KR100470417B1 - Portable communications system with scalable short message service - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a digital short that includes a miniaturized transceiver and cooperating intelligent docking station that provides memory for storing and displaying received text to selectively display a short message service text plus an additional external communication link to another network. A message communication system relates to a digital communication system with text capability.

Description

Portable communication system with scalable short message service

Personal radio frequency (RF) transceivers, such as cellular telephones, continue to shrink to cigarette-pack size for convenient carrying in a shirt pocket. When a small transceiver includes physically large elements such as an intermittent group of digital memories, its capacity is very limited. At the same time, the transceiver is designed to include short message service (SMS) message capabilities. The SMS message is sent as text, which can be sent digitally to a portable digital wireless transceiver such as a cellular telephone where the message can be displayed on a liquid crystal display. Typical messages may include, for example, instructions for calling a particular customer phone number or calling an office. This service allows a cellular telephone to function similarly to a combination beeper and answering machine that records simple messages sent when the user is away or busy and displays them later. Although SMS is not yet commercially available in the United States, it is part of the Pan-European Mobile Telecommunications System (GSM) and in the United States is subject to interim industry standards (IS-136 and IS-137).

However, to reduce the size of the handheld transceivers, whether RF or infrared, they should include memory capabilities suitable for receiving, recording and playing back multiple written texts as needed.

In addition to the problem of adding memory capability to the transceiver to be reduced in size, it is also desirable to be able to add external communication means that facilitate communication to other networks over other communication links while additionally compromising size issues.

1 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a portable communication system incorporating the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved and added portable communication device suitable for miniaturization.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable communication device in which a cooperative element is included in a cooperative docking station.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved and miniaturized digital portable communication system having scalable short message service capabilities.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved pocket miniaturized portable communication system having a communication means that facilitates communication over multiple links.

In order to achieve the above object and other related objects, in carrying out the present invention in one aspect, a portable communication system having a scalable short message service capability includes a portable digital radio transceiver comprising a short message service receiving capability. And a cooperating intelligent docking station comprising means for interconnecting the docking station and the transceiver for storing a plurality of short message service texts received by the transceiver in memory and then selectively displaying through the transceiver. The docking station also includes battery charging means for batteries in the transceiver and external communication means for communicating with other equipment via other forms of communication links. The docking station includes means for supporting interconnected transceivers on the docking station to allow the user to receive short message service text in the absence and optionally display it later with an indicator indicating the presence of the stored text.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portable communication system 1 includes a portable digital radio transceiver 10, such as a cellular telephone, with an antenna 12 suitable for receiving radio frequency communications 14.

The intelligent docking station 20 includes an interface plug, ie connector 22, arranged to mate with a connector or a female receptacle 16 on the wireless transceiver 10, with a cup-shaped holder 24. ) Is arranged to receive the bottom 18 of the transceiver 10 to combine the electrical interconnection provided by the receptacle 16 and the connector 22 to properly secure the transceiver on the intelligent docking station 20. do. The micro-controller 26 in the docking station 20 provides the digital memory 28 with short message service text received by the transceiver 10 and provided via the receptacle 16 and the connector 22 to the liquid crystal display (LCD). Means to be selectively displayed on the (30). Indicator 32, which may be an audible signal or other noise or visible indication light (or a combination thereof), indicates that a short message service text is received and stored in digital memory 28.

The battery charger 34 in the docking station 20 receives input power 35 from a power source 37 which may be the battery of the vehicle, in the case of a vehicle such as a motor vehicle. DC voltage 36 is provided from the battery charger 34 to the battery 7 in the transceiver 10 via coupling connectors 22 and 16.

In operation, the SMS digital text when transmitted to the RF transceiver 10 is via digital memory 28 and controller 26 having an indicator 32 indicating that in the absence of the receiving operator or user, a stored text message is present. Can be stored. When the switch 39 is activated, the text stored on the LCD display 30 will be displayed. Since the controller 26 and the digital memory 28 are included in the intelligent docking station 20, it is not a problem to provide a function and space suitable for receiving and storing a great deal of SMS text. Because of this, the size of the transceiver 10 can be kept small enough to carry in a shirt pocket, even if extended capabilities such as SMS text are added. When the transceiver is removed from its cooperative location on the docking station 20, an indicator 32 may be included in the transceiver 10 to indicate the presence of SMS text in memory.

The docking station 20 receives and transmits any messages sent to and from the digital memory 28 during storage while the transceiver is docked or connected to the docking station via leads 56, connectors 22 and receptacles 16. Cooperative vehicle antenna 54 is used to assist 10. The receiver 52 is contained within the docking station 20 and is activated by a lead or pin 56 upon removing the transceiver 10 from the docking station 20 so that the transceiver 10 is positioned with the docking station 20 or Receive and record received SMS messages while away from the vehicle or office being installed or while being carried or used outside.

Although the capability of the communication system 1 of the present invention is further extended, nevertheless, the communication means 40 in the docking station 20 for communicating with a remote receiving means such as the computer 44 by radio frequency or infrared transmission. By using), the size of the portable transceiver 10 can be continuously maintained or reduced. Computer 44 may include a network gateway 46 for additional transmissions 48 and 50 over or to another network, which may include a wireless link or a local area network gateway router.

