KR20050000671A - Intercom connecting method between mobile terminals having a bluetooth module for reducing current consumption - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for connecting an intercom between mobile terminals each having a Bluetooth module is provided to minimize power consumption of a mobile terminal by enabling the mobile terminal to use a certain current only in an intercom mode. CONSTITUTION: A transmission mobile terminal(100) stores information on a reception mobile terminal(200) that wants intercom communication(S100). When the transmission mobile terminal(100) receives a key set to make an operation switched to an intercom function, the transmission mobile terminal(100) is driven to perform the intercom function(S110). The transmission mobile terminal(100) transmits a command signal requesting an intercom mode conversion to the reception mobile terminal(200)(S120). The reception mobile terminal(200) analyzes the command signal, is converted into the intercom mode and then changed to a page scan state(S130). The reception mobile terminal(200) transmits a corresponding command signal to the transmission mobile terminal(100)(140). The transmission mobile terminal(100) transmits a connection request signal to the reception mobile terminal(200)(S150). The reception mobile terminal(200) confirms the connection request(S155) and transmits connection request confirmation information to the transmission mobile terminal(100)(S160). The transmission mobile terminal(100) and the reception mobile terminal(200) are connected and the transmission mobile terminal transmits a call request signal to the reception mobile terminal(200)(S180). The reception mobile terminal(200) transmits a response signal to the transmission mobile terminal(S190). A channel for voice communication is set up between the transmission and reception mobile terminals(100,200)(S200), and voice call communication is performed therebetween.

Description

INTERCOM CONNECTING METHOD BETWEEN MOBILE TERMINALS HAVING A BLUETOOTH MODULE FOR REDUCING CURRENT CONSUMPTION}

The present invention relates to a portable terminal equipped with a Bluetooth intercom function, and more particularly, to a method for minimizing current consumption due to communication between portable terminals equipped with the Bluetooth intercom function.

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless communication technology that can transmit information such as text data, voice data, and video data wirelessly at a speed of up to 1Mbps at a distance of 10 to 100m. Hereinafter, a brief description of a communication method using Bluetooth.

Bluetooth devices that can communicate with each other by the Bluetooth communication method can establish a connection state through which communication such as Inquiry, Inquiry Scan, Page, and Page Scan can be performed. Configure. In this process, a master device and a slave device are determined according to their roles.

If you want to establish a new connection between the Bluetooth devices, you have to match the operating clock and frequency pattern between the Bluetooth devices. Inquiry during the process of configuring the connection state refers to an operation of repeatedly transmitting the operating frequency from the master so that the slave device can match the frequency pattern with the master device. Inquiry scan is a process performed by the slave device to detect a received frequency and synchronize with the detected frequency. Page refers to the process of sending a clock signal from the master device so that the slave devices can match the master's operation clock, and page scan refers to the slave device detecting and synchronizing the received clock. Through this process, a network formed by connecting one or more slave devices to a master device is called a piconet.

According to the presently proposed Bluetooth communication method, one master device in a piconet can communicate with each other by connecting seven slave devices in an active state. In addition, in order to connect a new slave device to the piconet, the master device breaks the active connection to any slave device among the seven slave devices that are connected in an active state, and establishes an active communication connection with the new slave device. Perform.

On the other hand, in the Bluetooth communication method, an active mode for performing normal communication with a slave device and a hold / sniff / park mode for saving power of the communication device are mastered. The device and the slave device operate. Hold mode is a typical mode used when there is no need to send data for a relatively long time. Sniff mode is a mode for transmitting and receiving data for a certain period from a specific time set between the master device and the slave device. The park mode is a mode in which the slave device intermittently communicates with the master device and the slave device so as to request synchronization with the master device and switching of the active mode.

The slave device operating in one of the active mode and the hold / sniff / park mode performs the operation of the mode repeatedly with a predetermined period. On the other hand, the slave device operating in the hold mode is a one-time operation mode that does not have a repetitive cycle, but because the slave device wakes up (drives) at a predetermined time and needs to communicate with the master device, it is considered to be a periodic operation like other modes. Can be.

At this time, when the slave device connected to the master device is converted to the corresponding mode, the master device sets the communication allocation time with each slave device in the corresponding mode through communication negotiation with the slave device to be converted mode. These slave devices are set to operate with periodicity for the mode through negotiation with the master device. Therefore, conventionally, the master device and the slave device communicate with each other fixedly with the communication allocation time and period set by mutual negotiation until the mode of the slave device is changed.

