WO2003039112A1 - Docking station for a mobile telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

A multifunction device (1) for a mobile telephone (2), on which several connectors (210, 211) are provided, comprises: a receiver (10), for the mobile telephone (2), an arrangement of connectors, at least one signal transmitter (12, 13) and preferably at least one signal receiver (15), signal lines, connected at one end to the signal transmitter (12, 13) and the preferably provided signal receiver (15) and, at the other end, to the arrangement of connectors on the multifunction device (1), such as to conduct well-defined signals from the signal transmitter (12, 13) to the mobile telephone (2) and preferably signals from the mobile telephone (2) to the signal receiver (15).

Description

 DOCKING STATION FOR A MOBILE PHONE

The invention relates to a multifunction device for a mobile phone according to the independent claim.

Mobile phones - often referred to colloquially as "cell phones" - are enjoying increasing use and are no longer indispensable in the world of modern communication. The operation of such a mobile phone is not particularly difficult for people who use the mobile phone frequently or who are familiar with modern means of communication, although the overall size of the mobile phone generally only allows small control panel buttons, which mean a certain restriction in ease of use.

The operation of such mobile phones is becoming a lot more difficult for people who only use the mobile phone occasionally and / or who have little contact with modern means of communication, e.g. for older people. The older people also have the problem that they often forget phone numbers and there are no permanently programmed speed dial buttons on the mobile phone due to lack of space. These people also have difficulty storing phone numbers in the cell phone memory and retrieving them from there when needed.

In the case of fixed-line telephones, there is often a so-called "baby call" function, which is also desirable for mobile telephones. With the appropriate programming of the phone, the child only needs to press any key on the phone and the phone then automatically dials the previously programmed phone number. By then taking place Call (eg with an automatic announcement text) the parents know immediately that their child has "called" them and can react accordingly. A disadvantage of this type of "baby call" function is that the child must be able to actively and consciously press any key on the telephone in order to trigger the automatic call to the parents.

The object of the invention is to avoid the disadvantages mentioned above and in particular to simplify the operation of a mobile telephone considerably, also for people who do not use modern means of communication on a daily basis, or to provide a large number of additional functions.

This object is achieved by a multifunction device according to the invention for a mobile telephone, as is characterized by the features of the independent patent claim. Further advantageous refinements of the multifunction device according to the invention result from the features of the dependent claims and from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the multifunction device according to the invention.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, which shows in a schematic representation:

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention

Multifunction device in supervision, with one in the holder of the multifunction device

Mobile phone,

2 shows the multifunction device from FIG. 1 with the cover attached, FIG. Fig. 3 is a view of that side of a mobile phone on which the contact plates and sockets are provided

and

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of an adapter which can be connected to the multifunction device according to the invention on the one hand and to the mobile phone on the other.

1 shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a multifunction device 1 according to the invention, which has a receptacle 10 for a mobile telephone 2 known per se. The mobile phone 2 has on its side wall 21 pointing downward in FIG. 1 (see FIG. 3) a plurality of sockets 210 and connections (e.g. contact plate 211, etc.), in particular sockets or connections for an external one

Charger, as well as connections for an external microphone or an external speaker as well as various other connections for signal transmission.

Furthermore, the multifunction device 1 comprises a separate adapter 11 (see FIG. 4), which on the one hand has various pins 110 and contacts (for example spring contacts 111) which are arranged complementarily to the connections of the mobile telephone 2 and with corresponding connections on the multifunction device 1 in FIG It can be connected in such a way that after the adapter 11 has been plugged in, there is electrical contact between the spring contacts 111 of the adapter 11 and the corresponding contact plate 211 of the mobile telephone 2, and the adapter 11 is also mechanically connected to the Mobile phone 2 is connected. On the other hand, the adapter 11 can be connected to the multifunction device 1 via an interface 112.

While the connections (not shown) complementary to the interface 112 on the multifunction device 1 are always arranged in the same way - namely always exactly complementary to the interface 112 shown in FIG. 4 - and this arrangement on the multifunction device 1 is therefore always the same regardless of the type of mobile telephone 2 is, the arrangement of the connections (sockets 210, contact plate 211, etc.) varies very considerably in the cell phones 2. Although individual families of mobile telephones 2 have the same arrangement of the connections (sockets 210, contacts 211, etc.), the arrangement of the connections is often already different in another family of mobile telephones 2 from the same manufacturer.

