Cordless telephone system and safety management system

• US 9,008,281 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2014
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ashizuka, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US14/204,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20140270096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 379/38, 340/573.4
• US Class Current: 379/38
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0222 Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM

Abstract

Provided is a cordless telephone system including a base unit (100) connected to a telephone line and a handset (200) configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from the base unit via wireless channel, wherein the handset includes a strength measurement unit (20) configured to measure a radio wave strength when the radio waves transmitted by the base unit are received by the handset, and a control unit (10) configured to measure a distance between the base unit and the handset based on a result of measurement performed by the strength measurement unit and to perform a prescribed safety management action when the distance becomes larger than a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A cordless telephone system, comprising:

a base station connected to a telephone line; and

a handset configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from the base station via wireless channel,

wherein the handset includes;

a strength measurement circuitry configured to measure a radio wave strength of radio waves received by the handset from the base station; and

a controller which performs a prescribed safety management action when the radio wave strength is lower than a predetermined value;

wherein the predetermined value is higher than a minimum wave strength needed for the handset to communicate with the base station, and

a communication method between the base station and the handset when the radio wave strength is higher than the predetermined value is the same as when the radio wave strength is lower than the predetermined value.

2. The cordless telephone system according to claim 1, wherein:

the base station and the handset perform transmission and reception based on time division multiple access; and

the strength measurement circuitry configured to measure the radio wave strength of radio waves when control data transmitted from the base station is received by the handset.

3. The cordless telephone system according to claim 1, wherein:

the handset further comprises a response button; and

the controller is configured, in response to an operation of the response button, to make a phone call to the base station.

4. The cordless telephone system according to claim 1, wherein the safety management action includes at least one of setting off an alarm sound, outputting a predetermined message, making a phone call to a predetermined party, and making notification via the wireless channel.

5. The cordless telephone system according to claim 1, wherein

when the controller performs the safety management action and a phone call between the base station and the handset is started, the controller performs the safety management action which does not interfere with the conversation over the phone.

6. The cordless telephone system according to claim 1, wherein:

the base station and the handset perform transmission and reception based on time division multiple access; and

the strength measurement circuitry configured to measure the radio wave strength of radio waves when the handset receives control data which includes a signal for measuring the radio wave strength from the base station.

7. A cordless telephone system comprising a base station, a first handset and a second handset, the base station and the first handset being configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from each other via wireless channel, and the base unit and the second handset being configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from each other via wireless channel,

wherein the second handset includes:

strength measurement circuitry configured to measure a radio wave strength of radio waves received by the second handset from the base station; and

a controller which performs a prescribed safety management action when the radio wave strength is lower than a predetermined value,

wherein the predetermined value is higher than a minimum wave strength needed for the second handset to communicate with the base station, and

a communication method between the base station and the handset when the radio wave strength is higher than the predetermined value is the same as when the radio wave strength is lower than the redetermined value,

and wherein the prescribed safety management action includes transmission of a first notification to the base station, and the base station is configured, upon receipt of the first notification, to transmit a second notification to the first handset.

8. The cordless telephone system according to claim 7, wherein:

the base station and the second handset perform transmission and reception based on time division multiple access; and

the strength measurement circuitry configured to measure the radio wave strength of radio waves when control data transmitted from the base station is received by the second handset.

9. The cordless telephone system according to claim 7, wherein:

the second handset further includes a response button; and

the controller is configured, in response to an operation of the response button, to make a phone call to the base station.

10. The cordless telephone system according to claim 7, wherein the safety management action includes at least one of setting off an alarm sound, outputting a predetermined message, making a phone call to a predetermined party, and making notification via the wireless channel.

11. The cordless telephone system according to claim 7, wherein

when the controller performs the safety management action and a phone call between the second handset and one of the base station and the first handset is started, the controller performs the safety management action which does not interfere with the conversation over the phone.

12. The cordless telephone system according to claim 7, wherein:

the base station and the second handset perform transmission and reception based on time division multiple access; and

the strength measurement circuitry configured to measure the radio wave strength of radio waves when the second handset receives control data which includes a signal for measuring the radio wave strength from the base station.

13. A cordless telephone system comprising a base station, a first handset and a second handset, the first handset and the second handset being configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from each other via wireless channel,

wherein the second handset includes:

a strength measurement circuitry configured to measure a radio wave strength of radio waves received by the handset from the first handset; and

a controller which performs a prescribed safety management action when the radio wave strength is lower than a predetermined value,

wherein the predetermined value is higher than a minimum wave strength needed for the second handset to communicate with the first handset, and

a communication method between the base station and the handset when the radio wave strength is hi her than the predetermined value is the same as when the radio wave strength is lower than the predetermined value,

and wherein the prescribed safety management action includes transmission of a first notification to the first handset.

14. The cordless telephone system according to claim 13, wherein:

the base station and the first handset are configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from each other; and

the first handset transmits a second notification to the base station upon receipt of the first notification from the controller of the second handset.

15. The cordless telephone system according to claim 13, wherein:

the first handset and the second handset perform transmission and reception based on time division multiple access; and

the strength measurement circuitry configured to measure the radio wave strength of radio waves when control data transmitted from the first handset is received by the second handset.

16. The cordless telephone system according to claim 13, wherein:

the second handset further includes a response button; and

the control unit is configured, in response to an operation of the response button, to make a phone call to the first handset.

17. The cordless telephone system according to claim 13, wherein the safety management action includes at least one of setting off an alarm sound, outputting a predetermined message, making a phone call to a predetermined party, and making notification via the wireless channel.

18. The cordless telephone system according to claim 13, wherein

when the controller performs the safety management action and a phone call between the first handset and the second handset is started, the controller performs the safety management action which does not interfere with the conversation over the phone.

19. The cordless telephone system according to claim 13, wherein:

the first handset and the second handset perform transmission and reception based on time division multiple access; and

the strength measurement circuitry configured to measure the radio wave strength of radio waves when the handset receives control data which includes a signal for measuring the radio wave strength from the first handset.

20. A safety management system, comprising:

a transmitter configured to emit radio waves; and

a receiver configured to be carried by a person who needs supervision and to receive the radio waves emitted by the transmitter,

wherein the receiver comprises;

a strength measurement circuitry configured to measure a radio wave strength of radio waves received by the receiver from the transmitter; and

a controller which performs a prescribed safety management action when the radio wave strength needed for the handset to communicate with the base station, and;

wherein the predetermined value is higher than minimum wave strength needed for the second handset to communicate with the base station, and

a communication method between the base station and the handset when the radio wave strength is higher than the predetermined value is the same as when the radio wave strength is lower than the predetermined value.

21. The cordless telephone system according to claim 20, wherein

when the controller performs the safety management action and a phone call between the transmitter and the receiver is started as the safety management action, the controller performs the safety management action which does not interfere with the conversation over the phone.

22. The cordless telephone system according to claim 20, wherein:

the transmitter and the receiver perform transmission and reception based on time division multiple access; and

the strength measurement circuitry configured to measure the radio wave strength of radio waves when the handset receives control data which includes a signal for measuring the radio wave strength from the transmitter.