WO1999013663A1

WO1999013663A1 - Method for carrying out functions/services of a mobile phone system in a decentralized manner

Info

Publication number: WO1999013663A1
Application number: PCT/DE1998/002473
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ralf Kern
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 1997-09-10
Filing date: 1998-08-24
Publication date: 1999-03-18
Also published as: DE19739792A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for carrying out in a decentralized manner functions/services of a mobile phone system (CTN) in which information is transmitted between a mobile part (MST) and a base station (BST) via an air radio link. A user enters commands via a mobile part (MST) which are transmitted to a control station (SST) via a connection of the mobile phone system (CTN) and received and stored by said station, and the control station (SST) processes the commands and controls the implementation of the functions/services in accordance with said commands.

Description

description

Decentralized execution of functions / services of a mobile radio system

The present invention relates to a mobile radio system which has at least one mobile part and at least one base station and in which the information is transmitted between the at least one mobile part and the at least one base station via an air radio link.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for executing functions / services of a mobile radio system which has at least one mobile part and at least one base station and in which the information is transmitted between the at least one mobile part and the at least one base station via an air radio link.

In the case of mobile radio stars, for example cordless telephones or mobile telephones, the instructions of the user naturally have to be entered on the handset. In addition to the components that are essential for the basic telecommunications function, such as the mobile radio transceiver unit and a microphone / speaker unit, a handset therefore has a certain minimum amount of operating hardware, for example a keypad for entering dialing characters or at least for the signaling of the call request or the call termination or a display field for the output of messages and digital information. To the extent that they are not offered as services of the higher-level telecommunications network, extended functional features, such as a personal telephone book or a recording of a conversation, have usually been implemented by expanding the hardware and software of the handset. Among other things, this leads to high production and maintenance costs, all the more so that the hardware and software for these functions are present in the same way in every mobile part of the mobile radio network. It is therefore an object of the invention to be able to outsource functional units of mobile parts, in particular hardware modules which consume costs, space and power, to other components of the mobile radio network. This should also be possible on a decentralized basis, that is, outsource to a component of the mobile radio system that is different from the base station. The communication between the handsets and the other components of the mobile radio system should continue to take place using the mobile radio protocol.

This object is achieved on the basis of a mobile radio system of the type described at the outset by means of a control station which is set up to receive, store and process commands entered on the mobile part and transmitted from there to the control station via a connection of the mobile radio system, and in accordance with this Commands to control the execution of functions / services of the mobile radio system.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the handset has an input device, e.g. a button, which is provided for an announcement signal of the input and transmission of commands to the control unit. Using this button it is possible to structure the sequence of a command sequence and to make it simpler overall and clearer for the user.

Another inexpensive variant of the invention embraces the advantages of a cordless network in that the mobile parts and the base station (s) act as terminal devices of a cordless telecommunications network, e.g. of a DECT network.

It is furthermore favorable both for the user comfort and with regard to the hardware expenditure on the part of the mobile parts if at least some of the commands entered are voice commands and one in the control station Speech recognition unit is provided for processing the voice commands.

It is furthermore advantageous in terms of a reduction in manufacturing and support costs if the control station is a base station.

As an alternative to this, a control station is also advantageous as a device which is assigned to at least one base station.

It is furthermore advantageous if the control station can be connected to the at least one base station via an air radio link. In particular, this includes the possibility that the control station is integrated into the mobile radio system like a mobile part and reduces the connection effort of the control station.

In a preferred embodiment, which extends the advantages of the invention to that of a computer system, the control station is implemented as a computer and / or the control station is assigned a computer and the control station for processing and / or displaying on the computer and / or on a computer Computer connected computer network running services set up via the handset.

It also increases the ease of use on the part of the user if the control station is set up to output messages relating to the state and / or the readiness of functions / services of the mobile radio system via the at least one handset.

