JP2007096990A - Communication apparatus and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication apparatus and communication method capable of reducing user inconvenience caused by interrupting packet switched communication by receiving a calling signal of line switched communication. <P>SOLUTION: If a calling signal from a line switched network is received while performing packet switched communication in a communication unit 102, the packet switched communication under execution is interrupted and a message notifying rejection of a response to the relevant calling signal is transmitted to a transmission source of the calling signal by line switched communication. After the message is transmitted, the interrupted packet switched communication is then started again. Even if a telephone call is incoming during PTT (Push To Talk) communication, for example, a message rejecting a response is automatically transmitted to a calling party and the interrupted PTT communication is automatically started again. Therefore, it is not necessary for a user to perform complicated operation such as responding to the calling party or starting again the interrupted PTT communication by himself, thereby remarkably improving convenience. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device such as a mobile phone capable of performing circuit-switched communication and packet-switched communication, and a communication method therefor.

  In recent years, telephone communication modes have been diversified, and telephones capable of performing packet communication using an IP (internet protocol) network are widely used in addition to conventional voice calls by circuit switching. For example, there is “chat mail” in which conversation is performed by exchanging characters between mobile phones in real time (see Patent Document 1). Chat mail is one of communication modes called “group communication” in which a group is formed by members registered in advance and data such as characters is exchanged in real time within the group.

In this group communication, there is an attempt to make a voice call using VoIP (voice over internet protocol), one of which is called PoC (push to talk over cellular) or PTT (push to talk). In the PTT, each group and each member in the group are managed by a SIP (session initiation protocol) server, and packetized voice call control is performed.
JP 2003-174520 A

  However, a general mobile phone is not designed to perform data communication via a packet switching network and voice communication via a circuit switching network at the same time, so if a voice call is received during data communication, Data communication will be automatically interrupted. When browsing web pages by data communication, there is no problem in use even if communication is interrupted in the middle. For example, data communication is interrupted during the above-described PTT group communication. Then, smooth communication will be hindered. That is, when the group communication of PTT is interrupted in the middle, in order to participate again, the user himself / herself has to perform an operation for offering participation to the server apparatus holding the group communication. However, there is a problem that it is very inconvenient especially when there are frequent incoming calls from the circuit switching network.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device and a communication method that can reduce inconvenience for a user due to interruption of packet-switched communication due to reception of a call signal for circuit-switched communication. There is.

  In order to achieve the above object, a communication apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a communication unit that performs circuit-switched communication or packet-switched communication, and circuit-switched communication when packet-switched communication is performed in the communication unit. When the call signal is received, the packet switching communication being executed is interrupted, and a message informing that the response to the call signal is rejected is transmitted from the communication unit to the source of the call signal by circuit switching communication. And a control unit that resumes the interrupted packet exchange communication.

  The control unit may transmit a message notifying the interruption of communication from the communication unit to the communication partner by packet switching communication when interrupting the ongoing packet switching communication.

  The communication device according to the first aspect may include a display unit that displays information. In this case, the control unit may display information indicating that the packet switching communication is interrupted on the display unit while the packet switching communication is interrupted.

  The control unit may acquire the information on the source of the calling signal by circuit switching communication of the communication unit after interrupting the packet switching communication being performed, and display the acquired information on the display unit .

The communication device according to the first aspect may include an input unit that inputs an instruction. In this case, when the input unit receives an instruction to start circuit switching communication with the transmission source displaying information on the display unit, the control unit stops transmission of a response rejection message to the transmission source and Exchange communication may be started.
In addition, the communication device according to the first aspect may include a storage unit that stores a list of communication partners for circuit-switched communication. In this case, the control unit, after interrupting the currently executed packet switching communication, acquires the information of the source of the call signal by the circuit switching communication of the communication unit, and the source indicated in the acquired information is the source If registered in the list, transmission of a response rejection message to the caller may be stopped and circuit-switched communication may be started.

