GB2363288A

GB2363288A - A mobile communications device

Info

Publication number: GB2363288A
Application number: GB0013762A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter William Dale Bishop
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2000-06-06
Filing date: 2000-06-06
Publication date: 2001-12-12
Also published as: GB0013762D0

Abstract

A mobile communications device 17,19 for communicating with a plurality of sites 3,9 includes means for generating an audible prompt when the device is within communication range 5,7,11,13,15 of a site 3,9. The audible prompt may take form of a particular ring type, with different rings indicating different services such as GSM and UMTS. In a further embodiment, a device includes means for separately indicating the availability of more than one communication service type. In another embodiment, a device includes means for automatically initiating communication upon entry into communication range of a suitable site. In this manner, a large e-mail may be automatically sent upon entry to a UMTS site, but not a GSM site.

Description

1 2363288 A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE This invention relates to mobile

communications, and in particular to a mobile communications device for communicating via a plurality of sites.

Current mobile telephones indicate to a user that service is available via a telephone display or other visual means, such as flashing LED's. This is not always particularly convenient for a user to monitor, especially when the user is driving a vehicle, etc. Additionally, it is likely that dual mode telephones will 10 become available, possibly using GSM (global system for mobile communications) to provide a voice/low data rate capability with UMTS (universal mobile telephone system) (or similar third generation system) where available for higher data rates. This will mean that the telephone will need the capability to indicate to a user when different types of communications service are available. This will be particularly 15 relevant if UMTS services are rolled out on a non-contiguous basis, since UMTS communications service may not be available in many parts of a country.

In the light of the foregoing, the present invention provides a mobile communications device for communication via a plurality of sites, wherein the 20 device includes means for generating an audible prompt when the device is within communication range of a site. The idea of an audible prompt, as opposed to a visual prompt, is currently unknown to the present inventor. Clearly, however, an audible prompt is particularly advantageous in certain situations.

25 Preferably the audible prompt distinguishes between different communications service types. Hence, if a mobile communications device includes means for producing one type of audible prompt when GSM service is available and another type of audible prompt when UMTS service is available, the user can decide when to stop his vehicle depending on which type of 30 communications service he requires for his particular communication. For example, if the user needs to access the internet or send an email communication, he will wait until he receives the audible prompt indicating that UMTS service is available before stopping his vehicle to make the communication.

The audible prompt may take the form of a particular ring type, with different ring types indicating different communications service types. Alternatively, the audible prompt or prompts may take the form of different bleeps, or even 5 synthesised speech announcements which specify the service type or types available. It is also envisaged that the prompt will be user programmable/selectable via the device's keypad, and may be disabled to prevent unwanted nuisance when the feature is not required.

10 Although it is envisaged that the sites with which the mobile communications device will communicate will probably be base station systems of a cellular telephone communications system, it is possible that the mobile communications device could communicate directly with another mobile communications device. The audio prompt could also be used to indicate when 15 such a mobile device is within communications range.

The present invention further provides a mobile communications device for communication via a plurality of sites, wherein the device includes means for separately indicating availability of more than one communications service type.

20 At present, communications service availability is simply indicated on a mobile telephone display. The display does not indicate which type of communications service is available and, hence, a user may not know whether UMTS service or simply GSIVI service is available at a particular time. Thus, a user could waste valuable time attempting to send an email or access the internet, when such a 25 communication is not possible. The present invention therefore improves upon known mobile telephone displays.

Preferably the mobile communications device includes indicating means which indicate whether a communications facility for a voice communication, such 30 as GSM, is available. Further, the indicating means will preferably also provide an indication as to whether a communications facility for high data rate communication, such as internet access or email communication via UMTS (for example), is available.

The present invention also provides a mobile communications device, wherein the device includes means for automatically initiating a communication upon entry into communication range of a site. At present, it is the responsibility of 5 the user of a device to send or request a communication. However, if a user wishes to send an email and is not within a communication range of an appropriate site, it would be extremely useful for the email to be sent automatically as soon as the device becomes within range of an appropriate site. Hence, this feature is a marked improvement over current mobile communications devices.