Another preferred embodiment variant of the mobile radio system according to the invention is advantageously connected to a telecommunications network or can be connected to it, for example as a private branch exchange. The above-described object is further achieved on the basis of a method of the type described at the outset by means of a method in which a user inputs commands via at least one handset, the commands are transmitted to a control station via a connection of the mobile radio system and are received and stored by the latter , and the control station processes these commands and controls the execution of the functions / services according to these commands.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the command input is made clearer for the user by announcing the input of commands on the at least one handset by means of a signal provided for this purpose.

Another inexpensive variant embraces the advantages of a cordless network in that the commands are connected via a cordless telecommunications network, e.g. a DECT network.

It is furthermore favorable both for the user comfort and with regard to the hardware expenditure on the part of the handsets if the user inputs voice commands and these are processed in a voice recognition unit of the control station.

It is also favorable, in particular in the sense of a reduction in the connection effort, if the connection of the control station to the other components of the mobile radio system is established with the aid of an air radio link.

In another variant, the advantages of digital data processing can be brought into the invention if the control station prepares and / or displays services, the computer assigned to the control station or set up as a control station and / or a computer this computer connected to the computer network via which the handset performs.

It also increases the ease of use on the part of the user when the control station issues messages relating to the state and / or the readiness of functions / services of the mobile radio system via the at least one handset.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a few exemplary embodiments and illustrated with the aid of the attached figure.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the components of a voice-controlled cordless private branch exchange CTN according to the invention. A number of mobile parts MST serve as extensions of the system CTN, while the functions of the central station, in particular that as a connection point of a public telecommunications network TKN, are taken over by the base station BST. The cordless system CTN can also have a plurality of base stations which are connected to one another, for example by a local network. In this example, the cordless network is based on the DECT standard ('digital enhanced cordless telecommunication') defined by the European Standards Institute for Telecommunications (ETSI).

The invention now provides a control station SST, which in this case is set up as a separate device and communicates with the base station BST via a cordless connection, thus constituting a further mobile part from the “view” of the base station. Of course, the control station SST is stationary in many applications The connection between the base station BST and the control station SST can be completely arbitrary, for example also via a radio connection that is foreign to the cordless network CTN. The control station SST essentially comprises one Control computer STR, which serves as the actual control unit, a voice recognition unit SEE and a voice conversion unit TTS ('text to speech'), and a DECT terminal SA, which is connected to the control computer STR via an interface card. The control station SST could, however, also be distributed in a decentralized manner to various devices which are linked to one another or via the base station BST.

The mobile parts MST only have a DECT terminal MA for the user to recognize elements for establishing an air radio link to the DECT terminal BA of the base station BST, as well as an audio-speaking field ML and a command key MB. This MB key serves as a combination key for calling and acknowledging network functions. The function of the control station SST will be explained in the following using two exemplary processes, the letters in brackets identifying the individual steps of a process.

In the first example, the user may make a telephone call on the TKN telephone network from a MST handset:

(a) At the beginning, the user presses the command key MB. (b) The handset MST calls the base station BST since there is no call from the handset MST at this time. The base station BST is in turn set up to respond to such a call signal from a handset

(c) establish a connection between the calling handset and the control station SST and

(d) to transmit the identifier of the calling handset to the control station SST. The transmission of the handset identifier in turn

(e) activates the control computer STR of the control station SST. (f) This signals its readiness via the handset MST, for example via the output of a message "ready" by means of the voice output unit TTS of the control station SST, (g) activates the voice recognition SEE and waits for an input from the user. (h) The user speaks now a command, for example "Call number A." which one

(i) to the control station SST and in this the speech recognition SEE is transmitted.

(j) The voice recognition recognizes the word "number A" as an indication of an entry in a personal telephone book of the user, and the keyword "call" as a command to establish a telephone connection and

(k) transfers the corresponding information to the control computer STR. (1) The control computer STR deactivates the speech recognition, (m) interprets the information of the speech recognition as a corresponding command and

(n) outputs an execution message, in the manner of step (f), via the MST handset. (o) Then he searches for the number in a number table and

(p) gives the base station BST the corresponding command for establishing a connection, (q) the base station now has a telephone connection established to the subscriber with the above telephone number on the telephone network TKN and connects this to the handset MST, (r) the user carries out now the desired telephone call via the TKN telephone network. At the same time, the internal connection between the control station SST and the handset MST is maintained. To end the telephone connection

