JP2001274873A - Portable telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable telephone set by which the lapse of a fixed time such as a toll charge unit time, etc., can be known without interrupting speaking. SOLUTION: The telephone set is provided with a buzzer 21, a vibrator 22, a busy timer 14a for measuring a speaking timer, a memory 20 for storing a charging previous information parameter such as an information flag Fo, a toll charging unit time Tu, an informing method flag Fm, a ringing timing Tb, etc., and a control part 14 which starts the timer 14a with the start of speaking, detects a timing just before (earlier by the ringing timing Tb) the time Tu based on the obtained speaking time and operating the buzzer 21 and/or the vibrator 22 for a fixed time in a mode shown by the flag Fm when detecting the timing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable telephone, and more particularly, to a portable telephone having a notification function relating to a talk time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An increasing number of users have subscribed to a complete pay-as-you-go plan, which charges for a fixed time unit (30 seconds, 60 seconds, etc.) in a call rate plan of a portable telephone. A user who subscribes to such a rate plan is worried about a call charge even during a call. In addition, there are not a few users who want to talk until just before the unit time to be charged (hereinafter, referred to as “charge unit time”) elapses.

[0003]

However, according to the conventional portable telephone, it is not possible to know the arrival of the charging unit time unless the call is temporarily interrupted and the call time up to that time is displayed and confirmed. Can not. Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile phone capable of knowing the elapse of a fixed time such as a unit time for charging without interrupting a call. .

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a portable telephone according to the present invention comprises a sounding means for performing at least one of sounding and vibrating the telephone; Storage means for storing time information for specifying the timing of activating the means, timer means for measuring time, timer control means for starting measurement by the timer means when a call is started, and the timer means Detecting means for detecting that the measured time has reached the timing specified by the time information stored in the storage means, and activating the sounding means when the timing is detected by the detecting means Sound control means for causing the sound to be generated.

[0005] Thereby, by sound or / and vibration,
Since the user is notified that the call time has elapsed for a certain period of time, the user can know that fact without interrupting the call. More specifically, it stores a buzzer, a vibrator, a busy timer for measuring a talk time, and a charge advance notification parameter such as a notification flag Fo, a charging unit time Tu, a notification method flag Fm, and a ringing timing Tb. The memory unit and the busy timer are started at the start of the call, and based on the obtained call time, the timing immediately before the charging unit time Tu (just before the ringing timing Tb) is detected, and the timing is detected. Sometimes, a control unit is provided that activates the buzzer and / or vibrator for a predetermined time in the mode indicated by the notification method flag Fm.

A portable telephone according to the present invention is a portable telephone used for a call in a charge system in which a call charge is charged as the call time elapses.
Detecting means for detecting that the time of the call has reached a certain time related to the billing timing; sounding a sound when the detection means performs the detection; Sounding means for performing at least one of the following operations.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone 10 according to the present invention. The mobile phone 10 has a function of notifying a user of the arrival of a charging time unit during a telephone call in advance by ringing or the like (hereinafter, this function is referred to as “advance charging notification”) in addition to a general mobile phone function. A telephone having an antenna 11, a radio unit 12, a baseband unit 13, a control unit 14, a display unit 15,
Voice processing unit 16, microphone 17, speaker 18, operation unit 1
9, a memory unit 20, a buzzer 21, and a vibrator 22.

The radio section 12 is a high-frequency transmission / reception circuit including a high-frequency AMP and a band-pass filter. The baseband unit 13 includes a frequency synthesizer, a modem, a TDMA / T
This is a baseband signal processing circuit including a DD control circuit and the like. The display unit 15 is an LCD or the like. Audio processing unit 16
Is an audio CODEC, an A / D converter, a D / A converter, and the like. The operation unit 19 is an operation button group.

The buzzer 21 is a buzzer circuit including a D / A converter, a synthesizer, and the like, and keeps sounding via the speaker 18 for a designated time based on an instruction from the control unit 14. The vibrator 22 is a circuit or the like that vibrates the mobile phone 10, and continuously vibrates the mobile phone 10 for a designated time based on an instruction from the control unit 14.

