JP2001045571A - Information terminal and its communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information terminal adopting a PHS communication system whose operability is enhanced by avoiding congestion between a time when an operator desires transmission of data and a time when data cannot be sent because of re-connection and to provide its communication method. SOLUTION: The information terminal 100 comprises a control means 101, a communication time detection means 102 included in the control means 101, a notice means 107 that displays a remaining communication time detected by this communication time detection means 102, and a transmission reception means comprising a radio protocol control section 108, a radio section 109 and an antenna 110. An operator checks the displayed remaining communication time to discriminate the appropriateness of transmission so as to avoid the transmission timing from being in congestion with the communication disabled time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information terminal, and
The present invention relates to an information terminal using an S (Personal Handy-Phone System: simplified mobile phone system) and a communication method in which a continuous communication time is limited by one connection such as a direct telephone call between slave units, and a communication method between the information terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art PHS is a radio telephone using a mobile terminal, and provides a data transmission service of 32 kbps and 64 kbps in a 1.9 GHz frequency band by a digital communication system. Since antenna power is small, a special license is not required, and it is rapidly spreading. The PHS has been proposed not only as a mere communication terminal but also built into various information terminals and the like, and a communication function is added to such an information terminal to enable communication between the information terminals.

[0003] However, as one of the restrictions on direct telephone communication between slave units in the PHS communication system, the maximum communication time (hereinafter referred to as a "specified time") that can be communicated by one connection is limited. Reconnection is necessary to continue communication. That is, as shown in FIG. 9A, in the communication procedure for communication from the terminal 1 to the terminal 2, first, the terminal 1 makes a "connection request" to the terminal 2 (step A1). Next, the terminal 2 "connects" to the terminal 1.
Is sent (step A2). As a result, communication between the terminal 1 and the terminal 2 is established (step A3). But,
After a lapse of a prescribed time (T1) of about 3 minutes, the physical channel is disconnected and the logical channel information is initialized (step A4). If the communication is completed within the specified time T1 and the operator disconnects, the communication or telephone call can be performed in the same manner as a normal telephone regardless of the specified time T1. However, if it is desired to continue the communication beyond the specified time T1, the above steps A1 to A
"Reconnection" to repeat Step 4 is necessary.

A technique for solving the inconvenience of "reconnection" in the above PHS communication system and automatically reconnecting after a specified time has been disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-74588. ". This automatic reconnection device is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the terminal 1 and the terminal 2 are provided, and each of the terminals 1 and 2 has antennas 10 and 20, control units 11 and 21, wireless transmission units 12 and 22, timer units 13 and 23, memory units 14 and 24, and key input. It comprises units 15, 25, audio signal processing units 16, 26, display units 17, 27, microphones 18, 28, and speakers 19, 29.

The operation of the conventional communication system shown in FIG. 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the terminal 1 makes a "connection request" to the terminal 2 (step B1). Next, the terminal 2 issues a “connection permission” to the terminal 1 (step B2). Thereby, communication is established between the terminal 1 and the terminal 2 (step B3). If the communication time is longer than the specified time (T1) and it is desired to continue the communication, the control unit 11 of the terminal 1 instructs the terminal 2 to save the logical channel information in the memory unit 24 (step B4). . When the information storage in step B4 is completed (step B5), the terminal 1 instructs the terminal 2 to disconnect the physical channel (step B6). Next, after a lapse of a prescribed time (T2) of about 2 seconds, the terminal 1 issues a physical channel reconnection request to the terminal 2 (step B7).
The terminal 2 completes the physical channel reconnection to the terminal 1 (step B8). Then, the terminal 1 transmits the logical channel information stored in the memory unit to the terminal 2 (Step B9). When the control unit 21 of the terminal 2 issues a logical channel information collation OK to the terminal 1 (step B10), the terminal 1
Then, the communication between the terminals 2 resumes (step B11). According to the above-described procedure, communication is interrupted for approximately T2, but communication can be performed a plurality of times during the specified time T1 without manual "reconnection".

