KR980013053A - Remote operation method of cellular telephone by selective call signal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a communication system for communicating with at least one cellular telephone 350 integrated with a selective call receiver 320. The communication system includes a bidirectional line 200 for receiving a call sent to a cellular telephone, a controller 206 for determining if the cellular telephone is in operation, and a memory 212 for storing the geographical location of the cellular telephone 350. And a transmitter for transmitting the select call signal to the select call receiver 320 within the geographical location of the cellular phone 350 for operating the cellular phone remotely.

Description

Remote operation method of cellular telephone by selective call signal

The present invention relates generally to portable two-way communication devices, and more particularly to a method of remotely operating a cellular telephone with a select call signal.

The emergence of cellular telephones heralds a new phase of two-way mobile communication. However, although cellular telephones have provided two-way mobile communications, they are expensive for the convenience of access within most geographic locations or geographic serviceable areas. The user of the cellular telephone pays for the call time for all calls made and received by the cellular telephone, so apart from the limitation of the leakage of the user's cellular telephone number or the failure of the telephone to miss important calls, There is no way to prevent indiscriminate calls.

One attempt to solve this problem is to combine a cellular telephone with a select call receiver (page). As a combined cellular telephone / selective call receiver, a user can widely distribute the number of his selective call receiver while limiting his cellular telephone number. When called, the user can determine from his telephone number or an attached message whether a response via his cellular telephone is needed. In this combination, the cellular telephone and the selective call receiver have separate receiving circuitry so that the two devices can operate to receive messages independently or simultaneously with each other. Unfortunately, conventional cellular telephones have limited power supply and cannot provide sufficiently long "talk time" for most users under standard operating conditions. Since cellular phones and selective call receivers already require higher power for batteries that provide insufficient "talk time," the battery's power supply constraints are increased when these two devices are combined.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for remotely operating a cellular telephone to conserve battery life and to prevent unnecessary calls to the cellular telephone while reducing the chance of missing an important telephone.

1 is an electrical block diagram of an integrated select call and cellular communication system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

2 is an electrical block diagram of a cellular switchboard connected to the select calling terminal according to FIG. 1;

3 is an electrical block diagram of a communication device including a cellular telephone and a selective call receiver in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the communication device of FIG. 3 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

12 cellular transmission area 14 antenna tower and base station

16: Selected call transfer area 24: Telephone operator central station

26: cellular exchanger

1, a block diagram of an integrated selective calling (paging) and wireless telephone (cellular) system 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The system 10 includes a plurality of cellular transmission areas 12, each of which is a cordless telephone (CT2) handset transceiver coupled with cellular wireless telephones 20, or a selective call receiver. Antenna tower and base stations 14 for transmission of calls to other personal communications transceivers, such as < RTI ID = 0.0 > It will be appreciated that only four antenna towers and base stations 14 are shown for illustration, but are associated with each of a plurality of cellular transmission regions 12. Transmission of the call from the antennas and base stations 14 to the cellular telephones 20 in each cellular transmission area 12 is widely known as a universal technique.

Also shown in FIG. 1 are multiple select call (paging) transmission regions 16 that overlap multiple cellular transmission regions 12. Each select call transfer region 16 overlaps one or more cellular transfer regions 12, with the actual number of overlapping regions each cellular transmission associated with each overlapping select call transfer region 16. It depends on the actual size of the region 12. Each selective call transmission region 16 includes an antenna and base stations 18 located substantially within the center of the transmission region.

Calls sent to the cellular telephone portion of the portable communication device 20 are sent by the caller using a telephone system that includes the caller's telephone connected to the telephone operator central station 24 via a public switched telephone network (PSTN). From the telephone company central office 24, the call is connected to the cellular switchboard via the telephone line. The cellular switch 26 selectively connects the call via telephone lines or serial transmitters and receivers to the appropriate antenna tower and cellular base station 14 in the cellular transmission area 12 where the cellular telephone is located. The operation of cellular systems for the transmission of calls between telephone-based landline and portable cellular telephones is well known as one of the common techniques in the art.

