AU724390B2

AU724390B2 - Mobile telephone and mobile telephone system

Info

Publication number: AU724390B2
Application number: AU21403/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Toshiyuki Shibuya
Original assignee: NEC Corp
Current assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong
Priority date: 1996-05-15
Filing date: 1997-05-14
Publication date: 2000-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2017-05-14
Also published as: GB2313265A; AU2140397A; JP2970531B2; GB9709903D0; GB2313265B; JPH09307640A

Description

S F Ref: 378320

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

a. Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: NEC Corporation 7-1, Shiba Minato-ku Tokyo

JAPAN

Toshlyuki Shibuya Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Mobile Telephone and Mobile Telephone System The following statement is a full description of this invention, Including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845 MOBILE TELEPHONE AND MOBILE TELEPHONE SYSTEM 10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION i. Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to a mobile telephone and mobile telephone system, and particularly to a terminating connection control system in a Personal Handyphone System (PHS: Japanese simplified mobile telephone system) and its PHS telephone.

2. Description of the Related Art: As described in, for example, the message mail service system of Japanese Patent Laid-open No.

54063/94, terminating connection control systems for mobile telephones, including this type of PHS telephone, have conventionally been call control systems for conveying a message from a caller to the user of a mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is beyond the range of the service area of a radio base station, when the power supply of the mobile telephone is OFF and a line cannot be connected, or when the user is in a place where ringing of the mobile telephone is not desired and ringing is deactivated.

Fig. 1 is a system block diagram showing one example of a terminating connection control system for the mobile telephone disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 54063/94. This system is made up of -2public telephone 11 from which the call originates, public network 12 by which public telephone 11 and mobile exchange 13 are connected, BS (radio base station) 15 that transmits and receives radiowaves with mobile station 16, channel switch 132 that connects BS and public network 12, voice storage unit 133 that stores voice messages, home memory 14 that stores reference information including the location of mobile station 16 and the absence or presence of voice messages in voice storage unit 133, and control unit e*o 131.

Regarding the operation of this system, when there o• is no response from mobile station 16 after mobile station 16 is called from public telephone 11, or when 15 the message mail service is set in home memory 14 from mobile station 16, control unit 131 connects public network 12 and voice storage unit 133, a voice message from the caller is stored in voice storage unit 133, and at the same time, control unit 131 stores information in home memory 14 indicating the presence of a voice message.

When a new location registration request is received from mobile station 16, control unit 131 refers to the information in home memory 14 indicating the presence or absence of voice messages and relays to mobile station 16 information indicating the presence 3 10 o o oooo .o g oo e o of a voice message to mobile station 16.

Fig. 2 is a sequence chart showing the procedure for setting and resetting message mail service in the system shown in Fig. 1. A new "location registration request" (S40) is sent from mobile station 16, and in response, base station 15 sends a "response" (S41) indicating reception of the location registration request to mobile station 16. In response to the new "location registration request" (S40), mobile exchange 13 registers the location of the mobile station.

Mobile station 16 sends a "message mail service set" request (S42), and in response, mobile exchange 13 sends a message mail service set "response" (S43) to mobilestation 16 and carries out the requested setting process.

When a "message mail service reset" request (S44) is sent from mobile station 16, mobile exchange 13 sends a "response" (S45) to the request and carries out the reset process.

A problem with the prior art is that in the event of an incoming call to a mobile telephone including a PHS telephone, call ringing will occur even when the mobile telephone is at a location where call ringing is not desired if the user of the mobile telephone including a PHS telephone should forget to make the setting for message mail service. Another problem is -4that call ringing will also occur in the event of an incoming call to a mobile telephone including a PHS telephone when the mobile telephone is at a location where call ringing is not desired if the user of the mobile telephone including a PHS telephone should mistakenly assume that the area where ringing is not desired is outside the service area range and therefore neglect to make the setting for message mail service himself.

The source of these problems is the necessity for the user of a mobile telephone including a PHS telephone to set the message mail service to the mobile exchange to halt call ringing from the mobile telephone including a PBS telephone.

10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION i The object of the present invention is to provide a mobile telephone system and S• mobile telephone that enable the use of a non-ringing call (restraint of call ringing) service within a service area in which times or places in which call ringing is not desired are defined so as to eliminate the need to designate message mail service to the mobile exchange from individual mobile telephones.

The mobile telephone system according to an aspect of this invention includes a base station and a mobile exchange that performs exchange and connection between a [R:\LIBQ]00373.doc:bfd public network and mobile telephones within the service area of the base station; and the base station further includes control means that exercises setting control of a non-ringing call function which restrains the operation of ringing for calls to a plurality of mobile telephones within its service area.