As described above, according to the PHS communication system having the automatic reconnection function, it is possible to relieve the operator from the trouble of manually and repeatedly reconnecting the operator. Then, as shown in FIG. 8A, for example, a "communicable time" T1, which is a prescribed time of about 3 minutes,
"Unavailable time" for reconnection that is more than about 2 seconds
T2 alternately repeats.

[0007]

However, according to the PHS communication system having the "automatic reconnection" function, FIG.
As shown by the solid line, the communication at times t1 and t3 during the "communicable time" T1 is effective, but as shown by the dotted line, the time t2 during the completely "communicable time" T2
Or the time t4 that partially takes the "communicable time" T2
Is received by the other party completely or only partially, or is received with a delay. In other words, there was no guarantee that communication between terminals would be performed reliably.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention provides one of the PHS communication systems and the like.
A communication method having a "regulated time" in which the time during which communication can be continuously performed in one connection is regulated (hereinafter, referred to as a PHS communication method in the present specification) enables reliable and effective communication between information terminals. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an information terminal and a communication method thereof.

[0009]

An information terminal according to the present invention comprises:
A communication time transmission / reception means for limiting a continuous communication time in a single connection, a communication time detection means operating according to a start of communication or completion of reconnection, and detecting a communication time; Notification means for displaying the communication time detected by the detection means. Further, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the remaining time from the start of communication or the completion of reconnection to the end of continuous communication available time is detected. The communication time detecting means has a timer and a memory, writes a time value corresponding to the continuous communication available time to the memory at the start of communication or completion of reconnection, and subtracts the elapsed time from the time value by the timer. And Further, the communication time detecting means is included in the control means for controlling the whole, and receives the output of the communication time detecting means and disconnects / reconnects the control means.

Further, the information terminal of the present invention has a transmission / reception means of a communication system in which continuous communication time is limited by one connection, and detects the communication time from the start of communication or the completion of reconnection. And a re-connection control means for controlling the whole operation, a key input means connected to the control means for manually disconnecting communication, and a notification means for displaying a communication time. And According to the preferred embodiment, the remaining time from the start of communication or the completion of reconnection to the end of the continuous communication available time is detected.

[0011] Further, the communication method of the information terminal according to the present invention comprises:
A method for communication between information terminals using a communication method in which the continuous communication time is limited by one connection, wherein the remaining communication time until the end of the continuous communication time is detected and the remaining communication time is displayed. And characterized by the following. According to a preferred embodiment, the remaining communication time is obtained by storing a time value corresponding to the continuous communication available time at the start of communication or upon completion of reconnection, and subtracting the elapsed time from this time value. Features.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an information terminal and a communication method thereof according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an entire apparatus using a plurality of information terminals according to the present invention. This system includes a plurality of information terminals 100A to 100N, P
HS terminal 120, telephone 130 functioning as a base unit, telephone line
140, a telephone network 150 and a public base station 160. Here, the information terminals 100A to 100N are data communication terminal devices that can communicate in a communication system (PHS communication system) in which the time during which continuous communication is possible in one connection is regulated, such as the PHS communication system. is there.

Each of these information terminals 100A to 100N can be connected to a telephone line 140, a telephone network 150 and a public base station 160 via a telephone 130 by radio, and the information terminals 100A to 100N which are the objects of the present invention are mutually connected. Between and PHS terminals 12
Enables wireless communication with 0. That is, as shown by the arrow 170 in FIG.
B,..., Between 100N and PHS terminal 120, information terminal 100B
Between the information terminals 100A, ..., 100N and the PHS terminal 120,
Between the information terminal 100N and the information terminals 100A, 100B and the PHS terminal 120, and between the PHS terminal 120 and each information terminal 100A,
…, Direct communication between 100N.

