Two-way radio communication system having selectable operating modes

• US 4,941,203 A
• Filed: 11/13/1989
• Issued: 07/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Brian K. A., Moore, Morris A., Patsiokas, Stelios J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUNTZ, CURTIS A
• Application Number:
  US07/434,633
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• Field of Search: 455/53, 455/33, 455/56, 455/54, 455/34, 455/67, 455/68, 455/38, 379/77, 379/88, 379/157, 379/70, 379/67, 379/74, 379/61, 340/825.44, 340/825.66
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/658 Means for redirecting recorded messages to other extensions or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A radio communication system includes a base station and a plurality of remote units. The remote units can be operated in one of several modes. In the Message Storage mode, a telephone or remote unit caller is verbally informed that the called remote unit is not receiving calls, and the caller is then given the option to store a voice or numeric message for later transmission to the called remote unit. If a caller enters an Override code, however, the system attempts to establish voice communication between the caller and the called remote unit. In the Call Screening mode, the caller'"'"'s message is stored in the base station and, simultaneously, forwarded to the called remote unit. During reception of the message, the called remote unit can "pickup" the call and begin normal voice communications with the caller. When a remote unit changes from the Message Storage mode to some other mode, its stored messages are automatically forwarded to the remote unit. If the remote unit is busy, out of radio transmission range, or doesn'"'"'t respond to a call, the caller is given an opportunity to store a message.

Claims

1. A radio communications system, comprising in combination:

a remote unit, comprising in combination;

remote unit transceiver means for tranmitting radio signals to and receiving radio signals from a base station;

selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of operating modes, said operating modes including at least a message storage mode and a communication mode; and

means for transmitting a code indicative of the selected operating mode;

a radio base station, comprising in combination;

base station transceiver means for transmitting radio signals to and receiving radio signals from said remote unit;

code storing means, coupled to said base station transceiver means, for storing the code transmitted by said remote unit and received by said base station transceiver means;

means for communicating with a call originator;

message storing means, coupled to said communication means, for storing a message from said call originator when the code stored in said code storing means is indicative of said message storage mode; and

communication means, coupled to said communicating means and said base station transceiver means, for establishing communications between said call originator and said remote unit when the code stored in said code storage means in indicative of said communication mode.

2. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said base station further comprises means for informing said call originator that the code stored in said code storing means is indicative of said message storage mode and for inviting said call originator to store a message.

3. The communications system of claim 1, wherein:

said operating modes further include a call screening mode;

said message storing means further includes means for storing a message when the code stored in said code storing means is indicative of said call screening mode; and

said base station further includes means for transmitting said message to said remote unit when the code stored in said code storing means is indicative of said call screening mode.

4. The communications system of claim 3, wherein said communication means further includes means for establishing communications between said call originator and said remote unit when the code stored in said code storing means is indicative of said call screening mode and a transmission has been received from said remote unit.

5. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said base station further includes message transmitting means for transmitting the message stored in said message storing means when the code stored in said code storing means changes from a first code indicative of said message storage mode to a second code.

6. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said communication mode further includes means for establishing communications between said call originator and said remote unit when the code stored in said code storing means is indicative for said message storage mode and a code representing an override command has been received from said call originator.

7. The communications system of claim 1, wherein:

said base station includes means for communicating with a second call originator; and

said message storage means includes for storing a message from said second call originator when communications are established between said remote unit and another call originator.

8. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said messages storage means includes means for storing a message from said call originator when said remote unit is out of raido transmission range of said base station.

9. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said message storage means includes means for storing a message from said call originator when the operator of said remote unit fails to answer a call from said call orignator within a predetermined period of time.

10. A radio base station, for use with a remote radio transceiver unit that includes means for transmitting a code indicative of a selected operating mode, said base station comprising in combination:

base station transceiver means for transmitting radio signals to and receiving radio signals from said remote unit;

code storing means for storing the code transmitted by said remote unit and received by said base station transceiver means;

message for communicating with a call originator;

message storage means, coupled to said communication means, for storing a message form said call originator when the code stored in said code storing means is indicative of a message storage mode; and

communication means, coupled to said communicating means and said base station transceiver means, for establishing communications between said call originator and said remote unit when the code stored in said code storing means is indicative of a communication mode.

11. The base station of claim 10, further comprising means for informing said call originator that the code stored in said code storing means is indicative of said message storage mode and for inviting said call originator to store a message.

12. The base station of claim 10, wherein:

said message storing means further includes means for storing a message when the code stored in said code storing means is indicative of a call screening mode; and

said base station further includes means for transmitting a message stored in said message storing means to said remote unit when the code stored in said code storing means is indicative of said call screening mode.

13. The base station of claim 12, wherein said communication means further includes means for establishing voice communications between said call originator and said remote unit when the code stored in said code storing means is indicative of said call screening mode and a transmission has been received from said remote unit.

14. The base station of claim 10, furhter comprising message transmitting means for transmitting a message stored in said message storing means when the code stored in said code storing means changes from a first code indicative of said message storage mode to a second code.

15. The communications system of claim 10, wherein said communication mode further includes means for establishing communications between said call originator and said remote unit when the code stored in said code storing means is indicative for said message storage mode and a code representing an override command has been received from said call originator.

16. The communications system of claim 10, wherein:

said base station includes means for communicating with a second call originator; and

said message storage means includes means for storing a message from said second call originator when communications are established between said remote unit and another call originator.

17. The base station of claim 10, wherein said message storage means includes means for storing a message from said call originator when said remote unit is out of radio transmission range of said base station.

18. The communications system of claim 10, wherein said message storage means includes means for storing a message from said call originator when the operator of said remote unit fails to answer a call from said call originator within a predetermined period of time.

19. A remote radio unit for use with a radio base station that includes code storing means for storing a code transmitted by said remote unit, means for communicating with a call originator, and message storing means for storing a message from said call originator, said remote unit comprising in combination:

remote unit transceiver means for transmitting radio signals to and receiving radio signals from said base station;

selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of operating modes, said operating modes including at least a message storage mode and a communication mode; and

means for transmitting a first code indicative of said message storage mode, such that, transmitting said first code to said base station instructs said base statioon to store a message from said call originator; and

means for transmitting a second code indicative of said communication mode, such that, transmitting said second code to said base station instructs said base station to establish communications between said call originator and said remote unit.

20. The remote unit of claim 19, wherein:

said operating modes further include a call screening mode; and

said remote unit further includes means for transmitting a third code indicative of said call screening mode, such that transmitting said third code to said base station instructs said base station to store a message from said call originator and to transmit the message from said call originator to said remote unit.

21. The remote unit of claim 20, further comprising means for transmitting a fourth code to said base station, such that, if the code stored in said code storing means of said base station is indicative of said call screening mode, transmitting said fourth code to said base station causes said base station to establish communication between said call originator and said remote unit.

22. The remote unit of claim 19, wherein said remote unit includes means for transmitting a third code to said base station, such that, if the code stored in said code storing means of said base station is indicative of said message storage mode, transmitting said third code to said base station causes said base statin to transmit any message stored in said message storing means of said base station to said remote unit.

23. The remote unit of claim 19, further comprising means for transmitting an acknowledgement code to said base station in response to a transmission from said base station, such that, the failure of said base station to receive said acknowledge code instructs said base station to store messages from said call originator.