  The communication device according to the first aspect may include a vibration unit that generates vibration. In this case, the control unit may cause the vibration unit to generate a vibration when interrupting the currently executed packet exchange communication.

  The communication device according to the first aspect may include a notification sound output unit that generates a notification sound. In this case, the control unit may output a notification sound at the notification sound output unit when interrupting the ongoing packet switching communication.

  A second aspect of the present invention relates to a communication method in a communication device that performs circuit-switched communication or packet-switched communication. This communication method receives a call signal for circuit-switched communication when performing packet-switched communication. Then, a first step of interrupting the ongoing packet switching communication, a second step of transmitting a message notifying that the response to the call signal is rejected to the call signal source by circuit switching communication, A third step of resuming the interrupted packet-switched communication after transmitting the message.

  According to the present invention, even when packet switching communication is interrupted by receiving a call signal for circuit switching communication, troublesome operations of the user can be eliminated by automatically restarting the interrupted packet switching communication.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication system.
The communication system shown in FIG. 1 includes communication devices 100-1 to 100-4 such as mobile phones and a communication management device 200.

  The communication devices 100-1 to 100-4 are connected to the packet switching network 301 and the circuit switching network 302 via base stations 303 and 304.

  The communication devices 100-1 to 100-4 perform packet switching communication via the packet switching network 301 under the control of the communication management device 200. In the present embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that packet-switched communication by PTT (push to talk) is performed. The data transmitted by packet switching communication includes, for example, data such as voice of voice calls, images, and characters by VoIP.

In addition, the communication devices 100-1 to 100-4 also perform a voice call via the circuit switching network 302.
When the communication devices 100-1 to 100-4 receive a call signal for circuit-switched communication in the middle of packet-switched communication, the packet-switched communication is interrupted, the response to the call destination, and the interrupted packet exchange according to the procedure described later. Automatically restart communication.

  The communication management device 200 manages and controls group communication by PTT of the communication devices 100-1 to 100-4.

  When receiving a request for starting group communication by PTT from one of the communication devices 100-1 to 100-4, the communication management device 200 calls the communication device of the other party in response to the request. For example, a group communication holding notice is transmitted to the other party using a mail communication function. This holding notification describes the address of the server device (communication management device 200) used for group communication and the ID for login. When the user performs a predetermined operation on the communication device in order to consent to the participation in the group communication, the communication device gives the described ID to the communication management device 200 at the address described in the event notification. Login to establish a communication session and return a response message to participate.

  Next, the configuration of the communication devices 100-1 to 100-4 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the communication devices 100-1 to 100-4.
2 includes an antenna 101, a communication unit 102, a key input unit 103, an audio processing unit 104, a loudspeaker 105, an ear speaker 106, a microphone 107, a display unit 108, and a storage unit. 109, a vibration unit 110, and a control unit 111.
The communication unit 102 is an embodiment of the communication unit of the present invention.
The key input unit 103 is an embodiment of the input unit of the present invention.
The loudspeaker 105 and the ear speaker 106 are an embodiment of the notification sound output unit of the present invention.
The display unit 108 is an embodiment of the display unit of the present invention.
The storage unit 109 is an embodiment of the storage unit of the present invention.
The control unit 111 is an embodiment of the control unit of the present invention.

  The communication unit 2 performs wireless communication with base stations (303, 304) connected to the packet switching network 301 and the circuit switching network 302, transmits and receives signals transmitted through the packet switching network 301, and circuit switching network Signals transmitted via 302 are transmitted and received. The signal transmitted and received by the communication unit 102 includes communication data related to a line call and communication data related to a VoIP call.

  For example, the communication unit 2 performs a predetermined modulation process on the transmission data supplied from the control unit 111 to convert it into a radio signal, and transmits it from the antenna 101. Further, the radio signal from the base station received by the antenna 101 is subjected to predetermined demodulation processing to be converted into reception data, and output to the control unit 111.