FIG. 2 shows each of the information terminals 100A to 100A shown in FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of 00N (hereinafter, the reference numeral 100 of each information terminal is used). The information terminal 100 includes a control unit 101, a digital data input / output interface (I / F) 103, an input I / F 104, and an output I / F 104.
/ F 105, key input means 106, notification means 107, wireless protocol control section 108, wireless section 109 and antenna 110. The control means 101 may be a microcomputer including the communication time detection means 102, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), a memory (storage device), and the like.

The function of each component of the information terminal 100 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The digital data input / output I / F 103 is an interface for the information terminal 100 to input / output information (data) with an information processing device such as a computer. Key input means 106 inputs and changes data to information terminal 100, and designates a partner information terminal with which to communicate. The input I / F 104 includes a key input unit 106 and a control unit 10
Interface between one. The notifying means 107 notifies or displays the communication time detected by the communication time detecting means 102 incorporated in the control means 101 to the operator by a known means such as a numeral or an indicator. Output I / F105
Performs an interface between the notification means 107 and the control means 101. The wireless protocol control unit 108, the wireless unit 109, and the antenna 110 constitute transmission / reception means between the information terminal 100 and the partner information terminal or the PHS terminal 120 or the like. In particular, the wireless protocol control unit 108 controls a protocol at the time of transmission and reception, that is, a connection request, a connection permission, an automatic reconnection, and the like. Radio unit 109
Performs necessary modulation on a transmission signal, amplifies the signal to a predetermined amplitude, outputs the signal to antenna 110, and demodulates and amplifies a signal received by antenna 110. Antenna 110 transmits and receives radio waves to / from the partner information terminal or PHS terminal 120.

The control means 101 controls the entire information terminal 100. The communication time detecting means 102 detects or measures the communication time of the information terminal 100. That is, the time from the start time to the end time of each "communicable time" T1 shown in FIG. 8A is measured. The communication time detected by the communication time detecting means 102 is notified to the notifying means 107 via the output I / F 105 described above.
And display it on a display, for example. As described above, the “communicable time” T1 is a predetermined time of, for example, 3 minutes (180 seconds), and thus the elapsed time from the start of each “communicable time” is represented by a number in seconds. Alternatively, the remaining time until the end of the “communicable time” may be displayed, for example, in seconds.

FIG. 3 shows the communication time detecting means 10 shown in FIG.
2 is an example of a functional block diagram showing a detailed configuration of FIG. The communication time detecting means 102 includes a communication time detection control unit 102a, a memory unit 102, and a clock generation unit 102c.
The communication time detection control unit 102a includes, for example, a counter,
The clock generator 10 is triggered by the reception of the communication start signal as a trigger.
It has a timer for counting the reference clock generated by 2c. The memory unit 102b stores the above-mentioned predetermined “communicable time” T1 as an initial value, and every time the communication time detection control unit 102a detects the elapse of a predetermined time (for example, 1 second), the memory unit 102b The time is set to T1 (for example, 180
Second). Thereby, in the memory unit 102b,
The remaining time of the “communicable time” (remaining communication time) is always stored. The value of the memory unit 102b can be sent to the notifying means 107 shown in FIG. 2 via the output I / F 105 and displayed.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a communication time detecting operation of the information terminal according to the present invention. First, it is determined whether or not communication has started (or reconnection has been completed) (step S10).
1). When communication starts or reconnection is completed (step S10
In 1: Y), the time (for example, 180 seconds) during which the information terminal 100 can continuously communicate is written into the memory unit 102b (step S102). Next, the reference clock generated by the clock generator 102c is counted, and the memory 102 is counted based on the elapsed time notified from the communication time detection controller 102a every predetermined time.
The time of b is subtracted (step S103). This memory section 102
The time value of b is notified to the control means 101 of the information terminal 100 (step S104).

