Radio communication apparatus having a plurality of communication functions

• US 6,285,891 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1998
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoshino, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/040,320
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550, 455/73, 455/569, 455/570, 455/572, 455/412, 455/414, 455/418, 455/567, 455/564, 455/63, 345/354
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A radio communication apparatus has a plurality of communication functions such as an incoming call sound, an incoming call ringing pattern, an incoming call vibration, a received voice volume, a microphone sensibility, a noise canceling, a key confirming sound and a message recording, and a plurality of operation conditions of the communication functions are stored in a operation condition storing unit for each of a plurality of operation modes suitable for various environments. When a user selects a particular operation mode suitable for user'"'"'s environment by pushing a mode selecting button, particular operation conditions of the communication functions corresponding to the particular operation mode are read out, and communication functions of a speaker, a vibrator, a buzzer, a noise canceler, a microphone and a message recorder are simultaneously set to the particular operation conditions. Therefore, when an incoming call and a caller'"'"'s voice are received, the incoming call is rung at a pattern and a sound volume suitable for the user'"'"'s environment, and the caller'"'"'s voice is output at a sound volume suitable for the user'"'"'s environment.

Claims

1. A radio communication apparatus, comprising:

storing means for storing a plurality of operation conditions of communication functions corresponding to each of a plurality of operation modes which each are suitable for an environment;

said communication functions including an incoming call vibration function and a received voice volume function, said operation conditions of the incoming call vibration function including an on condition and an off condition, said operation conditions of the received voice volume function including a top condition and an ordinary condition, said on condition of the incoming call vibration function and said top condition of the received voice volume function being stored, as first operation conditions in the plurality of operation conditions, on the storing means so as to correspond to each other, said first operation conditions corresponding to a first operation mode;

mode selecting means for selecting the first operation mode suitable for a particular environment from the operation modes according to a user'"'"'s intention;

mode change control means for reading out the first operation conditions corresponding to the first operation mode selected by the mode selecting means from the storing means to set the incoming call vibration function to the on condition of the first operation conditions corresponding to the first operation mode, and to set the received voice volume function to the top condition thereof corresponding to the first operation mode;

radio communication signal receiving means for receiving a radio communication signal from a caller;

an incoming call informing unit for vibrating a vibrator to inform the user of an incoming call reproduced from the radio communication signal received by the radio communication signal receiving means according to the incoming call vibration function set to the on condition by the mode change control means; and

a received voice outputting unit for outputting a caller'"'"'s voice reproduced from the radio communication signal at a top sound volume according to the received voice volume function set to the top condition by the mode change control means.

2. A radio communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

operation condition inputting means for inputting an operation condition of each communication function according to the user'"'"'s intention to store a plurality of particular operation conditions of the communication functions, corresponding to a user mode other than the operation modes, in the operation condition storing means in cases where the user mode is selected by the mode selecting means, the particular operation conditions of the communication functions being read out from the operation condition storing means to set the communication functions of the radio communication performing means to the particular operation conditions under the control of the mode change control means.

3. A radio communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

operation condition inputting means for inputting an operation condition of each communication function according to the user'"'"'s intention to store a plurality of particular operation conditions of the communication functions corresponding to a normal operation mode other than the operation modes in cases where the normal operation mode is selected by the mode selecting means; and

normal operation mode storing means for storing the particular operation conditions of the communication functions corresponding to the normal operation mode input by the operation condition inputting means, the particular operation conditions of the communication functions being read out from the normal operation mode storing means to set the communication functions of the radio communication performing means to the particular operation conditions under the control of the mode change control means.

4. A radio communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

communication function selecting means for selecting a specific communication function from the operation modes in cases where a specific operation mode is selected by the mode selecting means; and

operation condition inputting means for inputting a specific operation condition of the specific communication function selected by the communication function selecting means according to the user'"'"'s intention to renew the particular operation condition of the specific communication function corresponding to the specific operation mode stored in the operation condition storing means to the specific operation condition under the control of the mode change control means, the specific communication function of the radio communication performing means being reset to the specific operation condition under the control of the mode change control means.

