JP2000013869A - Mobile communication network system with exclusive reception mode - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the exclusive reception mode in a mobile communication network. SOLUTION: When a telephone set 144 sends a call to a mobile set 102 (1), of which a gate exchange node 124 is informed, and a home memory to be accessed is specified based on a telephone number, and the node 124 inquires of the home memory 134 about a state of a subscriber and a position registration area (2). The home memory 134 informs the gate exchange node 124 of registration to the exclusive reception mode. The gate exchange node 124 informs the mobile set 102 of the exclusive reception mode in voice (3). The user uses buttons 146 of the telephone set 144 to enter a message consisting of characters (4). Messages are stored in the exchange node 122 (5) and a base station 112 corresponding to the position registration area transmits the message with an identification signal of the mobile set through a simultaneous call channel (6). The base station 112 transmits the message by a predetermined number of times repetitively (7).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile communication network system, and more particularly, to a mobile communication network system having a reception-only mode in which a mobile station does not transmit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional mobile communication network system,
When a call is generated or a position is registered, the mobile device autonomously transmits a response to the call and transmits a position registration. A case of a call to a mobile device will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, a telephone is connected to a mobile device 102 from a telephone 144 connected to another system. In this case, according to the telephone number of the mobile device 102,
It is connected to a mobile communication network via a public line network 142. The gateway exchange node 124, which is a connection node with the public network in the mobile communication network, stores the state of the subscriber of the mobile device (for example, whether it is in a connectable state) and the current registration position and the like in a home memory (HLR) 134. Contact Then, the mobile station 102 is simultaneously called from the base station 112 or the like in the location registration area. When the mobile station 102 responds to the paging, the line is set up and connected to the base station 112 that has received the response and the higher-level subscriber switching node. Thus, the telephone 144 and the mobile device can communicate with each other.

[0004] As described above, the mobile station does not transmit the signal by itself but transmits the signal when responding. Therefore, when the power is not turned off, transmission may be performed without intention, and for example, in a hospital or the like, radio waves emitted from the mobile device may affect devices and the like.

[0005]

At present, even when the power is turned off, a message is recorded, and the power must be turned off due to the influence of radio waves in a hospital, for example. Even in that case, the message sent in the meantime can be received later when the power is turned on. However, if the user of the mobile device is waiting for an urgent message, it is necessary to know the incoming call when receiving it. Also, if the user forgets to turn off the power, the mobile device may transmit the message without making a call.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a reception-only mode which can be used only in a place where transmission from the mobile device is not desirable, such as a hospital, and can only receive without transmitting from the mobile device. .

Another object of the present invention is to automatically shift to a reception-only mode when a user of a mobile station moves to an area where transmission is not preferable without requiring any operation by the user of the mobile station. It is.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a mobile communication network system, when a mobile station is set to a reception only mode, a mobile station issues a reception only mode setting request to a base station. When the mobile network side including the base station receives the reception setting mode setting request from the mobile station, the mobile network that transmits the reception setting mode setting request to the database storing the state of the mobile station transmits The apparatus stores the fact that the apparatus is in the reception setting mode, and performs transmission that does not require a response to transmission to the mobile apparatus set in the reception setting mode.

The setting of the mobile station to the reception only mode is manually performed by the user.

Thus, according to the present invention, by providing the receive-only mode, a message can be received even in a place where transmission is not desirable.

The transmission to the mobile device in the reception setting mode is text information, and this information may be information for notifying that a voice message has been stored. These transmissions are performed a plurality of times.

In this way, it is ensured that the message is received by the mobile station.

[0013] Further, the base station transmits a signal for reporting a restricted area or a non-restricted area, and the mobile station monitors the report signal and detects that the mobile station has changed from the non-restricted area to the restricted area. It sets itself in the receive-only mode, and when it detects that it has changed from the restricted area to the non-restricted area, it releases itself from the receive-only mode.

Thus, when the mobile device enters the restricted area,
The mobile device can be automatically set to the reception only mode.

[0015] In addition, the mobile station stores the history of messages received during the receive-only mode, and transmits the received message history when the receive-only mode is released. Enables delivery confirmation.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining an embodiment of the receive-only mode of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates switching of the mobile device to the receive-only mode. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an incoming call in the reception-only mode. 2 and 3, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

<Setting of Reception Only Mode> FIGS. 2 and 3
Of the mobile devices 102 can set the reception only mode. In the mobile station 102 set to this mode, the base station 1
When a signal requiring a response is transmitted from 12 or the like, no response is returned, and only a signal is received. The setting to the reception only mode is set by a specific operation of the mobile device 102 (for example, pressing a specific function key or transmitting to a specific number). This setting is desirably made before entering an area where transmission is prohibited, such as a hospital.

