JPH06334717A - Out-zone information output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a stationary station to clearly discriminate that a mobile station is at the outside of a communication zone with simple configuration by providing an output of a voice message representing it when the mobile station is discriminated to be outside of the communication zone. CONSTITUTION:When an out-zone identification processing section 11b of a control section 11 detects continuously a reception level of a signal from a slave set 2 to be lower than a predetermined level S for a predetermined time T or over, the control section 11 discriminates it that the slave set 2 is moved at the outside of a communication zone 4 covered by master station 1. Then the control section 11 activates an out-zone voice message storage section 15. The out-zone voice message storage section 15 provides an output of a voice message 15a representing it that the slave set is at the outside of the zone through voice synthesis by the voice synthesis system stored in advance. The output voice message 15a is outputted to a public telephone network 3 through a switch section 21 and given to a telephone set 5 of an opposite subscriber.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an out-of-range information output device, and is suitable for application to, for example, a cordless telephone when a slave unit moves outside the communication range of a master unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, cordless telephones have become popular. This is because the revision of the Radio Law in October 1987 made it possible to use two types of cordless telephones, a low-power cordless telephone and a weak cordless telephone, in Japan.

[0003] At present, for example, when a cordless telephone handset is in a call with a telephone of a subscriber of a public telephone line via the base unit, the handset is outside the communication range of the base unit (for example, A device that automatically issues an out-of-range alarm to a handset when the distance is about 30 to 100 m or more) has been commercialized. Moreover, when the handset issues this out-of-range alarm,
The master unit puts the call on hold into the hold state, and the hold tone generated from the base unit (the same hold tone as when the hold state was set by the hold operation, such as a melody or chime) is sent to the callee's telephone through the line. There are things that can be notified.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional cordless telephone, the master automatically detects that the slave is out of the communication range of the master, and automatically sets the hold tone. It is possible to notify the telephone of the other party of the calling party through.

However, the hold sound when the slave unit moves out of the communication range and the hold sound output when the master unit or the slave unit performs the hold operation by the intention of the speaker as in the conventional case are the same hold sound. The other party on the other end of the call cannot know whether the call is on-hold sound due to the intention of the speaker (holding operation) or the on-hold sound due to the child device moving outside the range of the parent device.

For this reason, there is a problem in that when a holding tone (melody, chime, etc.) is suddenly heard during a call, the other speaker is very psychologically anxious. Such a problem is that even in a telephone system where a conversation is carried out by exchanging one's own voice and the other party's voice, even a little thing can cause a very unpleasant feeling depending on the other party. .

Due to such a problem, the current user uses some means to make a hold sound by a normal hold operation,
There is a demand for a cordless telephone capable of distinguishing from a holding state when the slave is out of the communication range of the master.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile station (slave unit) outside the communication range of a fixed station (master unit) with a very simple structure. In this case, it is to provide an out-of-range information output device that can automatically notify the telephone of the calling subscriber that the telephone is out of the range.

[0009]

The out-of-service information output device of the present invention has the following characteristic structure in order to achieve the above object.

That is, according to the present invention, a fixed station (for example, a base unit) capable of communicating with a mobile station is a mobile station (for example,
Out-of-communication range identifying means for monitoring whether a mobile station is out of the communication range of the fixed station and a means for accumulating a voice message for notifying the out-of-communication range of the mobile station. And a means for outputting the voice message indicating that the mobile station is out of the communication range when the mobile station identifies that the mobile station is out of the communication range.

The voice message may be, for example, a tape record playback voice message or a voice synthesis message.

[0012]

According to the present invention, when the mobile station is out of the communication range, a voice message indicating that the mobile station is out of the communication range can be automatically output. , You can clearly know that the mobile station is out of range.

In addition, when there are a plurality of mobile stations managed by the fixed station, a voice message indicating that the mobile station is out of communication is used to control which mobile station is out of service. Easier to do.

For example, when a cordless telephone subscribing to a public telephone line has a child device (mobile station) outside the communication range of a parent device (fixed station), a message indicating that it is out of the communication range, for example, voice In composition, "I am out of communication range now. By sending a voice message such as "from the base unit to the other party through the public telephone line, the other party can accurately know the outside of the handset by a voice message different from the conventional hold tone.

Therefore, the other speaker can clearly discriminate from the conventional on-hold tone, and there is no fear of giving anxiety as in the conventional case.

Also, even if an extension is under the control of the fixed station and the telephone of this extension is notified of a voice message indicating the out-of-range of the handset, the same improvement effect as described above can be obtained.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention applied to a cordless telephone system will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cordless telephone system of this embodiment. In FIG. 1, a slave unit (PS)
2 can communicate with the base unit 1 and can talk with the subscriber of the partner subscriber telephone 5 through the public telephone network 3 to which the base unit 1 is connected.