(s) the user presses the command key MB again, whereupon

(t) the mobile part MST sends a disconnect command via the internal connection to the control station SST. (u) The control station SST gives the base station BST the command to terminate both the telephone and the internal connection,

(v) what the base station BST is doing, (w) finally the control station itself goes into the waiting state. In the event of a fault, the handset identifier transmitted in step (d) serves to identify the handset MST when an interrupted process is resumed. If a user command is expected in a method step such as step (h), but does not arrive after a certain time set in the control station, the control station SST ends the connection in accordance with the steps from step (u). It should also be noted that all commands from the user are entered in spoken form and transferred to the control station for analysis in speech recognition via a radio link; The only exceptions to this are the call command of steps (a) and (b) triggered by the command key for the connection establishment and the disconnection command of steps (s) and (t) for disconnection.

The second example relates to the utilization of a computer service via the control station, which is advantageously implemented using a computer. A query function for electronic messages, so-called e-mails, is described here. Here it is assumed that the control station SST or the control computer STR is connected to the Internet or another computer network IPN and can receive e-mail messages from it. The process is the same as the first example up to and including step (g). The user now speaks (h) the command "E-Mail", the

(i) is transmitted for speech recognition SEE, (j) the speech recognition recognizes the keyword “e-mail” as a command to query received e-mail messages and (k) passes the corresponding information to the control computer STR.

(1) The control computer STR deactivates the speech recognition, (m) checks the legitimation of the user on the basis of the handset identifier and calls the e-mail application program for the user's e-mail box.

(n) With the help of the language conversion TTS the control station gives an execution message, for example in the form of a message such as "There are three new e-mails.", and

(o) activates the speech recognition SEE for user input. Analogous to the above steps (h) - (l), the user speaks (p) the command “read first email”, which (q) transmits to the speech recognition SEE, (r) analyzes and there

(s) is forwarded to the control computer STR, (t) the speech recognition is deactivated and (u) an execution message "first email" is output in the manner of step (f)

(v) the voice output of the first e-mail message, the message text being converted to speech using the language conversion unit TTS. When the end of the message is reached

(w) the control station SST issues a corresponding message, e.g. "End of first e-mail - there are two more new e-mails.", Compare step (s), and continue with step (o) to accept further commands.

On the other hand, the user has the option of interrupting the output of the message in step (v) at any time, namely by

(w) pressing the command key MB, whereupon (x) the control station SST stops the message output and

(y) voice recognition is activated for further commands, e.g. "Repeat", "Cancel", "Cancel and read out second e-mail", or "Call X", compare the first process example.

The example of the e-mail query shows that other computer services such as databases, access to the Internet or an intranet, etc. can be made accessible to the handset user in accordance with the invention. It is irrelevant to the invention whether the relevant computer services on the control station SST itself, on a run on a computer assigned to the control station or on a computer connected via a computer network IPN.

The invention makes it possible to make complete user interfaces or function blocks available to a handset by voice within an interactive voice dialog, without this being associated with hardware expenditure on the part of the handset. This has the particular advantage that the handset does not have to be equipped with a keyboard or display, which greatly reduces the space required and the user has his hands free for other tasks. Furthermore, the invention enables retrofitting of further services or functions in the form of a software update of the control station SST without a mobile part MST or a base station SST having to be exchanged for another model or having to be changed in terms of hardware.

The latter advantages are particularly important for an application that does not require access to a telecommunications network TKN, namely e.g. that of a MST handset as a speech device for production and quality control. On the one hand, the examiner has to fill out a form or protocol, on the other hand he may have to work with tools at the same time. In this case, the MST handset is implemented, for example, as a headphone, and all functions such as protocol management, the selection and completion of a form field or the search for comparison data are carried out by the control station SST with the aid of the speech recognition SEE and application software of the control computer STR.