The control means preferably includes means for setting start times and end times of the non-ringing call function.

In addition, the control means preferably includes a setting switch that allows the option of manual operation for setting controls of the non-ringing call function, and moreover, the control means preferably includes means for effecting control such that, when the non-ringing call function is in effect, the non-ringing call function is effected for a mobile telephone within the station's own service area in response to a location go °:i registration request by the mobile telephone.

oo The mobile exchange preferably includes means for responding to calls to a mobile telephone within the service area of a base station and for effecting response Is control in place of the mobile telephone when the non-ringing call function is in effect; go and message storage means for storing messages from a caller.

o [R:\LIBQ]00373.doc:bfd -6- In addition, the mobile exchange further preferably includes means for notifying a mobile telephone that a call to that mobile telephone has occurred; and further, includes means that, in response to a message playback request from a mobile telephone, plays back a message in a message storage means and sends the played back message to the mobile telephone.

The mobile telephone according to an aspect of the present invention preferably further includes means for requesting playback of a message stored in a message storage means of a mobile exchange.

The above and other object, features, and advantages of the present invention 1o will become apparent from the following description based on the accompanying "°drawings which illustrate an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

o• BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the prior art.

Fig. 2 is a sequence flow chart for setting and resetting message mail service in "the prior art.

S° Fig. 3 shows the system configuration of a mobile telephone system in which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the construction [R:\LIBQ]00373.doc:bfd -7of a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) exchange and base station.

Fig. 5 is a sequence flow chart showing the location registration operation of a PHS telephone within a service area in which non-ringing calling is in effect and the operation of a base station at the time of ending non-ringing calling.

Fig. 6 is a sequence flow chart showing the operation of a PHS exchange during non-ringing calling.

Fig. 7 is a sequence flow chart showing the operation at a PHS telephone during playback of a voice .o message stored in the PHS telephone.

o•.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The working of the present invention will next be *described.

Setting and resetting of the non-ringing call function of this system is effected from the base e: oof station to the mobile exchange. This system therefore does not require requests from individual mobile telephones to the mobile exchange for setting or resetting of the non-ringing call function. In addition, when non-ringing calling is in effect, the mobile exchange responds to calls to each mobile telephone within the service area in place of each mobile telephone. While non-ringing calling is in 8 1 a effect, messages from callers are held as voice messages in the message storage means within the mobile exchange.

Details of an embodiment of the present invention will next be explained with reference to the accompanying figures.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a mobile telephone system in which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Referring to Fig. 3, such a mobile telephone system is composed of: a public network telephone 1; a public network exchange 2 to which public network telephone 1 is connected and which effects transmission and exchange with a mobile network; PHS exchange 3 that is connected to public network exchange 2 and that effects transmission and exchange of the mobile network; a number of base stations that are handled together by PHS exchange 3: base station 4 of service area 7, base station 5 of service area 8, and base station 6 of service area 9; and PHS telephone Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the construction of PHS exchange 3 and base station 4. PHS exchange 3 is composed of exchange control unit 31, message control unit 32, and message storage unit 33. Exchange control unit 31 controls calling with PHS telephone and incorporates a channel switch that carries out a a 9 connections between the line of a caller and message control unit 32 for call requests to PHS telephone originating when non-ringing calling is in effect. When non-ringing calling is in effect, message control unit 32 is connected to a caller by way of exchange control unit 31 and sends an explanation message of non-ringing calling or transfers a voice message from the caller to message storage unit 33. Message storage unit 33 is connected to message control unit 32 and has a memory o "'1"i0 such as a semiconductor or magnetic disk for storing voice messages from a caller.

Base station 4 is composed of base station control unit 41, base station radio unit 42, setting timer 43, eeee and setting switch 44. Base station control unit 41 causes base station 4 to enter a non-ringing calling state when the start of non-ringing calling is conveyed from setting timer 43 or setting switch 44 and to return to normal calling when the end of a non-ringing S"calling is conveyed from setting timer 43 or setting switch 44. Base station radio unit '42 modulates or demodulates control or speech signals from base station control unit 41 and realizes communication with PHS telephone 10. Setting timer 43 incorporates a clock function and conveys to base station control unit 41 the start and end of non-ringing calling for which times have been set. Setting switch 44 is manipulated 10 to manually effect non-ringing calling and conveys the start and end of non-ringing calling to base station control unit 41.