So that a connection from mobile phone 2 and

Multifunction device 1 for mobile phones 2 from different families is possible, you need a special adapter 11 for each family, but only the adapter 11 has to be specially designed, otherwise the multifunction device 1 can be used for the different types and

Families of cell phones 2 remain completely unchanged. The multifunction device 1 can automatically recognize the respective type of the cell phone 2 in a mobile phone 2 connected to the adapter, for example by supplying information to the multifunction device 1 via one of the contacts. In principle, however, it would also be possible to provide a different arrangement of connections on the multifunction device 1 for different types of mobile telephones 2, as a result of which an adapter 11 would be superfluous, but different types of multifunction devices 1 would have to be designed differently for different types of mobile phones 2, as far as the arrangement of the connections is concerned.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, a keyboard 12 is provided on the multifunction device 1, which here holds five different (speed dial) keys 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 u. The keys 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 can preferably be illuminated. A field 120a, 121a, 122a, 123a, 124a is assigned to each key, in which, for example, an image or other information can be arranged, which image or which information identifies the person whose telephone number when the associated (speed dial) key is pressed 120,121,122,123,124 is selected automatically.

The keyboard 12 thus represents a signal generator which, when the individual keys 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 are pressed, generates an electrical signal specific to the respective key, which is fed via the adapter 11 to the mobile telephone 2, which dials the corresponding telephone number when this signal is received. The telephone number which is to be dialed when the respective key 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 is pressed can of course be programmed by the user. This takes place in a manner yet to be explained via the voice-controlled dialing of telephone numbers in the mobile telephone 2, the mobile telephones 2 nowadays often being designed such that typically up to ten numbers can be dialed voice-activated.

The keyboard 12 discussed above is useful, for example, for children who are alone at home and are scared for some reason. The children can then, for example, use the buttons 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 entirely Easily call the number of parents, grandparents, etc., simply by pressing the respective (speed dial) key 120, 121, 122, 124, 124 (where an image of the parents, grandparents, etc. can be arranged in the field assigned to the key) and then on the basis of the generated and transmitted via the adapter 11 to the mobile phone 2, the corresponding number is automatically dialed by the mobile phone 2.

The keyboard 12 explained above is also useful for older people, for example. While telephone numbers are always forgotten, pictures of the corresponding people are practically never forgotten. In this way, even older people do not have to remember the corresponding telephone numbers and do not dial them by pressing the number keys on the keypad of the mobile telephone 2. The number keys on the keyboard of the mobile phone 2 are often small - due to the overall size of the mobile phone 2 - and therefore not very easy to use. The (speed dial) keys

120, 121, 122, 123, 124 of the multifunction device 1, on the other hand, are large and easy to operate, so that the multifunction device 1 would also be conceivable, for example, for use in a motor vehicle.

In order to be able to ensure that the programmed telephone number is automatically dialed when the button 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 is pressed, the electrical signal which is generated by pressing the button 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 in the exemplary embodiment described here becomes the connection (for example a specific contact plate 211) for voice-controlled selection the mobile phone 2 supplied (in principle, however, an automatically controlled "mechanical" selection would also be possible, it could do so For example, a device (not shown here) for automatically pressing the keys of the mobile phone can be provided). In order that the set telephone number can be dialed automatically by the cell phone 2, the cell phone 2 must have "learned" beforehand that the corresponding set telephone number must be selected during the transmission of precisely this electrical signal.

This learning process is similar to that

"Teach-in process" of the mobile telephone 2 for voice-controlled dialing of a desired telephone number without a multifunction device 1 being provided. In this learning process of the mobile phone 2 (without multifunction device 1), the voice memory of the mobile phone 2 is "opened" for a short period of time, and during this period the user can record a certain speech sequence via a microphone (in the simplest case, a single tone is sufficient as a speech sequence ). After the voice sequence (in the simplest case a single tone) has been saved, the desired telephone number can be programmed, which should be automatically dialed later when the voice-controlled selection is made when this voice sequence is recognized (or in the case of the tone when the corresponding tone is recognized).

When the speech sequence is recorded during the learning process, the speech sequence is converted by the microphone into an equivalent analog electrical signal, the analog electrical signal is digitized if necessary and stored in the speech memory of the mobile telephone 2. When the voice-controlled selection takes place later, the voice sequence spoken by the user is then replaced by the voice sequence stored in the voice memory of the mobile telephone 2 (or with all the voice sequences stored in the voice memory) compared. If there is sufficient agreement between the voice sequence spoken by the user and one of the voice sequences stored in the voice memory of the mobile telephone 2, the mobile telephone 2 automatically dials the associated telephone number.