On the other hand, existing wireless telephone systems used by portable terminals such as Personal Communications Services (PCS) and cellular phones have a problem of paying a large fee compared to landline telephone systems. In order to solve this problem, a method for using a wired telephone system by embedding a Bluetooth module, which is a short-range wireless communication module, has been proposed in a portable terminal. This method can be realized through an access point that performs data exchange service between the wired network and the wireless network.

Accordingly, the Bluetooth standardization body proposes a standard that can use one portable terminal as a terminal having three functions. In other words, a portable terminal equipped with a Bluetooth module is connected to an intercom in an office and used as an intercom handset, at home to a base station of a cordless phone, and to be used as a wireless telephone handset. .

However, in order to use the portable terminals with the Bluetooth module as an intercom function, as described in the communication method using Bluetooth, the Bluetooth modules of the two portable terminals are subjected to the process of inquiry / inquiry scan / page / page scan. A connection must be made between them. However, in the case of portable terminals used for mobile communication, minimizing the current consumption is the most important factor.

To this end, a method of designing a portable terminal with a Bluetooth module for intercom to minimize the current consumption in a connected state is being studied. As described above, a method of switching a portable terminal to a park mode or a sniff mode as described in the Bluetooth specification and described above is one of methods for reducing current consumption.

However, when a portable terminal with a built-in Bluetooth module is to be used for intercom, the transmitting portable terminal transmits a signal for connecting the intercom, and the receiving portable terminal receives and confirms a connection request signal. Communication is established. This assumes that there is already a baseband or less connection between the portable terminals or at least the receiving portable terminal is in a page scan state.

Therefore, the existing portable terminal continuously consumes several tens of mA even when no communication is performed. Accordingly, the portable terminal may rapidly reduce the current as the predetermined current is continuously consumed even in the standby time when the communication is not performed.

On the other hand, if the receiving portable terminal is not always left in a reception possible state, the user must simultaneously set the transmitting portable terminal and the receiving portable terminal to the Bluetooth use standby state. However, when the transmitting portable terminal and the receiving portable terminal are more than several hundred meters apart, it is difficult for the users to set the two terminals into the standby state for Bluetooth use at a predetermined time.

In addition, when the portable terminal is designed to respond to the request by inputting a predetermined key of the portable terminal to the connection request, there is a problem that a typical user who does not understand Bluetooth feels inconvenient. That is, when a user possessing a transmitting portable terminal requests a connection, a user possessing a receiving portable terminal must set his terminal to the connection standby state in advance. However, a typical user may not understand the contents such as a connection request and a page scan state setting, which may cause inconvenience in changing an operation state of the portable terminal.

An object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide an intercom connection method between portable terminals for minimizing the consumption of current in the standby state of a portable terminal with a built-in Bluetooth module that can be used as intercom.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the consumption of current by connecting the intercom with each other without consuming current while maintaining a standby state for intercom connection between the portable terminals with a built-in Bluetooth module that can be used as intercom An intercom connection method between portable terminals is provided.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a portable terminal that can be used as an intercom system;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of an intercom connection method between portable terminals equipped with a Bluetooth intercom function in order to reduce current consumption according to the present invention; and

3 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of an intercom connection method between portable terminals equipped with a Bluetooth intercom function according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, in the intercom connection method between a transmitting portable terminal and a receiving portable terminal each having a built-in Bluetooth module that can be used as an intercom according to the present invention, the transmitting portable terminal has a key set for intercom operation. Performing an intercom operation according to the selection signal of the input signal, and transmitting a first short message requesting intercom switching to a receiving portable terminal; When the receiving portable terminal receives the first short message, it switches to the intercom mode by driving the Bluetooth module, switches to the page scan state where the intercom data can be received, and the current operation is the intercom mode and the reception wait. Transmitting a second short message indicating a status to a transmitting portable terminal; When the transmitting portable terminal receives the second short message, transmitting a connection request signal to the receiving portable terminal; And when the receiving portable terminal receives the connection request signal, transmitting the acknowledgment information about the connection request to the transmitting portable terminal to establish a connection between the portable terminals.

Preferably, the transmitting portable terminal operates in a power save mode necessary for mobile communication before a selection signal of a key set for intercom operation is input. In addition, the receiving portable terminal operates in the power save mode required for mobile communication before switching to the intercom mode according to the received first short message. That is, the transmitting portable terminal and the receiving portable terminal maintain the maximum power save mode state of the Bluetooth module provided for intercom operation before operating in the intercom mode. At this time, the maximum power save mode means a power off state that cuts off power supplied to the Bluetooth module.

The intercom connection method between the portable terminals of the present invention preferably further comprises the step of performing a bonding process for the receiving portable terminal before the transmitting portable terminal transmits the first short message to the receiving portable terminal. Do.