Preferably the means for automatically initiating a communication includes an automatic call set up procedure. Thus, as soon as the mobile communications device becomes within communication range of a relevant site, the call set up procedure is instigated and the email or other communication can be sent. At the same time, emails or other communications can be received.

Preferably the device distinguishes between communications service types and transmits a pre-stored communication only if the required communications service type is available. Thus, the device would not try to send a large email for example, if only GSM service was available.

Although the present invention is applicable to any mobile communications device, it is envisaged that it is particularly applicable to mobile telephone handsets or mobile computers such as laptops with a communications facility.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of transmitting a pre-stored communication comprising the steps of:

storing a communication in a mobile communications device; moving the mobile communications device; and 30 transmitting the pre-stored communication automatically upon reaching an area providing appropriate communications service type.

The present invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of services available in a cellular communications system comprising GSIVI service and UIVITS service; 5 Figure 2A is a schematic representation of a mobile telephone handset; and Figure 2B is a schematic representation of a laptop computer with communications facility.

Figure 3A is a block diagram showing component parts of a mobile communications device according to the present invention; and 10 Figure 3B is an alternative arrangement for selecting the receiver frequency.

With reference to Figure 1, GSM service, which provides voice/low data rate facilities, is provided via base station systems 3. Each base station system 3 15 provides a relatively large area of coverage indicated by the circles 5,7. UMTS service for higher data rate facilities, such as email and internet access, are provided by other base station systems 9, each providing a smaller area of coverage indicated by shaded circles 11,13,15.

20 According to the present invention, each mobile communications device, such as a mobile telephone 17 (as shown in Figure 2A) or a laptop computer 19 (as shown in Figure 213), may take advantage of the communications services provided by the base station systems 3,9. However, if a user is moving through the- area covered by the cellular communications network 1, different 25 communications service types (GSM or UIVITS, in this example) will be available at different times. Indeed, as the user moves through area 5, GSM coverage for voice communications only will be predominantly available. The mobile telephone 17 or laptop 19 will provide an indication that this service type is available via a visual display or audible prompt, the audible prompt perhaps being activated only 30 at regular intervals to remind the user of the service type available. However, as the user enters service area 7 from service area 5, UMTS service becomes available via service area 13. As soon as the user enters area 13, an audible prompt is produced via the telephone 17 or laptop 19 to indicate that higher data rate transmissions can be made. This is a marked improvement over prior art devices.

The audible prompts are preferably different for GSM service and UMTS 5 service, thereby making it easy for the user to determine which communications service types are available at any particular time. Furthermore, if the user has prestored a communication in the telephone 17 or laptop 19 for later transmission, this can be achieved automatically upon entry into the service area 13 providing UMTS communications service. To enable this to occur, the device 17,19 either 10 includes or is automatically linked to an automatic call set up procedure which is triggered by the device 17,19 entering service area 13. Whilst such a communication is occurring, the device 17,19 can receive communications from the base station system 9. Clearly this is a highly efficient mode of communication, and one which will use very little transmission time.

Figure 3A illustrates component parts of a mobile communications device 17,19 according to the present invention. The communications device includes an antenna 21 connected to receiving circuitry and transmission circuitry. The receiving circuitry comprises two receivers Rx1, Rx2 tuned to different frequency 20 bands. The first frequency band accommodates GSM communications, whereas the second frequency band accommodates UMTS communications. The outputs from the two receivers are processed by Rx buffer and decoder 23 which provides appropriate outputs dictated by a controller 25. The outputs may be visual via display 27 or audio via speaker 29.

Similarly, transmission circuitry comprises two transmitters Tx1, Tx2 tuned to the same two frequency bands as the receivers for transmitting via GSM or UMTS services. The transmitters Tx1, Tx2 are supplied with input from a keyboard 31 or a microphone 33 via a coder and transmission buffer 35. Once 30 again, the controller 25 controls the output to the transmitters Tx1, Tx2.