  The key input unit 103 has keys having various functions such as numeric keys, character keys, arrow keys, and enter keys, and corresponds to the operation contents when these keys are operated by the user. Is generated and input to the control unit 111 as a user instruction.

  The audio processing unit 104 processes an audio signal output from a speaker (a loud speaker 105, an ear speaker 106) or an audio signal input from a microphone 107. That is, the audio signal input from the microphone 107 is subjected to signal processing such as amplification, analog-digital conversion, encoding, and the like, converted into digital audio data, and output to the control unit 111. Further, the audio data supplied from the control unit 111 is subjected to signal processing such as decoding, digital-analog conversion, amplification, and the like, converted into an analog audio signal, and output to the speakers 105 and 106.

The loudspeaker 105 is used, for example, for outputting a notification sound for notifying an incoming call or e-mail or outputting a voice during a hands-free call.
On the other hand, the ear speaker 106 is used for outputting sound in a normal call performed in a state where the main body of the communication device is placed on the user's ear.

  The microphone 107 is used, for example, for inputting a voice signal to be transmitted to the other party in the normal call or hands-free call described above.

  The display unit 108 is configured using a display device such as a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL panel, for example, and displays an image corresponding to the image data supplied from the control unit 111. For example, various information such as a destination telephone number at the time of outgoing call, a telephone number of an incoming call partner at the time of incoming call, contents of received mail and outgoing mail, standby screen, date, time, remaining battery level, and the like are displayed.

  The storage unit 109 stores various types of data used in the processing of the control unit 111 and data of processing results of the control unit 111. For example, the computer program code of the control unit 111, constant data used for the processing, variable data temporarily stored during the processing, and the like are stored. The storage unit 109 also stores a list of telephone numbers (that is, a list of communication partners for circuit switching communication), an address book for managing e-mail addresses, and the like.

  The vibration unit 110 is a unit that generates vibrations under the control of the control unit 111, and includes, for example, a piezoelectric element or a coreless motor. For example, the vibration unit 110 generates vibration in order to notify a telephone or an e-mail.

The control unit 111 includes, for example, a computer that executes processing based on a program (operating system, application, etc.) stored in the storage unit 109, and comprehensively controls the overall operation of the apparatus.
For example, the control unit 111 performs voice input / output processing in the voice processing unit 104 and transmission / reception of signals for calls in the communication unit 102 so that voice calls (VoIP calls, line calls) according to a predetermined protocol are appropriately performed. To control. When performing group communication of PTT, the control unit 111 activates an application program for PTT (hereinafter abbreviated as PTT application).

  Further, when the communication unit 102 receives a call signal for circuit-switched communication while performing PTT packet-switched communication in the communication unit 102, the control unit 111 interrupts the ongoing packet-switched communication and rejects a response to the call signal. A message (for example, a voice message) notifying that is transmitted from the communication unit 102 to the call signal source by circuit switching communication. Then, after transmitting this message, the circuit switching communication is terminated, and the interrupted packet switching communication is resumed. When interrupting the currently executed packet exchange communication, the control unit 111 suspends the application program for PTT in a login state to the communication management apparatus 200, that is, a state in which a communication session is maintained. When resuming the interrupted packet exchange communication, the control unit 111 resumes the suspended PTT application program. Here, if the communication session is released due to a timeout or the like, the communication management apparatus 200 is logged in again using the ID.

  When interrupting the currently executed packet exchange communication, the control unit 111 transmits a message notifying the interruption of communication from the communication unit 102 to the communication partner via the packet exchange communication.

  While the packet switching communication is interrupted, the control unit 111 displays information notifying that the packet switching communication is interrupted on the display unit 108.

  In addition, after interrupting the packet switching communication being performed, the control unit 111 acquires the information of the calling signal source (for example, the telephone number of the calling source) by the circuit switching communication of the communication unit 102, and acquires the acquired information. It is displayed on the display unit 108.

