GB2403376A

GB2403376A - Communications unit having function button to enable voice activation modes

Info

Publication number: GB2403376A
Application number: GB0314948A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alon Sason; Voram Zilberberg; Lovton Yossef
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2003-06-26
Filing date: 2003-06-26
Publication date: 2004-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-26
Also published as: GB0314948D0; GB2403376A9; GB2403376B

Abstract

A communications unit for use in a vehicle for radio communications includes an actuator for touch operation by a user, a function controller operably coupled to the actuator for controlling operation functions of the mobile station, and a voice activity processor, controllable by the function controller, for converting voice messages into electronic data signals; wherein the actuator has multiple actuation modes including a first mode in which the actuator is operable to provide a first signal to the function controller to activate the voice activity processor and a second mode in which the actuator is operable to provide a second signal to the function controller to initiate a further operation function of the station, e.g. selection of a particular form of voice activated dialling. The unit may comprise a radio telephone, e.g. for use in a moving vehicle, although it could alternatively or additionally provide radio communication of information in one or more other forms, e.g. data, picture or video information. The unit be operable to provide communications with other mobile or fixed stations operating in a cellular or trunked network via a fixed infrastructure including one or more base stations in the system and/or directly.

Description

1 CMO6249EUGB/DJM Title: MOBILE STATION FOR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a mobile station for use in radio communications. In particular, the invention relates to a mobile station for use as a communications unit such as telephone in a vehicle.

Background of the Invention

When the driver of a vehicle makes a telephone call using a mobile telephone whilst driving a vehicle this can distract the driver and can seriously increase the risk of causing an accident. The purpose of this invention is to reduce this risk.

US-2003-0109290A proposes a system for dealing with the above problem in a car. The proposed system has a control unit attached to the steering wheel of the car which communicates by radio with a mobile telephone nearby in the car. The use of multiple communicating units in such a system would cause the system to be unduly complex and expensive.

Su mary of the invention In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communications unit for use in a vehicle for radio communications including an actuator for touch operation by a user, a function controller operably coupled to the actuator for controlling and/or selecting operation functions of the . . , , . . . . ^ .. . ...

2 CM06249EUGB/D]M mobile station, and a voice activity processor, selectable by the function controller, for converting voice messages into electronic data signals) wherein the actuator has multiple actuation modes including a first mode in which the actuator is operable to provide a first signal to the function controller to activate the voice activity processor and a second mode in which the actuator is operable to provide a second signal to the function controller to initiate a further operation function of the station.

The unit according to the invention may comprise a radio telephone although it could alternatively or additionally provide radio communication of information in one or more other forms, e.g. data, picture or video information. The unit may conveniently be adapted for use in a moving vehicle, preferably by including attachment means for attaching the unit to a suitable attachment site within the vehicle. The attachment means may be of a form which is known per se. For example, the attachment means may comprise, attached to a rear face of the body of the unit, a bracket to which may be attached a grip device which may include jaws for gripping an attachment tab. The unit may thereby be fixed for use within a vehicle.

The unit may be operable to provide for example communications with other mobile or fixed stations operating in a cellular or bunked network via a fixed infrastructure including one or more base stations in the system and/or directly.

The further operation function of the unit according i to the present invention may for example comprise selection of a particular form of voice activated À -e e À À ÀÀ À À À . À À Àe - . . À À . 3 CMO6Z49EUGB/D]M dialling to communicate with another terminal. The particular form may comprise name dialling. This is a known procedure whereby a name spoken by the user is recognised by a processor of the mobile station and is converted into a number corresponding to the name, e.g. held in a memory of the mobile station, and the number is called. Alternatively, the particular form may comprise digit dialling in which a number to be called is spoken by a user, recognised by a processor of the mobile station and called by the mobile station.

A further option for the further operation function comprises acceptance of an incoming call.

A still further option for the further operation function comprises completion of a call currently taking place.

A still further option for the further operation function comprises starting operation of a message recorder, e.g. to record an incoming voice or other message.

Yet another option for the further operation function comprises ending operation of a message recorder.