The control unit 14 includes a ROM storing a control program, a RAM as a temporary storage area, and a busy timer 14.
a, etc., which controls each component according to the control program. The busy timer 14a is a counter timer capable of start control and counts up in units of one second. The memory unit 20 is a rewritable non-volatile memory, and has a storage area for storing a pre-charging notification parameter (a pre-charging notification parameter storage unit 20a) in addition to a storage area of a general mobile phone. Here, the pre-charging notification parameters are various parameters (notification flag Fo, charging unit time Tu, notification method flag Fm, ringing timing Tb) required for the "pre-charging notification", and can be set and changed by the user. Value.

Here, the notification flag Fo indicates whether or not to activate the "priority notice for charging" (ON / OFF). The charging unit time Tu indicates a charging time unit (second unit) in the “priority charging notification”. The notification method flag Fm indicates a ringing method (any of (i) only the buzzer sound, (ii) only the vibration, and (iii) both of the buzzer sound and the vibration) in the “preliminary charging notification”. The ringing timing Tb indicates the timing at which the ringing is started in "preliminary charging notification" (how many seconds before the charging unit time Tu the ringing is performed).

Next, the operation of the mobile phone 10 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the mobile phone 10 in setting the pre-charging notification parameter. When the control unit 14 receives an instruction from the user via the operation unit 19 to call a menu for setting a pre-charging notification parameter (enter a pre-charging notification setting mode) (step S30), the pre-charging notification Display section 15 prompting for parameter input
On the operating unit 19.
And temporarily storing the information in the built-in RAM in all the charging advance notification parameters Fo, Tu, Fm, and Tb.
(Steps S31 to S35).

[0013] The charging advance notification parameter F
After completing the acquisition of o, Tu, Fm, and Tb, the control unit 14 finally writes those parameters in the memory unit 20 (step S35). As a result, the user sets or changes the billing advance notification parameter. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the “advance notice of charging” of the mobile phone 10.

The control unit 14 starts a built-in busy timer 14a simultaneously with the start of a call (when a call is made and the call is connected to the other party's telephone) in order to measure the call time (step S40). Subsequently, all the advance billing notification parameters Fo, Tu, Fm, and Tb stored in the advance billing notification parameter storage unit 20a are read (step S41).

The control unit 14 controls the portable telephone 1
0 is in a call state (step S4).
2). As a result, if the call is not in a call state, the process of the “priority notice for charging” is terminated (N
o) If the call state is continuing, according to the billing advance notification parameter read in step S41,
The process for “advance notification of billing” proceeds (steps S43 to S48).

Specifically, first, the control unit 14 checks the notification flag Fo read out in step S41 (step S43). As a result, the notification flag Fo becomes “O”
N "(Ye in step S43).
s), the value of the busy timer 14a (talk time Tt) is read (step S43), and it is determined whether one second has elapsed by comparing it with the talk time (zero initially) read at the previous time. (Step S45).

If one second has elapsed (step S45)
Yes), the call time T obtained in step S44
The remainder (charging remaining time Ta) when t is divided by the charging unit time Tu obtained in step S41 is calculated (step S46), and the remaining charging time Ta and the above step S41 are calculated.
It is determined whether or not the ringing timing Tb acquired in 41 matches (step S47).

As a result, if they match (Yes in step S47), it is determined that the timing for sounding has come, and the one-second period corresponding to the value indicated by the notification method flag Fm acquired in step S41 is determined. A sound is executed (step S48). Specifically, the notification method flag Fm
Indicates “sound by sound”, the control unit 14
Instructs the buzzer 21 to sound the buzzer for one second, and instructs the vibrator 22 to vibrate for one second if the notification method flag Fm indicates "sound by vibration". If the notification method flag Fm indicates "sound by sound and vibration", both the buzzer 21 and the vibrator 22 are instructed to operate for one second.

