EP1184752A1 - Telephone communication method between a dedicated sever and a portable object having a clock function and a telephone, and portable object for its realisation - Google Patents

Abstract

Communication includes the following: (a) use the phone to connect to a cellular phone network (3), which will locate wristwatch; establish link (5) between watch and server (2); transmit watch adjustment data from server to watch, and; correct clock functions on the basis of the received signals. Once communication is established between server and watch, the server transmits local hour adjustment and internet time and/or the date. The watch includes a microprocessor with time guard in which the time is indicated on a display. The time of the first display is compared and corrected to the exact time furnished by the server. A correction time difference between the time before correction and the exact time is transmitted to the server. The server memorizes all the time differences that it receives from the watch at the moment of establishing several time spaced connections. The server transmits to the watch, on the basis of the memorized and evaluated time differences, data signals on the timing functions or adjustment data signals for setting the microprocessor time guard. The data signals on the timing function state transmitted by the server are messages displayed on the first display or a second display at the moment of communication so as to inform the watch wearer of the state of the watches timing function.

Description

The invention relates to a method of telephone communication between a portable object, which includes horological functions in particular for the indication of the time and a mobile phone unit, and a dedicated server for transmission bidirectional of clock function data signals. The invention relates to also a portable object for the implementation of the above method.

Data exchange that takes place during telephone communication between the portable object and the server mainly concerns the transmission of data for the watch functions of said object, but this exchange concerns also transmission of sound or voice data signals or signals of messages. The portable object is of a size comparable to a cordless mobile telephone traditional or to a watch, for example a wristwatch.

The watchmaking functions of the portable object concern both the elements for indication of local time or Internet time, date or date Internet or at least one alarm, as well as software modules relating to various alarm melodies, to the control of electronic components for the indication of the time, to a selection of time zones, to the adjustment of the oscillator or the time base of the timepiece or other functions that are commonly found in watches.

In the field of telephony, several devices have already been proposed to provide data signals other than traditional voice signals or telephone communication. The transmitted data are for example short information messages that are displayed on display devices phone or time information. Data signals transiting between two telephone sets are of the electrical type in networks wired or radio frequency type in mobile telephony which is the case with a portable object comprising a mobile telephone.

Correction by telephone of the time indication of a watch electronics was for example proposed in patent GB 2,100,890. The watch electronics described in this document includes means for connecting periodically and automatically said watch at a standard time signal provided by a telephone system, and means for synchronizing said watch automatically with the standard time signal. This first watch, which includes in particular a telephone and means for dialing a telephone number, is connected to telephone communication lines in order to receive the standard time signal provided by a talking clock. The signals received by the first watch are used first of all to set the time, as well than setting the time of other watches connected to the first watch.

A disadvantage of this type of watch is that it must be connected to a telephone line to receive hourly data only to correct the time it displays. Said watch is not intended for data exchange with the talking clock. In addition, data signals are signals acoustic signals which must be converted into electrical signals understandable by the shows what obliges to add a conversion block to said watch.

Another disadvantage of this type of watch is the fact that the time setting the watch can only be done at a place where it is possible to connect to the lines telephone.

In the same technical context of setting the time of a watch, the document CH 589 886 proposes the automatic time setting of a watch by approaching it to a telephone handset to receive acoustic signals timetables from a talking clock or by magnetic coupling with a transformer integrated in the telephone set.

As with the previous document, a major drawback is that it is not possible to adjust the time of this watch only at a location a fixed standard telephone connected by telephone line. Moreover, the acoustic or magnetic time setting signals must still be converted into electrical signals understandable by said watch.

Document JP 5-130256 describes a data correction system time for a calling device. The calling device must first automatically dial the number of an equipment center that will compare the time data provided by said calling device and thereby provide it in return correct time data in order to make an automatic correction. This data transfer is done through a network of telephone lines.