Any two or more of the options for the further operation function may be available for selection as different modes operable by the actuator. In other words, the actuator may operable to provide a first signal to the function controller to activate the voice activity processor and a plurality of further modes in which the actuator is operable to provide further signals to the function controller to initiate further operation functions of the unit.

À À À À 8 8 e . 8 e 8 8.

À À À e. 8 e À 8 À 8 8 ee e *8 4 CM06249EUGB/DJM The actuator conveniently comprises a single key or button which when pushed by a user's finger or thumb operates an electro- mechanical switch. The switch may comprise a microswitch.

The unit may include a keyboard for entry of data or instructions into the mobile station in a conventional manner. In this case, the actuator may conveniently be located more prominently and may conveniently be larger in surface area than the keys of the keyboard. This enables the user to operate the actuator with minimal distraction, e.g. whilst driving - or preparing to drive or assist in the driving of a vehicle.

Different modes of the actuator may be selected in one or more of the following ways: (i) by the number of operations of the actuator by the user, e.g. the number of clicks of a button serving as the actuator: for instance, one click may select the first mode, i.e. voice activation; two clicks may select a second mode, e.g. voice activation digit dialling; (ii) by the length of time the actuator is operated by the user: for instance, a short press on the button, e.g. for less than one second, may select the first mode, i.e. voice activation; a longer continuous press, e.g. for two seconds or more, may select a second mode, e.g. beginning voice message recording; (iii) by the current operation function being undertaken; e.g. acceptance of an awaiting incoming call, or completion of an existing call.

The present invention beneficially and conveniently allows the driver of a vehicle to activate major À . À À . . À À À À À À e. À e À À À . . . À À . CM06249EU0B/D]M functional operations of a communications unit, e.g. for making telephone calls, in the vehicle with minimal driver distraction from driving by operation of a single actuator, e.g. a large button located in a prominent position, e.g. at the top of the unit (when upright). The unit can be fixed for use in a vehicle and can be a single unit which does need to be attached to the steering wheel of the vehicle. Preferably, the actuator is illuminated or luminous to assist in locating the actuator by the user.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Brief Description of the accompanying drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a communications unit embodying the invention for use in a vehicle) FIG. 2 is a plan view of the unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic functional block diagram of the unit shown in FIGs 1 and 2.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention As shown in FIGs. 1 and 2, a communications unit 100 has a case 105 having on its front face a keypad for entry of user instructions into the unit 100 in a conventional manner. The unit 100 also has a major function button 120 which is in a more prominent position and is larger than the keys of the keypad 110.

It is located at the top of the case 105. The button is luminous to facilitate use in reduced lighting be. À À À À . . À À À . . À À À À À À . À . À . . À . .. À À . . 6 CM06249EVGB/D]M conditions. A bracket 130 is formed integrally with the case 105 (e.g. in a single plastics moulding) on its rear face. A clip device (not shown) may be attached to the bracket 130 to facilitate attachment of the unit 100 to a suitable mounting tab (not shown) in a vehicle. The unit 100 has an electro-optical, e.g. liquid crystal, display 140 above the keyboard 110 on the front face of the case 105. The unit 100 may be used as a mobile communications unit, i.e. as a unit fixed in position in a vehicle, such as a car.

FIG. 3 is a schematic functional block diagram of the unit 100 shown in FIG. 1. Components to carry out functions shown in FIG. 3 which are not correspondingly shown in FIGs 1 and 2 are contained within the case 105 of the unit 100. The main function button 120 is connected to a central processor 210, e.g. one or more programmed microchips, which selects and controls operations of the unit 100. The processor 210 communicates with a RF section 220 which processes signals sent from and received by the unit 100 by RF communication with other RF units (not shown). Input user information, e.g. speech, data, picture or video information, is input by an input device 240 (in practice this may be a plurality of different devices for input of various forms of information). In a simple form the input device 240 is a microphone. The input information is fed to and processed by an information processor 230, operating in conjunction with the processor 210, and then to the RF section 220 for outward transmission as a RF signal. Similarly, information received by the RF section 220 is processed by the processor 230 operating in conjunction with the . À À c e À e. e À À À CM06249ELGB/DJM processor 210 and is delivered to an output device 250.