To teach in using the multifunction device 1: First, the voice memory of the mobile phone 2 is opened (on the mobile phone 2 itself). Then, during the period in which the voice memory of the mobile phone 2 is open, the corresponding electrical signal is fed to the mobile phone 2 via the adapter 11, possibly digitized, and stored in the voice memory of the mobile phone 2. The stored in the voice memory of the mobile phone 2 in this way

Signals correspond to those signals that are generated later when the respective (speed dial) key 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 is pressed. These signals are assigned, for example, to the first five voice-activated dialable telephone numbers of the mobile telephone 2. If no voice-dialable telephone numbers have been programmed on the mobile phone 2, five specific (desired) telephone numbers can now also be programmed. However, five "dummy" telephone numbers can also be programmed on the mobile phone 2, which the user can then change at any time later on his mobile phone 2.

In addition, in the case of the mobile telephones 2, in which, for example, a total of ten telephone numbers can be dialed automatically by voice control, five further signals are programmed, which are assigned to the five other voice-controlled dialable telephone numbers. In the event of an alarm (to be explained further below), these five further telephone numbers are in the order after selected. Here, too, either concrete (desired) telephone numbers can be programmed into the mobile telephone 2, or "Dum y" telephone numbers can be programmed. These "dummy" telephone numbers can of course be changed by the user on his mobile phone 2 at any time.

After initialization has been completed and after the user has assigned the desired telephone numbers to the (speed dial) keys 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, a telephone number is automatically dialed in operation using the (speed dial) keys 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 in such a way that the respective (speed dial) key 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 is printed, as a result of which the multifunction device 1 generates an electrical signal which is already stored (namely by the initialization) in the voice memory of the mobile telephone 2. This electrical signal generated by the (abbreviated dialing) key in the multifunction device 1 is transmitted via the adapter 11 to the mobile telephone 2, specifically to the connection (e.g. to a specific contact plate 211) for the voice-controlled dialing of telephone numbers. When receiving this signal, the mobile telephone 2 recognizes that the signal corresponds to a signal stored in its voice memory and can thus assign it to the telephone number to be dialed automatically. The mobile phone 2 then automatically dials the desired telephone number.

The exemplary embodiment of the multifunction device 1 according to FIG. 1 also has means for room monitoring, of which a "lens" 13 can be seen here, which is followed by a (not shown) pyroelectric sensor as a "motion sensor". In this way, room monitoring can be carried out by evaluating the heat radiation emitted by moving bodies. For this purpose, the multifunction device 1 comprises a processor (not shown) which generates a corresponding electrical alarm signal. This electrical alarm signal generated by the multifunction device 1 is fed via the adapter 11 to the connection (for example a specific contact plate 211) for the voice-controlled dialing of the mobile telephone 2 and has the consequence that the mobile telephone 2 automatically dials a previously defined telephone number (or a previous one) order of phone numbers).

If, when such an alarm occurs, a telephone number is automatically called, the person called will answer e.g. when the call is answered. informed by a digitized voice that an alarm has been triggered due to movement. Furthermore, the called party is asked to acknowledge the call, for example by pressing the "*" key on the answering telephone. If the call is not acknowledged (e.g. because an answering machine or a mailbox accepts the call but cannot answer it), the processor of the multifunction device 1 determines that the call has not been acknowledged. The result is that a further electrical alarm signal is generated, which causes the mobile telephone 2 to automatically dial the next telephone number previously defined in an order. This process is repeated until the automatic call is acknowledged. At the end of this predefined sequence of telephone numbers to be called, for example, the telephone number of a 24-hour security service can be found.

Basically, the phone numbers that are used in the case of a Movement alarms should be dialed automatically, different from the phone numbers that are assigned to the individual (speed dial) keys 120, 121, 122, 123, 124. As usually up to ten different telephone numbers can be dialed in the mobile phone 2 - as already explained above - apart from the five signals already "taught" for the (speed dial) keys 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, five other signals are "taught", which then have the consequence that when transmitting such a further "taught-in" signal to the mobile phone 2, a particular telephone number that can be programmed into the mobile phone 2 is automatically dialed.

Of course, individual telephone numbers that should be dialed automatically in the event of a motion alarm can also match telephone numbers that should be dialed when a (speed dial) key 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 is pressed. If the alarm call is answered, however, in contrast to a call that was made by pressing a (speed dial) key, when the (alarm) call is answered, the called party is informed by the digitized voice that a motion alarm has been triggered and that the call must be acknowledged by pressing the "*" key.