In FIG. 2, when a specific function key of the mobile device is pressed, a specific number (# 1234) is transmitted ((1) in FIG. 2), and the mobile device 102 is set in the reception only mode.

The base station 112 that has received the specific number from the mobile device 102 identifies the home memory (HLR) 134 to be accessed from the mobile device number (telephone number) or the like assigned to the received signal (FIG. 2). 2 (2)). The number of the mobile station and information indicating that the reception-only mode is set are transferred to the identified home memory 134 ((3) in FIG. 2).
The received home memory 134 is the home memory 134
The field indicating the reception-only mode of the subscriber information of the mobile device 102 indicates that this mobile device is in the reception-only mode ((4) in FIG. 2). This is done, for example, by setting a flag in that field. This means that the user sets the mobile device 102 in the reception only mode and registers that the mobile device 102 is in the reception only mode in the mobile communication network.

The mobile station 102 in the reception-only mode
Does not perform any action that emits all radio waves, such as outgoing calls, location registration, and response to incoming calls.

In order to release the reception only mode,
For example, this is performed by pressing the above-mentioned specific function key again. The mobile device 102 releases its own reception-only mode and transmits the same signal as in the above setting. Thereby, the flag indicating the reception only mode in the home memory 134 is released. With this, mobile device 1
The 02 side and the mobile communication network release the reception only mode.

<Reception in Reception Only Mode> Next, communication with the mobile device 102 set in the reception only mode will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, a case will be described in which, for example, a call is made from a telephone 144 of another network (public telephone network) to the mobile station 102 set in the above-described reception-only mode.
The number of the mobile device 102 is transmitted from the telephone 144 (FIG. 3).
(1)), and the gateway switching node 124 which is a connection node to the public line of the mobile communication network is notified. The gateway exchange node 124 specifies the home memory to be accessed based on the telephone number, and inquires of the home memory 134 about the state of the subscriber and the location registration area ((2) in FIG. 3). The mobile memory 1 is stored in the home memory 134.
02 is registered in the reception only mode. Therefore, the home memory 134 notifies the gateway exchange mode 124 that it is registered in the reception only mode. The gateway exchange mode 124 receiving this notification is set to the telephone 144
The user is notified that the mobile device 102 is in the reception only mode by voice. Then, the user is also notified that the notification by text is possible ((3) in FIG. 3).

The user inputs a text message from the button of the telephone 144 in the same manner as the pager input ((4) in FIG. 3). The message is sent to the exchange node 1 in the location registration area registered in the home memory 134.
22 (FIG. 3 (5)). The stored message is transmitted together with the mobile station identification from the base station 112 corresponding to the location registration area using the paging channel ((6) in FIG. 3). Usually, there are a plurality of base stations corresponding to the location registration area. A message is repeatedly transmitted from base station 112 a predetermined number of times (see FIG. 3).
(7)). The base station 112 does not expect a response from the mobile station to this message transmission.

The mobile station 102 constantly monitors the paging channel even in the reception-only mode, and receives and displays a message transmitted with its own identification added. Since the message is transmitted a plurality of times, the probability that the mobile device 102 receives the message is high. At this time, no transmission from the mobile device 102 such as a response to the transmission from the base station or location registration when the area is changed is not performed.

In the above description, the text message that can be received by the mobile device 102 has been described. However, it is also possible to transmit a voice message to the mobile device.

In this case, when notifying that the mobile station 102 is in the reception-only mode, the mobile station 102 is notified that a voice message is also possible, and the user is allowed to select which type of message to send. This selection is made, for example, by pressing a number button. When the user selects a message by voice, the voice is stored in the same manner as the message recording of the answering machine.

In order to transmit the voice message, the fact that there is a message from the user of the telephone 144 is notified by text. In this notification, the identification (telephone number) of the caller can also be notified and displayed. When the user of the mobile device 102 in the reception-only mode sees the character display of this notification, the user exits the area where transmission from the mobile device such as a hospital is restricted, cancels the reception-only mode, and connects with the answering machine. Similarly, the user receives a voice message.

