JPH1084575A - Portable telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operating convenience for a user by selecting automatically the cordless phone mode in the case that a control signal including an ID code of a master set is detected and the portable telephone mode when the control signal cannot be detected. SOLUTION: In the case that the portable telephone set makes communication in the cordless phone mode, when an ID signal from a mater set detected by an ID signal detection section 6 cannot detect for a specified number of times per unit time, a speech mode selection control section 4 discriminates that the portable telephone set is at the outside of a speech possible zone. Then a voice processing section 3 is activated and an alarm tone is raised for the user via a speaker 8. In the case that the user operates an entry section 10 in the portable telephone mode to select the automatic mode, the control section 4 indicates the current mode to be the portable telephone mode onto a display section 9. When the ID signal detection section 5 detects an ID signal, the section 4 discriminates it that the portable telephone set is resident within the zone of the cordless phone, the control section 4 switches the speech mode into the cordless phone mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable telephone capable of making a call by selecting one of a cordless phone mode and a portable telephone mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As well-known portable telephones, there are a cordless phone, a PHS phone, and a cellular phone (the communication mode based on the PHS and the cellular system is also referred to as a cellular phone mode in this specification). However, each has a different fee structure. Therefore, there has conventionally been a portable telephone capable of selecting either the cordless phone mode or the portable telephone mode during a call. In such a mobile phone, how to appropriately select the cordless phone mode and the mobile phone mode becomes a problem.

[0003] One of the conventional mode selection methods for a mobile phone of this type is a configuration in which a cordless phone mode is manually set by operating a mode switch when it is determined that a user can talk in the cordless phone mode. is there.
However, in the method in which the user manually selects the mode as described above, it is necessary to confirm whether the user is within the range of the base unit, and to forget to switch to the mobile phone mode and go out of the range of the base unit. However, when the mobile phone is taken out, there is a problem that it becomes impossible to receive the telephone.

Therefore, in order to solve such problems, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4-351127, "Wireless Telephone Device" and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5-244,88, "Mobile Phone Terminal", etc. Techniques are disclosed.
In any of these prior arts, when calling, the mobile phone first sends a signal to the cordless phone master as to whether or not a call is possible. If there is no response from the master within a predetermined time, this is sent to the mobile phone. The mobile phone mode is automatically detected and switched to the mobile phone mode. Therefore, when a low-cost cordless phone can be used, the cordless phone can be preferentially selected.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned portable telephone according to the prior art, a call is always made to the base unit of the cordless phone at the time of outgoing call as to whether or not a call is possible. However, there is a problem that an inquiry is made even when it is not possible. In other words, if you are making a call at a location far from the cordless phone base unit, or if you want to redial a call that you have cut once, you can call the cordless phone base unit to see if it is possible to make a call. This takes time and gives the user a sense of discomfort.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and can appropriately switch between a cordless phone mode and a mobile phone mode without making an unnecessary inquiry about whether or not a call using a cordless phone is possible. It aims to provide a mobile phone.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A portable telephone according to the present invention is a portable telephone in which one of a portable telephone mode and a cordless phone mode is selected to perform a telephone call. It is characterized by comprising means for detecting a control signal including a code, and means for automatically selecting a cordless phone mode when the control signal can be detected, and a mobile phone mode when the control signal cannot be detected.

Therefore, when making a call, an appropriate mode, that is, a cordless phone mode is selected when a call can be made in a low-cost cordless phone mode, and a mobile phone mode has been selected otherwise. In addition, the user does not feel uncomfortable without a delay in selecting a mode when calling.

[0009] In addition to the above-described automatic selection means, a manual selection means having a priority over the automatic selection means is provided. If a manual selection means is provided in consideration of a special case, a more convenient device can be obtained.