Explanation will next be presented regarding the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sequence chart showing the location registration operation of PHS telephone 10 in service area 7 during non-ringing calling and the operation of base station 4 at the end of non-ringing calling. When 0 setting timer 43 enters a non-ringing calling start time or when setting switch 44 is manually switched to oeooo initiate non-ringing calling, service area 7 of base 5o station 4 becomes a non-ringing calling area.

:eee.

e Upon reception by base station 4 of a "location registration request" (Si) originating from PHS telephone 10 in service area 7, the request is sent east from base station 4 to PHS exchange 3 as a "non-ringing call location registration request" PHS exchange 3 identifies PHS telephone 10 as an object of nonringing calling. With "response" base station 4 then notifies PHS telephone 10 that service area 7 is a non-ringing call area.

When setting timer 43 reaches the non-ringing calling end time or when setting switch 44 is manually switched to reset non-ringing calling, service area 7 of base station 4 becomes an ordinary call area. A 11 "non-ringing call reset" (S4) is sent from base station 4 to PHS exchange 3, and at the same time, base station 4 notifies PHS telephone 10 that service area 7 has reverted to a normal call area by "non-ringing call reset" Fig. 6 is a sequence chart showing the operation of PHS exchange 3 and base station 4 in the event of a call from a public network telephone 1 to PHS telephone within service area 7 when non-ringing calling is in effect. When a "call request" (S10) from public telephone 1 is received by PHS exchange 3, PHS exchange 3 connects public network telephone 1 and message control unit 32 with "connect" (Sll), and message control unit 32 sends a "response" (S12) to public network telephone 1 in place of PHS telephone Message control unit 32 continues by sending as a *o "message request" (S13) a message including an explanation to public network telephone 1 that that non-ringing calling is in effect and a request to the caller for a voice message. When the caller at public network telephone 1 sends a message to the receiver at PHS telephone the message is received at message control unit 32 as a "message response" (S14), whereupon message control unit 32 transfers the received "message response" (S14) to message storage unit 33 as "storage message" 12 and message storage unit 33 stores the voice message in its own memory.

When message storage is completed at message storage unit 33, message storage unit 33 sends "end" (S16) to message control unit 32, and having received "end" (S16), message control unit 32 requests public network telephone 1 to "disconnect" the line (S17).

Exchange control unit 31 effects "non-ringing call" (S18) to PHS telephone 10, and upon receiving "non-ringing call" (S18), PHS telephone 10 sends "response" (S19) to exchange control unit 31. Upon receiving "response" (S19), exchange control unit 31 sends "accept message" (S20) to PHS telephone 10 to PHS notify telephone 10 that a voice message from the caller at public network telephone 1 has been stored.

After receiving "accept message" (S20), PHS telephone 10 requests exchange control unit 31 to "disconnect" the line (S21).

Fig. 7 is a sequence chart showing the operation of PHS exchange 3 and base station A when PHS telephone within service area 7 plays back a voice message from the caller at public network telephone 1 that is stored in message storage unit 33.

PHS telephone 10 sends to exchange control unit 31 a "message replay request" (S30).as a request to play back the voice message from the caller at public 13 network telephone 1 that is stored in the memory of message storage section 33, and exchange control unit 31 executes a "channel set" (S31) for PHS telephone After receiving "channel set" (S31), PHS telephone 10 sends "confirm" (S32) to exchange control unit 31, and upon receiving "confirm" (S32), exchange control unit 31 connects PHS telephone 10 to message control unit 32, message control unit 32 sends "replay request" (S34) to message storage unit 33, and the voice message from the caller at public network telephone 1 is played back as "message replay" (S35) to PHS telephone .ooooi When the "message replay" (S35) of the voice message from the caller at public network telephone 1 is completed, message control unit 32 sends "replay end" (S36) to exchange control unit 31, and exchange control unit 31 requests PHS telephone 10 to "disconnect" the communication channel (S37).

The first effect of the present invention is to enable the use of non-ringing call service within service areas in which times and places are defined for which call ringing is not desired so as to eliminate the necessity for designation of message mail service to the PHS exchange from individual PHS telephones.

Moreover, the invention eliminates the need for PHS telephones to individually request cancellation resetting of message mail service to the PHS exchange.

14 This effect can be achieved because a PHS telephone automatically designates non-ringing calling to the PHS exchange by merely sending a location registration signal to a base station within a nonringing calling service area, and non-ringing calling is automatically started and ended by setting the start and end times of non-ringing calling of the service area.

The second effect of the present invention is to enable notification to a user of a PHS telephone whether or not a call has been received during non- .:e.ei ringing calling, and to allow the user to later hear a voice message that has been stored.

