Apparatus and method for exchanging message between portable devices of the same kind

• US 6,819,220 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2000
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Myung Woo Lee
• Original Assignee: Myun Woo Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Myun W., Lee, Won I., Kim, Jung K., Cho, Chang K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, CLARA I
• Application Number:
  US09/601,420
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 340/7.1, 340/5.63, 340/7.51, 340/825.49, 340/7.52, 340/10.1, 340/573.1, 455/41.1, 455/558, 455/41.2, 463/40, 463/49, 463/42
• US Class Current: 340/7.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 2001/085 Partner search devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus capable of transmitting/receiving a message between persons carrying devices of the same kind, together with a desired reproduction time of the message, when the devices are connected to or come close to each other. The message exchanging method according to the present invention comprises the steps of storing a message and its desired reproduction time; checking whether an outer device is the device of the same kind based on a signal from the outer device; transmitting the message and its reproduction time to the outer device according to the check result; and reproducing the message in the outer device at the reserved time for reproduction of the message. According to the present invention, it is possible to let persons who carry portable device of the same kind for exchanging private messages listen to the messages at the desired time, which is set by the person at the transmission side.

Claims

1. An apparatus for exchanging messages between portable devices of the same kind, comprising:

a means for inputting signal containing message;

a means for entering a desired reproduction time of the message;

a means for storing the inputted message and the entered reproduction time;

a means for communicating data with another portable device;

a means for checking for signals from another portable device and for checking, based upon receipt of a signal being transmitted from another portable device through said communicating means, whether or not said another portable device is a device of the same kind which is designated as the counterpart device for exchanging with each other;

a means for generating a sound if said another portable device is identified as the counterpart device for exchanging with each other, and the level of the received signal exceeds a first level; and

a means for transmitting data containing the message and its reproduction time stored in said storing means to said another portable device when said another portable device is identified as the counterpart device for exchanging with each other based upon the signal being received from said another device and the level of the signal being received from said another portable device exceeds a second level which is higher than the first level.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message is voice data.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a means for broadcasting an RF signal containing its own ID code at a predetermined power level;

a means for receiving data, through said communicating means, from another portable device identified as the counterpart device for exchanging with each other;

a means for storing the received data;

a means for providing present time;

a means for checking whether or not a reproduction time of a message which is included in the received data corresponds to the present time; and

a means for reproducing the message in the stored data, based on the check result.

4. A method for exchanging messages between portable devices of the same kind, comprising the steps of:

storing a message and its reproduction time to be transmitted to other portable device;

checking based upon receipt of a signal being transmitted from another portable device, whether or not said another portable device is a device of the same kind which is designated as the counterpart device for exchanging with each other;

generating a sound if said another portable device is identified as the counterpart device for exchanging with each other, and the level of the received signal exceeds a first level; and

transmitting the stored message and its reproduction time to said another portable device, when said another portable device is identified as the counterpart device for exchanging with each other based upon a signal being received from said another device and the level of the signal being received from said another portable device exceeds a second level which is higher than the first level.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

broadcasting an RF signal containing its own ID code at a predetermined power level;

receiving a message and its reproduction time from the portable device identified as the counterpart device for exchanging with each other;

storing the received message and its reproduction time;

checking whether or not the stored reproduction time corresponds to present time; and

reproducing the stored message based on the check result.