Method for controlling a hands free system, radio apparatus, and hands free apparatus

• US 7,174,192 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Mobile Communications Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagahama, Kentaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, JULIO R
• Application Number:
  US10/952,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20050227741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/567, 455/11.1, 455/11.41, 455/11.66
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A radio apparatus, to be used as a first ending node of a communication network, is connectable to a hands-free apparatus by a local radio link to form a hands-free system. A call made on the hands-free apparatus for an second ending node in the communication network is sent to the radio apparatus through a control channel on the local radio link. The radio apparatus and the hands-free apparatus arrange a voice channel to be established on the local radio link. The call is then sent to the second ending node. In a case where no voice channel is established within a predetermined time period after arranging the voice channel, the radio apparatus cancels the call to prevent a connection between the radio apparatus and the second ending node from being kept and charged.

Claims

1. A cellular phone having a first interface connectable to a radio station via a radio link and a second interface connectable to a hands-free apparatus by using a control channel and a voice channel, comprising:

first connection means for establishing the control channel with the hands-free apparatus via the second interface;

control means for setting a communication mode to a first mode wherein the cellular phone can receive an outgoing call from the hands-free apparatus;

second connection means for establishing the voice channel with the hands-free apparatus if the outgoing call is received from the hands-free apparatus via the control channel;

transmitting means for transmitting the outgoing call to the radio station; and

canceling means for canceling the outgoing call to the radio station if the voice channel establishment with the hands-free apparatus fails.

2. The cellular phone according to claim 1, further comprising informing means for informing the hands-free apparatus, via the control channel, that the outgoing call is canceled.

3. The cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein the control means goes back to a state wherein the cellular phone can receive the outgoing call from the hands-free apparatus if the cellular phone failed to establish the voice channel with the hands-free apparatus.

4. The cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein the control means judges that the voice channel establishment with the hands-free apparatus has failed if a predetermined time period has elapsed after arranging the voice channel.

5. A cellular phone having a first interface connectable to a radio system via a radio link and a second interface connectable to a hands-free apparatus by using a control channel and a voice channel, comprising:

connection means for establishing the control channel with the hands-free apparatus via the second interface, and for establishing the voice channel with the hands-free apparatus if an outgoing call is received from the hands-free apparatus via the control channel;

control means for setting a communication mode to a hands-free mode wherein the cellular phone can receive the outgoing call from the hands-free apparatus if the control channel is established with the hands-free apparatus;

transmitting means for transmitting the outgoing call to the radio station; and

canceling means for canceling the outgoing call to the radio station if the connection means fails to establish the voice channel with the hands-free apparatus.

6. The cellular phone according to claim 5, further comprising informing means for informing the hands-free apparatus, via the control channel, that the outgoing call is canceled.

7. The cellular phone according to claim 5, wherein the control means goes back to a state wherein the cellular phone can receive the outgoing call from the hands-free apparatus if the cellular phone failed to establish the voice channel with the hands-free apparatus.

8. The cellular phone according to claim 5, wherein the control means judges that the voice channel establishment with the hands-free apparatus has failed if a predetermined time period has elapsed after trying the voice channel establishment.

9. A mobile terminal having a first interface connectable to a radio station via a radio link and a second interface connectable to a hands-free apparatus by using a control channel and a voice channel, comprising:

connection means for establishing the control channel with the hands-free apparatus via the second interface, and for establishing the voice channel with the hands-free apparatus if an outgoing call is received from the hands-free apparatus via the control channel;

control means for setting a communication mode to a hands-free mode wherein the mobile terminal can receive the outgoing call from the hands-free apparatus if the control channel is established with the hands-free apparatus;

transmitting means for transmitting the outgoing call to the radio station; and

canceling means for canceling the outgoing call to the radio station if the connection means fails to establish the voice channel with the hands-free apparatus.

10. The mobile terminal according to claim 9, further comprising informing means for informing the hands-free apparatus, via the control channel, that the outgoing call is canceled.

11. The mobile terminal according to claim 9, wherein the control means goes back to a state wherein the cellular phone can receive the outgoing call from the hands-free apparatus if the mobile terminal failed to establish the voice channel with the hands-free apparatus.

12. The mobile terminal according to claim 9, wherein the control means judges that the voice channel establishment with the hands-free apparatus has failed if a predetermined time period has elapsed after trying the voice channel establishment.