Radio communication apparatus having a plurality of identification codes

• US 6,041,244 A
• Filed: 08/05/1998
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Niimi, Tomohiro, Yamane, Kazuyasu, Oikawa, Takeya
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US09/129,718
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/415, 455/426, 455/433, 455/435, 455/445, 455/517, 455/560, 455/456, 455/575, 455/90, 455/550, 379/429, 379/433, 379/357
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/727 Identification code transfer arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/73 Battery saving arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• 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

In a radio communication apparatus having a plurality of identification codes, one of the plurality of identification codes is selected in a calling process. In this case, a particular one of the plurality of identification codes can be selected from (i) a plurality of identification codes stored in a memory of the radio communication apparatus, (ii) a plurality of identification codes stored in a memory of the radio communication apparatus and a memory attached detachably to the radio communication apparatus, and (iii) a plurality of identification codes stored in a plurality of memories attached detachably to the radio communication apparatus.

Claims

1. A radio communication apparatus for performing communication within a plurality of communication networks, each communication network having at least one base station, said radio communication apparatus having a plurality of identification codes including at least a first identification code assigned to said radio communication apparatus in a first communication network and a second identification code assigned to said radio communication apparatus in a second communication network different from said first communication network, said radio communication apparatus comprising:

fixed storing means for storing some of the plurality of identification codes;

detachable storing means for storing a remainder of the plurality of identification codes;

means for receiving an incoming calling signal which includes any of said plurality of identification codes and which is transmitted from any base station of any one of said plurality of communication networks;

means for designating one of said plurality of identification codes stored in said fixed storing means and said detachable storing means; and

means for transmitting an outgoing calling signal via at least one of the at least one base station of the communication network to which the designated identification code is assigned, and

wherein all parts of the radio communication apparatus, including a mount portion for detachably mounting said detachable storing means, are integrated and housed in a common housing.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of identification codes which is stored in said detachable storing means includes identification information for performing direct communication with another radio communication apparatus, without receiving or transmitting any signals through said base stations.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first communication network comprises a private communication network having a private base station connected with a subscriber line; and

said second communication network comprises a public communication network having a plurality of public base stations.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said designating means designates said first identification code when said radio communication apparatus can be connected to said private base station, and designates said second identification code when said radio communication apparatus can be connected to said public base station.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first identification code is stored in said fixed storing means, and said second identification code is stored in said detachable storing means.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first communication network comprises a private communication network, and the second communication network comprises a public communication network.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first communication network comprises a public communication network, and the second communication network comprises a private communication network.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying reception of the incoming calling signal in a plurality of different ways corresponding to the plurality of identification codes assigned to the respective communication networks.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said notifying means comprises a display for displaying a symbol corresponding to the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said notifying means comprises means for generating an acoustic signal corresponding to the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

means for storing call-incoming process designating data for designating one of a plurality of call-incoming process operations each of which corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of identification codes;

means for comparing the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal with each of the plurality of identification codes, and for detecting a coincidence of the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal with one of the plurality of identification codes; and

means for controlling processing of the received incoming calling signal in accordance with the call-incoming process designating data corresponding to the one of the identification codes that is detected to coincide with the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the call-incoming process designating data includes at least one of communication designating data, automatic answering designating data, and communication rejection designating data.

8. A radio communication apparatus for performing communication within a plurality of communication networks, each communication network having at least one base station, said radio communication apparatus having a plurality of identification codes including at least a first identification code assigned to said radio communication apparatus in a first communication network and a second identification code assigned to said radio communication apparatus in a second communication network different from said first communication network, said radio communication apparatus comprising:

a plurality of detachable storing means, each for storing at least one of the plurality of identification codes;

a common housing for simultaneously housing said plurality of detachable storing means;

means for designating one of said plurality of identification codes stored in said plurality of detachable storing means;

means for transmitting an outgoing calling signal via at least one of the at least one base station of the communication network to which the designated identification code is assigned; and

means for receiving an incoming calling signal which includes any of said plurality of identification codes and which is transmitted from any base station of any one of said plurality of communication networks.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of identification codes which is stored in said detachable storing means includes identification information for performing direct communication with another radio communication apparatus, without receiving or transmitting any signals through said base stations.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said designating means includes attachment/detachment detection means for detecting that said detachable storing means is mounted, and designates the identification code stored in said detachable storage means when a mounted state of said detachable storing means is detected by said attachment/detachment detection means.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said first communication network comprises a private communication network having a private base station connected with a subscriber line; and

said second communication network comprises a public communication network having a plurality of public base stations.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said designating means designates said first identification code when said radio communication apparatus can be connected to said private base station, and designates said second identification code when said radio communication apparatus can be connected to said public base station.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said detachable storing means stores identification codes assigned in a private communication network, and at least one other one of said detachable storing means stores identification codes assigned in a public communication network.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said detachable storing means stores identification codes assigned in a public communication network, and at least one other one of said detachable storing means stores identification codes assigned in a private communication network.

20. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for notifying reception of the incoming calling signal in a plurality of different ways corresponding to the plurality of identification codes assigned to the respective communication networks.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said notifying means comprises a display for displaying a symbol corresponding to the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said notifying means comprises means for generating an acoustic signal corresponding to the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

23. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for storing call-incoming process designating data for designating one of a plurality of call-incoming process operations each of which corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of identification codes;

means for comparing the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal with each of the plurality of identification codes, and for detecting a coincidence of the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal with one of the plurality of identification codes; and

means for controlling processing of the received incoming calling signal in accordance with the call-incoming process designating data corresponding to the one of the identification codes that is detected to coincide with the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the call-incoming process designating data includes at least one of communication designating data, automatic answering designating data, and communication rejection designating data.

25. A radio communication apparatus for performing communication within a plurality of communication networks, each communication network having at least one base station, said radio communication apparatus having a plurality of identification codes including at least a first identification code assigned to said radio communication apparatus in a first communication network and a second identification code assigned to said radio communication apparatus in a second communication network different from said first communication network, said radio communication apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing said plurality of identification codes;

means for receiving an incoming calling signal which includes any of said plurality of identification codes and which is transmitted from any base station of any one of said plurality of communication networks;

means for designating one of said plurality of identification codes stored in said storing means; and

means for transmitting an outgoing calling signal via at least one of the at least one base station of the communication network to which the designated identification code is assigned,

wherein, when said radio communication apparatus calls another radio communication apparatus, said radio communication apparatus communicates with the other radio communication apparatus via the base station which transmitted the outgoing calling signal, and when said radio communication apparatus is called by the other radio communication apparatus, said radio communication apparatus communicates with the other radio communication apparatus via the base station which transmitted the incoming calling signal.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising means for notifying reception of the incoming calling signal in a plurality of different ways corresponding to the plurality of identification codes assigned to the respective communication networks.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said notifying means comprises a display for displaying a symbol corresponding to the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

28. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said notifying means comprises means for generating an acoustic signal corresponding to the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

29. An apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

means for storing call-incoming process designating data for designating one of a plurality of call-incoming process operations each of which corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of identification codes;

means for comparing the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal with each of the plurality of identification codes, and for detecting a coincidence of the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal with one of the plurality of identification codes; and

means for controlling processing of the received incoming calling signal in accordance with the call-incoming process designating data corresponding to the one of the identification codes that is detected to coincide with the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the call-incoming process designating data includes at least one of communication designating data, automatic answering designating data, and communication rejection designating data.

31. A radio communication apparatus for performing communication within a plurality of communication networks, each communication network having at least one base station, said radio communication apparatus having a plurality of identification codes including at least a first identification code assigned to said radio communication apparatus in a first communication network and a second identification code assigned to said radio communication apparatus in a second communication network different from said first communication network, said radio communication apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing said plurality of identification codes;

means for receiving an incoming calling signal which includes any of said plurality of identification codes and which is transmitted from any base station of any one of said plurality of communication networks;

means for designating one of said plurality of communication networks; and

means for transmitting an outgoing calling signal via at least one of the at least one base station of the designated communication network,

wherein, when said radio communication apparatus calls another radio communication apparatus, said radio communication apparatus communicates with the other radio communication apparatus via the base station which transmitted the outgoing calling signal, and when said radio communication apparatus is called by the other radio communication apparatus, said radio communication apparatus communicates with the other radio communication apparatus via the base station which transmitted the incoming calling signal.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising means for notifying reception of the incoming calling signal in a plurality of different ways corresponding to the plurality of identification codes assigned to the respective communication networks.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said notifying means comprises a display for displaying a symbol corresponding to the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

34. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said notifying means comprises means for generating an acoustic signal corresponding to the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

35. An apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising:

means for storing call-incoming process designating data for designating one of a plurality of call-incoming process operations each of which corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of identification codes;

means for comparing the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal with each of the plurality of identification codes, and for detecting a coincidence of the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal with one of the plurality of identification codes; and

means for controlling processing of the received incoming calling signal in accordance with the call-incoming process designating data corresponding to the one of the identification codes that is detected to coincide with the identification code included in the received incoming calling signal.

36. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the call-incoming process designating data includes at least one of communication designating data, automatic answering designating data, and communication rejection designating data.