Portable communication device for domestic and international communications and automatic calling method for domestic and international calls

• US 7,120,469 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2000
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Urakawa, Yasutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US09/593,038
• Time in Patent Office: 2,310 Days
• Field of Search: 455/564, 455/414.1, 455/575.1, 455/90.1, 455/566, 455/558, 455/426.1, 455/432.1, 379/216.01, 379/221.01, 379/221.02
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

An internal memory has an address book table for registering data regarding a communication destination party, a telephone number, and a country flag indicative of a country where the communication destination party is present, in a manner that they are shown corresponding to one another. A calling processor compares a country flag attached to a communication destination party selected using a memory dial function, and information obtained from an RF module regarding a country where the communication circuit can be established. When the flag information and the information from the Rf module coincide, the calling processor determines that the ongoing call is a domestic call, and thus dials the telephone number as registered in the address book table and, when they do not coincide, the calling processor determines that the ongoing call is an international call, and thus dials international access and country codes prior to the telephone number registered in the address book table. Using a portable communication device having the above arrangement, the user can automatically place a call to a party in or out of the country where the user is present even when the destination party information for each communication destination candidate party is registered only in a single formation.

Claims

1. A portable communication device for communication via a connected telephone circuit, comprising:

communication destination party information memory means for storing communication destination party information including communication destination party identifying information of a communication destination party, subscriber number information of the communication destination party, and country identifying information for identifying a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of telephone service, wherein the communication destination party information memory means is divided into memory regions corresponding to different destination countries so that each different region includes communication destination party identifying information of the communication destination party and subscriber number information of communication destination party of a respective different destination country;

input/output means for displaying, in response to a user'"'"'s operation, a list of the communication destination party identifying information stored in the communication destination party information memory means;

calling processing means for dialing a call to a communication destination party selected from the list of the communication destination party identifying information displayed by the input/output means; and

using country information recognizing means for recognizing means for automatically recognizing, without a user input command, a country where the portable communication device is connected to the telephone circuit;

wherein

the calling processing means automatically converts, as necessary, the subscriber number information stored in the communication destination party information memory means into a subscriber number suitable for a domestic or international call based on a result of comparison between the using country information recognized by the using country information recognizing means and the country identifying information of the communication destination party selected as a call destination, and dials a resultant subscriber number.

2. A portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the subscriber number information includes a subscriber number for a domestic call from a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of the telephone service to the communication destination party in the country, and

the calling processing means automatically converts the subscriber number of the communication destination party, registered in the communication destination party information memory means, into a subscriber number suitable for an international call when the comparison between the using country information and the country identifying information results that they do not coincide with each other, and dials the resultant subscriber number, the subscriber number suitable for an international call including a country code of a country specified by the country identifying information of the communication destination party.

3. A portable communication device according to claim 1,

wherein

the subscriber number information includes information, at least a country code, which enables an international call from outside a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of the telephone service to the communication destination party in the country and

the calling processing means automatically converts the subscriber number of the communication destination party, registered in the communication destination party information memory means, into a subscriber number suitable for a domestic call to the communication destination party by deleting at least the country code therefrom when the comparison between the using country information and the country identifying information results that they coincide with each other, and dials the resultant subscriber number.

4. A portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication destination party information memory means is provided detachably.

5. A portable communication device for radio communication according to claim 1, comprising:

a communication module for connecting to a telephone circuit; and

a communication device main body for communication via the communication module;

wherein

the communication module comprises an antenna, transmitter/receiver means for transmitting and receiving a message via the antenna, and radio communication control means for controlling radio communication according to a predetermined communication format.

6. A portable communication device according to claim 5, in the form of a portable telephone device.

7. A portable communication device according to claim 6, wherein the communication module is formed detachable with respect to the communication device main body.

8. A portable communication device according to claim 7,

wherein

the communication module has a part abutting on the communication device main body, the part having a different shape for every country;

and

the using country information recognizing means specifies using country information of the communication module connected thereto by detecting a shape of the part abutting on the communication device main body, of the communication module.

9. A portable communication device according to claim 1, comprising:

a communication module for connecting to a telephone circuit; and

a communication device main body for communication via the communication module;

wherein

the communication module has using country information replying means for replying using country information in response to an inquiry from the calling processing means.

10. A portable communication device according to claim 1, further comprising communication destination party information registration means for generating communication destination party information based on information concerning a communication destination party input via the input/output means, a subscriber number of the communication destination party, and a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of the telephone service, and for registering the communication destination party information to the communication destination party memory means.