Thereafter, a determination is made during a call (step S42).
Is repeated (steps S42 to S42).
48). On the other hand, when the notification flag Fo is “OFF” (No in step S43), one second has not elapsed (No in step S45), and when the remaining charge time Ta does not match the ringing timing Tb ( Step S4
No in step 7), it is again determined that the call is in progress (step S4).
Returning to 2), the same processing is repeated.

In this manner, each time the call time Tt reaches the charging unit time Tu (just before the ringing timing Tb), a one-second ringing is performed according to a preset notification method, and the user makes a call. It is possible to know the arrival of the charging unit time without interruption. Note that a series of “pre-charging notification” processing (steps S42 to S48) is completed within one second. Accordingly, the busy timer 14a is read by the control unit 14 at least once a second, and is updated as the talk time Tt. Therefore, it is not overlooked that the call time Tt has reached the point before the charging unit time Tu (only the ringing timing Tb).

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the operation of the "advance notice of charging" of the mobile phone 10. Here, it is assumed that the charging unit time Tu indicates “60 seconds” and the ringing timing Tb indicates “5 seconds ago”. It is shown that a ringing for one second occurs when 55 seconds have elapsed since the start of the call, and thereafter, the same ringing is repeated at one-minute intervals until the call ends.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a situation in which the user is talking on the mobile phone 10 with the “advance notification of billing” activated. Each time a charging unit time (for example, 60 seconds) arrives, the user who is talking on the phone has a preset buzzer at a certain time before (for example, 5 seconds before).
And / or may be notified of a billing notice by vibration.

As described above, the portable telephone according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, the ringing time in the “advance notification of billing” is a fixed one second, but may be shorter (or longer), a time specified by the user, or a call. The time may change in conjunction with the time.

Specifically, as the number of sounds increases,
The ringing time may be gradually increased, such as 0.5 seconds, 0.7 seconds, 0.9 seconds, and so on. Thus, the user can know the approximate call time from the ringing time while talking. Also, in the present embodiment, the sound of the buzzer 21 in the “advance notification of charging” is
Although one type is fixed, it may be selected from a plurality of melodies and tone buzzers created and registered in advance by a user or the like. Further, similarly to the time change, the melody or tone used for the notification may be changed according to the increase in the number of times of ringing. In this way, the user can still hear the “charging advance notice” while talking.
The approximate talk time can be known from the tone of the buzzer.

In the present embodiment, the charging unit time is constant and fixed, but may be a plurality of values registered in advance by a user or the like. For example, a method using two types of charging unit time used for detecting the first ringing timing and charging unit time used for detecting the second and subsequent ringing timings may be used. As a result, for example, the first billing advance notification is made immediately before three minutes have elapsed since the start of the call, and thereafter, the billing advance notice is made just before 30 seconds elapse, and various rate plans are available. "Advance notification of billing" can be performed.

Further, in the present embodiment, all the billing advance notification parameters are stored in the memory unit 20 by the user, but instead, billing transmitted from the service provider via the base station or the like is used instead. Receiving the information, the memory unit 20
May be stored. This eliminates the need to change the pre-charging notification parameter associated with a change in the call charge.

Further, the portable telephone 10 according to the present embodiment has a function of notifying the user of the arrival of the charging time unit by ringing during a call, but the present invention is not limited to such use. Absent. In other words, the mobile phone of the present invention only needs to have a function of talking to the user during the call by sound or vibration that the call time has elapsed for the preset time set by the user. For example, in the present embodiment, the charging unit time Tu is set to 30 minutes and the ringing timing Tb is set to 0 seconds, so that a warning to the long telephone is issued when the talk time reaches 30 minutes regardless of the charging. It goes without saying that it can be used for the purpose of emitting a buzzer sound.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, the portable telephone according to the present invention is a portable telephone, and has at least one of sounding and vibrating the telephone. Means, storage means for storing time information for specifying the timing for operating the ringing means, timer means for measuring time, and timer control means for starting measurement by the timer means when a call is started. Detecting means for detecting that the time measured by the timer means has reached the timing specified by the time information stored in the storage means, and when the timing is detected by the detecting means, A sound control means for operating the sound means.