In order to initiate the selection paging signal to be transmitted to the selection paging unit of the communication device 20, the cellular switch 26 is connected to the selection paging terminal 28 via telephone lines 30 or an associated transmitter and receiver (not shown). ) Is connected. The select call signal is connected to a paging terminal 28 which processes the select call signal as an active signal for transmission over the telephone line. After the selection call signal has been processed for transmission, the processed selection call signal is connected to the antenna and base stations 18 in each selection call transmission area 16 via a telephone line or an associated transmitter and receiver. The selection call signal is then transmitted from each of the antennas and selection call base stations 18 throughout the area serviced by the selection call system, which will be discussed in more detail later, for example in the form of simultaneous transmission.

2 is an electrical block diagram of a cellular switchboard connected to a selective calling terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In general, the operation of a cellular exchanger is well known in the art, so this is briefly described.

Calls originating from telephones located in a public switched telephone network city are connected to a cellular switching center 202 via a telephone line 200 through a telephone operator central office. The switching network 202 selectively connects the call to a cellular site so that the cellular telephone is located at each cellular site in the cellular system using the two-way voice telephone line 204. The location of each cellular telephone in the cellular system is communicated to the cellular switcher 26 via a data telephone line 210 that connects the modulated tone data to the modem 208. Retrieves location data from the modem to the main computer 206 which controls the call routing through the switching network 202. Mass memory 212 also includes information such as cellular telephone identification information, billing information, selective calling or paging number of the communication device, and other information essential to the operation of the cellular system, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Is connected to a main computer 206. An operator's console 214 is connected to the main computer 206 to enable control of the operation of the cellular system, to provide a connection, and to change information stored in the mass memory 212. The operator's console 214 is also connected to the switching network 202 to provide monitoring of the system.

The cellular switchboard 26 of the present invention is capable of communicating with an associated selective paging system. According to the preferred embodiment described next, when a call is directed to the cellular telephone, a prerecorded message is received even if the cellular telephone is turned off or outside the service area. When the cellular telephone 20 is turned off or outside the service area, the known final position of the cellular telephone is received via the bidirectional line 210 and the main computer stores information in the mass memory 212. The information includes the state of the cellular telephone and its known final location, for example being turned off or moved out of the service area. The select call (paging) number associated with the cellular telephone 20 is also stored in the mass memory 212 to allow the cellular telephone to be operated remotely by the select call (paging) portion. Alternatively, the owner of the cellular telephone may not be able to transmit a two-way voice line through the interface 220 before only certain callers initiate transmission of the encoded select call signal as an operational signal to operate the cellular telephone remotely. The communication system connected to 204 requires entry of a password. As soon as the cellular switcher 26 determines that the cellular telephone is turned off, it automatically operates the selective call controller 250 by retrieving the selective call number to send the selective call signal to the cellular telephone. Turn on the phone.

When the select calling terminal and the cellular switch are located remotely from each other, the communication between the select call (paging) terminal 28 and the cellular switch 26 is made using a dedicated two-way data telephone line 30. The bidirectional data line 30 may also be part of a local area network (LAN) when the selective calling terminal and the cellular switch are located close to each other. Using the dedicated two-way data telephone line 30, the cellular switch 26 starts transmitting the select call signal using the select call number stored in the mass memory 212. The main computer 206 sends the known final position of the communication device before the cellular telephone is considered to be turned off. The select call controller 250 uses the known final position of the cellular telephone to select the appropriate base station for transmitting the select call signal to operate the cellular telephone.

As soon as the known final position and selection call number are received by the selection call controller, the base station is selected from the plurality of base stations 252 and 256 to transmit the selection call signal through the transmitter 254 (or 258). Alternatively, when the cellular telephone does not answer, the system may transmit an operation signal in another geographical service area in an attempt to operate the cellular telephone.

In the above method, the communication system combines the cellular system and the selective calling system to remotely operate (turn-on) the cellular telephone portion of the portable communication device with the selective call receiver of the cellular telephone. When the user turns his cellular phone off, after the call is sent to the cellular phone, the communication system begins sending the selection call signal to operate the cellular phone when the cellular phone determines that the cellular phone is turned off. Can be.

3 is an electrical block diagram of a portable communication device or two-way communication device 20 including an integrated selective call receiver (pager) 320 and a cellular telephone 350.