  Further, the control unit 111 causes the vibration unit 110 to generate a vibration when interrupting the currently executed packet exchange communication. Whether or not to generate this vibration may be determined according to the operation mode (manner mode, normal mode, hands-free call mode, etc.).

  Further, the control unit 111 controls the voice processing unit 104 so that a predetermined notification sound is output from the loudspeaker 105 or the ear speaker 106 when interrupting the ongoing packet exchange communication.

  Here, in the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, an operation when an incoming call from the circuit switching network occurs during PTT communication will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.

  When an organizer of PTT communication transmits a PTT communication holding notification by SMS or the like and is received by communication unit 102 (step ST101), control unit 111 activates the PTT application (step ST201). The control unit 111 displays an opening notification from the organizer on the display unit 108 by the activated PTT application, and prompts the user to select whether to participate in PTT communication. When a key operation instructing to participate in communication is performed at the key input unit 103, the control unit 111 transmits a reply by SMS or the like from the communication unit 102 to the host of the PTT communication. Upon receiving this reply, the communication management apparatus 200 establishes a communication session with the communication apparatus 100 and starts PTT communication.

  On the other hand, also when a key operation instructing that it is a PTT communication organizer is performed on the key input unit 103 (step ST101), the control unit 111 activates the PTT application (step ST201). The control unit 111 transmits a request from the communication unit 102 to the communication management apparatus 200 so as to establish PTT communication with the designated participant by the activated PTT application. Upon receiving this request, the communication management apparatus 200 transmits a PTT communication holding notification to the communication apparatus of the designated participant. The communication management apparatus 200 establishes a communication session with the communication apparatus that has returned the response to the opening notice, and starts PTT communication (step ST101).

  When the PTT communication starts, the control unit 111 stores information for identifying the currently opened PTT communication in the communication management apparatus 200 in the storage unit 109 (step ST102). For example, when the communication management apparatus 200 manages the open PTT communication by the telephone number of the host of the PTT communication, the control unit 111 stores the telephone number in the storage unit 109.

A completely different telephone of the circuit switching network makes a call to the communication device that is performing PTT communication (step ST301), and when this call signal is received by the communication unit 102 of the communication device, the control unit 111 interrupts the PTT communication. A message informing the member is sent to each participating member.
For example, the control unit 111 transmits a notification to the effect that the PTT communication is interrupted when an incoming call is received from the communication unit 102 to the communication management apparatus 200. Upon receiving this notification, the communication management device 200 transmits a communication interruption notification to other participating members. As a result, a communication interruption message is transmitted to other participating members.

  After transmitting the communication interruption message to each participating member, the control unit 111 interrupts the PTT communication being executed and switches from packet switching communication to circuit switching communication (step ST103). When the PTT communication being executed is interrupted, the control unit 111 suspends the application program for PTT in a login state to the communication management apparatus 200, that is, a state in which a communication session is maintained. Since this operation is automatically performed, the control unit 111 displays information indicating that the PTT communication is currently interrupted on the display unit 108 (FIG. 202).

  When the PTT communication is interrupted, the control unit 111 displays information related to the call signal source on the display unit 108. For example, information related to the telephone number of the caller is acquired by circuit switching communication in the communication unit 102 and displayed on the display unit 108.

Note that, in a normal call mode that is not a hands-free call, a PTT call is performed with the ear pressed against the ear speaker 106, and thus the user may not notice even if the display is performed on the display unit 108. Therefore, for example, the control unit 111 may output a notification sound (warning sound, voice, etc.) for notifying the ear speaker 106 of the interruption of the PTT communication. In addition, vibration that notifies interruption of PTT communication may be generated in the vibration unit 110.
The control unit may appropriately change whether or not to generate such a notification sound or vibration according to a user setting.

  Further, when the hands-free call mode is set, the control unit 111 may notify the user of the interruption of the PTT communication by displaying the display unit 108 without generating the above-described sound or vibration. That is, the notification method of interruption of PTT communication may be automatically changed according to the operation mode.