The calling device is not comparable to a small portable object, such as a mobile phone or watch, but only a device that includes a timepiece circuit only to allow correction of the time between two devices in communication. One drawback is that time correction does not can only be done where these devices are connected and it is necessary to know what is the time difference between the calling device and the device called after the devices have been plugged in.

WO 91/11875 describes a combination of a handset telephone and a wristwatch which includes means for receiving messages, such as phone numbers, memory storage means telephone numbers, as well as means for providing the telephone numbers registered to the telephone handset to establish a telephone call. In this embodiment, the telephone handset does not include dialing keys phone numbers that are stored in the wristwatch. Furniture of these telephone numbers on the handset can be done automatically.

The wristwatch therefore serves in this realization of the repertoire of telephone numbers in order to transmit them to the handset without connection by a cable.

A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the transfer of phone numbers is done necessarily using the two elements combined and separated which must be close to each other in order to establish a connection telephone.

An object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of art documents cited above by proposing a method of telephone communication between a portable object, equipped with clock functions and a telephone unit mobile, and a dedicated server to establish a two-way transmission of clock function signals in order to allow adjustment and / or updating day of the watchmaking functions of the portable object in any geographic location and at any desired time.

• connecter l'unité de téléphonie mobile de l'objet portable à un réseau de téléphonie cellulaire, la connexion audit réseau permettant de situer l'endroit géographique de l'objet portable,
• établir une liaison téléphonique entre le serveur et l'objet portable,
• transmettre des signaux de données du serveur à l'objet portable pour le réglage et/ou la mise à jour des fonctions horlogères de l'objet, et
• corriger les fonctions horlogères dudit objet sur la base des signaux de données reçus et mis en forme.

To this end, the above mentioned telephone communication method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

• connect the mobile telephone unit of the portable object to a cellular telephone network, the connection to said network making it possible to locate the geographical location of the portable object,
• establish a telephone link between the server and the portable object,
• transmit data signals from the server to the portable object for adjusting and / or updating the clock functions of the object, and
• correct the horological functions of said object on the basis of the data signals received and formatted.

An advantage of the process is that it is possible anywhere geographic coverage of the cellular telephone network by establishing a link telephone with a dedicated server to set the local time, Internet time, date, Internet date or update horological functions of said portable object. Connecting the portable object to the network cell phone allows to locate it geographically in case this information would be required by the server for the time zone change.

It is therefore not necessary to have to adjust in particular the time in fixed locations based on standard communication devices connected to telephone lines.

Another advantage of the method is that the server can memorize all the temporal drifts of said object during several connections between the server and the portable object, in particular for its reset to the time. Time differences after each correction of the object time are transmitted to the server during the same telephone link. The server can then send update data based on an assessment of time differences memorized to act on the basis of time, for example on the frequency of the timepiece oscillator, or on a division chain of the timepiece circuit the portable object in order to remotely correct said object without the need to go to a specialized store to do it.

The telephone link between the server and the portable object, in particular for know the functional state of said object, can be advantageously done by periods time programmed either at the portable object level or at the server. The portable object can for example have in memory the telephone number of the server which can be automatically composed by defined time periods by the wearer of the portable object.

Instead of providing correction data for certain watch functions of the watch, the server can simply warn the user of the portable object in him sending a short message informing him of the need to return it to a center specialized for the precise adjustment of its time base or the updating of certain faulty watch functions.

An object of the invention also consists of a portable object, such as a portable telephone watch, which enables the implementation of the telephone communication for bidirectional transmission of radio frequency signals bearing data relating to the horological functions of said object.

To this end, the portable object is as defined in claim 14.

