on the monitor 11, and a call partner is selected (step (hereinafter referred to as "S") 301). The CPU 23 refers to the fields stored in the memory unit 25 as shown in the table below. The field indicates a transceiver number and a PHS number for each communication partner.

[0023]

[Table 1]

Further, one of the fixed call mode and the automatic call mode displayed on the monitor 11 is selected (S3).
02). The fixed call mode is a mode in which the PHS mode is selected by the call procedure executing means 23a and a call is made on the PHS line. In the automatic calling mode, the transceiver mode is normally selected by the calling procedure executing means 23a.
In this mode, switching to the HS mode is performed and a call is made on the PHS line.

If the user intends to use the PHS line from the beginning, the user selects the fixed call mode. In this case,
The CPU 23 reads out the PHS number corresponding to the selected partner from the memory unit 25 by the PHS mode execution means 23c to perform a calling operation, and performs the calling operation via the RF unit 28 and the antenna 17 as shown in FIG. Communication is performed with 3A (S304). When the other party answers, videophone communication can be performed via the PHS line. In addition,
If the signal does not reach, an error message is displayed.

When the user selects the automatic call mode, the CPU 23 first uses the transceiver mode executing means 23b. The transceiver number corresponding to the selected partner is read out from the memory unit 25 to perform a calling operation,
As shown in FIG. 1B, another portable videophone device 10 as a communication partner terminal is called via the unit 28 and the antenna 17 (S303). When the communication partner terminal exists in the service area and responds, the videophone communication can be directly performed wirelessly without using the PHS line by the transceiver function. If the communication partner terminal is not in the service area and there is no response, the CPU 23 switches to the PHS mode,
The PHS number is read from the memory unit 25 by the S-mode execution unit 23c to perform a calling operation, and is communicated with the radio base station 3A via the RF unit 28 and the antenna 17 as shown in FIG. Communication is performed (S304).

Note that, even in the automatic call mode, if the field of the transceiver number corresponding to the other party is empty in the memory unit 25, the call is made in the PHS mode by the PHS mode execution means 23c.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of detecting each mode on the receiving side. There is an incoming call (S
401), information contained in the header of the incoming information is detected, and it is detected whether the mode is the PHS line mode or the transceiver mode (S402). As a result, the receiving side can receive the videophone communication while dealing with both the connection using the PHS line and the connection using the transceiver.

The portable videophone device 10 as described above
According to this, when the communication partner terminal is within the service range of the transceiver, the connection is preferentially performed in the transceiver mode, so that there is an effect that communication can be performed without generating a call charge. Further, even when at least one of the portable videophone devices 10 is out of the service area of the radio base station, if the portable videophone devices 10 are mutually in the other party's service area, a call is made by the transceiver function. Can be performed, and a substantial callable area can be expanded.

Next, the portable telephone 1X or 1
Another example of Y is shown. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the appearance of a portable videophone device which can use the transceiver function according to the present invention. This embodiment is a simplified information communication terminal 3 having a PHS function and a data communication function.
1, a portable videophone device in which a detachable image capturing adapter 32 is integrally mounted.

The simplified information communication terminal 31 is connected to the monitor 1
1, an upper flip provided with a speaker 15, an antenna 17 and the like, and an operating unit provided with a key 13 including a function key, a numeric keypad and a selection key, a lower microphone provided with a microphone 16, a power switch 33 and the like. And can be folded in two.

The PC card slot 34 of the detachable image capturing adapter 32 is detachably attached to a slot connecting terminal provided at the lower end of the lower flip of the simplified information communication terminal 31.

The PC card slot section 34 is provided with a camera unit 35 for capturing a subject image. The camera unit 35 is rotatably mounted by a support section 36 and has a shooting direction in an arrow direction 37. It is possible to change. An electronic circuit is built in the PC card slot section 34.

FIG. 9 shows a simplified information communication terminal 3
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a portable videophone device (portable phone device) 40 configured by integrating a detachable image photographing adapter 32 with a videophone adapter 1. In this block diagram, the same reference numerals are given to the block diagram shown in FIG. 5, that is, the configuration common to the circuit configuration of the portable videophone device 10, and the description thereof will be omitted. The detachable image capturing adapter 32 includes an image sensor 12a and an A
It comprises a / D converter 21, a processing unit 22, and a PC card slot unit 34 for connecting the converted output of the processing unit 22 to the simplified information communication terminal 31.

On the other hand, the simplified information communication terminal 31 has a slot connection terminal 3 connected to the PC card slot section 34.
8, a CPU 23, an application registration unit 24, a memory unit 25, a monitor driving circuit 26, a key input interface unit 27, an RF unit 28, and an antenna 17.

The portable videophone device 4 having such a configuration
0, when the transceiver mode is selected by the calling procedure executing means 23a as in the case of the portable videophone device 10, first, a call is made in the transceiver mode, and no response is made by the communication partner terminal in the transceiver mode. Is controlled to make a telephone call on the PHS line.

