Wireless LAN terminal device, portable data terminal system, mobile phone, wireless LAN communication method, method for providing service, and method for transferring incoming call

• US 20050059391A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Company Limited (ROHM Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Ikeda, Akira, Shimbo, Atsushi, Shimazaki, Yoshihito
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable wireless LAN terminal device attachable to an external connecting terminal installed in a portable external connection device, such as a portable data terminal device, includes a device body (2); means for transmitting and receiving (6-9) a signal through a wireless LAN circuit, the means for transmitting and receiving being installed the device body (2); means for supplying power (11) to each portion from means for accumulating power installed in the device body (2) or means for accumulating power attachable to the device body (2); a connecting terminal (13) installed in the device body (2) and attachable to the external connecting terminal; and first sound producing means (12, 15), which is installed in the device body, for producing sound based on the signal received by the means for transmitting and receiving (6-9).

Claims

1. A portable wireless LAN terminal device comprising:

,

a device body being attachable to an external connecting terminal being installed in a portable external connection device;

means for transmitting and receiving a signal through a wireless LAN circuit;

means for supplying power to each portion from means for accumulating power installed in said device body or means for accumulating power being removably attachable to said device body; and

a connecting terminal being installed in said device body and being attachable to said external connecting terminal.

2. The wireless LAN terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising first sound producing means for producing sound based on a signal received by said means for transmitting and receiving.

3. The wireless LAN terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a first operation portion for receiving input from a user.

4. The wireless LAN terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising,

said external connection device being a mobile phone,

means for detecting whether said connecting terminal is attached to said external connecting terminal,

means for setting transfer of an incoming call by controlling said mobile phone when said detecting means detects the attachment, and

means for stopping radio wave transmission and reception of said mobile phone after the transfer of an incoming call is set.

5. The wireless LAN terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a sound packet processing portion installed in said device body for transmitting and receiving a sound packet to and from said means for transmitting and receiving, and for transmitting and receiving sound signals through said connecting terminal.

6. The wireless LAN terminal device according to claim 5, further comprising,

wherein said external connection device being a mobile phone,

means for detecting whether said connecting terminal is attached to said external connecting terminal, and

means for stopping radio wave transmission and reception of said mobile phone when said detecting means detects an attachment.

7. The wireless LAN terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying data based on the signal received by said means for transmitting and receiving.

8. A portable data terminal system comprising:

a portable wireless LAN terminal device including,

a device body means for transmitting and receiving a signal through a wireless LAN circuit, said means for transmitting and receiving being installed in said device body,

means for supplying power to each portion of said portable wireless LAN terminal device from means for accumulating power installed in said device body or means for accumulating power attachable to said device body, and

a connecting terminal installed in said device body; and

a portable external connection device including an external connecting terminal being attachable to said connecting terminal, and an interface portion for receiving input data from a user and providing data for said user.

9. The portable data terminal system according to claim 8, wherein said wireless LAN terminal device further includes first sound producing means for producing sound based on signals received by said means for transmitting and receiving.

10. The portable data terminal system according to claim 9, wherein said wireless LAN terminal device further includes a first operation portion for receiving input from said user.

11. The portable data terminal system according to claim 8, wherein said interface portion includes a second display means for displaying various kinds of data based on a signal received from said external connecting terminal.

12. The portable data terminal system according to claim 11, wherein said interface portion includes a second sound producing means for producing sound based on a sound signal received from said external connecting terminal.

13. The portable data terminal system according to claim 11, wherein said interface portion further includes a second operation portion for receiving input from said user.

14. The portable data terminal system according to claim 8, wherein said wireless LAN terminal device further includes a sound packet processing portion for transmitting and receiving a sound packet to and from said means for transmitting and receiving, and for transmitting and receiving a sound signal through said connecting terminal, wherein

said interface portion further includes sound producing means for producing sound based on sound signals received from said external connecting terminal, and sound input means for receiving sound input and converting received sound input into a sound signal.

15. The portable data terminal system according to claim 8, wherein said external connection device is a mobile phone.

16. A mobile phone comprising:

an external connecting terminal being attachable to a connecting terminal of a portable wireless LAN terminal device, said portable wireless LAN terminal device including,

a device body,

means for transmitting and receiving a signal through a wireless LAN circuit,

means for supplying power to each portion from means for accumulating power installed in said device body or means for accumulating power removably attachable to said device body, and

a connecting terminal installed in said device body;

display means for displaying data based on a signal received from said external connecting terminal; and

means for controlling display of data on said display means.

17. The mobile phone according to claim 16, wherein said portable wireless LAN terminal device further includes first sound producing means for producing sound based on signals received by said means for transmitting and receiving.

