Mobile communications system and method with message storing function

• US 6,064,876 A
• Filed: 07/03/1996
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc. (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishida, So, Tsukahara, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US08/666,310
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/413, 455/403, 455/445, 455/461, 455/510, 455/421, 455/458, 455/459, 379/89, 379/88.23, 379/211, 370/329, 370/330, 370/341, 370/445, 370/448
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/65 Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party in the exchange H04M3/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A mobile communications system including a voice message function in both a communications network (10) and a mobile station (20). If the mobile station (20) does not respond, the communications network responds instead thereof, stores a message, and notifies the mobile station of the presence of the message. The mobile station requests the transfer of the message when accessible. The message can be positively sent to a mobile station even if it is not accessible for a long time.

Claims

1. A mobile communications system which transfers a message sent from a first mobile station to a second mobile station via a communication network, wherein said communications network comprises:

receiving means for receiving a message from said first mobile station;

storing means for storing said message received;

transfer means for transferring the message stored in said storing means to said second mobile station in response to an inquiry from said second mobile station, and said second mobile station comprises;

means for inquiring of said communications network whether a message is stored or not, said inquiring means comprises;

radio monitoring means for detecting whether said second mobile station enters a service area or not, and automatically sending to said communications network an inquiry about the presence of a message addressed to said second mobile station when it enters the service area; and

timer means for allowing said inquiry to be sent after a predetermined time interval from a preceding inquiry after a call connection is provided from said communications network to said second mobile station and its user does not respond to the call connection, and

memory means for storing said message sent from said communications network.

2. A mobile communications system which transfers a message sent from a first mobile station to a second mobile station via a communications network, wherein said communications network comprises:

receiving means for receiving a message from said first mobile station;

storing means for storing said message received; and

transfer means for transferring the message stored in said storing means to said second mobile station in response to an inquiry from said second mobile station, and said second mobile station comprises;

means for inquiring of said communications network whether a message is stored or not, said inquiring means comprises;

radio monitoring means for detecting whether said second mobile station enters a service area or not, and automatically sending to said communications network an inquiry about the presence of a message addressed to said second mobile station when it enters the service area; and

timer means for allowing said inquiry to be sent after a predetermined time has elapsed once a call connection is provided from said communications network to said second mobile station and its user does not respond to the call connection, and

memory means for storing said message sent from said communication network.

3. A mobile communications method which transfers a message sent from a first mobile station to a second mobile station via a communications network, wherein processing in said mobile communications network comprises the steps of:

receiving a message from said first mobile station;

storing said message received; and

transferring the message stored to said second mobile station in response to an inquiry from said second mobile station, and

processing in said second mobile station comprises the steps of;

inquiring of said communications network whether a message is stored or not, said step of inquiring comprises the steps of;

detecting whether said second mobile station enters a service area or not, and automatically sending to said communications network an inquiry about the presence of a message addressed to said second mobile station when it enters the service area; and

allowing said inquiry to be sent after a predetermined time interval from a preceding inquiry after a call connection is provided from said communications network to said second mobile station and its user does not respond to the call connection, and

storing said message sent from said communications network.

4. A mobile communications method which transfers a message sent from a first mobile station to a second mobile station via a communications network, wherein proceeding in said communications network comprises the steps of:

receiving a message from said first mobile station;

storing said message received; and

transferring the message stored to said second mobile station in response to an inquiry from said second mobile station, and

processing in said second mobile station comprises the steps of;

inquiring of said communications network whether a message is stored or not, said step of inquiring comprises the steps of;

detecting whether said second mobile station enters a service area or not, and automatically sending to said communications network an inquiry about the presence of a message addressed to said second mobile station when it enters the service area; and

sending said inquiry after a predetermined time has elapsed once a call connection is provided from said communications network to said second mobile station and its user does not respond to the call connection, and

storing said message sent from said communications network.

5. A communications network which transfers a message transmitted from a first mobile station to a second mobile station, said communications network comprising:

responding means for responding to said first mobile station when said second mobile station does not respond;

receiving means for receiving a message from said first mobile station;

first storing means for storing said message received;

compression means for compressing said message stored in said first storing means;

second storing means for storing a compressed message; and

transfer means for reading out said compressed message stored in said second storing means, and for transferring it to said second mobile station in response to an inquiry from second mobile station, said inquiry being sent when said second mobile station enters a service area and being sent after a predetermined time has elapsed once a call connection is provided from said communications network to said second mobile station and its user does not respond to the call connection.

6. A mobile station connected to a communications network which stores a received message after compression, said mobile station comprising:

means for deciding whether said mobile station is connectable to said communications network;

inquiring means for inquiring, when connectable, of said communications network about the presence of a compressed message which has been stored, said inquiring means comprises;

radio monitoring means for detecting whether said second mobile station enters a service area or not, and automatically sending to said communications network an inquiry about the presence of a message addressed to said second mobile station when it enters the service area; and

timer means for allowing said inquiry to be sent after a predetermined time has elapsed once a call connection is provided from said communications network to said second mobile station and its user does not respond to the call connection, and

receiving means for receiving said compressed message transmitted from said communications network;

memory means for storing said compressed message received by said receiving means;

decompression means for decompressing said compressed message stored in said memory means; and

means for reproducing a decompressed message.

7. A communications network which transfers a message transmitted from a first mobile station to a second mobile station, said communications network comprising;

responding means for responding to said first mobile station when said second mobile station does not respond;

receiving means for receiving a message from said first mobile station;

first storing means for storing said message received;

compression means for compressing said message stored in said first storing means;

second storing means for storing a compressed message; and

transfer means for reading out said compressed message stored in said second storing means, and for transferring it to said second mobile station in response to an inquiry from second mobile station, said inquiry being sent when said second mobile station enters a service area and after a predetermined time interval from a preceding inquiry after a call connection is provided from said communications network to said second mobile station and its user does not respond to the call connection.

8. A mobile station connected to a communications network which stores a received message after compression, said mobile station comprising:

means for deciding whether said mobile station is connectable to said communications network;

inquiring means for inquiring, when connectable, of said communications network about the presence of a compressed message which has been stored, said inquiring means comprises;

radio monitoring means for detecting whether said second mobile station enters a service area or not, and automatically sending to said communications network an inquiry about the presence of a message addressed to said second mobile station when it enters the service area; and

timer means for allowing said inquiry to be sent after a predetermined time interval from a preceding inquiry after a call connection is provided from said communications network to said second mobile station and its user does not respond to the call connection, and

receiving means for receiving said compressed message transmitted from said communications network;

memory means for storing said compressed message received by said receiving means;

decompression means for decompressing said compressed message stored in said memory means; and

means for reproducing a decompressed message.

9. A method for transferring a message sent from a first mobile station to a second mobile station via a mobile communications network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a message in said communication network from said first mobile station;

storing in said communication network said message received; and

transferring the message stored to said second mobile station in response to an inquiry from said second mobile station, said inquiry being as to whether a message is stored or not, said inquiry including the steps of;

detecting whether said second mobile station enters a service area or not, and automatically sending to said communications network an inquiry about the presence of a message addressed to said second mobile station when it enters the service area; and

sending said inquiry after a predetermined time has elapsed once a call connection is provided from said communications network to said second mobile station and its user does not respond to the call connection, and storing in the second mobile station said message sent from said communications network.