Communication System and Communication Method

• US 20080070560A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Tatsuo, Takase, Hiroshi, Ishii, Yoshikazu
• Application Number:
  US11/630,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20080070560A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• 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 wireless terminal in which the probability that an incoming call is accepted is greatly improved and the load on the circuit switch is lightened. Each of such wireless terminals (120) comprises a wireless LAN interface (126), a cellular wireless interface (127), and a telephone number table (1241) storing an extension number and a cellular number both associated with each other. Each of the wireless terminals (120) searches the telephone number table (1241) on receiving a call switch request from the circuit switch (111), identifies the cellular number concerning the call switch request, and automatically switches the call for the wireless terminal corresponding to the cellular number to a cellular telephone call.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a local area communication network system constructed in a predetermined area;

an outside communication network system where an IP wireless phone is available;

a radio terminal apparatus that carries out, when receiving a notice on a transmission switchover request for requesting switchover from extension phone transmission to cellular phone transmission after carrying out extension phone transmission to a call destination in said predetermined area, switchover of transmission to said call destination from extension phone transmission to cellular phone transmission;

a circuit switching apparatus that connects said local area communication network system and said outside communication network system and notices, if said call destination is absent in said predetermined area when said extension phone transmission is received, said transmission switchover request to said radio terminal apparatus; and

a cellular network system where said radio terminal apparatus that has switched over to said cellular phone transmission carries out a direct voice communication with said call destination outside said predetermined area without the medium of said circuit switching apparatus.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said radio terminal apparatus comprises a phone number table that stores extension phone numbers in correspondence with cellular phone numbers, searches, when receiving a notice of said transmission switchover request, said phone number table using an extension phone number of said call destination, identifies a cellular phone number of said call destination and switches transmission to said call destination to cellular phone transmission.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said circuit switching apparatus comprises a phone number table that stores extension phone numbers in correspondence with cellular phone numbers, searches, when receiving said extension phone transmission, said phone number table using an extension phone number of said call destination, identifies a cellular phone number of said call destination and notices the cellular phone number together with said transmission switchover request, and

said radio terminal apparatus switches transmission to said call destination of the cellular phone number received from said circuit switching apparatus to cellular phone transmission.

4. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said radio terminal apparatus transmits connection priority information indicating priority in a communication with said call destination added to a call originating signal, and

said circuit switching apparatus detects said connection priority information and controls call arrival at said call destination in communication or switchover to said cellular phone transmission according to the priority indicated by said connection priority information.

5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said radio terminal apparatus notices said call destination call urgency degree information indicating a degree of urgency of a call with said call destination added to a call originating signal, and

said call destination detects and displays said call urgency degree information.

6. A communication system comprising:

a home communication network system constructed in each of plural subscribers'"'"' homes;

an outside communication network system where an IP wireless phone is available;

a radio terminal apparatus that carries out IP phone transmission to a call destination in said subscriber'"'"'s home and then switches, when receiving a notice on a transmission switchover request for requesting switchover from IP phone transmission to cellular phone transmission, from IP phone transmission to cellular phone transmission to said call destination;

a circuit switching apparatus that is installed in a service provider station, connects said home communication network system and said outside communication network system and notices, if said call destination is absent in said subscriber'"'"'s home when said IP phone transmission is received, said transmission switchover request to said radio terminal apparatus; and

a cellular network system where said radio terminal apparatus that has switched over to said cellular phone transmission carries out a direct voice communication with said call destination outside said subscriber'"'"'s home without the medium of said circuit switching apparatus.

7. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein said radio terminal apparatus comprises a phone number table that stores IP phone numbers in correspondence with cellular phone numbers, searches, when receiving a notice of said transmission switchover request, said phone number table using an IP phone number of said call destination, identifies a cellular phone number of said call destination and switches transmission to said call destination to said cellular phone transmission.

8. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein said circuit switching apparatus comprises a phone number table that stores IP phone numbers in correspondence with cellular phone numbers, searches, when receiving said IP phone transmission, said phone number table using an IP phone number of said call destination, identifies a cellular phone number of said call destination and notices the cellular phone number together with said transmission switchover request, and

said radio terminal apparatus switches transmission to said call destination of the cellular phone number received from said circuit switching apparatus to cellular phone transmission.

9. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein said radio terminal apparatus notices call urgency degree information indicating a degree of urgency of a call with said call destination added to a call originating signal to said call destination, and

said call destination detects and displays said call urgency degree information.

10. A communication method whereby a local area communication network system constructed in a predetermined area and an outside communication network system are connected by a circuit switching apparatus in said predetermined area and a radio communication apparatus in said predetermined area communicates with a call destination, comprising:

a step by said radio communication apparatus of carrying out extension phone transmission to said call destination;

a step by said circuit switching apparatus of checking, when receiving said extension phone transmission, whether said call destination is present or absent in said predetermined area;

a step by said circuit switching apparatus of noticing, when said call destination is absent in said predetermined area, a transmission switchover request for requesting said radio terminal apparatus to switch from extension phone transmission to cellular phone transmission;

a step by said radio communication apparatus of switching, when receiving the notice of said transmission switchover request, transmission to said call destination from extension phone transmission to cellular phone transmission; and

a step by said radio terminal apparatus that has switched over to said cellular phone transmission of carrying out a direct voice communication with said call destination in a cellular network system without the medium of said circuit switching apparatus.

11. A communication method whereby a home communication network system constructed in each of plural subscribers'"'"' homes and an outside communication network system are connected by a circuit switching apparatus installed in a service provider station and a radio communication apparatus in said subscriber'"'"'s home communicates with a call destination, comprising:

a step by said radio communication apparatus of carrying out IP phone transmission to said call destination;

a step by said circuit switching apparatus of checking, when receiving said IP phone transmission, whether said call destination is present or absent in said subscriber'"'"'s home;

a step by said circuit switching apparatus of noticing, when said call destination is absent in said subscriber'"'"'s home, a transmission switchover request for requesting said radio terminal apparatus to switch from IP phone transmission to cellular phone transmission;

a step by said radio communication apparatus of switching, when receiving the notice of said transmission switchover request, transmission to said call destination from IP phone transmission to cellular phone transmission; and

a step by said radio terminal apparatus that has switched over to said cellular phone transmission of carrying out a direct voice communication with said call destination in a cellular network system without the medium of said circuit switching apparatus.