<Automatic Reception Only Mode Setting> In the above description, the user manually sets the reception only mode. However, if the user does not notice that he / she has entered the area where transmission is restricted, or forgets to set to the reception setting mode, the mobile station responds when a call is made to the mobile station. May be sent from In order to prevent this, it is necessary to set a transmission-restricted area and automatically set the reception-only mode when the mobile station moves to this area. The setting of the automatic reception only mode will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, base station 212 and base station 216 have unrestricted areas (regular cells) 202 and 206, respectively, for which transmission is not restricted.
The base station 214 is responsible for a restricted area 204 where transmission is restricted, sandwiched between unrestricted areas 202 and 204.

The broadcast information from the base station to the mobile station includes information on whether the area is a non-restricted area or a restricted area. This notification information is always received by the mobile device and is used to monitor whether the area where the mobile device is located is a restricted area.

Now, the mobile station 22 in the unrestricted area 202
When 2 enters the non-restricted area, the mobile station 222 detects that it has entered the restricted area based on the information included in the broadcast information received from the base station 214. When detecting that the mobile device 222 has entered the unrestricted area, the mobile device 222 sets itself to the reception only mode and sets the base station 21 in the reception-only mode.
4 is notified that the reception-only mode has been set. This procedure is the same as the above-described manual setting of the reception-only mode, and thus the details are omitted. Thus, the mobile device 222 that has entered the restricted area is automatically set to the reception only mode.

The mobile station 224 in the restricted area 204
Exits to the adjacent unrestricted area 206, the mobile device 22
4 detects that it has left the restricted area based on information contained in the broadcast information received from the base station 216. Upon detecting that the mobile station 224 has left the restricted area, the mobile station 224 releases itself from the reception-only mode and notifies the base station 214 of the release of the reception-only mode. This procedure is the same as the manual release of the reception-only mode described above, and thus the details are omitted. As a result, the mobile device 224 that has left the restricted area is automatically released from the reception-only mode.

Since the setting of the above-mentioned reception only mode involves transmission from the mobile station, when providing a restricted area, it is necessary to set the boundary of the restricted area where transmission is performed in accordance with the mode setting in consideration of the fact. is there.

The above-described procedure for setting the automatic reception mode is for a case where the user is not talking using the mobile device.
A case where the user moves from the non-restricted area to the restricted area during a call will be described.

When the mobile device 222 detects from the broadcast information that the mobile device 222 has moved from the unrestricted area to the restricted area during a call, as described above, the mobile device interrupts the call and enters the restricted area by voice. And forcibly terminate the call. Then, the user sets himself / herself to the reception only mode, and performs the procedure of setting the above reception only mode.

Alternatively, it is the same as notifying that the user has entered the restricted area by voice, but the user may wait for the reception-only mode until the user ends the call by himself. .

<Confirmation of Delivery> In the reception only mode of FIG.
There are times when you want to be sure to receive. At this time, transmission is specified by specifying delivery confirmation. If this is specified,
When the mobile station leaves the restricted area, the mobile station sends an acknowledgment, so that the message can be sent reliably.
This delivery confirmation procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

When acknowledgment is required, the user who sends the message registers in the mobile communication network that acknowledgment is required when sending the message. This is registered in the home memory 134, for example. In FIG. 5, a user A and a user B outside the mobile communication network receive a mobile communication network subscriber α.
A message #a and a message #b each requiring acknowledgment are sent (see (1) and (2) in FIG. 5).

The mobile communication network that has received the message assigns a number to each message for the message that requires delivery confirmation (see (3) in FIG. 5). The numbered message is stored in the subscriber exchange node 122 together with the numbered message (see (4) in FIG. 5). From the base station 112 to the mobile station 102, a message,
The identification of the sender and the notification that the delivery confirmation is required are transmitted a plurality of times (see (5) in FIG. 5).

When the mobile station 102 receives a message indicating that delivery confirmation is necessary, together with a text message from the user and the identification of the sender (telephone number), the mobile station 102 stores the received history ((6 in FIG. 5). )reference). This is performed by storing the added number. The example of FIG. 5 indicates that the message with the added number (# 3) has not reached the mobile device 102 side.