This effect can be achieved because the PHS exchange can respond to incoming calls in place of a PHS telephone when non-ringing calling is in effect and store a voice message, and because the PHS exchange can notify the PHS telephone when a voice message has been stored.

It is to be understood, however, that although the characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the arrangement of the parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone system comprising a base station and a mobile telephone exchange that performs exchange and connection between a public network and mobile telephones within a service area of this base station; said base station having control means that exercises setting control of a non-ringing call function that restrains the operation of ringing for calls to a plurality of mobile telephones within its service area. e to 2. A mobile telephone system according to claim 1 wherein said control means comprises means for setting start times and end times of said non-ringing call a function.

3. A mobile telephone system according to claim 1 wherein said control 5 means comprises a setting switch that allows the option of manual operation for setting control of said non-ringing call function.

4. A mobile telephone system according to claim 2 wherein said control means comprises a setting switch that allows the option of manual operation for setting control of said non-ringing call function. A mobile telephone system according to claim [R:\LIBQ]00373.doc:bfd 16 5 oo °o e o oo oo ooeo o ooo oo e o 1 wherein said control means comprises means for exercising control such that, when said non-ringing call function is in effect, said non-ringing call function is effected for a mobile telephone within said base station's own service area in response to a loca- tion registration request by said mobile telephone.

6. A mobile telephone system according to claim 2 wherein said control means comprises means for exercising control such that, when said non-ringing call function is in effect, said non-rihging call function is effected for a mobile telephone within said base station's own service area in response to a loca- tion registration request by said mobile telephone.

7. A mobile telephone system according to claim 3 wherein said control means comprises means for exer- cising control such that, when said non-ringing call function is in effect, said non ringing call function is effected for a mobile telephone within said base station's own service area in response to a location registration request by said mobile telephone.

8. A mobile telephone system according to claim 4 wherein said control means comprises means for exer- cising control such that, when said non-ringing call 17 function is in effect, said non ringing call function is effected for a mobile telephone within said base station's own service area in response to a location registration request by said mobile telephone.

9. A mobile telephone system according to claim wherein said mobile telephone exchange comprises means for responding to calls to a mobile telephone within a service area of said base station and effect- ing response control in place of said mobile telephone when said non-ringing call function is in effect, and oooo S* message storage means for storing messages from a caller, means for indicating to said mobile telephone that a call to said mobile telephone has occurred, and means that, in response to a message playback request from said mobile telephone, plays back a mes- sage of said message storage means and sends said played back message to said mobile telephone. A mobile telephone system according to claim 6 wherein said mobile telephone exchange comprises means for responding to calls to a mobile telephone within a service area of said base station and effect- ing response control in place of said mobile telephone when said non-ringing call function is in effect, and 18 message storage means for storing messages from a caller, means for indicating to said mobile telephone that a call to said mobile telephone has occurred, and means that, in response to a message playback request from said mobile telephone, plays back a mes- sage of said message storage means and sends said played back message to said mobile telephone.

11. A mobile telephone system according to claim 7 wherein said mobile telephone exchange comprises means for responding to calls to a mobile telephone within a service area of said base station and effect- ing response control in place of said mobile telephone when said non-ringing call function is in effect, and message storage means for storing messages from a caller, means for indicating to said mobile telephone that a call to said mobile telephone has occurred, and means that, in response to a message playback request from said mobile telephone, plays back a mes- sage of said message storage means and sends said played back message to said mobile telephone.

12. A mobile telephone system according to claim 8 wherein said mobile telephone exchange comprises 9 10 19 means for responding to calls to a mobile telephone within a service area of said base station and effect- ing response control in place of said mobile telephone when said non-ringing call function is in effect, and message storage means for storing messages from a caller, means for indicating to said mobile telephone that a call to said mobile telephone has occurred, and means that, in response to a message playback request from said mobile telephone, plays back a mes- sage of said message storage means and sends said played back message to said mobile telephone. *e S:.13. A mobile telephone system according to claim 9 wherein said mobile telephone comprises means that requests playback of a message stored in said message storage means of said mobile telephone exchange.

14. A mobile telephone system according to claim wherein said mobile telephone comprises means that requests playback of a message stored in said message storage means of said mobile telephone exchange. A mobile telephone system according to claim 11 wherein said mobile telephone comprises means that requests playback of a message stored in said message t storage means of said mobile telephone exchange.

16. A mobile telephone system according to claim 12 wherein said mobile telephone comprises means that requests playback of a message stored in said message storage means of said mobile telephone exchange.

17. A mobile telephone system substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 3 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. Dated 8 May, 1997 NEC Corporation Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON t.. .t [N:\LIBT122602:GMM