A control unit 11 including a CPU 11a and an out-of-range identification processing unit 11b is provided inside the base unit 1. The control unit 11 has a codec (CO
D) 12, the answering machine recording tape section 13, the normal holding tone,
Response message storage unit (MSG1) 14, out-of-service voice message storage unit (MSG2) 15, and switch unit 21
And the antenna 20 are connected to each other.

Outside the master unit 1, the internal control unit 1
From 1 to the transmitter 16 and the receiver 17 are connected. The operation unit 19 and the display unit 18 are also connected to the control unit 11.

The cordless telephone handset (PS) 2
Is not a special configuration as compared with the prior art, and is configured by a wireless unit, an operating unit, a display unit, a control unit, a transmitting / receiving unit, an antenna unit, and the like.

[0022] When the function and operation handset (PS) 2 performs voice communication with speaker remote subscriber telephone set 5, a radio signal transmitted from the antenna 25 of the slave unit (PS) 2, the antenna 20 of the base unit 1 Will be received at. still,
Transmit power is about 1 for low power cordless phones.
It is about 0 mW or less. The transmission frequency is, for example, 250 MHz band for the slave unit and 380 MHz band for the master unit.

Handset 2 received by antenna 20 of base unit 1
Received signals from (call signals and control signals, such as
The high frequency signal in the 250 MHz band) is supplied to the control unit 11 and the codec (COD) 12. Then, the control unit 11
Indicates the reception level of the received signal at the out-of-range identification processing unit 11b as C
It monitors using PU11a. Specifically, after the level of the received signal is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter or the like, the CPU 11a performs a calculation to detect the level. Then, it is determined whether or not this detection level is below a predetermined level (predetermined level S). When the continuous time that is less than or equal to the predetermined time is equal to or more than the predetermined time T, the mobile device 2 communicates with the master device 1 (the communication area distance L is, for example, about 30 m to 100 m).
It is judged to be outside.

When the reception level is detected to be equal to or higher than the predetermined level S by the detection of the reception level, the reception signal from the cordless handset 2 is transmitted from the high frequency signal to the public telephone network 3 for the codec (COD) as usual. It is converted into a wire signal that can be output, output to the public telephone network 3 through the switch unit 21, and given to the partner subscriber telephone 5.

The transmission signal transmitted from the partner subscriber telephone 5 is given to the base unit 1 through the public telephone network 3,
It is given to the codec (COD) 12 through the switch unit 21. The codec (COD) 12 converts a wired signal from the partner subscriber telephone 5 into a high-frequency signal (for example, a high-frequency signal in the 380 MHz band) that can be given to the antenna 20 and gives the high-frequency signal to the antenna 20 to radiate radio waves from the antenna 20. Then, it is transmitted to the child device (PS) 2. Then, the slave unit 2 receives the radio wave from the master unit 1, demodulates it, and can listen to the contents of the call from the partner subscriber telephone 5 with the slave unit (PS) 2.

When the answering mode is set in the operating section 19 of the base unit 1, the control section 11 enters the answering machine mode and simultaneously the displaying section 18 displays the answering machine state. When a call from the public telephone network 3 is supplied in this answering machine mode, the control unit 11 makes a response message after a few calls (for example, "I am out of office now, please record the message if you want." , Etc.) is output from the response message storage unit (MSG1) 14 to notify the calling party. Then, when a message from the caller is next supplied to the base unit 1, the message is supplied to the answering machine recording tape unit 13 and recorded.

Further, the speaker of the base unit 1 puts the call on hold during a call with the talker of the other subscriber's telephone set 5 (self hold = the call in progress is put on hold by the talker, and the call is not answered again. When the operation unit 19 performs a hold operation that can be performed only by the user, the control unit 11 receiving this hold operation signal causes the normal hold sound storage unit (MSG
1) Operate 14 At the same time, the display section 18 displays a hold display. Then, a melody, a chime, or the like is output as a hold sound, and is given from the public telephone network 3 to the partner subscriber telephone 5 through the switch unit 21.

In this cordless telephone system, characteristically, the out-of-service identification processing unit 11b of the control unit 11 continuously detects that the reception level from the handset 2 is a predetermined level S or lower for a predetermined time T or longer. If it is done, the cordless handset (P
The control unit 11 determines that (S) 2 has moved out of the communication area 4 of the base unit 1.

Then, the control unit 11 operates the out-of-service voice message storage unit (MSG2) 15. And
The out-of-range voice message storage unit (MSG) 15 outputs a voice message 15a indicating that it is out of the range by voice synthesis by a voice synthesis method stored in advance. In addition, this voice message is, for example, "The handset is out of range now. A voice message such as "is suitable.