  When switching from PTT packet-switched communication to circuit-switched communication, control unit 111 then transmits a message rejecting a response to the call signal from communication unit 102 to the call signal source (step ST104). As a result, for example, a voice message such as “I cannot answer the call because PTT communication is currently in progress” is reproduced at the call signal source.

  When the message as described above is transmitted to the call signal source, the control unit 111 ends the circuit switching communication and resumes the PTT communication interrupted in step ST103 (step ST105). That is, the suspended PTT application program is resumed, and a request to reconnect to the previously interrupted PTT communication is communicated based on the identification information (for example, the telephone number of the organizer) stored in the storage unit 109. The data is transmitted from the unit 102 to the communication management apparatus 200. The communication management apparatus 200 receives this request and establishes a PTT communication session, whereby the interrupted PTT communication is started again (step ST203).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a call signal is received from the circuit switching network while performing packet switching communication in the communication unit 102, the currently executed packet switching communication is interrupted, and the call signal is A message notifying that the response to is rejected is transmitted to the call signal source by circuit switching communication. Then, after the transmission of this message, the interrupted packet exchange communication is resumed.
For example, even when an incoming call is received during PTT communication, a message for rejecting the response is automatically transmitted to the calling party, and the interrupted PTT communication is automatically resumed. Therefore, since the user does not have to perform troublesome operations such as responding to the other party himself / herself or resuming the interrupted PTT communication, the convenience can be greatly improved.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, when packet switching communication is interrupted due to an incoming call from the circuit switching network, a message notifying communication interruption is transmitted to the communication partner, so that inconvenience due to communication interruption can be reduced. it can.
For example, in a one-to-many communication such as PTT, if one of the members leaves without notifying anyone during the communication, the other members who do not know that are still participating Make a call with a mistake. Therefore, misunderstandings and differences in understanding occur, and smooth communication is hindered. As described in this embodiment, when a communication interruption due to an incoming call from a circuit switching network occurs, if such fact is reliably notified to other members, the above disadvantages can be effectively avoided. .

  Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the display unit 108 displays that the packet-switched communication is temporarily interrupted in order to respond to an incoming call from the circuit-switched network, the user can accurately check the current communication state. Can grasp. For example, even if the other party's voice is interrupted during PTT communication, it can be recognized that this is due to the above-mentioned temporary interruption, so that it is possible to prevent the user from being confused without knowing the situation.

  Further, by telling the user that the packet-switched communication is temporarily interrupted by voice or vibration, for example, even when a PTT voice call is performed with the main body of the communication apparatus placed on the ear, the main body of the communication apparatus The reason why the communication was interrupted can be grasped without looking at the display screen.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described so far, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes various variations.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which information (for example, a telephone number) of a call signal source is displayed on the display unit 108 when switching from packet-switched communication to circuit-switched communication is given. At this time, if an instruction to start circuit switching communication with the transmission source being displayed on the display unit 108 is input to the key input unit 103, the control unit 111 stops transmission of the response rejection message to the transmission source, Circuit switching communication (voice call) with the caller may be started. Thus, since it is possible to determine whether or not to talk to the other party after grasping who the caller is, convenience can be improved as compared with a case where responses to all incoming calls are uniformly rejected.
Further, in this case, if a certain time limit is set and no instruction is input to the key input unit 103 within a certain time, a response rejection message is automatically transmitted to the call signal source, and circuit switching communication is performed. May be terminated.

In addition, when the call signal source is registered in the list stored in the storage unit 109, the control unit 111 automatically starts circuit-switched communication even if no instruction is input to the key input unit 103. May be.
For example, the control unit 111 compares the telephone number registered in the specific telephone number list stored in the storage unit 109 with the telephone number of the caller of the acquired call signal, and the two match Stops sending a response rejection message to the caller and starts circuit-switched communication.
As a result, when the call signal source is a party specifically designated by the user, the circuit-switched communication can be automatically selected to reduce the user's operation.