11. A portable communication device according to claim 1,

wherein the communication destination party information memory means has a country registration area provided thereto in advance for every country identifying information so that communication destination party identifying information and a subscriber number are stored in the country registration area of a corresponding country.

12. A portable communication device for communication via a connected telephone circuit, comprising:

communication destination party information memory means for storing communication destination party information including communication destination party identifying information of a communication destination party, subscriber number information of the communication destination party, and country identifying information for identifying a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of a telephone service, wherein the communication destination party information memory means is divided into memory regions corresponding to different destination countries so that each different region includes communication destination party identifying information of the communication destination party and subscriber number information of communication destination party of a respective different destination country;

input/output means for displaying, in response to a user'"'"'s operation, a list of the communication destination party identifying information stored in the communication destination party information memory means;

calling processing means for dialing a call to a communication destination party selected from the list of the communication destination party identifying information displayed by the input/output means; and

using country information recognizing means for automatically recognizing, without a user input command, a country where the portable communication device is connected to the telephone circuit;

wherein

when making a call, the calling processing means is able to change a selected subscriber number information, based on judgement that the subscriber number information of the communication destination party, stored in the communication destination party information memory means, is not usable for dialing a call, the judgement being based on comparison between the using country information recognized by the using country information recognizing means and the country identifying information of the communication destination party selected as a called party.

13. A portable communication device according to claim 12,

wherein

the calling processing means automatically places the selected subscriber number information in an edit mode when the using country information does not coincide with the country identifying information.

14. A portable communication device according to claim 12, further comprising

a temporary number memory means for temporarily storing a temporary number and using country information when the calling processing means calls the communication destination party selected, by dialing the temporary number, the temporary number being formed by editing the subscriber number information,

wherein

the calling processing means calls the communication destination party by dialing the temporary number temporarily stored, when the using country information recognized by the using country information recognizing means coincides with the using country information of the communication destination party stored in the temporary number memory means.

15. A portable communication device according to claim 14,

wherein

information of the communication destination party, stored in the temporary number memory means, is erased when the using country information recognized by the using country information recognizing means does not coincide with the using country information of the communication destination party, stored in the temporary number memory means.

16. A portable communication device according to claim 12, wherein the communication destination party information memory means is provided detachably.

17. A portable communication device for communication with a communication destination party via a base station through a connected telephone circuit, comprising:

communication destination party information memory means for storing communication destination party information including communication destination party identifying information of a communication destination party, subscriber number information of the communication destination party, and country identifying information for identifying a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of a telephone service, wherein the communication destination party information memory means is divided into memory regions corresponding to different destination countries so that each different region includes communication destination party identifying information of the communication destination party and subscriber number information of communication destination party of a respective different destination country;

input/output means for displaying, in response to a user'"'"'s operation, a list of the communication destination party identifying information stored in the communication destination party information memory means;

using country information recognizing means for obtaining, from information sent from the base station, using country information of a country where the portable communication device is connected to the telephone circuit;

calling processing means for specifying a subscriber number when a call is made to a communication destination party selected as a called party from a list of communication destination party identifying information displayed by the input/output means, based on a comparison between the using country information recognized by the using country information recognizing means and the country identifying information of the communication destination party selected as a called party.

18. A portable communication device according to claim 17,

wherein

the communication destination party information memory means stores, in place of the communication destination party information, at least one information, including a pair, for every communication destination party, constituting of using country information and subscriber number information to be referred to when making a call from the using country to the communication destination party, and

the calling processing means places a call based on subscriber number information designated in communication destination party information including using country information coincident with using country information recognized by the using country information recognizing means.

19. A portable communication device according to claim 17, carrying out radio communication using a circuit fixedly connected to circuits of the country to which the circuit was initially connected at a time of making a call.

20. A portable communication device according to claim 17, wherein the communication destination party information memory means is provided detachably.

21. An automatic calling method employed in a portable communication device for communication via a connected telephone circuit, comprising:

a communication destination party candidate displaying step of extracting communication destination party identifying information from communication destination party information memory means and displaying a list thereof, said memory means stores the communication destination party information including communication destination party identifying information of a communication destination party, subscriber number information of the communication destination party, and country identifying information for identifying a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of telephone service, wherein the communication destination party information memory means is divided into memory regions corresponding to different destination countries so that each different region includes communication destination party identifying information of the communication destination party and subscriber number information of communication destination party of a respective different destination country;

a comparison step of comparing country identifying information corresponding to a communication destination party selected from the list of communication destination party identifying information displayed at the communication destination party candidate displaying step, and using country information specifying a country where the portable communication device is connected to the telephone circuit, the country information being automatically recognized, without a user input command; and

a calling step of automatically converting, as necessary, the subscriber number information of the communication destination party selected, into a subscriber number suitable for a domestic or international call based on a result of comparison made at the comparison step, and making a call.