When a videophone communication call is received with the detachable image capturing adapter 32 not attached, the display of the monitor 11 or the generation of an alarm sound causes the detachable image capturing adapter 32 to be disconnected. Wearing is encouraged. The other control contents when making or receiving a telephone call are the same as those in the case of the portable videophone device 10, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the above embodiment, an example in which a PHS line is used as a telephone line has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the portable videophone devices 10 and 40 are connected via a telephone line and a telephone line. The type of telephone line to be used is not limited to the PHS line as long as communication can be performed in a transceiver mode that does not have such a mode, and mobile telephone lines and the like according to various other standards set in the region are used. Is also good.

In the above embodiment, the service areas A and B are described as if the service area in the PHS line and the communicable area in the case of using the transceiver function are the same. As described above, when a mobile phone line other than the PHS line is used, for example, the service area when the telephone line is used does not always need to match the communicable area in the transceiver mode. Even in such a case, if a call is made in the transceiver mode and communication is performed via the telephone line by switching to the telephone mode when there is no response, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, a portable videophone having a camera and a monitor has been described as an example of the portable telephone, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a camera and a monitor for displaying images may be used. The same effect as described above can be obtained even in a normal portable telephone device, various simple communication terminals, or the like that does not include any one or both of the above.

In addition, the details of the configuration of the embodiment, such as the format of the field of the transceiver number and the PHS number stored in the memory unit 25, are not limited to those described above. . Also, the control contents or the control order may have a configuration other than those described above without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Other than this, any configuration may be adopted as long as it does not depart from the gist of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the above-described configurations may be appropriately selectively combined. No.

[0043]

As described above, according to the portable telephone device of the first and second aspects, when the transceiver mode is selected by the calling procedure executing means, first, the calling is performed by referring to the transceiver number. If the communication partner terminal answers, the connection is made in the transceiver mode, and if there is no response, a call is made on the telephone line with reference to the telephone number. Therefore, when the communication partner terminal is within the service range of the transceiver, the call is preferentially connected by the transceiver, so that it is possible to realize a call free of call charges,
It is possible to reduce the economic burden on the user. Also,
Even when only at least one of the telephone devices is within the service area of the radio base station, if the portable telephone devices are mutually in the other party's service area in the transceiver mode, a call can be made by the transceiver function, and It is possible to expand the effective callable area.

According to the portable telephone device of the third aspect,
Since the portable telephone device is a so-called portable video telephone device having a display unit and an image input unit, the above-described effects can be obtained in such a portable video telephone device. Particularly, in a portable videophone device, the amount of data to be transmitted and received is large because image data is transmitted and received, and the effect of improving the economic efficiency becomes even more remarkable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a communication mode in a portable telephone device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the portable telephone device, and is a front view illustrating an appearance of the device.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a left side view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the portable telephone device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a calling operation when a call is made in the same device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a receiving operation on the receiving side.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the portable telephone device, and is a perspective view showing an appearance of the device.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1X, 1Y Portable telephone device 10, 40 Portable video telephone device (portable telephone device) 11 Monitor (display means) 12 Camera (image input unit) 23a Calling procedure executing means 25 Memory unit (number storage unit)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page F term (reference) 5C064 AA01 AC02 AC06 AC12 AD08 AD16 5K034 AA14 AA17 CC03 CC05 DD01 EE03 EE12 FF05 FF15 FF17 FF20 GG04 HH17 KK02 5K067 AA22 AA41 BB04 DD23 DD24 DD52 EE07 GG01 GG04

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A portable telephone device for transmitting and receiving at least voice information wirelessly, a telephone mode for transmitting and receiving information via a telephone line, and a transceiver mode for transmitting and receiving information wirelessly without using a telephone line. And a calling procedure executing means for selecting a telephone mode and a transceiver mode at the time of making a call, and a number storage unit storing a telephone number and a transceiver number of a communication partner terminal. When the telephone mode is selected by the means, a communication partner terminal is called via a telephone line. When the transceiver mode is selected by the calling procedure execution means, the call is stored in the number storage unit. When a call is made in transceiver mode with reference to the transceiver number and the communication partner terminal answers, the A configuration in which information is transmitted and received in the receiver mode, and when there is no response from the communication partner terminal, the communication mode is switched to the telephone mode, and the communication partner terminal is called via the telephone line with reference to the telephone number stored in the number storage unit. A portable telephone device characterized in that: 2. The calling procedure executing means has a fixed calling mode and an automatic calling mode. When the fixed calling mode is selected, the calling mode is set to the telephone mode, and a communication partner terminal is called via a telephone line. Further, when the automatic call mode is selected, the transceiver mode is set, the call of the communication partner terminal is performed in the transceiver mode, and only when there is no response, the communication mode is switched to the telephone mode to call the communication partner terminal. The portable telephone device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The portable telephone device includes a display unit for displaying at least image information, and an image input unit having an image pickup function. 3. The portable telephone device according to claim 1, wherein said portable telephone device is a portable videophone device for transmitting said image information and displaying said received image information on said display means.