The cellular telephone 350 is a bidirectional communication device that includes a microcomputer 352 that combines a transmitter 354 and a receiver 356. The keypad 358 receives the user's input, for example dialing and turning the cellular telephone off and the display 360 displays information such as the dialed telephone number and whether the cellular telephone was operated by a selective call receiver. Displays other status information, including the indication of. The power switch 362 can be operated by the keypad 358 and the selective call receiver 320 to turn on the cellular telephone. The power switch 362 can turn off (turn off) the cellular telephone without powering down the select call receiver 320 of the portable communication device. The battery (power source) 304 powers the cellular telephone 350 and the selective call receiver through a regulator 306. As is well known, the battery 304 of the cellular telephone 350 can provide 6 volts of power to the cellular telephone 350 and the typical battery of the selective call receiver can provide 1 and 1.5 volts of power. . Therefore, the regulator 306, connected between the cellular telephone 350 and the select call receiver, adjusts the supply voltage of 6 volts to 1 and 1.5 power to power the select call receiver 320. The select call receiver 320 and the cellular telephone are connected together to the interface circuit 308.

Connected to the battery 304, the bidirectional communication circuitry of the cellular telephone 350 may be initialized to receive telephone calls through the antenna 304. The select call receiver 320 is connected to the output of the regulator 306 which provides the 1 and 1.5 volts power required by the select call receiver 320 and the interface circuit 308. The select call receiver 320 includes an antenna 322 connected to a receiver 324 that receives a select call signal to operate the cellular telephone 350. Decoder / control key 326 decodes the received signal and processes this decoded signal stored in memory 328. During reception of the select call signal, the decoder / controller 326 generates an operation signal 330 that is connected to the power switch 362 of the cellular telephone 350. The operation signal 330 turns on or operates the power switch 362 of the power switch 350 of the cellular telephone 350 to receive a call when the cellular telephone 350 is turned off.

Thus, the cellular telephone can remain off to conserve battery life, and when the cellular telephone is called, the communication system instructs the caller to wait until the called cellular telephone is operated remotely. In the above method, when the cellular telephone can be turned off to preserve battery life and the cellular telephone that is turned off is called, the system is connected to a select call receiver in the cellular telephone to turn on the cellular telephone. The battery life of a cellular telephone can be greatly increased because it can transmit the select call signal that is sent.

4 is a flow chart illustrating operation of the communication system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The communication system determines in step 402 when a call has been sent to the cellular telephone of the communication device 20 having a select call receiver integrated with or disposed within the cellular telephone. When the call is received at the cellular telephone, the system determines at step 404 if the cellular telephone is operating. When the cellular telephone is in operation, the system connects the caller to the designated cellular telephone at step 406 as a universal technique well known in the art. On the other hand, when the cellular telephone is outside the service area or is turned off, the system determines the final position of the cellular telephone at step 408. The final known position is determined by examining the memory 212 that stores the position of the cellular telephone before the cellular telephone is turned off. The known final location and any password associated with turning on or operating the cellular telephone is retrieved at step 410. Thereafter, if the caller wants the system to attempt to operate (turn-on) the cellular telephone remotely at step 412, the communication system notifies the caller that the cellular telephone is turned off and waits (calls).

The communication system checks at step 414 whether the line is open (the caller did not hang up), and when the line is not open, the system terminates at step 416. When the line is open, for example, when the caller is waiting while the system is operating the cellular telephone, the system checks at step 418 if there is a predetermined password restriction before operating the cellular telephone. If a password restriction exists, the system prompts the caller to enter a password at step 420 and checks if the password is correct at step 422. If the password is incorrect, the caller is notified that the password is incorrect and, for example, given more than one chance to enter the password. If the caller cannot enter the correct password, the system notifies the caller that they are not authorized to operate the cellular telephone and the call ends at step 416. When a correct password has been entered in step 422, or if no password exists that limits the operation of the cellular phone in step 418, the system retrieves the selected call number associated with the cellular phone in step 424. In step 426 the select call number is encoded with a select call signal to retrieve the select call number associated with the cellular telephone. In step 426 the select call number is encoded with a select call signal and transmitted to the select call receiver integrated with the cellular telephone. Thereafter, the system waits for a predetermined time until it is expected at step 428 that a select call signal has been received. The system attempts the call in step 430 or attempts to reconnect the caller to the cellular telephone. If at step 432 the cellular telephone responds, at step 432 the caller is connected and a selective call receiver (pager) activation flag is set to notify the user that the cellular telephone was operated by the selective call receiver. . However, if the select call signal did not operate the cellular telephone, then in step 436 the caller is notified that the cellular telephone is in an unconnected state, and the pager flag is set in step 438 before the call is terminated.