  Further, when the circuit switching communication is selected as described above, the control unit 111 saves the information (phone number and the like) of the calling signal source in the storage unit 109 and temporarily ends the circuit switching communication. Reconnect to the interrupted packet switching communication, send a communication end message again to the communication partner of the packet switching communication (for example, a member participating in the PTT communication), and then switch to the circuit switching communication again. Circuit-switched communication may be started. As a result, the communication partner of the packet switching communication can accurately grasp whether the interruption of communication is temporary or complete.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which VoIP is used to transmit voice data of a call in real time by packet-switched communication is described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and voice data may be transmitted by other various communication methods. good.
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a voice call is performed by PTT group communication has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can be applied to one-to-one or one-to-many voice calls using an arbitrary communication system via a packet switching network.

  The functions of the components of the communication device and the communication management device described above may be realized entirely by software, or at least a part thereof may be realized by hardware. For example, the processing in the control unit 111 and the data processing in the communication unit 102 and the audio processing unit 104 may be realized on a computer by one or a plurality of programs, or at least a part thereof may be realized by hardware. good.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the communication system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation when an incoming call from a circuit switched network occurs during PTT communication in the communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Antenna, 102 ... Communication part, 103 ... Key input part, 104 ... Sound processing part, 105 ... Loudspeaker, 106 ... Ear speaker, 107 ... Microphone, 108 ... Display part, 109 ... Memory | storage part, 110 ... Vibration part, 111 ... Control unit

Claims (12)

A communication unit that performs circuit-switched communication or packet-switched communication;
When a call signal for circuit switching communication is received while performing packet switching communication in the communication unit, a message informing that the packet switching communication being executed is interrupted and a response to the call signal is rejected is performed by circuit switching communication. And a control unit that transmits the call signal from the communication unit to the transmission source of the call signal and resumes the interrupted packet exchange communication after the message is transmitted. The packet exchange communication is communication in which data related to voice, characters, or images is transmitted and received between a plurality of other communication devices via a predetermined server device in the communication unit. The communication apparatus according to 1. The packet-switched communication is performed while logged into the server with a predetermined ID,
3. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit suspends the program that executes the packet switching communication while maintaining the login state when interrupting the ongoing packet switching communication. 4. . The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit resumes the suspended program when resuming the interrupted packet exchange communication. 5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the packet switching communication being executed is interrupted, the control unit transmits a message notifying the communication interruption from the communication unit to the communication partner by packet switching communication. The communication apparatus as described in. A display unit for displaying information;
The said control part displays the information which notifies that the packet switching communication is interrupted on the said display part, while interrupting the packet switching communication. Communication equipment. The control unit, after interrupting the currently executed packet switching communication, acquires information on a source of the calling signal by circuit switching communication of the communication unit, and displays the acquired information on the display unit. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. An input unit for inputting instructions;
When the input unit is instructed to start circuit switching communication with a source whose information is displayed on the display unit, the control unit stops transmission of a response rejection message to the source and performs circuit switching communication. Start,
The communication apparatus according to claim 7. A storage unit for storing a list of communication partners of circuit-switched communication;
The control unit, after interrupting the ongoing packet switching communication, acquires the information of the calling signal source by the circuit switching communication of the communication unit, and the source indicated in the acquired information is registered in the list If it is, the communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein transmission of a response rejection message to the transmission source is stopped and circuit switching communication is started. Having a vibration part that generates vibration,
The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control unit generates vibration in the vibration unit when interrupting the packet exchange communication being performed. A notification sound output unit for generating a notification sound;
The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control unit causes the notification sound output unit to output a notification sound when interrupting an ongoing packet switching communication. A communication method in a communication apparatus for performing circuit switching communication or packet switching communication,
A first step of interrupting an ongoing packet-switched communication when a call signal for circuit-switched communication is received during packet-switched communication;
A second step of transmitting a message notifying that the response to the call signal is rejected to the call signal source by circuit switching communication;
And a third step of resuming the interrupted packet-switched communication after transmitting the message.

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