The short message service provided is for short text messages of 64-245 alphanumeric characters, but the expanded memory and display made possible by using an intelligent docking station extends the communication system and its capabilities to enable analog operation and usage and many It is intended to include voice mail or messages and fax mailboxes, including the use of the memory unit 28 or the selection of a memory unit having suitable performance for a particular portable communication system 1.

The invention is particularly suitable for installation in a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, wherein the docking station 20 is conveniently located at the console or else where the vehicle driver can easily reach, ie generally 23 Installed in the operating position labeled with a convenient holder 24 for the transceiver 10 together with a battery charging power 36 and an extended communication capability as described above via the interconnects 16 and 22. And the digital memory 28. The controller 26 and the digital memory 28 and communication means 40 are remote from the docking station 20 such that these elements are located outside the docking station as shown below the front seat of the vehicle in which the portable communication system 1 is located. Is located and connected by cabling. This makes it easy to keep the docking station 20 small in size, allowing SMS message capabilities to be optionally plugged in and / or reshaped to conform to standard docking stations. External extension cabling such as 61 and 63 with suitable termination connectors may be used to pre-wire controller 26 and digital memory 28 and / or communication means 40 with connection plugs to accommodate additional elements. May be selectively connected to a docking station. This facilitates and enables system flexibility and retrofitability using an optional combination of various plug-in modules or building blocks.

The present invention provides various features and solutions to the problem of allowing portable transceivers to continue to be miniaturized while allowing to expand and add operational capabilities such as SMS and external communication capabilities. Moreover, the transceiver 10 is typically hands-free, providing the capability of the antenna 54 with better sensitivity than its miniaturized antenna 12 and supplying power to the rechargeable battery 7. It is held in a suitable position in the docking station 20 for use. This provides extended capabilities and facilitates the use of the portable communication system 1.

The microcontroller 26 is programmed to use the keypad 67 on the transceiver 10 to exclude selected messages from the memory 28 or to upload selected messages, such as messages from the office, before uploading the selected stored message. Display on display 30. Alternatively, docking station 20 may include a control or keypad 70 for uploading and / or selective display of stored messages. Messages in memory 28 may be uploaded via connector 22 and receptacle 16 or via a wireless link or antenna 54. Although the speaker 69 in the transceiver 10 is suitable for use in hands-free operation of the transceiver when positioned on the docking station 20, the docking station may include a separate speaker 71. It is also used to enable the storage and playback of voice messages, and to enable the use of the system as a personal manager to record personal information messages, such as a list of "to do" items or meeting notices. Let's search. While the transceiver 10 is located on the docking station 20, which may be facilitated by including a voice activation switch 25 that may be located on itself 10 and / or the docking station 20, the transceiver may be operated. Can be. The present invention can be used in an office environment, where the docking station 20 is mounted on a desk in a location that is conveniently accessible to a transceiver 10 that is portable around the office or off-site. do. The present invention can be applied to digital communication systems as well as analog.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to any preferred embodiment, it should be understood that various changes may be made in the details of form, combination and arrangement of parts and construction of materials used, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. .

Claims (18)

A portable communication system having a scalable short message service, Portable wireless transceiver, A fixed intelligent docking station comprising means for selectively supporting the transceiver at a docked position and interconnecting the transceiver and the docking station; Memory means connected to the docking station for storing a plurality of the short message service texts received by the transceiver and provided to a mutual docking station via an interconnect between them; A receiver for coupling the transceiver to the memory means such that when the transceiver is detached from the docking station to be able to store short message service text during separation, the short message service text is transmitted from the transceiver to the memory; And display means for selectively displaying text of a message stored in said memory means. The method of claim 1, And the docking station has an electronic digital memory for storing a plurality of received short message service texts. The method of claim 2, And the docking station is adapted to be mounted at a fixed location within the vehicle in close proximity to the driving position of the vehicle and has means for selectively displaying the stored short message text. The method of claim 3, wherein And an indicator for indicating the presence of one or more short message system texts stored in the digital memory, the memory means being separate from and connected to the docking station. The method of claim 4, wherein And the indicator is on the transceiver. The method of claim 2, And the system comprises means for operating the transceiver while supported on the docking station. The method of claim 6, And said means for operating said transceiver comprises a voice activated transmit / receive switch. The method of claim 3, wherein The portable transceiver has a first rechargeable battery for charging itself, and the docking station is configured to connect the first battery from a second battery in the vehicle via the interconnect when the transceiver is located on the docking station. And means for providing recharging power to the furnace. The method of claim 2, And said portable transceiver comprises a keypad and said docking station comprises a controller having means for controlling the display of selected messages in said memory means. The method of claim 9, And means at the docking station for storing and selectively displaying information sent from the docking station. The method of claim 10, And the information comprises a voice stored message. The method of claim 10, And the information comprises a personal information message. The method of claim 9, And the docking station further comprises communication means for communicating with the transceiver and a unit external to the docking station independent of the portable transceiver. The method of claim 13, And said communication means comprises an infrared communication link to a remotely located computer which in turn is interfaced to an external independent communication link. The method of claim 2, And the docking station further comprises an antenna and a receiver for coupling the transceiver to the memory when the transceiver is detached from the docking station so as to be able to store short message service text during detachment. The method of claim 2, And means for uploading the selection information stored in the memory to the transceiver. The method of claim 16, And means at the docking station for placing information into storage in the memory. The method of claim 16, And means for selecting a form of information from storage in said memory for display.