Mobile communication system and mobile terminal

• US 6,609,006 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Mori, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US09/634,629
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/566, 455/575, 455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 709/206, 709/207, 370/338, 370/349
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

There is provided a mobile communication system for communication over a network between a first mobile terminal as a transmitter and a second mobile terminal as a receiver both having a function of packet communication and an e-mail address associated with a telephone number for text-communication, the first mobile terminal including (a) a calling unit which transmits a request to the network for registration of packet communication, in order to start text communication with the second mobile terminal, (b) a judgment unit which either selects text communication with the second mobile terminal when an allowance for starting text communication is received from the network, after a packet communication channel has been established with the network, or selects an e-mail communication with the second mobile terminal when a rejection for starting text communication is received from the network, after a packet communication channel has been established with the network, and (c) a transmission unit which either transmits text communication data when text communication was selected by the judgment unit, or transmits an e-mail when e-mail communication was selected by the judgment unit. The mobile communication system automatically makes e-mail communication, even if text communication cannot be made.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system for communication over a network between a first mobile terminal as a transmitter and a second mobile terminal as a receiver both having a function of packet communication and an e-mail address associated with a telephone number for text communication, said first mobile terminal comprising:

(a) a calling unit which transmits a request to said network for registration of packet communication, in order to start text communication with said second mobile terminal;

(b) a judgment unit which either selects text communication with said second mobile terminal when an allowance for starting text communication is received from said network, after a packet communication channel has been established with said network, or selects an e-mail communication with said second mobile terminal when a rejection for starting text communication is received from said network, after a packet communication channel has been established with said network; and

(c) a transmission unit which either transmits text communication data when text communication was selected by said judgment unit, or transmits an e-mail when e-mail communication was selected by the judgment unit.

2. The mobile communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said network

(a) establishes a packet communication channel with said first mobile terminal and makes a response to said first mobile terminal in response to said request,

(b) pages said second mobile terminal,

(c) establishes a packet communication with said second mobile terminal and makes a response to said second mobile terminal in response to a request made by said second mobile terminal to register packet communication,

(d) transmits a signal to said second mobile terminal after said response was made to said second mobile terminal, to confirm whether said second mobile terminal starts or rejects text communication with said first mobile terminal,

(e) receives a response from said second mobile terminal and transfers said response to said first mobile terminal,

(f) receives text communication data from said first mobile terminal and transmits the thus received text communication data to said second mobile terminal, and

(g) disconnects said packet communication channel after transmitting said text communication data to said second mobile terminal.

3. The mobile communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second mobile terminal

(a) transmits a request to register packet communication, when pages by said network,

(b) makes a response to a signal transmitted from said network which signal asks said second mobile terminal whether said second mobile terminal starts or rejects text communication with said first mobile terminal,

(c) receives and transmits text communication data, and

(d) receives an e-mail from said first mobile terminal.

4. The mobile communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said email addresses of said first and second mobile terminals are obtained by converting telephone numbers of said first and second mobile terminals through a browser.

5. The mobile communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said network

(a) receives and temporarily stores text communication data transmitted from said first mobile terminal after said request has been received from said first mobile terminal, and

(b) transmits the thus stored text communication data, to said second mobile terminal, when said response has been received from said second mobile terminal.

6. The mobile communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said network makes a response to said first mobile terminal which response indicates that said second mobile terminal is out of a service area, when said request is not received from said second mobile terminal, even if said second mobile terminal is paged a predetermined number of times, and wherein said judgment unit of said first mobile terminal selects e-mail communication in place of text communication on receipt of said response.

7. A mobile communication system for communication over a network between a first mobile terminal as a transmitter and a second mobile terminal as a receiver both having a function of packet communication and an e-mail address associated with a telephone number for text communication,

wherein if said second mobile terminal rejects to make text communication with said first mobile terminal, said first mobile terminal inactivates a text communication function and activates an e-mail communication function to thereby transmit an e-mail to said second mobile terminal through said network without disconnecting a communication packet channel having been already established between said first and second mobile terminals.

8. A mobile terminal comprising:

(a) a transceiver unit which has a function of receiving and transmitting text communication data in packet and a function of receiving and transmitting an email in packet, and which has an e-mail address associated with a telephone number of said transceiver;

(b) an interface through which text communication data and an e-mail can be made by a user;

(c) a display unit for displaying said text communication data and e-mail;

(d) a first controller which is activated when said mobile terminal is called or when said mobile terminal makes a response to start text communication, and which transmits text communication data through said transceiver unit and displays text communication data received through said transceiver unit, on said display unit;

(e) a second controller which transmits an e-mail input through said interface, and displays an e-mail received through said transceiver unit, on said display unit; and

(f) a third controller which keeps said first controller to operate to continue transmission of text communication data, when an allowance for starting text 15 communication is received from an opponent, and which inactivates said first controller and activates said second controller to thereby transmit an e-mail, when a rejection against starting text communication is received from an opponent.

9. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a memory which stores addresses.

10. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a workstation which stores text communication data.

11. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 8, wherein said third controller inactivates said first controller and activates said second controller to thereby transmit an e-mail, when said third controller receives a signal indicating that an opponent is out of a service area.

12. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second controller transmits a request to cancel packet communication registration to said network through said transceiver unit when an e-mail is received, and disconnect packet communication channel.

13. A mobile terminal having both a first function of text communication and a second function of e-mail communication, said mobile terminal inactivating said first function and activating said second function when an opponent rejects to make text communication with said mobile terminal, to thereby transmit an e-mail to said opponent in place of text communication data.

14. A method of making communication between a mobile terminal and an opponent through network, comprising the steps of:

(a) said mobile terminal transmitting text communication data to said opponent through said network;

(b) said opponent making a response indicating of rejection to make text communication with said mobile terminal; and

(c) said mobile terminal inactivating a function of data communication and activating a function of e-mail communication, to thereby transmit an e-mail to said opponent in place of said text communication data.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the step of continuing text communication between said mobile terminal and said opponent, if said opponent makes a response indicative of allowing to make text communication with said mobile terminal.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the step of annunciating a user that an e-mail has been transmitted to said opponent in place of text communication data.

17. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein an e-mail address of said opponent is identical with a telephone number of said opponent.

18. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein an e-mail address of said opponent is obtained by converting a telephone number of said opponent through a browser.

19. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the step of judging whether said opponent is within a service area or not, and whether said opponent is turned on or not, said steps (b) and (c) being carried out only when said opponent is judged within a service area and is turned on.

20. A method of making communication between a mobile terminal and an opponent through network, comprising the steps of:

(a) said mobile terminal transmitting text communication data to said opponent through said network;

(b) judging whether said opponent is within a service area or not, and whether said opponent is turned on or not; and

(c) said mobile terminal inactivating a function of data communication and activating a function of e-mail communication, to thereby transmit an e-mail to said opponent in place of said text communication data, if said opponent is judged out of a service area or judged to be turned off.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20, further comprising the step of annunciating a user that an e-mail has been transmitted to said opponent in place of text communication data.

22. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein an e-mail address of said opponent is identical with a telephone number of said opponent.

23. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein an e-mail address of said opponent is obtained by converting a telephone number of said opponent through a browser.

24. The method as set forth in claim 20, further comprising the step of paging said opponent at a predetermined number of times, and judging that said opponent is out of a service area or turned off.

25. The method as set forth in claim 24, further comprising the step of annunciating said mobile terminal that said opponent is out of a service area or turned off.

26. A method of making communication between a mobile terminal and an opponent through network, comprising the steps of:

(a) a user selecting text communication or e-mail communication;

(b) storing text communication data in a memory, if said user selects text communication;

(c) establishing a packet communication channel between said mobile terminal and said opponent;

(d) judging whether said opponent allows to receive said text communication data from said mobile terminal; and

(e) transmitting said text communication data stored in said memory, to said opponent, if said opponent allows to receive said text communication data from said mobile terminal, and transmitting an e-mail to said opponent in place of said text communication data without disconnecting said packet communication channel, if said opponent does not allow to receive said text communication data from said mobile terminal.

27. The method as set forth in claim 26, further comprising the step of annunciating a user that an e-mail has been transmitted to said opponent in place of text communication data.

28. The method as set forth in claim 26, wherein an e-mail address of said opponent is identical with a telephone number of said opponent.

29. The method as set forth in claim 26, wherein an e-mail address of said opponent is obtained by converting a telephone number of said opponent through a browser.

30. The method as set forth in claim 26, further comprising the step of judging whether said opponent is within a service area or not, and whether said opponent is turned on or not, said step (e) being carried out only when said opponent is judged within a service area and is turned on.

31. A method of making communication between a mobile terminal and an opponent through network, comprising the steps of:

(a) a user selecting text communication or e-mail communication;

(b) storing text communication data in a memory, if said user selects text communication;

(c) establishing a packet communication channel between said mobile terminal and said opponent;

(d) judging whether said opponent is within a service area or not, and whether said opponent is turned on or not; and

(e) said mobile terminal inactivating a function of data communication and activating a function of e-mail communication, to thereby transmit an e-mail to said opponent in place of said text communication data without disconnecting said packet communication channel, if said opponent is judged out of a service area or judged to be turned off.

32. The method as set forth in claim 31, further comprising the step of annunciating a user that an e-mail has been transmitted to said opponent in place of text communication data.

33. The method as set forth in claim 31, wherein an e-mail address of said opponent is identical with a telephone number of said opponent.

34. The method as set forth in claim 31, wherein an e-mail address of said opponent is obtained by converting a telephone number of said opponent through a browser.