• la figure 1 représente une vue générale schématique d'un réseau de téléphonie mobile avec l'objet portable, tel une montre-téléphone, situé à proximité de stations de base reliées à un serveur dédicacé pour la transmission des données relatives aux fonctions horlogères,
• la figure 2 représente une vue partielle en plan d'une montre-téléphone pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé de communication téléphonique, et
• la figure 3 représente de manière schématique les différents blocs électroniques qui sont tous intégrés dans la montre-téléphone pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé de communication téléphonique.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better, without limitation, in the following description of an embodiment illustrated by the drawings in which

• FIG. 1 represents a general schematic view of a mobile telephone network with the portable object, such as a telephone watch, located near base stations connected to a dedicated server for the transmission of data relating to watchmaking functions,
• FIG. 2 represents a partial plan view of a telephone watch for implementing the telephone communication method, and
• FIG. 3 schematically represents the various electronic blocks which are all integrated in the telephone watch for the implementation of the telephone communication method.

In the following description, the portable object is described only in the form favorite of a phone watch that can be worn on the wrist of a user without however limit itself to this unique embodiment, because the object could be also a mobile phone or other object with comparable dimensions. The watch phone provides the advantage to the wearer of leaving both hands free.

The telephone communication method, object of the invention, will be described below with reference to Figure 1 which shows schematically the elements necessary to allow the exchange of data between a phone watch 1 and a dedicated server 2 which is precisely defined to act on watch functions of the watch and also to issue various announcements for example for demonstrations or events near the wearer of the telephone watch.

The wristwatch type telephone watch 1, including the various elements which make it will be explained in the following description with reference to Figures 2 and 3, is worn on the wrist of a user. This watch 1 includes a telephone mobile with an antenna 10 which allows it, in its basic functionality, to call a correspondent by first dialing their telephone number on said watch and then exchange voice messages with the correspondent using a microphone and a speaker or earphone built into the watch.

The signals transmitted 6, 6 'and 6 "and received 7, 7' and 7" by said telephone watch are radio frequency signals which pass through 3, 3 'and 3 "base stations operating on zones 4, 4 'and 4 "of a mobile telephone network. These stations base 3, 3 'and 3 "are connected by channels 5, 5' and 5" to a dedicated server 2 or telephone communication center for bidirectional transmission of data relating to the horological functions of said watch 1. In FIG. 1, only stations 3 and 3 'are in communication with the watch, which means that said watch can be detected by the two stations 3 and 3 'inside zones 4 and 4' to define its geographic position.

The commonly used network type, which is preferably used in the present invention is the digital cellular system designated GSM which operates currently around three carrier frequencies of the order of 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz on which the data signals are modulated.

A time division multiple access is used in the GSM standard (TDMA) and frequency division (FDMA). Two frequency bandwidths can be used for transmission and reception. For example, the first bandwidth for the standard at 900 MHz is 880 to 915 MHz and the other width of band is from 925 to 960 MHz. Each bandwidth is divided into 175 channels of frequency width equal to 200 KHz. Each channel allows 8 communications different telephone lines which are spaced in time by multiplexing. it means that the duration of each data frame transmitted during the same telephone communication represents one eighth of the time of the duration of a period between two successive frames.

This distribution of communications on these frequency bands and by multiplexing is generally sufficient for a multitude of telephone communications by region. However, it can be provided via at least one base station through which telephone communication takes place, to effect a change of frequencies (channel) in the event of heavy occupation on one or the other of the channels of transmission. In addition, in an agglomeration with a large population where for each base station too large number of users prevents smooth running telephone communications, other standards, such as the DCS1800, can be used in addition (1.8 GHz). This DCS1800 standard works in TDMA and FDMA as for the GSM previously described. For more details on mobile telephone networks, the reader can refer to the work entitled "Practical Cellular & PCS Design" written by Clint Smith and edited by McGraw-Hill Telecommunications.

The use of mobile telephony according to the GSM standard makes it possible to locate relatively precisely the location of the mobile phone connected to the network cellular. In the case of the present invention, the telephone watch 1 can be detected in a sufficiently well defined region.

Referring to Figure 1, the method of telephone communication consists of first connecting the phone watch to the mobile phone network which would make it possible to locate the location of the wearer of watch 1 by its connection at least one 3, 3 'or 3 "base station. Then either the watch or the server manually or automatically dials the phone number of the server or watch to automatically establish communication between the two. Once the telephone connection has been established, the server 2 sends setting and / or update data to the watch destination horological functions of said watch.