Next, it is determined whether the time value of the memory unit 102b is 0 (step S105). If the time value of the memory unit 102b is 0 (step S105: Y), the control unit 101 of the information terminal 100 is instructed to disconnect / reconnect the communication (step S107). On the other hand, the time value of the memory unit 102b is 0
If not (step S105: N), the key input means 1
In step S106, it is determined whether there is an instruction to disconnect and reconnect the communication. If there is a disconnection / reconnection instruction (step S106: Y), the process proceeds to step S107, and the communication is disconnected / reconnected. Key input means 106
When there is no disconnection / reconnection instruction due to (Step S10
In 6: N), it is determined whether or not there is a communication end notification from the control means 101 (step S108). If there is no communication end notification (step S108: N), the process returns to step S103. On the other hand, if there is an end notification (step S1
08: Y), the process returns to the first step S101, and the above operation is repeated.

As described above, in the information terminal 100, the remaining time of the “communicable time” from the time when the communication starts or the reconnection is completed is updated by the communication time detecting means 102 at regular time intervals and displayed on the notifying means 106. . Therefore, the operator (or user) of the information terminal 100 checks the remaining communicable time displayed on the notifying means 107, and when there is information (data) to be transmitted by himself, the required time and the notifying means 107 By looking at the remaining communicable time displayed in, it is possible to immediately determine whether to transmit at that time or to wait until the next communicable time. Therefore, inconvenience such as the time point t2 or t4 shown in FIG. 8B can be avoided.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the information terminal according to the present invention. Components corresponding to the components of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals for convenience, and the following description will focus on the differences. An information terminal 100 shown in FIG. 5 includes a control unit 101 including a reconnection control unit 102, a digital data input / output I
/ F103, input I / F104, key input means 106, output I / F
F 105, notification means 107, wireless protocol control section 108, wireless section 109, antenna 110, state input section 111, audio codec section 113, microphone 114, and receiver 115. Further, a personal computer (PC) 112 or the like is connected to the state input unit 111. Here, the wireless protocol control unit 108, the wireless unit 109, and the antenna 110 constitute a transmission / reception unit. The voice codec unit 113, the microphone 114, and the receiver 115 are additional means for enabling the operator (or user) of the information terminal 100 to perform voice communication with the operator of the partner information terminal and the like.

The control means 101 controls the information terminal 100 as a whole. The reconnection control means 102 detects a manual disconnection or an automatic disconnection of the transmission / reception means and performs reconnection. Status input means
111 inputs the state of the PC 112 and the like to the control means 101 of the information terminal 100, and determines whether the transmission / reception means is manually disconnected or automatically disconnected.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. When the information terminal 100 communicates with the partner information terminal, it is determined whether or not the operator has manually disconnected (step S201). When manual cutting is performed (step S201:
In Y), reconnection is performed (step S203). on the other hand,
If manual cutting is not performed (step S201: N), it is determined whether or not automatic cutting is performed (step S202). In the case of automatic disconnection (step S202: Y), the process proceeds to step 203, and reconnection is performed. On the other hand, if it is not automatic disconnection (step S202: N), the process returns to step S201 and waits for manual disconnection or automatic disconnection. As described above, according to the information terminal 100 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, since the connection is made even after the operator manually disconnects, the communication terminal has a "communicable time" for a fixed time (for example, 3 minutes) after the connection. , It is possible to effectively prevent the operator from transmitting data during the “communication unavailable time”.

Next, the operation of the reconnection control means 102 of the information terminal 100 shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It is determined whether there is a notification of a call start or a reconnection by the control means 101 (step S301). If there is a communication start or reconnection notification (step S301: Y), the information terminal 100 can continuously communicate (for example, 1).
80 seconds) in a memory (not shown) of the reconnection control means 102 '(step S302). Next, the communication start or the reconnection completion is notified to the PC or the like (step S30).
3). The control unit 101 counts the reference clock from the built-in clock generation unit and subtracts it from the time value of the memory unit every predetermined time (step S304). The time value of the memory unit is notified to the control means 101 (step S305).