On the other hand, the second method of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention for achieving the above object is as follows. According to the present invention, in the intercom connection method between a transmitting portable terminal and a receiving portable terminal each having a built-in Bluetooth module that can be used as an intercom according to the present invention, the transmitting portable terminal has a key set for intercom operation. Performing an intercom operation according to the selection signal of the input signal, switching to a reception standby state capable of receiving intercom data transmitted from the outside, and transmitting a first short message requesting intercom switching to a receiving portable terminal; When the receiving portable terminal receives the first short message, driving the Bluetooth module to switch to the intercom mode and transmitting a connection request signal to the transmitting portable terminal; And when the transmitting portable terminal receives the connection request signal, transmitting acknowledgment information about the connection request to the receiving portable terminal to establish a connection between the portable terminals.

Preferably, the intercom connection method between the portable terminals of the present invention further includes the step of the bonding portable terminal performing a bonding process for the receiving portable terminal before the transmitting portable terminal transmits the first short message to the receiving portable terminal. It is preferable to include.

According to the present invention, when the intercom mode switching request signal is received in a short message from the portable terminal while operating in the power save mode required for mobile communication, the operation is switched to the intercom mode and the operation according to the intercom mode is switched to the standby standby state. As a result, a predetermined current is consumed only when the portable terminal operates in the intercom mode, thereby minimizing the current consumption of the portable terminal. In addition, when the transmitting portable terminal operates in the intercom mode, the receiving standby state is switched and the intercom mode switching request signal is transmitted to the receiving portable terminal, and the receiving portable terminal switches to the intercom mode, thereby transmitting the connection request signal to the transmitting portable terminal. When the mode switch request signal is received, switching from the power save mode for the mobile communication to the intercom mode can minimize the current consumption of the portable terminal.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same elements in the figures are represented by the same numerals wherever possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a portable terminal that can be used as an intercom.

As shown in the drawing, the portable terminal 30 includes a near field communication module 32, a common use unit 34 including a microphone 34a, a speaker 34b, a keypad 34c, a display unit 34d, and the like. It has a mobile communication module 38.

The short range wireless communication module 32 is a module for the portable terminal 30 to operate as an intercom. In this case, the short range wireless communication module 32 will be described as an example of the Bluetooth module in this embodiment. Therefore, the portable terminal 30 is provided with a Bluetooth antenna 31a required for transmitting and receiving data when operating as an intercom.

The mobile communication module 38 is a module that operates when a mobile communication is to be performed as a main function of the portable terminal 30. Accordingly, the mobile terminal 30 is provided with a mobile communication antenna 31b for performing mobile communication to transmit and receive the corresponding data.

The short range wireless communication module 32 and the mobile communication module 38 transmit and receive commands and data to and from each other using the HCI interface, and audio data through the PCM interface, as defined in the Bluetooth Spec. .

On the other hand, the common use unit 34 including the microphone 34a, the speaker 34b, the keypad 34c, the display unit 34d, and the like is commonly used when the portable terminal 30 operates as an intercom function or a mobile communication function. This is the part used.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of an intercom connection method for communication between portable terminals equipped with a Bluetooth intercom function in order to reduce current consumption according to the present invention. The transmitting portable terminal 100 and the receiving portable terminal 200 of the figure are equipped with a Bluetooth module as a short-range wireless communication module (reference numeral 32 of FIG. 1), and operate in a mobile communication mode when no communication is performed. Operate in power save mode for communication.

That is, before the transmitting portable terminal 100 and the receiving portable terminal 200 operate in the intercom mode, the Bluetooth module 32 provided for intercom operation maintains the maximum power save mode state. At this time, the maximum power save mode means a power off state to cut off the power supplied to the Bluetooth module 32.

First, the transmitting portable terminal 100 stores the information on the receiving terminal 200 for the intercom call through a bonding process (S100). The technical description of the bonding is a general technique described in detail on pages 43-44 of the "Bluetooth specification Version 1.1 Generic Access Profile". Therefore, the description of the bonding is omitted. However, in this embodiment, the transmitting portable terminal 100 further stores the phone number information for the receiving portable terminal 200 in the bonding process.

When the portable terminal 100 is set to switch the operation to the intercom function, the transmitting portable terminal 100 drives the operation to the intercom function according to the input of the setting key (S110). At this time, the transmitting portable terminal 100 transmits a command signal for requesting intercom mode switching to the receiving portable terminal 200 through the wireless communication network (S120).

