Radio communication method and system

• US 4,837,802 A
• Filed: 09/17/1987
• Issued: 06/06/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakai, Jun, Kunihiro, Takushi, Iwahashi, Naoto, Higashiyama, Mitsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lev, Robert
• Application Number:
  US07/098,044
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/63, 379/61, 379/62, 455/53, 455/34
• US Class Current: 455/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/733 with a plurality of base stations connected to a plurality of lines for selection in cordless PBX H04W84/16

Abstract

A method and system for radio communication between at least one parent communication unit and a plurality of slave communication units. A slave communication unit transmits an automatic answer signal in response to an incoming call receipt signal transmitted from the parent communication unit. When one of the slave communication units makes a called-person'"'"'s answer to the incoming call receipt signal, it transmits a called-person'"'"'s answer signal. If interference occurs between the automatic and called-person'"'"'s answer signals, the parent communication unit provides a command, causing the slave communication units to stop the automatic and called-person'"'"'s answer signals and permits the slave communication unit which transmits the called-person'"'"'s answer signal to communicate with the parent communication unit.

Claims

1. A method for radio communication between at least one parent communication unit and a plurality of slave communication units, comprising the steps of:

designating one of the slave communication units as a representative slave communication unit;

transmitting a call signal from the parent communication unit;

transmitting an automatic answer signal from the representative slave communication unit automatically in response to receipt of the call signal from the parent communication unit;

transmitting a called-person'"'"'s answer signal from one of the slave communication units in response to receipt of the call signal;

detecting the presence of inteference between the automatic answer signal from the representative slave communication unit and the called-person'"'"'s answer signal from the one of the slave communication units;

terminating the transmission of the called-person'"'"'s signal from the one slave communication unit when the presence of interference is detected;

transmitting an identification signal from the one slave communication unit to identify that the called-person'"'"'s answer signal was transmitted from the one slave communication unit; and

transmitting a specification signal from the parent communication unit in response to receipt of the identification signal to specify the one slave communication unit as a slave communication unit communicable with the parent communication unit.

2. A radio communication system for radio communication between at least one parent communication unit and a plurality of slave communication units, in which one of the slave communication units is designated as a representative slave communication unit, comprising:

means for transmitting a call signal from the parent communication unit to the slave telephone units;

means for transmitting a called-person'"'"'s answer signal from one of the plurality of slave communication units in response to receipt of said call signal, including an identification signal identifying the respective slave communication unit;

means for transmitting an automatic answer signal from the representative slave communication unit in response to receipt of said call signal;

means for detecting the presence of interference between the automatic answer signal transmitted in response to the call signal from the representative slave communication unit and the called-person'"'"'s answer signal transmitted from one of the slave telephone units in response to the call signal;

means for transmitting an interference indication signal when the presence of interference is detected;

means for receiving an identification signal transmitted from the one slave communication unit; and

means responsive to the identification signal for transmitting a specification signal to specify the one slave communication unit as a slave communication unit communicable with the parent communication unit.

3. A radio communication system for radio communication between at least one parent communication unit and a plurality of slave communication units, in which one of the slave communication units is specified as a representative communication unit, comprising:

means in each parent communication unit for transmitting a call signal;

means for transmitting a called-person'"'"'s answer signal from one of the slave communication units in response to a call signal transmitted from the parent communication unit;

means for detecting interference between the automatic answer signal and the called-person'"'"'s answer signal;

means for terminating the transmission of the called-person'"'"'s answer signal from the one slave telephone unit in response to receipt of an interference indication signal transmitted from the parent communication unit when interference is detected between the automatic answer signal transmitted from the representative slave communication and the called-person'"'"'s answer signal;

means for transmitting an identification signal in each slave communication unit for identifying each respective unit; and

means for receiving a specification signal from the parent communication unit which transmits the specification signal in response to receipt of the identification signal, the specification signal specifying the one slave communication unit as a slave communication unit communicable with the parent communication unit.

4. A method for radio communication between a plurality of parent communication units and a plurality of slave communication units, comprising the steps of:

specifying one of the slave communication units as a representative slave communication unit;

transmitting a call signal from one of the parent communication units;

transmitting an automatic answer signal from the representative slave communication unit automatically in response to receipt of the call signal;

when a called-person'"'"'s answer is made to the call signal by one of the slave communication units, transmitting a called-person'"'"'s answer signal from the one slave communication unit;

detecting the presence of interference between the automatic answer signal and the called-person'"'"'s answer signal;

terminating the transmission of the called-person'"'"'s answer signal from the one slave communication unit when the interference is detected;

transmitting an identification signal from the one slave communication unit to identify that the called-person'"'"'s answer signal was transmitted from the one slave communication unit; and

transmitting a specification signal from the one parent communication unit in response to receipt of the identification signal to specify the one slave communication unit as a slave communication unit communicable with the one parent communication unit.

5. A radio communication system for radio communication between a plurality of parent communication units and a plurality of slave communication units, comprising:

one of the parent communication units being specified as a first representative communication unit;

means for transmitting a call signal to the slave communication units;

means for detecting the presence of interference between an automatic answer signal transmitted from the first representative communication unit and a called-person'"'"'s answer signal transmitted from one of the slave communication units which makes a called-person'"'"'s answer to the call signal;

means for transmitting an interference indication signal when the interference is detected;

means for receiving an identification signal from the one slave communication unit;

means for transmitting a specific signal to specify the one slave communication unit as a communicable slave communication unit; and

means for specifying another slave communication unit as a second representative slave communication unit when the first representative slave communication unit makes a called-person'"'"'s answer.

6. A radio communication system for radio communication between a plurality of parent communication units and a plurality of slave communication units, comprising:

means for receiving a representative slave communication unit specifying signal from one of the parent communication units;

means for transmitting an automatic answer signal in response to a call signal from the one parent communication unit in the case of receipt of the representative slave unit specifying signal;

means for transmitting a called-person'"'"'s answer signal when a called-person'"'"'s answer is made to the call signal;

means for terminating the transmission of the called-person'"'"'s answer signal in response to receipt of an interference indication signal transmitted when interference is detected between the automatic answer signal and the called-person'"'"'s answer signal;

means for transmitting an identification signal; and

means for receiving a slave communication unit specifying signal transmitted from a parent communication unit which received the identification signal, the slave communication unit specifying signal specifying a communicable slave communication unit.