Portable communication device

• US 5,940,770 A
• Filed: 05/03/1996
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kuki, Hikaru
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US08/642,673
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 455/415, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/509, 455/550, 455/510, 455/567, 455/566, 455/575, 455/422, 455/425, 455/552, 455/553, 455/557, 455/556 , 455/512, 455/466, 455/527, 455/528, 379/96, 379/200, 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 370/493, 370/494, 370/495
• US Class Current: 455/510
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A portable communication device has a software processing section and a hardware processing section which are capable of performing wireless voice communication and wireless data communication of different communication modes and communication channels, wherein the portable communication device automatically matches the communication device of the portable communication device and the communication device of the opposite party before the communication is started. The transmitting side of the communication requests switching of the present communication mode or communication channel of the opposite side through a data signal so that the two sides use the same communication mode or communication channel. The transmitting side, thereafter, switches to the wireless voice communication and calls out. The receiving side of the communication switches to the wireless voice communication in accordance with the switching request signal transmitted from the transmitting side, thereby enabling voice communication.

Claims

1. A portable communication device having wireless voice communication means and wireless data communication means which adopt a different communication mode from each other and are incapable of being used simultaneously, one of said two communications means being used selectively,

wherein said portable communication device transmits a predetermined signal to a receiving communication device having wireless voice and data communication modes, and the signal including a request for switching the receiving communication device from the data communication mode to the voice communication mode, and switches the portable communication device to the wireless voice communication mode to start voice communication.

2. A portable communication device having wireless voice communication means and wireless data communication means which adopt a different communication mode from each other and are incapable of being used simultaneously, one of said two communications means being used selectively,

wherein when a communication device of an opposite party requests said portable communication device to switch modes, the portable communication device enables a user to select whether the switching of modes is to be performed according to a time when the request is made, or according to a predetermined setting of said portable communication device, and

then said portable communication device transmits a predetermined signal indicating that switching of modes is to occur, when switching is selected, and switching the communication device to a stand-by state to await for a further signal by said wireless voice communication means, and

transmitting, a response that the switching is impossible through a predetermined signal when switching is not selected.

3. The portable communication device as defined in claim 2,

said portable communication device having a function of, when the communication device of the opposite party requests the switching of said communication means of said portable communication device, transmitting the response that the switching is possible or that the switching is impossible according to a judgment directly made by the user depending on the opposite party whether or not the switching is to be performed, or according to a predetermined setting state with respect to the opposite party.

4. The portable communication device as defined in claim 3,

said portable communication device having a function of informing the opposite party why the switching is impossible and when the switching will be possible by including a message made by a sending party of the response in the response signal that the switching is impossible.

5. The portable communication device as defined in claim 4,

said portable communication device designating a forwarding third party in the response signal that the switching is impossible and letting the opposite party call out the designated third party.

6. A portable communication device, comprising:

wireless voice communication means;

wireless data communication means adopting a different communication mode from a communication mode of said wireless voice communication means, said wireless voice communication means and said wireless data communication means being incapable of being used simultaneously;

selecting means for enabling one of said two communication means to be used; and

control means for transmitting, to a receiving communication device of an opposite party by said wireless data communication means, a request for switching from said wireless data communication means to said wireless voice communication means through a predetermined signal, and then transmitting to said selecting means an instruction signal enabling said wireless voice communication means to be used.

7. The portable communication device as defined in claim 6,

said control means including:

a judging section for judging whether the signal requesting the switching of the communication means is included in a signal externally received;

a decision-making section for deciding, when said judging section judges that the signal requesting the switching is included, whether the switching of said communication means is performed; and

an outputting section for outputting, when said decision-making section decides that the switching of said communication means is performed, the instruction signal.

8. A portable communication device comprising:

wireless voice communication means;

wireless data communication means adopting a different communication mode from a communication mode of said wireless voice communication means, said wireless voice communication means and said wireless data communication means being incapable of being used simultaneously;

selecting means for enabling one of said two communication means to be used;

control means for outputting to said selecting means an instruction signal enabling said wireless voice communication means, when said wireless data communication means is being used, and said wireless data communication means externally receives a signal requesting switching of said communication means;

said control means including;

a judging section for judging whether the signal requesting the switching of the communication means is included in a signal externally received;

a decision-making section for deciding, when said judging section judges that the signal requesting the switching is included, whether the switching of said communication means is to be performed; and

an outputting section for outputting, when said decision-making section decides that the switching of said communication means is performed, said instruction signal to the selecting means, wherein

said decision-making section including;

a display section for displaying a message when said judging section judges that the signal requesting the switching is included; and

an input section for enabling a user to decide whether the switching of said communication means is to be performed according to the message displayed on the displayed section.

9. A portable communication device comprising:

wireless voice communication means;

wireless data communication means adopting a different communication mode from a communication mode of said wireless voice communication means, said wireless voice communication means and said wireless data communication means being incapable of being used simultaneously;

selecting means for enabling one of said two communication means to be used;

control means for outputting to said selecting means an instruction signal enabling said wireless voice communication means, when said wireless data communication means is being used, and said wireless data communication means externally receives a signal requesting switching of said communication means;

said control means including;

a judging section for judging whether the signal requesting the switching of the communication means is included in a signal externally received;

a decision-making section for deciding, when said judging section judges that the signal requesting the switching is included, whether the switching of said communication means is to be performed; and

an outputting section for outputting, when said decision-making section decides that the switching of said communication means is performed, said instruction signal to the selecting means, wherein

said decision-making section including;

a clock section for outputting time information;

a memory section for storing information representative of a time period during which the switching of said communication means is possible; and

a processing section for deciding whether the switching of said communication means is to be performed according to the time information and the time period information.

10. A portable communication device having wireless voice communication means and wireless data communication means which each adopt different communication modes and are not used simultaneously,

said portable communication device having means for switching from a data mode to a voice mode in response to a transmitted request to initiate a voice communication from another communication device, and

said means for switching including a judging means to determine whether switching from data to voice modes is appropriate according to a setting of said portable communication device;

wherein if the judging means determines that switching is appropriate, said portable communication device transmits to the other communication device a response that the switching is appropriate and switches the portable communication device to a stand-by state to receive wireless voice communications, and

if the judging means determines that switching is not appropriate, the portable communication device transmits a response that switching is not appropriate.

11. A portable communication device, comprising:

wireless voice communication means having a wireless voice communication mode;

wireless data communication means having a data communication mode, said wireless voice communication means and said wireless data communication means being operated exclusively of one another;

selecting means for enabling one of said communication means to be selected for use; and

control means for generating a control signal for the selecting means in response to a signal from another device requesting the personal communication device to switch modes, wherein said control means further determines whether switching is appropriate according to a setting of said portable communication device, then, upon determining that switching is appropriate, transmits a response that the switching is possible through a predetermined signal and switches the personal communication device to a stand-by state to receive a wireless voice communication, and transmits a response that the switching is not appropriate through a predetermined signal if a determination is made that switching is not appropriate.