Handsfree communication control method, portable radio communication apparatus and handsfree system

• US 20050070338A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCNT LLC
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Tamura, Toshiya, Nagahama, Kentaro
• Granted Patent: US 7,430,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release

Abstract

A channel disconnection detecting unit detects whether a voice channel is disconnected by an AG or by an HF. When the voice channel is disconnected by the AG, an AG control unit controls a modulation/demodulation unit to maintain a connection of the AG with a BS and a switching unit switches a voice signal to an AG speaker and an AG microphone. When the voice channel is disconnected by the HF, the AG control unit controls the modulation/demodulation unit to interrupt the connection of the AG with the BS.

Claims

1. A handsfree communication control method, comprising:

setting a voice channel and a data channel by short-range communication means between a handsfree apparatus and a portable radio communication apparatus connected to a mobile communication network to allow a handsfree voice phone conversation using the voice channel; and

maintaining a connection of the portable radio communication apparatus with the mobile communication network when the portable radio communication apparatus detects that the voice channel is disconnected by operation means.

2. The handsfree communication control method according to claim 1, further comprising interrupting the connection when the portable radio communication apparatus detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus.

3. The handsfree communication control method according to claim 1, further comprising maintaining or interrupting the connection in accordance with an input operation related to the connection or preset data when the portable radio communication apparatus detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus.

4. The handsfree communication control method according to claim 1, further comprising interrupting the connection when the portable radio communication apparatus detects that the data channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus before a predetermined period of time elapses after the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus.

5. The handsfree communication control method according to claim 1, further comprising allowing the portable radio communication apparatus to change an outside shape thereof into a shape suitable for a voice phone conversation, and interrupting the connection when the portable radio communication apparatus detects that the outside shape is unsuitable for the voice phone conversation when the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus.

6. The handsfree communication control method according to claim 1, further comprising allowing the portable radio communication apparatus to change an outside shape thereof into a shape suitable for a voice phone conversation, and displaying an alarm on a display unit of the portable radio communication apparatus to indicate that the portable radio communication apparatus is connected to the mobile communication network when the portable radio communication apparatus detects that the outside shape is unsuitable for the voice phone conversation when the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus.

7. A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising:

means connected to a mobile communication network;

short-range communication means for setting a voice channel and a data channel between the portable radio communication apparatus and a handsfree apparatus;

operation means for performing an operation related to a disconnection of the voice channel and a connection of the portable radio communication apparatus with the portable communication network;

detection means for detecting whether the voice channel is disconnected by the operation means or by the handsfree apparatus; and

communication control means for maintaining the connection when the detection means detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the operation means.

8. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the communication control means interrupts the connection when the detection means detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus.

9. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the communication control means maintains or interrupts the connection in accordance with an input operation of the operation means related to the connection or preset data when the detection means detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus.

10. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the communication control means interrupts the connection when the detection means detects that the data channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus before a predetermined period of time elapses after the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus.

11. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

means for allowing the portable radio communication apparatus to change an outside shape thereof into a shape suitable for a voice phone conversation; and

shape detection means for detecting the outside shape, and

wherein the communication control means interrupts the connection when the detection means detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus and the shape detection means detects that the outside shape of the portable radio communication apparatus is unsuitable for the voice phone conversation.

12. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

means for allowing the portable radio communication apparatus to change an outside shape thereof into a shape suitable for a voice phone conversation;

shape detection means for detecting the outside shape; and

means for causing the communication control means to display an alarm on a display unit to indicate that the portable radio communication apparatus is connected to the mobile communication network when the detection means detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus and the shape detection means detects that the outside shape of the portable radio communication apparatus is unsuitable for the voice phone conversation.

13. A handsfree system, comprising:

a portable radio communication apparatus including means connected to a mobile communication network, first short-range communication means for setting a voice channel and a data channel between the portable radio communication apparatus and a handsfree apparatus, operation means for performing an operation related to a disconnection of the voice channel and a connection of the portable radio communication apparatus with the portable communication network, detection means for detecting whether the voice channel is disconnected by the operation means or by the handsfree apparatus, and communication control means for maintaining the connection when the detection means detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the operation means; and

a handsfree apparatus including second short-range communication means for setting the voice channel and the data channel between the second short-range communication means and the portable radio communication apparatus and means for disconnecting the voice channel.

14. The handsfree system according to claim 13, wherein the communication control means interrupts the connection when the detection means detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus.

15. The handsfree system according to claim 13, wherein the communication control means maintains or interrupts the connection in accordance with an input operation of the operation means related to the connection or preset data when the detection means detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus.

16. The handsfree system according to claim 13, wherein the communication control means interrupts the connection when the detection means detects that the data channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus before a predetermined period of time elapses after the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus.

17. The handsfree system according to claim 13, wherein the portable radio communication apparatus further includes means for allowing the portable radio communication apparatus to change an outside shape thereof into a shape suitable for a voice phone conversation and shape detection means for detecting the outside shape, and

the communication control means interrupts the connection when the detection means detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus and the shape detection means detects that the outside shape of the portable radio communication apparatus is unsuitable for the voice phone conversation.

18. The handsfree system according to claim 13, wherein the portable radio communication apparatus further includes:

means for allowing the portable radio communication apparatus to change an outside shape thereof into a shape suitable for a voice phone conversation;

shape detection means for detecting the outside shape; and

means for causing the communication control means to display an alarm on a display unit to indicate that the portable radio communication apparatus is connected to the mobile communication network when the detection means detects that the voice channel is disconnected by the handsfree apparatus and the shape detection means detects that the outside shape of the portable radio communication apparatus is unsuitable for the voice phone conversation.