When the mobile communications device is within a GSM service area 5,7 or a UMTS service area 11,13,15, the receivers RxI, Rx2 will provide an appropriate output received signal strength indicator (RSSI) to the controller 25. This output indicator informs the controller 25 of the quality of the service available. Preferably the controller 25 fully decodes a broadcast control channel of the target service and identifies the service available. The controller 25 issues the 5 appropriate signals to generate corresponding audio or visual outputs via speaker 29 or display 27 to the user. The user will then know which service type or types is available at any particular moment. The controller 25 will also pass this information to the coder and transmit buffer 35 to instigate a transmission via transmitters Tx1, Tx2, if an appropriate service type is available for the required 10 transmission. More particularly, if the controller 25 is informed by the RSS1 that UMTS service is available, the controller 25 will activate the code and transmit buffer 35 to send a pre-stored email message or other communication requiring UMTS service to the relevant transmitter Tx2 for onward transmission via antenna 21.

Figure 3B shows an arrangement alternative to that of Figure 3A, and indeed one that is preferred over the arrangement of Figure 3A. Instead of providing separate receivers Rx1, Rx2 and transmitters Tx1, Tx2 tuned to the frequency bands for receiving communications via the distinct service systems 20 available, a single receiver Rx1/2 and transmitter is provided. In this case, the controller 25 controls a synthesiser 37 to scan through the complete frequency ranges of the system available. The controller 25 initiates this scanning during pre-defined time sub-slots on the primary (e.g. GSM) channel. As a result, when a signal having a particular frequency is located, the received signal strength 25 indicator RSSI is triggered and the controller 25 is informed. The controller 25 decodes a broadcast control channel of the target service and identifies the service available. The controller 25 can then cause the appropriate audio or visual output to be generated, so that a user of the communications device knows which service type or types is available. Further, if a communication is awaiting 30 transmission, it can be transmitted if the required communications service type is available.

Although the term U1VITS (universal mobile telephone system) has been used herein, the term 3GIPIP (third generation partnership program) (or indeed any similar system capable of supporting different service types) could equally well have be used. Other communications service types may also be envisaged for 5 use with the present invention. Furthermore, although the specific embodiment has been described with reference to an audible prompt, such as a series of bleeps or a particular ring type, a synthesised voice could actually specify the type of communications service available at any particular time. Other forms of prompt might also be envisaged by those skilled in the relevant art.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

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Claims

1. A mobile communications device for communicating via a plurality of sites, wherein the device includes means for generating an audible prompt when the 5 device is within communication range of a site.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audible prompt distinguishes between communications service types.

10

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the audible prompt is a particular ring type or bleep type.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the audible prompt is a synthesised voice giving a verbal description of the communications type available.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the audible prompt can be programmed or disabled by a user.

20

6. A mobile communications device for communication via a plurality of sites, wherein the device includes means for separately indicating availability of more than one communications service type.

7. - A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein one service type provides a 25 communications facility for voice communication.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the communications facility is provided by the global system for mobile communications (GSM).

30

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein one service type provides a communications facility for high data rate communication.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the high data rate communication allows internet access or email communication.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the high data rate communication is facilitated by a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS).

12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the site is a base station system.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the site is a mobile station.

14. A mobile communications device, wherein the device includes means for 15 automatically initiating a communication upon entry into communication range of a site.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for automatically initiating a communication includes an automatic call set up procedure.

16. A device as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the device distinguishes between communications service types and transmits a prestored communication only if the required communications service type is available.

25

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pre-stored communication is an email (or group of emails) for communication using UMTS or other wireless data service.

18. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is a mobile telephone handset.

19. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the device is a mobile computer with communications facility.

20. A mobile communications device for communicating via a plurality of sites, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

21. A method of transmitting a pre-stored communication comprising the steps of:

storing a communication in a mobile communications device; moving the mobile communications device; and 10 transmitting the pre-stored communication automatically upon reaching an area providing appropriate communications service type.

22. A method according to claim 21, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.