Portable communication terminal

• US 20030125074A1
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Mobile Communications Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Tamura, Toshiya, Tanada, Tosaku, Aoki, Takayasu, Nagahama, Kentaro, Matsuya, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,020,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A portable communication terminal which can establish communications between portable communication terminals by Bluetooth or the like by a simple operation are provided. An initiator terminal activates a short-distance radio communication section to make a Bluetooth function active and sends a request to start communications using a Bluetooth communication function to an acceptor terminal through a general communications network such as a telephone network or the like. The acceptor terminal makes the Bluetooth communication function active when it responds to the communication-starting request and sends a Bluetooth connection request to the initiator terminal by using the Bluetooth communication function. The initiator terminal responds to the Bluetooth connection request whereby a Bluetooth connecting session is established.

Claims

1. A portable communication terminal, comprising:

a first communication means for communicating with a destination terminal via a radio base station;

a second communication means for directly communicating with the destination terminal without via the radio base station;

a communication-requesting means for making a communication request using the second communication means to the destination terminal;

a communication session-establishing means for establishing a communication session with the destination terminal using the second communication means according to the communication request made by the communication-requesting means; and

a communication control means for activating a desired communication application and controlling communications with the destination terminal using the second communication means after the communication session is established by the communication session-establishing means.

2. The portable communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication-requesting means uses the first communication means to send the communication request to the destination terminal.

3. The portable communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein the communication session-establishing means makes the second communication means active after the communication request was made to the destination terminal by the communication-requesting means, and when the destination terminal makes a connection request by the second communication means, uses the second communication means in response to the connection request to return a connection response to the destination terminal to establish a connection session by the second communication means.

4. The portable communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication session-establishing means establishes a communication session with the destination terminal by the second communication means on condition that the destination terminal has agreed to make communications using the second communication means in response to the communication request made by the communication-requesting means.

5. The portable communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication control means activates the communication application, also uses the second communication means to make a communication application-activating request to the destination terminal, and uses the communication application to start communications with the destination terminal by the second communication means according to a communication application activation response from the destination terminal responding to the communication application-activating request.

6. The portable communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connection history storage means for storing a connection history using the second communication means in connection with the destination terminal; and

a judging means for judging minimum information required for connection by the second communication means based on the connection history stored in the connection history storage means at the time of communications by the second communication means, wherein;

the communication request-sending means sends the minimum information required for connection by the second communication means, which is judged by the judging means, by including it in the communication request to the destination terminal.

7. The portable communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein the minimum information required for connection by the second communication means includes information about a connection procedure by the second communication means.

8. The portable communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein:

the connection history storage means stores a notification history of identification information about the own terminal to the destination terminal, and

the minimum information required for connection by the second communication means includes the identification information about the own terminal, and when the identification information about the own terminal is already known by referring to the connection history storage means, the transmission of the identification information about the own terminal to the destination terminal is omitted.

9. The portable communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein:

the connection history storage means includes a notification history of security information about the own terminal, and

the minimum information required for connection by the second communication means includes the security information about the own terminal, and when the security information is already known by referring to the connection history storage means, the transmission of the security information about the own terminal to the destination terminal is omitted.

10. A portable communication terminal, comprising:

a first communication means for communicating with a destination terminal via a radio base station;

a second communication means for directly communicating with the destination terminal without via the radio base station;

a communication request-receiving means for receiving a communication request using the second communication means from the destination terminal;

a judging means for judging whether or not it responds to the communication request received by the communication request-receiving means;

a communication session-establishing means for making the second communication means active and establishing a communication session with the destination terminal using the second communication means when the judging means judges to respond to the communication request; and

a communication control means for activating a desired communication application to control communications with the destination terminal using the second communication means, when the communication session is established by the communication session-establishing means.

11. The portable communication terminal according to claim 10, further comprising:

a notification means for notifying the reception of the communication request when the communication request-receiving means receives the communication request, wherein;

the judging means judges whether or not it responds to the communication request according to a user operation responding to the notification given by the notification means.

12. The portable communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein the judging means automatically judges whether or not it responds to the communication request according to a prescribed condition registered in advance.

13. The portable communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein the judging means judges whether or not it responds to the communication request according to terminal information about the destination terminal.

14. The portable communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein the judging means judges whether or not it responds to the communication request according to a time zone in which the communication request is received.

15. The portable communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein the judging means comprises a switching means for switching to make judgment whether or not it responds to the communication request according to the user operation or automatically.