The reception portable terminal 200 analyzes the received command signal and switches the operation to the intercom mode using the Bluetooth module, and converts the operation state according to the intercom mode to the page standby state (S130). At this time, the receiving portable terminal 200 transmits a command signal indicating that the current operation is operating in the intercom mode and has been switched to the receiving standby state to the transmitting portable terminal 100 through the wireless communication network (S140).

In the present embodiment, the command signals transmitted from the transmitting portable terminal 100 and the receiving portable terminal 200 are transmitted in a short message (SMS) format. In addition, in the present embodiment, a cellular network is used for the wireless communication network.

Accordingly, the transmitting portable terminal 100 and the receiving portable terminal 200 operating in the intercom mode perform a general connection operation for intercom communication through steps S150 to S210 described below.

The transmitting portable terminal 100 transmits the connection request signal to the receiving portable terminal 200 when the reception information of the intercom and the receiving standby state of the receiving portable terminal 200 is received (S150). When receiving the connection request signal, the reception portable terminal 200 confirms the association request (Conform) (S155) and transmits the connection request confirmation information to the transmission portable terminal 100 (S160). Accordingly, a connection is established between the transmitting portable terminal 100 and the receiving portable terminal 200 (S170).

When the connection is established between the terminals 100 and 200, the transmitting portable terminal 100 transmits a call request signal to the receiving portable terminal 200 (S180). The reception portable terminal 200 transmits a response signal for the call request signal transmitted from the transmission portable terminal 100 to the transmission portable terminal 100 (S190). Accordingly, a channel for voice call is established between the transmitting portable terminal 100 and the receiving portable terminal 200 (S200). In addition, a voice call is performed between the transmitting portable terminal 100 and the receiving portable terminal 200 through the set voice calling channel (S210).

Therefore, when the intercom mode switch request signal is received from the portable portable terminal 100 in a short message during normal operation in mobile power save mode, the operation is switched to the intercom mode and the operation according to the intercom mode is switched to the standby standby state. As a result, a predetermined current is consumed only when the portable terminal operates in the intercom mode, thereby minimizing the current consumption of the portable terminal.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of a connection method for intercom communication between portable terminals equipped with a Bluetooth intercom function in order to reduce current consumption according to the present invention. The transmitting portable terminal 100 and the receiving portable terminal 200 of the figure are equipped with a Bluetooth module 36, and in a state in which no communication is performed in the mobile communication mode operates in the power save mode required for mobile communication.

First, the transmitting portable terminal 100 stores the information on the receiving terminal 200 for the intercom call through a bonding process (S300). The bonding process is the same as the operation S100 of FIG. 2.

When the portable terminal 100 is set to switch the operation to the intercom function, the transmitting portable terminal 100 drives the operation to the intercom function according to the input of the setting key (S310). At this time, the transmitting portable terminal 100 switches the intercom operation state to a page scan state (S320). In addition, the transmitting portable terminal 100 transmits a signal for requesting the intercom mode switch to the receiving portable terminal 200 in a short message SMS (S330).

The receiving portable terminal 200 analyzes the received short message and converts the operation to the intercom mode using the Bluetooth module (S340). At this time, the receiving portable terminal 200 transmits a connection request signal for communication to the transmitting portable terminal 100 (S350).

When the transmission portable terminal 100 receives the connection request signal transmitted from the reception portable terminal 200, confirms the connection request (Conform) (S360), and receives confirmation information on the connection request of the reception portable terminal 200. It transmits to the portable terminal 200 (S370). Accordingly, according to this, a connection is established between the transmitting portable terminal 100 and the receiving portable terminal 200 (S380).

When a connection is established between the terminals 100 and 200, the transmitting portable terminal 100 transmits a call request signal to the receiving portable terminal 200 (S390). The reception portable terminal 200 transmits a response signal for the call request signal transmitted from the transmission portable terminal 100 to the transmission portable terminal 100 (S400). Accordingly, a channel for voice call is established between the transmitting portable terminal 100 and the receiving portable terminal 200 (S410). In addition, a voice call is performed between the transmitting portable terminal 100 and the receiving portable terminal 200 through the set voice calling channel (S420).

Therefore, while the portable portable terminal 100 operates in the intercom mode, the reception standby state is switched and the intercom mode switch request signal is transmitted to the portable portable terminal 200 so that the portable terminal 200 receives the intercom mode connection request signal. By transmitting the to the portable terminal 100, the current consumption of the portable terminal can be minimized by switching from the power save mode for mobile communication to the intercom mode when the intercom mode switch request signal is received.

In the present embodiment, as the key set for intercom communication between the portable terminals is selected, the receiving portable terminal 200 operates in the intercom mode to minimize the current consumption by transmitting the intercom switching request signal using a short message. However, the effects according to the present embodiment may be equally applied through the following method.