In the above method, the cellular telephone can be kept off to conserve battery life and when the call is received into the system, the system operates to operate the cellular telephone when the system determines that the cellular telephone is turned off. Will try.

In addition, when the user provides a password to the system and the system determines that the cellular phone is off, the system will require input of the password before attempting to operate the cellular phone. Therefore, the owner of a cellular telephone integrated with a selective call receiver may reveal his password to only those callers he wants so that only certain callers can operate his cellular telephone remotely when his cellular telephone is turned off. Can be allowed to turn on. In addition to preserving battery life, the cryptographic operation method prevents unwanted callers from operating the cellular telephone when the cellular telephone is turned off.

5, there is shown a flow chart illustrating the operation of the communication device of FIG. 3 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. During the start phase, the communication device performs initialization in step 500. When the selection call receiver of the communication device receives a selection call signal (page) in step 502 (step 502), the communication device checks whether the cellular telephone is turned on (step 504), At 506, set the call area external flag to notify the subscriber that the operation signal has been received by the selective call receiver. However, when the cellular telephone is turned off, power switch 362 is operated via line 330 to turn on the cellular telephone at step 508. The communication device checks in step 510 if the user responds, and if so, in step 512 the call is connected. If the user does not answer this call, the communication device sets a timer at step 514. In step 516, it is checked whether the timer has finished counting. If the count has ended in step 516, the select call (paging) action flag is set in step 518 to notify the cellular phone user that the cellular phone has been operated by the select call receiver. Thereafter, the power switch is turned off in step 520 to keep the cellular telephone in the previous off position.

In summary, communicating with at least one cellular telephone integrated with an optional call receiver; The combined cellular and selective call communication system includes a receiver that receives a call sent to the cellular telephone and a controller that determines whether the cellular telephone is operational. The controller searches the memory to check if a password is required before an operation signal is sent to remotely operate the cellular telephone. The interface notifies the caller that the cellular telephone is inoperable, the memory stores the geographical location of the cellular telephone, and the encoder is sent to a select call receiver of the last known geographical location to remotely operate the cellular telephone. Encodes the select call signal as an operation signal.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. A communication system, comprising: a method for remotely operating a bidirectional communication device having a selective call receiver, comprising: (a) receiving a call sent to the bidirectional communication device; (b) determining whether the bidirectional communication device is in an operational state; And (c) in response to step (b), remotely operating the bidirectional communication device by transmitting an operation signal to the selective call receiver. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises: checking whether a cipher is required before transmitting the operation signal; And requesting input of the password before the operation signal is transmitted. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises determining a location of the bidirectional communication device. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining step determines a final known location of the bidirectional communication device, and wherein the transmitting step operates the selection call receiver within a coverage area of the bidirectional communication device. Remote operation method of a bidirectional communication device for transmitting a signal. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step further comprises encoding the operation signal in a selection call signal. CLAIMS 1. A communication system for communicating with at least one cellular telephone integrated with a selective call receiver, comprising: duplex lines for receiving a call sent to a cellular telephone integrated with the selective call receiver; A controller for determining if the cellular telephone is in operation; A memory for storing a geographical location of said cellular telephone; And a transmitter for communicating a select call signal to the select call receiver within the geographical location of the cellular telephone to remotely operate the cellular telephone. 7. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the controller crosses the memory to check if a password is required before the selective call signal for remotely operating the cellular telephone is transmitted. 7. The communication system of claim 6, further comprising an interface for notifying the caller when the cellular telephone is not in operation and requiring the caller to enter a password to operate the cellular telephone. 7. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the cellular telephone comprises a power switch for inactivating the cellular telephone without inactivating the selective call receiver. CLAIMS 1. A communication system for communicating with at least one cellular telephone integrated with a pager, the communication system comprising: a bidirectional line for receiving a call sent to a cellular telephone integrated with the pager; A controller for determining if the cellular telephone is in operation; An interface for notifying a caller that the cellular telephone is inactive; Memory for retrieving a geographic location of the cellular telephone, the memory being retrieved by the controller to check if a password is required to operate the cellular telephone remotely; An encoder for encoding the paging signal as an operation signal; And a transmitter for transmitting the operation signal to the pager in the geographical location of the cellular telephone to remotely operate the cellular telephone. ※ Note: The disclosure is based on the initial application.