Letter message communication method and apparatus

• US 7,006,839 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Okano, Yoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Huy
• Application Number:
  US09/860,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20010046871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/426.1, 455/414.1, 455/567, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A letter message including transmitter'"'"'s name, letter message destination telephone number 62 and letter message text 63, is worked out and stored in a memory 8 in advance by using an input unit 5 and a display unit 4 before commencing communication with the opposite side thereof. When commencing communication with the opposite side, the letter message is transmitted thereto at the time of ending the communication. The opposite side terminal stores the received letter message in a memory 8, and also displays the message on the display unit 4. If necessary, the reception of the letter message is informed as an alarm from a loudspeaker 7.

Claims

1. A letter message communication method in a telephone terminal having a letter message producing function and capable of transmitting the letter message to an opposite side of communication, wherein:

a check is made at the time of ending voice communication as to whether a letter message worked out in advance has been transmitted, and when the letter message has not yet been transmitted, transmitting the letter message after ending the voice communication.

2. The letter message communication method in a telephone terminal according to claim 1, wherein the letter message includes the transmitter'"'"'s name, the letter message destination and a letter message text.

3. The letter message communication method of claim 1, wherein the letter message is transmitted before disconnection of the telephone terminal.

4. The letter message communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing a telephone number of the opposite side of communication.

5. A letter message communication method in a telephone terminal having a letter message producing function and capable of transmitting the letter message to an opposite side of communication, wherein:

a check is made at the time of ending voice communication as to whether a letter message worked out in advance has been transmitted, and when the letter message has not yet been transmitted, transmitting the letter message after ending the voice communication by utilizing a letter message communication service provided by a communication operator.

6. The letter message communication method in a telephone terminal according to claim 5, wherein the letter message includes the transmitter'"'"'s name, the letter message destination and a letter message text.

7. A letter message communication method in a telephone terminal having a letter message producing function and capable of transmitting the letter message to an opposite side of communication, wherein:

a check is made at the time of ending voice communication as to whether a letter message worked out in advance has been transmitted, and when the letter message has not yet been transmitted, transmitting the letter message after ending the voice communication and time count data is added to the letter message.

8. The letter message communication method in a telephone terminal according to claim 7, wherein the letter message includes the transmitter'"'"'s name, the letter message destination and a letter message text.

9. A letter message communication apparatus in a telephone terminal comprising:

a transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving calls and letter message signals to and from an opposite side of communication, an input unit for working out letter messages,

a display unit for displaying letter messages,

a memory for storing the letter messages,

a control unit for controlling operation of the apparatus, and

a microphone and a loudspeaker for transmitting and receiving calls,

wherein the control unit is adapted to check at the time of ending voice communication as to whether a letter message worked out in advance has been transmitted and to cause transmission of the letter message stored in the memory when the letter message has not yet been transmitted.

10. The letter message communication apparatus according to claims 9, which further comprises an antenna connected to the transmitter/receiver and constitutes a portable telephone terminal.

11. The letter message communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control unit is further adapted to transmit the letter message before disconnection of the telephone terminal.

12. The letter message communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory is further adapted to store the telephone number of the opposite side of communication.

13. A letter message communication apparatus in a telephone terminal comprising:

a transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving signals to and from an opposite side of communication,

an input unit for working out letter messages,

a display unit for displaying letter messages,

a memory for storing the letter messages, a control unit for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, and

a microphone and a loudspeaker for transmitting and receiving calls,

wherein the control unit is adapted to check at the time of ending voice communication as to whether a letter message worked out in advance has been transmitted and to cause transmission of the letter message when the letter message has not yet been transmitted, and to display a letter message, upon reception thereof from the opposite side of communication, on the display unit, and indicating receipt of the letter message on the loudspeaker.

14. The letter message communication apparatus according to claims 13, which further comprises an antenna connected to the transmitter/receiver and constitutes a portable telephone terminal.