In a simplified form or in a first telephone connection with the specific watch, server 2 only transmits time setting data that the watch indicates, taking also into account its location detected with respect to base stations near said watch phone 1 to set the correct time zone. The server can also transmit Internet time (date) or simply date setting data.

On reception of the radio frequency signals 7, 7 ′ carrying the data local time setting, watch phone 1 removes radio frequency signals the digital data necessary for setting the time. This setting data are supplied to the microprocessor of the timepiece circuit so that a correction between the exact time, represented by 10:15 on server 2, and the time indicated by watch be done. The number of steps imposed on the stepper motor, in the case of a analog type electronic watch, by the microprocessor to bring the hands to display the time of the watch in an exact position indicating the time is calculated and stored. This time difference is transmitted 6, 6 'to server 2 so that he can memorize or list this specific correction time difference to said watch.

These data exchange operations relating to the time setting between the server and watch can repeat themselves automatically at specified times from time to time or upon request.

Preferably, the telephone watch 1 comprises means for storage in which the telephone number is stored, in particular (free) from the dedicated server 2. The user of the phone watch 1 can also program the periods of time when he wishes the telephone number of the server is taken from the storage means and is automatically composed to establish the telephone link with said server 2. These periods of time may be for example one or more hours, one or more days, one or more weeks, one or more months. Of course, said user can also dial himself on said watch said phone number at any time when he wishes to contact the server 2.

During several operations for setting the time of the watch, the server 2, who listed all the correction time differences provided by said watch by relative to the exact actual time, can send a short message to said watch to inform the wearer of the need to monitor the functionality of their watch and advise him to bring his watch to a specialized center for checking watch functions in case the deviations in correction time are judged too important.

It can also be envisaged that instead of sending only a short message time correction information, the server is responsible for transmitting to the shows update data allowing to act on the functionality of electronic components of the timepiece. It is conceivable that in the weft of data received by the phone watch, trimming data from the time base or the oscillator or the division chain of the timepiece circuit allow the microprocessor of the timepiece circuit to automatically correct and permanently the accuracy of the time displayed. This solution would avoid wearer of the watch to bring his watch to the specialized center for a repair.

Another solution would be to send data to the server on the frequency of the voltage pulses sent to the stepping micro-motor for advance time indication hands. A comparison is then made in the server between the pulse frequency and an exact frequency so that update data is transmitted to the watch to correct said pulse frequency.

The aim sought in the embodiment described above consists in compile statistics of corrections made in the server for several phone watches to inform each wearer of a phone watch during telephone communications established automatically or manually with the server. Instead of dialing the watch call to the server, said server could by specific time periods call each watch phone individually connected to the mobile telephone network. It is then necessary that the server has in memory all the particular telephone numbers of the watches.

During the telephone link between the server and the phone watch, other data may be exchanged. The server can for example send data to download several musical melodies at the request of the bearer of the shows. These musical melodies are recorded in the storage means of the watch so that you can choose a particular melody when triggered an alarm or during a fun. This download operation of musical melodies is considered an update of a watchmaking function of the watch.

It can still be provided during the transmission of function data watchmakers reduce the energy consumption of the watch by acting on modules of the timepiece circuit or modify a module for calculating several time zones

An update of an electronic module of the watch providing by example the indication of several time zones can also be requested from the server and transmitted during telephone communication. In addition, the server can also provide data for a change of display mode to switch from a 12 hour display mode to a 24 hour display mode for a phone watch digital type. There is a communication protocol that differentiates from the watch the various data provided by the server in order to know what watch function is or must be corrected or updated.

It may also be possible to program alarm functions or different tones in the server from the watch for occasions special. The management of several applications can be done through the SIM card inserted in the phone watch.

The phone watch 1 could during telephone connection with the server him transmit data on the state of its energy accumulator so that the server can warn the wearer of the watch in the event of a deficiency in said accumulator, even if this function can generally be performed in the watch.