5. A radio communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

communication function selecting means for selecting a specific communication function from the operation modes in cases where a specific operation mode is selected by the mode selecting means; and

operation condition inputting means for inputting a specific operation condition of the specific communication function selected by the communication function selecting means according to the user'"'"'s intention to reset the specific communication function of the radio communication performing means to the specific operation condition under the control of the mode change control means, the specific communication function of the radio communication performing means being set to the particular operation condition stored in the operation condition storing means under the control of the mode change control means in cases where the specific operation mode is again selected by the mode selecting means.

6. A radio communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying means for displaying the first operation mode in cases where the first operation mode is selected by the mode selecting means.

7. A radio communication apparatus according to claim 1 in which the mode selecting means is a single mode selecting button, the plurality of modes being cyclically specified in a prescribed order each time the mode selecting button is pushed for a short time, and the first operation mode being selected in cases where the particular operation mode is specified and the mode selecting button is pushed for a long time.

8. A radio communication apparatus, comprising:

storing means for storing a plurality of operation conditions of communication functions corresponding to each of a plurality of operation modes which each are suitable for an environment,

said communication functions including an incoming call sound volume function, a received voice volume function and a noise canceling function, said operation conditions of the incoming call sound volume function including a top condition and a low condition, said operation conditions of the received voice volume function including a top condition and an ordinary condition, said operation conditions of the noise canceling function including an on condition and an off condition, said low condition of the incoming call sound volume function, one of said top condition and ordinary condition of the received voice volume function and said on condition of the noise canceling function being stored, as second operation conditions in the plurality of operation conditions, on the storing means so as to correspond to each other, said second operation conditions corresponding to a second operation mode;

mode selecting means for selecting the second operation mode suitable for a particular environment from the operation modes according to a user'"'"'s intention;

mode change control means for reading out the second operation conditions corresponding to the second operation mode selected by the mode selecting means from the storing means to set the incoming call sound volume function to the low condition of the second operation conditions corresponding to the second operation mode, to set the received voice volume function to one of the top condition and ordinary condition thereof corresponding to the second operation condition and to set the noise canceling function to the on condition thereof corresponding to the second operation mode;

radio communication signal receiving means for receiving a radio communication signal from a caller;

an incoming call informing unit for outputting a sound at a low volume to inform the user of an incoming call reproduced from the radio communication signal according to the incoming call sound volume function set to the low condition by the mode change control means;

a received voice outputting unit for outputting a caller'"'"'s voice reproduced from the radio communication signal at a top sound volume in cases where the received voice volume function is set to the top condition by the mode change control means; and

a noise canceling unit for reducing a noise mixing with the user'"'"'s voice according to the noise canceling function set to the on condition by the mode change control means.

9. A radio communication apparatus according to claim 8 in which the caller'"'"'s voice reproduced from the radio communication signal is output at an ordinary volume by the received voice outputting unit in cases where the received voice volume function is set to the ordinary condition by the mode change control means.

10. A radio communication apparatus, comprising:

storing means for storing a plurality of operation conditions of communication functions corresponding to each of a plurality of operation modes which each are suitable for an environment,

said communication functions including an incoming call sound volume function, a received voice volume function and an incoming call vibration function, said operation conditions of the incoming call sound volume function including a top condition and a low condition, said operation conditions of the received voice volume function including a top condition and an ordinary condition, said operation conditions of the incoming call vibration function including an on condition and an off condition, said top condition of the incoming call sound volume function, said top condition of the received voice volume function and said on condition of the incoming call vibration function being stored, as third operation conditions in the plurality of operation conditions, on the storing means so as to correspond to each other, said third operation conditions corresponding to a third operation mode;

mode selecting means for selecting the third operation mode suitable for a particular environment from the operation modes according to a user'"'"'s intention;

mode change control means for reading out the third operation conditions corresponding to the third operation mode selected by the mode selecting means from the storing means to set the incoming call sound volume function to the top condition of the third operation conditions corresponding to the third operation mode, to set the received voice volume function to the top condition thereof corresponding to the third operation mode and to set the incoming call vibration function to the on condition thereof corresponding to the third operation mode;

radio communication signal receiving means for receiving a radio communication signal from a caller;

an incoming call informing unit for outputting a sound at a top volume to inform the user of an incoming call reproduced from the radio communication signal according to the incoming call sound volume function set to the top condition by the mode change control means;

a received voice outputting unit for outputting a caller'"'"'s voice reproduced from the radio communication signal at a top sound volume according to the received voice volume function set to the top condition by the mode change control means; and

a vibrator actuating circuit for vibrating a vibrator to inform the user of an incoming call reproduced from the radio communication signal received by the radio communication signal receiving means according to the incoming call vibration function set to the on condition by the mode change control means.