First, when the phone number of the receiving portable terminal is input in the state of operating in the intercom mode as the set key is input, and the call key is selected, the transmitting portable terminal 100 transmits a call request signal to the portable terminal corresponding to the input telephone number. Instead of transmitting a short message, the intercom mode switch request signal of step S120 of FIG. 3 is automatically transmitted. The subsequent process is the same as the steps S130 to S210 of FIG.

Second, when the operation is switched to the intercom mode as the set key is input, the transmitting portable terminal 100 displays a list of the portable terminals already bonded through the bonding process and selects a selected list if any one of the displayed lists is selected. A short message is automatically transmitted to the portable terminal corresponding to the intercom mode switch request signal in step S120 of FIG. 3. The subsequent process is the same as the steps S130 to S210 of FIG. At this time, the receiving portable terminal 200 may selectively respond to the mobile communication and intercom communication when the bonded telephone number is received.

According to the present invention, while operating in the power save mode required for mobile communication in normal times, the intercom mode switching request signal received from the transmitting portable terminal is switched to the intercom mode and the operation according to the intercom mode is switched to the reception standby state. As a result, a predetermined current is consumed only when the portable terminal operates in the intercom mode, thereby minimizing the current consumption of the portable terminal.

In addition, when the transmitting portable terminal operates in the intercom mode, the receiving standby state is switched and the intercom mode switching request signal is transmitted to the receiving portable terminal, and the receiving portable terminal switches to the intercom mode, thereby transmitting the connection request signal to the transmitting portable terminal. When the mode switch request signal is received, switching from the power save mode for the mobile communication to the intercom mode can minimize the current consumption of the portable terminal.

In the above described and illustrated with respect to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiment described above, without departing from the gist of the invention claimed in the claims in the art Various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and such changes are within the scope of the claims.

Claims (9)

In the intercom connection method between the transmitting portable terminal and the receiving portable terminal each having a built-in Bluetooth module that can be used as an intercom to reduce the current consumption, Performing, by the transmitting portable terminal, an intercom operation according to a selection signal of a key set for intercom operation, and transmitting a first command for requesting intercom switching to the receiving portable terminal through a wireless communication network; When the receiving portable terminal receives the first command, the Bluetooth module is driven to switch to the intercom mode, and to the page scan state capable of receiving intercom data, and the current operation is performed in the intercom mode. Transmitting a second command to the transmitting portable terminal through the wireless communication network; When the transmitting portable terminal receives the second command, transmitting a connection request signal to the receiving portable terminal; And And when the receiving portable terminal receives the connection request signal, transmitting acknowledgment information about the connection request to the transmitting portable terminal to establish a connection between the portable terminals. The method of claim 1, The first command and the second command is an intercom connection method between the mobile terminal, characterized in that the short message format. The method of claim 1, The wireless communication network is a cellular network intercom connection method between the mobile terminal. The method of claim 2, The transmitting portable terminal operates in a power save mode necessary for mobile communication before a selection signal of a key set for the intercom operation is inputted. The receiving portable terminal is operated in a power save mode required for mobile communication before switching to the intercom mode according to the short message corresponding to the received first command. The method of claim 1, Before the transmitting portable terminal transmits the first command to the receiving portable terminal, the transmitting portable terminal further performs a bonding process on the receiving portable terminal and further stores telephone number information. Intercom connection method between the portable terminal. In the intercom connection method between the transmitting portable terminal and the receiving portable terminal each having a built-in Bluetooth module that can be used as an intercom to reduce the current consumption, When the transmitting portable terminal inputs a selection signal of a key set for intercom operation, the intercom operation is performed, the intercom operation is switched to a reception standby state capable of receiving intercom data transmitted from the outside, and a command for requesting intercom switching is transferred to a wireless communication network. Transmitting to the receiving portable terminal through; When the receiving portable terminal receives the command, driving the Bluetooth module to switch to the intercom mode and transmitting a connection request signal to the transmitting portable terminal; And And when the transmitting portable terminal receives the connection request signal, transmitting the acknowledgment information about the connection request to the receiving portable terminal to establish a connection with each other. The method of claim 6, The command is an intercom connection method between the mobile terminal, characterized in that the short message format. The method of claim 6, The wireless communication network is a cellular network intercom connection method between the mobile terminal. The method of claim 7, wherein Before the transmitting portable terminal transmits a short message corresponding to the command to the receiving portable terminal, the transmitting portable terminal further performs a bonding process on the receiving portable terminal and further stores telephone number information. Intercom connection method between the portable terminal, characterized in that.