In a context other than setting and / or updating functions watch clocks, the server can establish a telephone connection with or without call reception tone to a phone watch particular or a set of phone watches located in a region specific in order to transmit voice or text information to them local events or events going to take place in said region. Of preferably, the watch must include a liquid crystal display device to the recording of information messages received from the server.

For the implementation of the method previously described with reference to the Figure 1, the phone watch will be described in the following description with reference in Figures 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 represents an electronic telephone watch of analog type plan view. Said electronic watch 1 is composed of a case 18, connected to two branches of an unreferenced bracelet, of a watch dial 11, placed under an unreferenced crystal, through which an axis of rotation of the needles opens 13 for indicating the time, a crown 16 used in particular for adjusting the the time and date displayed by the watch, selection buttons 17, confirmation or erasure of selected data and a display device to liquid crystal 14 to display messages or various other data like the date for example.

Said watch comprises enclosed in the housing 18 an antenna 10 symbolically shown in Figure 2 for transmission 6 and reception 7 radio frequency signals during a telephone call.

During the telephone link, said watch notably receives data time setting. In this case, the data translated by said watch require the microprocessor of the timepiece to correct the displayed time, i.e. 10:10 a.m., at exactly 10:15 a.m., which is shown by the arrow referenced 15 on the dial and by the needle drawn in broken lines.

On the dial or under the glass, the numbers and signs 12 represented serve as both time marks and telephone dialing numbers. They are located on an indication ring 19. It is clear that a numbering specific to the time indication could also be affixed on the dial inside the ring 19 in order to have separately on the one hand the numbers and signs 12 of dialing a telephone number and on the other hand the indication digits of time.

An embodiment of the means for dialing a telephone number may include a keyboard formed by a plurality of capacitive sensors arranged under the watch glass used by a user to dial a number phone by placing a finger on the surface of the glass corresponding to the number or sign that he wishes to compose.

We will take here as an example the document EP 0 674 247 in which the watch described comprises a housing, a glass and at least one manual control device comprising a capacitive sensor provided with an electrode arranged on the inner face glass. The selective positioning of a finger of the watch wearer on the face exterior of the glass allows to form a capacitance between the electrode and the ground constituted by the case of the watch. This manual control device comprises also a voltage-frequency converter whose oscillation frequency is determined by the capacity mentioned above. The electrode is connected by a conductor to the converter which is housed in the housing.

The keyboard in question may be intended to replace the control means usual external devices, such as push buttons 17, for example used to control the various functions of a watch, such as setting the time or the switching on and off of a chronograph. However, we will understand that this keyboard can also be used as a selector to dial a number telephone if the watch is fitted with a radio telephone as in the present case invention.

Another embodiment of the means for dialing a number telephone can be taken as an example from document EP 0 698 983. In this document, the crown 16 can be arranged in three axial positions: the first, pressed and unstable for the needs in particular of confirmation of the figure chosen in mode telephone, the second, neutral and stable for the choice of said figure and the third, drawn and stable to allow time setting of the timepiece. The reader can refer to this publication for more technical construction details especially to understand the steps to dial the phone number to call.

Figure 3 shows the different electronic blocks which are all integrated in the case of wristwatch 1. The phone watch therefore includes generally for timepiece functions a microprocessor 22 clocked at a clock frequency of around 32 kHz supplied by a crystal oscillator 22b, a non-volatile memory EEPROM 23 for data recording, a device drive the LCD display 24, an accumulator 26 intended to provide a voltage of the order of 3.6 V for the power supply of the components electronic watch and an electric charger 25 of the accumulator. The microprocessor used can be for example the 8-bit PUNCH microprocessor of EM Microelectronic-Marin SA in Switzerland. EEPROM memory 23 is used for recording, for example, telephone numbers, including that of the server.