Then, the output voice message 15a
Is output to the public telephone network 3 through the switch unit 21 and then given to the partner subscriber telephone 5. The speaker of the telephone 5 can clearly know that the handset (PS) 2 is out of the communication range by listening to the voice message 15a indicating that it is out of the communication range.

According to the cordless telephone system of the above embodiment, the slave unit is distinguished from the speaker on the other party's telephone set 5 by the conventional holding sound (for example, melody or chime) by the holding operation. When the machine is out of the communication range,
It is possible to clearly understand that the user is out of the communication range by the voice message indicating the outside of the communication range.

Therefore, there is no concern that the other party will hear the on-hold tone despite the fact that the other party is out of the communication range as in the conventional case, and the other party will not be anxious about whether or not the other party is on hold. Even when the machine (PS) 2 returns to the communication range from the outside of the communication range, the call partner can continue the original call without any discomfort.

It should be noted that, in FIG. 1 of the above embodiment, the functional block of the parent device is an example of the configuration and is not limited to this functional block. For example, although there is an answering machine recording tape unit 13 in the configuration of the base unit 1 of FIG. 1, a cordless telephone without an answering machine function may be used. Also,
The function block of the slave unit (PS) 2 is not particularly limited.

In the functional block of the base unit 1 of FIG. 1 of the above embodiment, the out-of-service voice message storage unit 15
May output the out-of-range information having a predetermined content by an artificial voice synthesis method. On the other hand, the out-of-range information having a predetermined content may be recorded in advance on a magnetic tape or the like and output as needed.

Further, the normal hold tone / response message storage unit 14 may also be configured to output a predetermined hold tone or a predetermined response message at the time of incoming call by a voice system with different configurations.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned one embodiment, the call between the handset unit (PS) 2 and the speaker of the partner subscriber telephone set 5 has been described as an example, but the out-of-range voice message 15a for such an outside line is notified. In addition to the above, the out-of-range voice message can be similarly notified in a call between the handset (PS) 2 and the speaker of the extension telephone.

Further, the out-of-service identification processing unit 1 of the above embodiment.
In 1b, when the reception level is equal to or lower than the predetermined level S for a predetermined time T or more, it is determined that the communication is out of the communication range, but the determination method is not limited to such a determination method. For example, the determination may be made based on how the received signal from the handset (PS) 2 changes (degree of change in level, etc.).
In addition, the control information is periodically transmitted from the child device (PS) 2 to the parent device 1, and this periodic control information is sent to the parent device 1.
It is also possible to monitor and judge by.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, it is also effective to send the out-of-range voice message 15a and display on the display unit 18 of the base unit 1 that the handset (PS) 2 is out of the range. is there.

Furthermore, the same function as that of the out-of-service identification processing unit 11b of the parent device 1 is added to the child device (PS) 2 to monitor the received signal from the parent device 1 and communicate with the parent device 1. When the mobile station (PS) 2 itself is out of the service area, it may be displayed to indicate that it is also out of service area.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which communication between the slave unit (PS) 2 and the master unit 1 is performed by radio waves, but not only such communication by radio waves but infrared rays and It can be applied even when ultrasonic waves or other wireless communication media are used.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a cordless telephone has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a car telephone system, it is effective when applied to the notification of an out-of-range voice message to the other party when the mobile device is out of the communication range of the base station. Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned car telephone system, it is effective when applied to general fixed communication stations when managing whether or not a mobile station (for example, a mobile phone or a mobile radio device) is out of communication range. Target.

[0042]

As described above, according to the out-of-range information output device of the present invention, the fixed station capable of communicating with the mobile station stores the out-of-range identifying means and the voice message for notifying the out-of-range. Means and means for outputting the voice message indicating that the mobile station is out of the communication range when it is identified that the mobile station is out of the communication range. The fixed station can identify that is out of the communication range.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a cordless telephone system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Parent machine, 2 ... Child machine (PS), 4 ... Communication area of parent machine 1, 1
1b ... Out-of-service identification processing unit, 15 ... Out-of-service voice message storage unit (MSG2), 15a ... Out-of-service voice message.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Eiko Usami 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Within Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuyuki Tate 1-6, Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Date (72) Inventor Junichi Kojima, 216 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Information and Communications Division, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Yukihiro Shimura 5-7-1, Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. NEC Corporation Company

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fixed station capable of communicating with a mobile station, and an out-of-communication area identification means for monitoring a received signal from the mobile station and for identifying whether or not the mobile station is out of the communication area of the fixed station. A means for accumulating a voice message for notifying that the mobile station is out of the communication range, and a means for outputting the voice message indicating that the mobile station is out of the communication range when the mobile station identifies that the mobile station is out of the communication range. Out-of-service information output device characterized by.