Calling system from accessory to portable device

• US 20020042281A1
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Published: 04/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tsukamoto, Tadashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A radio communication method allowing a portable device to be easily found using its accessory is disclosed. In response to an operation of a predetermined key of the accessory, the accessory transmits a ringing signal to the portable device. When receiving the ringing signal from the accessory, the portable device starts alerting and, when a predetermined key of the portable device is operated, the portable device stops alerting.

Claims

1. A communication method between a portable device and its accessory using a radio channel, comprising the steps of:

in response to an operation of a predetermined key of the accessory, the accessory transmitting a ringing signal to the portable device;

when receiving the ringing signal from the accessory, the portable device starting alerting; and

in response to an operation of a predetermined key of the portable device, the portable device stopping alerting.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the portable device is previously set to one of audible ringing mode and silent ringing mode, wherein the portable device starts alerting according to a preset ringing mode.

3. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the ringing signal designates one of audible ringing mode and silent ringing mode, wherein the portable device starts alerting according to a designated ringing mode.

4. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the portable device is previously set to at least one ringing mode of audible ringing mode, vibration ringing mode, a light-emitting ringing mode, and a display ringing mode, wherein the portable device starts alerting according to said at least one ringing mode.

5. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the ringing signal designates one of audible ringing mode, vibration ringing mode, a light-emitting ringing mode, wherein the portable device starts alerting according to a designated ringing mode.

6. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the radio channel is established in response to the operation of the predetermined key of the accessory before the accessory transmits the ringing signal to the portable device.

7. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the radio channel includes a control channel and a data channel, wherein the ringing signal is transmitted at the control channel.

8. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the portable device is a portable telephone operable in a mobile communications network and the accessory is a hands-free device for the portable telephone, wherein, when the portable telephone actively connected to the hands-free device is operating on communication with the mobile communications network, a reception voice signal which the portable telephone receives from the mobile communications network is transmitted to the hands-free device and a transmission voice signal which the hands-free device inputs is transmitted to the portable telephone.

9. A radio communication system comprising a portable device and its accessory, wherein

the portable device comprises:

a first communication controller for controlling communication with the accessory at a radio channel according to a predetermined protocol;

at least one alerting device for ringing in a certain mode;

a keypad for inputting a desired instruction; and

a first controller controlling the communication controller and the at least one alerting device such that the at least one alerting device starts alerting according to the certain mode when receiving a ringing signal from the accessory, and stops alerting in response to an operation of a predetermined key of the keypad, and

the accessory comprises;

a second communication controller for controlling communication with the accessory at a radio channel according to the predetermined protocol;

an input device for inputting a ringing instruction; and

a second controller controlling the second communication controller such that a ringing signal is transmitted to the portable device in response to an operation of the input device.

10. The radio communication system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one alerting device is at least one of audible ringer using a speaker, vibration ringer using a vibrator, a light-emitting ringer using a light-emitting diode, and a display ringer using a display device.

11. The radio communication system according to claim 10, wherein the certain mode is predetermined in the portable device, wherein the certain mode includes at least one ringing mode of audible ringing mode, vibration ringing mode, a light-emitting ringing mode, and a display ringing mode.

12. The radio communication system according to claim 10, wherein the certain mode is designated by the ringing signal received from the accessory, wherein the certain mode is one of audible ringing mode, vibration ringing made, a light-emitting ringing mode.

13. The radio communication system according to claim 12, wherein the input device has a plurality of ringing keys each corresponding to different ringing modes that are the audible ringing mode, tho vibration ringing mode, and the light-emitting ringing mode.

14. A portable device allowing radio communication with its accessory, comprising:

a communication controller for controlling communication with the accessory at a radio channel according to a predetermined protocol;

at least one alerting device for ringing in a certain mode;

a keypad for inputting a desired instruction; and

a controller controlling the communication controller and the at least one alerting device such that the at least one alerting device starts alerting according to the certain mode when receiving a predetermined ringing signal from the accessory, and stops alerting in response to an operation of a predetermined key of the keypad.

15. An accessory for a portable device allowing radio communication with its accessory, wherein the portable device starts alerting when receiving a predetermined ringing signal from the accessory, comprising:

a communication controller for controlling communication with the accessory at a radio channel according to the predetermined protocol;

an input device for inputting a ringing instruction; and

a controller controlling the second communication controller such that the predetermined ringing signal is transmitted to the portable device in response to an operation of the input device.