Basically, such room surveillance can be useful to monitor the room when a toddler leaves his bed. However, room monitoring can also be useful in order to be alerted in the event of a break-in. In the latter case (burglary), however, it is not desirable that a burglar notices that an alarm has been triggered and that an alarm call is made automatically. On the other hand, in the event of an automatic call, the mobile telephone 2 must be activated in order to be able to carry out the alarm call, so that the display and / or the Keypad of the mobile phone 2 is illuminated. In order to be able to trigger such an alarm call unnoticed, as shown in FIG. 2, the multifunctional unit comprises a removable cover 14 which, when placed on the multifunctional unit 1, completely covers the mobile telephone 2 so that it is not visible from the outside and accordingly the alarm call for the burglar unnoticed.

A similar type of monitoring is possible with regard to the room temperature. For this purpose, the multifunction unit 1 can be provided with temperature sensors (not shown), which triggers an alarm signal (e.g. fire alarm) when an adjustable temperature threshold is exceeded or undershot. The

Operation in the event of an alarm can be the same as described above. However, the processor can very well distinguish whether the triggered alarm is a motion alarm or a temperature-related alarm, so that the automatic announcement is tuned to tell the called party what type of alarm has been triggered, even if in both cases, for example the same telephone number is called and the electrical signal which is fed from the multifunction device 1 via the adapter 11 to the voice-controlled connection of the mobile telephone 2 is identical. The subsequent announcement regarding the type of alarm can nevertheless be different.

A similar type of surveillance is also possible with regard to noise (e.g. when a small child cries, or also in the event of a break-in). For this purpose, the multifunction device 1 can have one or more acoustic sensors, for example a microphone (not shown), which triggers an alarm signal when a certain noise level is exceeded. The mode of operation in the event of an alarm can be the same as described above. However, the processor is also able to differentiate here which type of alarm has been triggered, so that the type of alarm (here, for example, a sound alarm) was triggered in the automatic announcement.

Furthermore, the multifunction device 1 can also be designed such that actively operable means are provided, which the user can operate in order to send a radio signal that can be received by the multifunction device 1, so that the multifunction device 1 can automatically trigger a corresponding emergency call. These actively operable means can, for example, have the form of a bracelet, on which a transmitter is provided, which must be actively operated by the wearer of the bracelet (user) in order to send a radio signal to the multifunction device 1. This can e.g. be useful if people have an accident in their home (e.g. if they fall or have a seizure) and can no longer access the multifunction device 1 to call for help, but still urgently need the help of others. In this case, it is only necessary to ensure that the radio signal, which is activated by the user (e.g. from the operator)

Transmitter on the bracelet) is sent, received by the multifunction device 1 and a corresponding emergency signal is then transmitted from the multifunction device 1 via the adapter 11 to the voice-controlled connection of the mobile phone 2. Here, too, the processor of the multifunction device 1 can very well distinguish what type of alarm it is, and the announcement can be made so that the type of alarm (here: emergency call) is derived from the announcement, even if the type is otherwise and way how the automatic dialing of telephone numbers in the event of an alarm is the same as described above.

For the called (alarmed) subscriber, there may also be the possibility of listening to an alarm call (of any kind) in the room in which the multifunction device is installed. For this purpose, it may be necessary, for example, to enter a password as the called subscriber, after verification of which it is then possible to listen into the room using the aforementioned microphone.

Listening into the room in which the multifunction device is installed is also possible when there is no automatic call, e.g. when parents want to listen to the room in which their child is sleeping. In this case, a call is made to the mobile telephone 2 recorded in the multifunction device 1, and after entering the password and verifying it, it is possible to listen into the room.

Finally, the multifunction device 1 can comprise a loudspeaker 15. With its help, it is possible, for example, to soothe the child via loudspeaker 15 when there is an alarm call (e.g. when the child is crying)

To speak words. Access to the loudspeaker 15 may also only be enabled after entering and verifying a password.

Finally, it should also be mentioned that the multifunction device 1 can have a connection 16 (FIG. 2) for an external telephone handset (not shown). Since there is often concern that the electromagnetic radiation ("electrosmog") emanating from a mobile telephone 2 is comparatively high, and especially people who make frequent calls on the phone, do not want to be exposed to this radiation, the external telephone handset can help here, because it is equipped with a corresponding telephone cable, so that calls can be made via this external telephone

Telephone receiver can be done far enough from the antenna of the mobile phone 2.

It can be advantageous if the activation of certain functions (e.g. the "arming" of the multifunctional unit 1 when leaving the apartment) can be carried out using a remote control (not shown). It can also be advantageous if, during the configuration, a particularly user-friendly guidance is carried out via the loudspeaker15, the multifunction unit 1 "announces" which parameter is being changed and in what way (e.g. volume louder / quieter, etc.).

It can also be advantageous if external radio sensors are provided, that is to say those which are not in the

Multifunctional unit 1 itself are provided, but which can be attached, for example, directly to a window pane or smoke detectors which, when activated, can send a corresponding signal to the multifunctional unit 1, which can then trigger an alarm in the manner already described.