11. A radio communication apparatus, comprising:

storing means for storing a plurality of operation conditions of communication functions corresponding to each of a plurality of operation modes which each are suitable for an environment,

said communication functions including an incoming call vibration function and a received voice volume function, said operation conditions of the incoming call vibration function including an on condition and an off condition, said operation conditions of the received voice volume function including a top condition and an ordinary condition, said on condition of the incoming call vibration function and said ordinary condition of the received voice volume function being stored, as fourth operation conditions in the plurality of operation conditions, on the storing means so as to correspond to each other, said fourth operation conditions corresponding to a fourth operation mode;

mode selecting means for selecting the fourth operation mode suitable for a particular environment from the operation modes according to a user'"'"'s intention;

mode change control means for reading out the fourth operation conditions corresponding to the fourth operation mode selected by the mode selecting means from the storing means to set the incoming call vibration function to the on condition of the fourth operation conditions corresponding to the fourth operation mode and to set the received voice volume function to the ordinary condition thereof corresponding to the fourth operation mode;

radio communication signal receiving means for receiving a radio communication signal from a caller;

an incoming call informing unit for vibrating a vibrator to inform the user of an incoming call reproduced from the radio communication signal received by the radio communication signal receiving means according to the incoming call vibration function set to the on condition by the mode change control means; and

a received voice outputting unit for outputting a caller'"'"'s voice reproduced from the radio communication signal at an ordinary sound volume according to the received voice volume function set to the ordinary condition by the mode change control means.

12. A radio communication apparatus, comprising:

storing means for storing in advance a plurality of operation conditions of communication functions corresponding to each of a plurality of operation modes which each are suitable for a predetermined environment,

said communication functions including an incoming call vibration function and a noise canceling function, said operation conditions of the incoming call vibration function including an on condition and an off condition, said operation conditions of the noise canceling function including an on condition and an off condition, one of said on condition and off condition of the incoming call vibration function and one of said on condition and off condition of the noise canceling function being stored, as fifth operation conditions in the plurality of operation conditions, on the storing means so as to correspond to each other, said fifth operation conditions corresponding to a fifth operation mode;

setting means for setting by a user'"'"'s intension a plurality of user operation conditions of the communication functions, which each are suitable for a user'"'"'s environment, so that the set user operation conditions are stored on the storing means so as to correspond to each other, said user operation conditions of the incoming call vibration function being set to one of said on condition and an off condition, said user operation conditions of the noise canceling function being set to one of said on condition and off condition, said user'"'"'s operation conditions corresponding to a user operation mode;

mode selecting means for selecting the user mode or the fifth operation mode according to a user'"'"'s intention;

mode change control means for reading out the user operation conditions or the fifth operation conditions corresponding to the selected operation mode selected by the mode selecting means from the storing means to set the incoming call vibration function to one of the on condition and the off condition corresponding to the user operation conditions of the user operation mode or corresponding to the fifth operation conditions of the fifth operation mode, and to set the noise canceling function to one of the on condition and off condition corresponding to the user operation conditions of the user operation mode or corresponding to the fifth operation conditions of the fifth operation mode;

radio communication signal receiving means for receiving a radio communication signal from a caller;

an incoming call informing unit for vibrating, in cases where the incoming call vibration function is set to the on condition by the mode change control means, a vibrator to inform the user of an incoming call reproduced from the radio communication signal received by the radio communication signal receiving means; and

a noise canceling unit for reducing, in cases where the noise canceling function is set to the on condition by the mode change control means, a noise mixing with the user'"'"'s voice.