Thus, by sound or / and vibration,
Since the user is notified that the call time has elapsed for a certain period of time, the user can know that fact without interrupting the call. Here, the time information includes a unit time and the immediately preceding time, and the detecting unit sets the time when a remainder obtained by dividing the time measured by the timer unit by the unit time becomes equal to the immediately preceding time. It may be detected that the timing has been reached. As a result, the call time is about to exceed the unit time (timing just before the previous time)
Every time the time comes, notification by sound etc. will be performed,
For example, in a billing plan in which billing is repeated every fixed call time, it is possible to know in advance the timing of billing.

Further, the portable telephone further comprises an updating means for updating the unit time and the immediately preceding time stored in the storage means in accordance with an instruction from a user, and the detecting means updates the unit time by the updating means. The timing may be detected using the obtained unit time and the immediately preceding time. This makes it possible to repeat the sounding according to the schedule desired by the user.

Further, the storage means further stores sounding mode information for designating an operation mode of the sounding means, and the sounding control means, when the timing is detected by the detection means, the storage means. According to the sounding mode information stored in the sounding means, sounding a sound,
The telephone may be vibrated and either of the two operations may be performed. This enables notification by sounding in a manner preferred by the user.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to manage the call time without interrupting the call, and the practical value thereof is extremely large today when the portable telephone has become a daily necessity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the mobile phone in setting a “priority notice for billing” parameter.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of “advance notice of charging” by the mobile phone.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing an operation of “advance notice of charging” by the mobile phone.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the user uses the mobile phone in a state in which “advance notification of billing” is activated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cellular phone 11 Antenna 12 Radio part 13 Baseband part 14 Control part 14a Busy timer 15 Display part 16 Audio processing part 17 Microphone 18 Speaker 19 Operation part 20 Memory part 20a Charging advance notification parameter storage part 21 Buzzer 22 Vibrator

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A portable telephone, comprising: a sounding unit that performs at least one of sounding and vibrating the telephone; and time information for specifying a timing for operating the sounding unit. Storage means for storing time, timer means for measuring time, timer control means for starting measurement by the timer means when a call is started, and time measured by the timer means being stored in the storage means. Detecting means for detecting that the timing specified by the time information has been reached, and sound control means for operating the sound means when the timing is detected by the detecting means. Mobile phone. 2. The time information includes a unit time and an immediately preceding time, and the detecting unit determines when a remainder obtained by dividing the time measured by the timer unit by the unit time becomes equal to the immediately preceding time. 2. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein it is detected that the timing has been reached. 3. The mobile phone further includes an update unit that updates the unit time and the immediately preceding time stored in the storage unit in accordance with an instruction from a user, and the detection unit updates the unit time and the immediately preceding time. 3. The mobile phone according to claim 2, wherein the timing is detected using the determined unit time and the immediately preceding time. 4. The storage means further stores sounding mode information designating an operation mode of the sounding means. The sounding control means, when the timing is detected by the detection means, the storage means. 4. The mobile phone according to claim 3, wherein the sounding means causes the sounding means to sound a sound, vibrate the telephone, and perform one of the two operations in accordance with the sounding mode information stored in the mobile phone. Phone. 5. A mobile phone used for a call in a charge system in which a call charge is charged as the call time elapses, wherein during the call, the time of the call is fixed relative to the charging timing. Detection means for detecting that the time has been reached, and sounding means for performing at least one of sounding and vibrating the mobile phone when the detection by the detection means is performed. A mobile phone characterized by the following. 6. The mobile phone according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined time is a time which is designated by a user in advance and indicates a timing immediately before the call charge is increased stepwise by charging.