18. The mobile phone according to claim 17, wherein said portable wireless LAN terminal device further includes a first operation portion for receiving input from a user.

19. The mobile phone according to claims 16, further comprising,

a sound packet processing portion of said wireless LAN terminal device for transmitting and receiving a sound packet to and from said means for transmitting and receiving, and for transmitting and receiving said sound signal through said connecting terminal,

sound producing means for producing sound based on a sound signal received by said external connecting terminal, and

sound input means for receiving sound input and converting said received sound input into a sound signal.

20. A wireless LAN communication method comprising:

using at least first and second wireless LAN terminal devices for producing sound based on a sound producing request signal;

using a management device for communicating with said first and second wireless LAN terminal devices through a network including a wireless LAN circuit;

registering said first and second wireless LAN terminal devices after grouping said devices by said management device;

receiving said sound producing request signal from said first wireless LAN terminal device through said network by said management device;

retrieving said second wireless LAN terminal device grouped to the same group of said first wireless LAN terminal device; and

transmitting said sound producing request signal to said retrieved second wireless LAN terminal device through said network by said management device.

21. The wireless LAN communication method according to claim 20, further comprising,

using an external connection device for displaying data received by said second wireless LAN terminal device, said external connection device being attached to said second wireless LAN terminal device,

generating data indicating a position of said first wireless LAN terminal device by said management device, and

transmitting said data to said second wireless LAN terminal device through said network by said management device.

22. The wireless LAN communication method according to claim 21, wherein said external connection device is a mobile phone.

23. A wireless LAN communication method comprising:

using at least portable first and second wireless LAN terminal devices for producing sound based on a sound producing request signal;

using a management device for communicating with said first and second wireless LAN terminal devices through a network including a wireless LAN circuit;

registering said first and second wireless LAN terminal devices after grouping said devices by said management device;

defining a travel bound area of said first wireless LAN terminal device by said management device;

determining whether said first wireless LAN terminal device is within said travel bound area by said management device; and

transmitting said sound producing request signal to said second wireless LAN terminal device grouped in the same group of said first wireless LAN terminal device through said network when said management device determines said first wireless LAN terminal device is outside said travel bound area.

24. The wireless LAN communication method according to claim 23, wherein said travel bound area is defined based on a relationship of relative positions between said first wireless LAN terminal device and said second wireless LAN terminal device.

25. A wireless LAN communication method comprising:

establishing communication between a portable wireless LAN terminal device for producing sound based on a sound producing request signal, and a management device for communicating with said wireless LAN terminal device through a network including a wireless LAN circuit;

receiving a request for transmitting said sound producing request signal to said wireless LAN terminal device by said management device; and

transmitting said sound producing request signal to said wireless LAN terminal device based on said request for transmitting by said management device.

26. A method for providing service by a portable data terminal system capable of communication through a wireless LAN circuit and a mobile phone circuit comprising:

using a first providing device for communicating with the portable data terminal system through the wireless LAN circuit;

using a second providing device for communicating with the portable data terminal system through the mobile phone circuit;

indicating service data received from said first providing device through the wireless LAN circuit to a user by the portable data terminal system;

receiving a selection of said service based on said service data from said user by the portable data terminal system;

connecting to said second providing device through said mobile phone circuit; and

transmitting data to be transmitted necessary for order said service through the mobile phone circuit by the portable data terminal system.

27. The method for providing service according to claim 26, wherein said service data are data relating to trade of an article or service, and said data to be transmitted are data necessary for payment of a purchase price of said article or service.

28. The method for providing service according to claim 26, wherein said service data are data relating to a reservation of an article or service, and said data to be transmitted are data necessary for said reservation.

29. A method for transferring an incoming call comprising:

using a wireless LAN terminal device attachable to a mobile phone;

using a management device for communicating with said wireless LAN terminal device through a wireless LAN circuit;

using an incoming-call transfer device for communicating with said mobile phone through a mobile phone circuit;

detecting whether said wireless LAN terminal device is attached to said mobile phone;

connecting said mobile phone to said incoming-call transfer device;

preparing said mobile phone and/or said incoming-call transfer device to transfer incoming-call data of said mobile phone to said management device by said wireless LAN terminal device when said attachment is detected;

receiving said incoming-call data from said incoming-call transfer device by said management device; and

transmitting said incoming-call data to said wireless LAN terminal device through said wireless LAN circuit by said management device.

30. The method for transferring an incoming call according to claim 29, further comprising stopping radio wave transmission and reception of said mobile phone to and from said mobile phone circuit by said wireless LAN terminal device after said preparing to transfer incoming-call data.