Communication system having a notification function with respect to a predetermined state of each communication terminal thereof

• US 6,192,251 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1998
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishida, Shinjiro, Jyogataki, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Blane J.
• Application Number:
  US09/085,518
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/456, 455/458, 455/414
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

When a recall mode is selected as the operation mode of a PHS terminal, recall data is generated. The recall data specifies the other PHS terminal, a state wherein another terminal enters a specific service area, and a message, for example, that the other party has arrived in the specific service area which is to be received from a server or the other terminal when the other terminal is set in the designated state. The recall data is set in the subaddress of a call set-up message and registered in the server or the PHS terminal. When the other terminal enters the specific service area, the server or the other terminal transmits the message to the PHS terminal in the recall mode. The PHS terminal displays the transmitted message on a display device. The user of the PHS terminal can thus know that the user of the other terminal has arrived in the specific service area and that communication with the other terminal is enabled. The state of the other terminal can therfore be recognized without requiring any operation on the part of the other party.

Claims

1. A communication system which performs communication between a first terminal and a second terminal via a communication network under control of a management station for managing said communication network, wherein:

said first terminal includes a transmitter which transmits to the management station recall data including an ID of said second terminal and state information specifying a predetermined state of said second terminal; and

said management station includes a memory which stores the recall data and a transmitter which sends to said first terminal a notification when said second terminal has entered the predetermined states;

and wherein the predetermined state is a state in which said second terminal enters or leaves one of;

(i) a predetermined service area of a public base station of said communication network set to connect said terminals to said communication network via a wireless channel, and (ii) an electromagnetic wave reachable range of a master unit connected to said communication network and having a function of connecting at least a predetermined terminal which has been registered in advance to said communication network.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said notification comprises one of character data and speech data indicating that said second terminal has entered the predetermined state.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first terminal transmits the recall data inserted in a subaddress area of a call set-up message.

4. A communication system which performs communication between a first terminal and a second terminal via a communication network, wherein:

said first terminal includes a transmitter which transmits to the second terminal recall data including an ID of said second terminal and state information specifying a predetermined state of said second terminal; and

said second terminal includes a memory which stores the recall data and a transmitter which sends to said first terminal a notification when said second terminal has entered the predetermined state;

and wherein the predetermined state is a state in which said second terminal enters or leaves one of;

(i) a predetermined service area of a public base station of said communication network set to connect said terminals to said communication network via a wireless channel, and (ii) an electromagnetic wave reachable range of a master unit connected to said communication network and having a function of connecting at least a predetermined terminal which has been registered in advance to said communication network.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said notification comprises one of character data and speech data indicating that said second terminal has entered the predetermined state.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein said first terminal transmits the recall data inserted in a subaddress area of a call set-up message.

7. A communication apparatus connected to a communication network, said communication apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive recall data including an ID of a caller sending the recall data and state information specifying a predetermined state of said communication apparatus;

a memory configured to store said recall data received by said receiver; and

a transmitter configured to send to said caller a notification when said communication apparatus has entered the predetermined state, in accordance with the recall data stored in said memory;

wherein the predetermined state is a state in which said communication accaratus enters or leaves a predetermined area; and

wherein the predetermined area is one of;

(i) a service area of a public base station of said communication network set to connect said communication apparatus to said communication network via a wireless channel, and (ii) an electromarnetic wave reachable range of a master unit connected to said commnunication network and having a function of connecting at least a communication apparatus which has been registered in advance to said communication network via a wireless channel.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said notification comprises one of character data and speech data indicating that said communication apparatus has entered the predetermined state.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, said recall data is transmitted by being inserted in a subaddress area of a call set-up message.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recall data further comprises a notification method, and said transmitter sends the notification in accordance with the notification method.

11. A method for controlling a communication system comprising a first terminal and a second terminal connected to a communication network and a management station for managing said communication network, said method comprising:

transmitting recall data to one of the management station and said second terminal from said first terminal, said recall data including an ID of said second terminal and state information specifying a predetermined state of said second terminal;

storing the recall data in one of the management station and said second terminal; and

sending to said first terminal a notification when said second terminal has entered the predetermined state.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said recall data further comprises action designation information for designating how to send the notification.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said action designation information designates a message display.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said action designation information designates a speech output.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said action designation information designates and alarm tone output.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein said first terminal transmits the recall data inserted in a subaddress area of a call set-up message which contains a protocol identifier, a call number, a message type, a facility, a caller number, a caller subaddress, a callee number and a callee subaddress.