Further, when the cordless phone mode is selected and a control signal including the ID code of the base unit transmitted from the base unit of the cordless phone cannot be detected more than a specified number of times per unit time during a call, a warning is issued. Means are provided. That is, if there is a risk that the user may not be able to continue the call in the cordless phone mode due to the movement of the user during the call in the cordless phone mode, a device that issues a warning can be a more convenient device.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In a general cordless phone system, a control signal (hereinafter, also referred to as an ID signal) including an ID code of the parent device is sequentially transmitted to a child device in which the parent device is registered at predetermined time intervals. The mobile phone of the present invention uses this control signal to automatically switch the call mode. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the mobile phone of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation. In the figure, 1 is a wireless unit, 2 is a control unit, 3 is an audio processing unit, 7 is a microphone, 8 is a speaker, 9 is a display unit, and 10 is an input unit. These are mobile phones having only a normal mobile phone mode. The configuration is the same as that of the telephone. In the control unit 2, reference numeral 4 denotes a call mode selection control unit, 5 denotes an ID signal detection unit, and 6 denotes a call mode switching unit. These call mode selection control units 4, ID signal detection unit 5, and call mode switching unit 6 The automatic selection between the cordless phone mode and the mobile phone mode is performed.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the mobile phone is in the cordless phone mode and waiting for reception, and the user has selected automatic switching using the input unit 10, the display unit 9 displays a message indicating that the current call mode is the cordless phone mode. Do it. In this state, if the ID signal detection unit 5 cannot detect the ID signal input from the base unit via the wireless unit 1 a specified number of times per unit time, the call mode selection control unit 4 determines that the mobile phone is a cordless base unit. It is determined that the user is out of the service area, and the call mode switching unit 6 is operated to automatically switch the call mode from the cordless phone mode to the mobile phone mode, and the display unit 9 indicates that the call mode is the mobile phone mode. Display.

When the portable telephone is talking in the cordless phone mode and the ID signal from the master unit detected by the ID signal detecting unit 6 cannot be detected a specified number of times per unit time, the communication mode selection control is performed. The unit 4 determines that the mobile phone has gone out of the service area of the cordless base unit, activates the voice processing unit 3 and emits an alarm sound to the user via the speaker 8. When the mobile phone is in the mobile phone mode and the user operates the input unit 10 to select the automatic switching mode while waiting for reception, the call mode selection control unit 4 displays the current call mode on the display unit 9. Performs a display indicating that is in the mobile phone mode. Also in this state, the ID signal detection unit 5 is detecting the ID signal received from the wireless unit 1, and when the ID signal is detected (or when a certain number or more is detected per unit time), the call mode is set. The selection control unit 4 determines that the mobile phone has entered the area where the base unit of the cordless phone can talk, and operates the call mode switching unit 6 to switch the call mode to the cordless phone mode. Then, the call mode selection control unit 4 displays on the display unit 9 that the current call mode is the cordless phone mode.

As described above, the portable telephone according to the present invention always detects the ID signal sequentially transmitted to the registered portable unit in the cordless telephone system, and immediately switches the cordless telephone mode to the portable telephone when necessary. Since the mode is switched, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of performing an unnecessary mode selection operation at the time of calling, as in the device shown in the prior art. Note that, as shown in the above-described embodiment, a configuration may be provided that includes a manual selection unit prior to the automatic selection unit.
If an ID signal can no longer be detected, a means for issuing a warning may be provided. The mobile phone mode referred to in this specification includes both cellular and PHS.

[0015]

As described above, the portable telephone according to the present invention can automatically switch the call mode in a timely manner.
There is an effect that a user-friendly device that always uses a low-cost cordless phone in an area where the cordless phone can be used without requiring an operation of selecting a mode at the time of calling is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a mobile phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile phone of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Radio | wireless part 2 Control part 3 Voice processing part 4 Talk mode selection control part 5 ID signal detection part 6 Talk mode switching part 7 Microphone 8 Speaker 9 Display part 10 Input part

Claims (3)

[Claims] A means for detecting a control signal including an ID code of the base unit transmitted from a base unit of the cordless phone, wherein the control signal is transmitted from the base unit of the cordless phone. Means for automatically selecting a cordless phone mode when a control signal can be detected, and automatically selecting a mobile phone mode as a call mode when no control signal can be detected. 2. The mobile phone according to claim 1, further comprising a manual selection unit having priority over said automatic selection unit, in addition to said automatic selection unit. 3. When the cordless phone mode is selected and a control signal including the ID code of the base unit transmitted from the base unit of the cordless phone cannot be detected more than a specified number of times per unit time during a call, a warning is issued. The mobile phone according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising: means for issuing a message.