When the reception-only mode of the mobile device 102 is released (becomes outside the restricted area), the history of the received message stored in the mobile device 102 is transmitted to the mobile communication network ((FIG. 5) 7)) to confirm delivery.
That is, all the numbers assigned to the received messages stored in the mobile device 102 are sent to the base station. When the acknowledgment is received from the mobile station, the node storing the message (the subscriber switching node 122 in FIG. 5) collates the history and responds to the message clearly transmitted. Releases the storage (see (8) in FIG. 5). A message that is found not to be received by the mobile device 102 based on the history transmitted when the reception-only mode is released is sent to the mobile device again (see (9) in FIG. 5). This is done in communications with a normal response.

In the above example, the delivery confirmation is specified from the side sending the message to the mobile station. However, the delivery confirmation may be always performed. Alternatively, it may be specified from the mobile device that delivery confirmation is performed.

As described above, by confirming the delivery,
The message will be reliably sent to the mobile station.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, a message can be received even in a place where transmission is not desired by providing a reception only mode.

Further, it is also possible to provide a base station corresponding to an area where transmission is not desired and to set the base station as a restricted area, and when the mobile station enters the restricted area, automatically set the mobile station to the reception only mode. In the mobile device, by storing the history received in the reception only mode, when the mobile device is released from the reception only mode, it is possible to confirm the delivery.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating call setting for a conventional mobile device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a reception-only mode setting according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating reception in a reception-only mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an automatic reception only mode setting according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining transmission of a message specified as delivery confirmation according to the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 102 mobile station 112,114 base station 122 subscriber switching node 124 gateway switching node 132 common line signaling network 134 home memory 142 public line network 144 fixed telephone 146 keyboard 202,204,206 cell 212,214,216 base station

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Nakamura 2-10-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Inside NTT Mobile Communication Network Corporation (72) Inventor Motoi Tamura 2-1-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. NTT Mobile Communication Network Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Daisuke Akiyama 2-1-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo F-Term in NTT Mobile Communication Network Co., Ltd. (reference) 5K067 AA21 AA34 BB02 DD11 DD13 DD19 DD24 DD51 EE02 EE10 EE16 FF02 FF23 FF25 FF40 GG11 HH23 KK15

Claims (11)

[Claims] In a mobile communication network system, when a mobile station is set to a reception only mode, a mobile station transmits a reception only mode setting request to a base station, and the base station receives the reception request from the mobile station. Upon receiving the dedicated mode setting request, the control station controlling the mobile station,
The control station that has transmitted the reception-only mode setting request from the mobile device, the control station that has received the reception-only mode setting request stores the state of the mobile device in a database that has transmitted the reception setting mode setting request. Remember that it is in the reception setting mode, and for transmission to a mobile device set in the reception setting mode,
A mobile communication network system that performs transmission without requiring a response. 2. The mobile communication network system according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the mobile device to the reception only mode is manually performed by a user. 3. The mobile communication network system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission to the mobile device in the reception setting mode is text information. 4. The mobile communication network system according to claim 3, wherein the transmission to the mobile device is information for notifying that a voice message has been stored. 5. The mobile communication network system according to claim 3, wherein transmission to said mobile device is performed a plurality of times. 6. The mobile communication network system according to claim 1, wherein the base station transmits a signal for reporting a restricted area or a non-restricted area, and the mobile station monitors the broadcast signal. , When it detects that it has changed from an unrestricted area to a restricted area, it sets itself to receive-only mode, and when it detects that it has changed from a restricted area to an unrestricted area,
A mobile communication network system which releases itself from the reception only mode. 7. The mobile communication network system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile station stores a history of messages received during the reception-only mode, and stores the received message when the reception-only mode is released. A mobile communication network system, wherein a history is transmitted, and acknowledgment is performed based on the received message history. 8. A mobile station in a mobile communication network system, wherein when the mobile station itself is set to a reception only mode, the mobile station transmits a reception only mode setting request to a base station, and in a reception setting mode, receives a reception only mode request. A mobile device characterized in that transmission is not performed but only performed. 9. The mobile device according to claim 8, wherein the setting to the reception only mode is manually performed by a user. 10. The mobile station according to claim 8, wherein a broadcast signal from the base station is monitored, and when a change from an unrestricted area to a restricted area is detected,
If you set yourself to receive-only mode and detect a change from a restricted area to an unrestricted area,
A mobile device that releases itself from the reception only mode. 11. The mobile device according to claim 8, wherein a history of messages received during the reception-only mode is stored, and when the reception-only mode is released, the received message history is transmitted; A mobile device that performs delivery confirmation based on a history of transmitted received messages.