Next, it is determined whether the time value of the memory unit is 0 (step S306). If the time value is 0 (step S306: Y), the control unit 101 is instructed to disconnect and reconnect the communication (step S307). Then, the communication disconnection and the reconnection are notified to the PC or the like (step S308). On the other hand, if the time value is not 0 (step S306: N), it is determined whether or not there is a disconnection / reconnection instruction from the external PC 112 (step S309). If there is a disconnection / reconnection instruction (step S309: Y), the process proceeds to step S307 described above, and if there is no disconnection / reconnection (step S3).
At 09: N), it is determined whether or not there is a communication end notification by the control means 101 (step S310). If there is a communication end notification (step S310: Y), the process returns to the first step S301, and if there is no communication end notification (step S3).
At 10: N), the process proceeds to step S304 described above.

[0027]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the information terminal and the communication method of the present invention, when the communicable time and the non-communicable time are repeated using the transmitting / receiving means of the PHS communication system, the communication is performed. The remaining communication time is detected by the communication time detection means or the reconnection control means from the start or completion of the reconnection and displayed on the notification means, so that the operator can easily check the remaining communication time to determine whether communication is possible. Since it is possible, it is possible to avoid transmission during a communication disabled period.

According to the present invention, the time value corresponding to the continuous communication available time is written into the memory at the start of communication or when the reconnection is completed. Therefore, even if the continuous communication time is different, simply changing the time value is sufficient. It is possible to correspond to. Furthermore, since information terminals can directly communicate with each other without going through a telephone as a base unit, communication between information terminals is simple,
In addition, a practically remarkable effect that the cost is reduced can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an entire system using a plurality of information terminals according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the information terminal according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a communication time detecting unit of the information terminal shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the communication time detecting means shown in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the information terminal according to the present invention;

6 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the information terminal shown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the reconnection control means of the information terminal shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between “communicable time” and “communicable time” and the communication time of the information terminal in the PHS communication method;

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing a communication procedure of the PSH communication method, in which (A) shows a general connection, and (B) shows an automatic reconnection.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a system for performing automatic reconnection in the PHS communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100, 100 Information terminal 101, 101 'Control means 102 Communication time detection means 102' Reconnection control means 102a Communication time detection control section 102b Memory section 102c Clock generation section 106 Key input means 107 Notification means 108, 109, 110 Transmission / reception means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04B 7/26 109J

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An information terminal including a transmission / reception means of a communication system in which continuous communication time is limited by one connection, a communication time detection means which operates according to a start of communication or completion of reconnection and detects a communication time. And an informing means for displaying the communication time detected by the communication time detecting means. 2. The communication time detecting means detects the remaining time from the start of the communication or the completion of reconnection to the end of the continuous communicable time as the communication time. 2. The information terminal according to 1. 3. The communication time detecting means includes a timer and a memory, and writes a time value corresponding to the continuous communicable time into the memory when the communication is started or when reconnection is completed, and the communication time detecting means uses the timer to calculate the time value from the time value. The information terminal according to claim 2, wherein the elapsed time is subtracted. 4. The communication time detecting means is included in a control means for controlling the whole, and the control means performs disconnection / reconnection by an output of the communication time detecting means. 4. The information terminal according to 2 or 3. 5. An information terminal including a transmission / reception means of a communication system in which a continuous communication time is limited by one connection, a reconnection control means for detecting a communication time from the start of communication or completion of reconnection and reconnecting. An information terminal comprising: a control means for controlling the overall operation; a key input means connected to the control means for manually disconnecting communication; and a notification means for displaying the communication time. 6. The information terminal according to claim 5, wherein the reconnection control unit detects a remaining time from the start of the communication or the completion of the reconnection to the end of the continuous communication available time. 7. A communication method of a communication terminal for communicating between information terminals by a communication method in which continuous communication time is limited by one connection, wherein a remaining communication time until the end of the communication time is detected. And displaying the remaining communication time so as to avoid transmission outside the communicable time. 8. The remaining communication time comprises storing a time value corresponding to the communicable time at the start of communication or completion of reconnection, and subtracting an elapsed time from the time value. The communication method for an information terminal according to claim 7.