The mobile phone 2 can of course also be removed from the receptacle of the multifunction device 1 at any time and can be operated as a mobile phone 2 as normal. Only in the preferred variant with an adapter 11 is this adapter 11 preferably to be removed from the mobile telephone 2.

Claims

claims 1. Multifunction device (1) for a mobile phone (2), on which a plurality of connections (210, 211) are provided, which multifunction device (1) comprises: - a receptacle (10) for the mobile phone (2) - an arrangement of connections - at least one signal transmitter (12, 13) and preferably at least one signal receiver (15) - Signal lines, which are connected to the signal transmitter (12, 13) and the signal receiver (15) that is preferably provided, on the one hand, and to the arrangement of connections of the multifunction device (1), on the other hand, in order to transmit well-defined signals from the signal transmitter (12, 13) to the mobile phone ( 2) and preferably to route signals from the mobile phone (2) to the signal receiver (15). 2. Multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein the multifunction device (1) regardless of the type of mobile phone (2) always has the same, fixed arrangement of connections, and wherein a separate adapter (11) is provided, which is designed such that it can be connected on the one hand to the connections (210, 211) of the mobile telephone (2) and, on the other hand, to the connections of the always the same, fixed arrangement of connections of the multifunction device (1). 3. Multi-function device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the well-defined signals generated by a signal generator are routed to the connection (211) of the mobile telephone (2) for the voice-controlled dialing of telephone numbers, whereby in the event of a transmission of a well-defined signal from a signal generator this connection from the mobile phone (2) automatically an adjustable telephone number is selected. 4. Multifunction device according to claim 3, in which a keyboard (12) with a plurality of keys (120, 121, 122, 123, 124) is provided as the signal transmitter and a programmable telephone number can be assigned to each key (120, 121, 122, 123, 124), so that when such a key (120, 121, 122, 123, 124) is printed, the mobile phone (2) automatically dials the respective programmed telephone number. 5. Multifunction device according to claim 4, in which each key (120, 121, 122, 123, 124) is assigned a field (120a, 121a, 122a, 123a, 124a), in which an image or other information identifying the person can be arranged. whose phone number is automatically dialed when the associated key (120, 121, 122, 123, 124) is printed. 6. Multifunction device according to one of claims 3 to 5, in which means for signaling Room monitoring is provided, which means (13) trigger a alarm signal when moving in the monitored room in the multifunction device (1), which is directed to the connection (211) of the mobile telephone (2) for the voice-controlled dialing of telephone numbers, which means that Mobile phone (2) is automatically dialed an adjustable phone number. 7. Multifunction device according to one of claims 3 to 6, in which a microphone is provided as a signal transmitter, which triggers an alarm signal in the multifunction device (1) when noises occur that exceed a certain sound level, which to the connection (211) of the Mobile phones (2) for the Voice-controlled dialing of telephone numbers is conducted, whereby an adjustable telephone number is automatically dialed from the mobile phone (2). 8. Multi-function device according to one of claims 3 to 7, in which actively operable means are provided as a signal transmitter, which when actuated trigger an emergency signal in the multifunction device (1), which leads to the connection (211) of the mobile phone (2) for the voice-controlled Dialing of phone numbers is routed, whereby the mobile phone (2) automatically dials an adjustable phone number. 9. Multi-function device according to one of claims 6 to 8, in which an element is provided which is capable of triggering a plurality of alarm signals or emergency call signals, wherein when an alarm signal or an emergency call signal is triggered, the individual alarm signals or emergency call signals automatically in a predetermined order to the connection (211) of the mobile phone (2) for the voice-controlled dialing of telephone numbers, and then the mobile phone (2) - in the specified order - the subscribers are automatically called until a subscriber called in this way is automatically called acknowledges the call. 10. Multifunction device according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which a loudspeaker (15) is provided as the signal receiver. 11. Multifunction device according to claims 9 and 10, in which after the automatic dialing of the set telephone number and after successful acknowledgment of the automatic call by the called party Participant and, if necessary, after entering a password, the connection for external loudspeakers of the mobile telephone (2) is connected to the loudspeaker (15) of the multifunction device (1), so that the called subscriber can speak via the loudspeaker (15) of the multifunction device (1) , 12. Multifunction device according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which a connection (16) is provided for an external telephone handset. 13. Multifunction device according to one of claims 1 to 12, in which a removable cover (14) is provided for completely covering the mobile phone (2), so that the mobile phone (2) is not visible from the outside when the cover (14) is attached.