(In practice this may be a plurality of different devices for output of various forms of information). In a simple form the output device 250 is a speaker.

Information relating to operations of the unit 1 may be displayed to the user by the display 140 under control of the processor 210.

Input operating instructions may be applied by a user via the keys of the keypad 110 in a conventional manner. These instructions are delivered to the processor 210 to which the keys of the keypad 110 are connected. In addition, user instructions may alternatively be applied via use of the main function button 120 without use of the keyboard 110. These instructions are provided to the processor 210 connected to the button 120. Examples of use of the button 120 to select operational functions of the unit 1 are as follows.

1. By clicking once on the button 120 with the unit 100 in standby mode, the processor 210 instructs a voice activated operator 260 to operate to provide voice activated name dialling as referred to earlier by the unit 100.

2. By clicking twice on the button 120 with the unit 100 in standby mode, the processor 210 instructs the voice activated operator 260 to operate to provide voice activated digit dialling as referred to earlier by the unit 100.

3. By clicking once on the button 120 when an incoming call has been indicated as received (e.g. by an audible signal in a known manner), the central processor 210 instructs that the call be accepted by À - . . À À À À À . . . À À À . . . À À . . À À À . À À À À À . . . À . . . 8 CM06249EVGB/D]M the unit 100.

4. By clicking once on the button 120 during a call taking place the processor 210 instructs that the call is to be completed.

5. By applying a continuous click (for at least 2 seconds) to the button 120, the processor 210 activates a voice recorder 270 connected to the processor and the processor 230 to record inward speech information received.

6. By applying a continuous click (for at least 2 seconds) to the button 120 with the voice recorder 270 already activated, the processor 210 deactivates the voice recorder 270.

Thus major functions of the unit 1 may be selected conveniently by a use of the single button 120.

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Claims

9 CM06249ELGB/DJM Claims 1. A communications unit for use in a vehicle for

radio communications including an actuator for touch operation by a user, a function controller operably coupled to the actuator for controlling and/or selecting operation functions of the mobile station, and a voice activity processor, selectable by the function controller, for converting voice messages into electronic data signals; wherein the actuator has multiple actuation modes including a first mode in which the actuator is operable to provide a first signal to the function controller to activate the voice activity processor and a second mode in which the actuator is operable to provide a second signal to the function controller to initiate a further operation function of the station.
2. A unit according to claim 1 which is adapted for use in a moving vehicle.
3. A unit according to claim 1 or claim 2 and which comprises a radio telephone.
4. A unit according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 and which is operable to provide radio communication of data, picture or video information.
5. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims and which is operable to provide communications with other mobile or fixed stations operating in a cellular or bunked network via a fixed infrastructure or directly.
6. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the further operation function of the mobile station comprise selection of a particular form : . . À: À À TO CM06249EUGB/D]M of voice activated dialling to communicate with another terminal.
7. A unit according to claim 6 wherein the particular form of voice activated dialling comprises name activated dialling.
8. A unit according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the particular form of voice activated dialling comprises digit activated dialling.
9. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims and wherein the further operation function comprises acceptance of an incoming call.
10. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the further operation function comprises completion of a call currently taking place.
11. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims and wherein the further operation function comprises starting operation of a message recorder.
12. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims and wherein the further operation function comprises ending operation of a message recorder.
13. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims and wherein the actuator comprises a single key or button.
14. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuator is located in a region of the mobile station which is an upper region when the mobile station is upright.
15. A unit according to claim 14 wherein the actuator is located in a region of a top surface of the mobile station.
16. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims and wherein the mobile station includes a À À À À À À ÀÀ À . À À À À . . .. . . À À À À À ee. .. À Àe 1 1 CM06249EVGB/D]M keyboard for entry of data or instructions into the mobile station.
17. A unit according to claim 16 wherein the actuator is larger in surface area than the individual keys of the keyboard.
18. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims and wherein the actuator is operable whereby its different modes are selectable in one or more of the following ways: (i) by the number of operations of the actuator by a user; (ii) by the length of time the actuator is operated by a user; (iii) by the current operation function being undertaken.
19. A unit according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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