Other applications that involve a telecommunications network TKN are, for example, an answering machine function or a facsimile query. For the implementation of the answering machine function, for example, the control station SST accepts calls coming in from the telephone network TKN and, in the sense of the generally known process of an answering machine, ters a message and digitally stores the caller message, which can later be listened to by the user of the handset similar to the e-mail query, in which case there is no language conversion, since the message already exists as language. In the case of the facsimile query, the language conversion would have to be preceded by a font recognition or the facsimile message would have to be dispensed with entirely, in the latter case the control station only informing the user of the number of messages received and possibly the device identifier of the sender Facsimile device informed.

In an expanded variant, additional control elements can of course still be provided in the handset, e.g. a numeric keypad, for example to enable the direct entry of phone numbers. The entry via keys or the like. could also completely replace the voice input if, for example, the user prefers this type of input or if no voice recognition unit is provided in the control station SST. At this point, other input paths should also be mentioned, such as those using the graphic, handwriting and / or gestures of the user, only the entry of these inputs having to be realized in the MST handset, but the much more complex analysis takes place in the control station SST.

Of course, the above examples do not represent the only possible ways of realizing the invention. In particular, the invention is not restricted to voice-controlled cordless systems, but rather comprises all the embodiments that can be represented by the person skilled in the art and are described by independent claims 1 and 11.

Claims

claims

1. Mobile radio system (CTN) which has at least one mobile part (MST) and at least one base station (BST) and in which the information is transmitted between the at least one mobile part (MST) and the at least one base station (BST) via an air radio link, characterized by a control station (SST) which is set up ^" to receive, store and process commands entered on the at least one mobile part (MST) and transmitted by the latter to the control station (SST) via a connection of the mobile radio system (CTN), and to control the execution of functions / services of the mobile radio system (CTN) according to these commands.

2. Mobile radio system according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile part (MST) has an input device (MB), e.g. a key, which is provided for an announcement signal of the input and transmission of commands to the control unit (SST).

3. Mobile radio system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one mobile part (MST) and the at least one base station (BST) as terminal devices of a cordless telecommunications network, e.g. a DECT network.

4. Mobile radio system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least some of the commands entered are voice commands and in the control station (SST) a speech recognition unit (SEE) is provided for processing the voice commands.

5. Mobile radio system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control station (SST) is a base station (BST).

6. Mobile radio system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control station (SST) is designed as a device which is assigned to at least one base station (BST).

7. Mobile radio system according to claim 6, characterized in that the control station (SST) can be connected via an air radio link to the at least one base station (BST).

8. Mobile radio system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control station (SST) is realized as a computer and / or the control station is assigned a computer and the control station (SST) for processing and / or displaying on the computer and / or on a computer network (IPN) running services via the handset (MST).

9. Mobile radio system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control station (SST) is set up to issue messages relating to the state and / or the readiness of functions / services of the mobile radio system via the at least one mobile part (MST).

10. Mobile radio system according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is connected to a telecommunications network (TKN) or can be connected to this, e.g. as a private branch exchange.

11. Method for executing functions / services of a mobile radio system (CTN) which has at least one mobile part (MST) and at least one base station (BST) and in which the information transmission between the at least one mobile part (MST) and the at least one base station (BST) over an air radio link, indicates that a user enters commands via at least one handset (MST), the commands are transmitted to a control station (SST) via a connection of the mobile radio system (CTN) and are received and stored by the latter, and the control station (SST) processes these commands and controls the execution of functions / services according to these commands.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the user announces the input of commands on the at least one mobile part (MST) by means of a specially provided signal.

13. The method according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the commands by way of a connection of a cordless telecommunications network, e.g. a DECT network.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the user inputs voice commands and these are processed in a voice recognition unit (SEE) of the control station (SST).

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the connection of the control station (SST) to the other components of the mobile radio system (CTN) is established with the aid of an air radio link.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that the control station (SST) the preparation and / or display of services, the computer assigned to a control station or set up as a control station and / or a via this computer closed computer network (IPN) expire via the handset

(MST).

17. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the control station (SST) outputs messages relating to the state and / or the readiness of functions / services of the mobile radio system via the at least one mobile part (MST).