22. An automatic calling method employed in a portable communication device for communication via a connected telephone circuit, comprising:

a communication destination party candidate displaying step of extracting communication destination party identifying information from communication destination party information memory means to display a list thereof, said memory means stores the communication destination party information including communication destination party identifying information of a communication destination party, subscriber number information of the communication destination party, and country identifying information for identifying a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of telephone service, wherein the communication destination party information memory means is divided into memory regions corresponding to different destination countries so that each different region includes communication destination party identifying information of the communication destination party and subscriber number information of communication destination party of a respective different destination country;

a comparison step of comparing country identifying information corresponding to a communication destination party selected from the list of communication destination party identifying information displayed at the communication destination party candidate displaying step, and using country information specifying a country where the portable communication device is connected to the telephone circuit, the country information being automatically recognized, without a user input command; and

a calling step of displaying, for editing, the subscriber number information when a judgement is made based on a result of comparison made at the comparison step, that the subscriber number information of the communication destination party, stored in the communication destination party information memory means, is not usable intact for dialing a call, and making a call using a resultant subscriber number edited.

23. A portable communication device for communication via a connected telephone circuit, comprising:

communication destination party information memory means for storing communication destination party information including communication destination party identifying information of a communication destination party, subscriber number information of the communication destination party, and country identifying information for identifying a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of telephone service;

input/output means for displaying, in response to a user'"'"'s operation, a list of the communication destination party identifying information stored in the communication destination party information memory means;

calling processing means for dialing a call to a communication destination party selected from the list of the communication destination party identifying information displayed by the input/output means; and

using country information recognizing means for recognizing a country where the portable communication device is connected to the telephone circuit;

a communication module for connecting to a telephone circuit; and

a communication device main body for communication via the communication module;

wherein

the communication module comprises an antenna, transmitter/receiver means for transmitting and receiving a message via the antenna, and radio communication control means for controlling radio communication according to a predetermined communication format, and

the communication module has a part abutting on the communication device main body, the part having a different shape for every country; and

the using country information recognizing means specifies using country information of the communication module connected thereto by detecting a shape of the part abutting on the communication device main body, of the communication module, and

wherein

the calling processing means automatically converts, as necessary, the subscriber number information stored in the communication destination party information memory means into a subscriber number suitable for a domestic or international call based on a result of comparison between the using country information recognized by the using country information recognizing means and the country identifying information of the communication destination party selected as a call destination, and dials a resultant subscriber number.

24. A portable communication device according to claim 23, wherein

the subscriber number information includes a subscriber number for a domestic call from a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of the telephone service to the communication destination party in the country, and

the calling processing means automatically converts the subscriber number of the communication destination party, registered in the communication destination party information memory means, into a subscriber number suitable for an international call when the comparison between the using country information and the country identifying information results that they do not coincide with each other, and dials the resultant subscriber number, the subscriber number suitable for an international call including a country code of a country specified by the country identifying information of the communication destination party.

25. A portable communication device according to claim 23,

wherein

the subscriber number information includes information, at least a country code, which enables an international call from outside a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of the telephone service to the communication destination party in the country

and

the calling processing means automatically converts the subscriber number of the communication destination party, registered in the communication destination party information memory means, into a subscriber number suitable for a domestic call to the communication destination party by deleting at least the country code therefrom when the comparison between the using country information and the country identifying information results that they coincide with each other, and dials the resultant subscriber number.

26. A portable communication device according to claim 23, wherein the communication destination party information memory means is provided detachably.

27. A portable communication device according to claim 23, in the form of a portable telephone device.

28. A portable communication device according to claim 23, further comprising communication destination party information registration means for generating communication destination party information based on information concerning a communication destination party input via the input/output means, a subscriber number of the communication destination party, and a country where the communication destination party is a subscriber of the telephone service, and for registering the communication destination party information to the communication destination party memory means.

29. A portable communication device according to claim 23, wherein the communication destination party information memory means has a country registration area provided thereto in advance for every country identifying information so that communication destination party identifying information and a subscriber number are stored in the country registration area of a corresponding country.