The telephone watch 1 also includes a telephone network interface 27 which is well known. This interface is composed of an RF module 29 connected to a antenna 10 for transmitting and receiving radiofrequency signals, from a module to microprocessor baseband 28 connected to module 29 and timed for example by a quartz oscillator 28b delivering a frequency of 13 MHz, from a memory block 33 comprising an EEPROM 34 memory and a FLASH and SRAM 35 memory connected to the module 28. Various data can be stored in the memory block, including also the server phone number.

Baseband module 28 provides frequency audio data between 300 and 3.6 kHz at the earpiece 32 and receives data, notably voice from microphone 31. Said baseband module manages to decrypt the signals digital data supplied at a frequency of less than 100 kHz at the output of the RF module 29 for knowing how to format the data to be directed to the earpiece or to memory block 33 or to microprocessor 22 for adjustment and / or updating day of watch functions or for the transmission of messages to be displayed on the watch display device. The amount of data managed is around 13 kbits / s, without limitation for higher quantities. These data signals are conventional data frames with coding parts, synchronization and data itself.

From the description which has just been made, multiple variants of realization of the telephone communication process can be done without going out of the scope of the invention to the knowledge of a person skilled in the art. For example, the server can understand, during a telephone link with the function object watchmaking or watch, means for recording the time of the object transmitted and means to compare with the exact time so as not to refer to the audit object or watch only the time difference required to correct time. The signals of information messages on the state of the watch functions, or on events or manifestations transmitted from the server to the portable object can also be audible messages instead of messages displayed on a display device of the portable object or the watch.

Claims (14)

Method of telephone communication between at least one portable object (1), which comprises clock functions and a mobile telephone unit, and a dedicated server (2) for the bidirectional transmission of data signals of clock functions (6, 6 ′, 6 "; 7, 7 ', 7"), characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: connect the mobile telephone unit (27) of the portable object to a cellular telephone network (3, 3 ', 3 "), the connection to said network making it possible to locate the geographical location of the portable object, establish a telephone link (5, 5 ', 5 ") between the server and the portable object, transmit data signals from the server to the portable object for adjusting and / or updating the clock functions of the object, and correct the horological functions of said object on the basis of the data signals received and formatted. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that once the telephone connection is established between the server (2) and the portable object (1), the server transmits signals for setting the local time, the Internet time and / or the date that the portable object indicates. Method according to either of Claims 1 and 2, in which the portable object comprises a microprocessor (22) with a time-keeping circuit in which the time is indicated on a first display device (11), characterized in that the time of the first display is compared and corrected to an exact time supplied by the server, and in that a correction time difference between the time before correction and the exact time is transmitted to the server. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the server stores all the correction time differences which it receives from the portable object during several telephone connections spaced in time, and in that it transmits to the object , on the basis of the stored and evaluated time differences, data signals on the state of its clock functions or adjustment data signals for updating the time base of the microprocessor time-keeping circuit. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the data signals on the state of the clock functions transmitted by the server are messages which are displayed on the first display device (11) or on a second display device ( 14) during the telephone connection to inform the wearer of the portable object of the state of the horological functions of said object. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable object (1) comprises means for dialing (12) manually, or automatically by programmed time periods, the telephone number of the dedicated server, which is recorded in means of storage (23, 33) of the portable object, in order to establish the telephone connection and in order to receive from the server the data signals for the adjustment and / or the updating of its clock functions. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the server (2) stores several telephone numbers each corresponding to a specific portable object to establish, by determined periods of time, telephone connections with each portable object (1) and to adjust and set individually update the watch functions of each portable object. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that , during the established telephone connection, data signals of a selected number of melodies are transmitted from the server (2) to the portable object (1) at the request of the carrier. portable object for updating a module for generating object melodies. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that , during the established telephone connection, alarm programming data signals are transmitted from the portable object (1) to the server (2) to impose on the server call the portable object at a fixed period of time. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that information message signals on events or manifestations are transmitted from the server (2) to the portable object (1) according to the geographical location (4, 4 ' ) detected from the portable object in the mobile telephone network, said messages being displayed on a display device (14) of the portable object. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that data signals of time zones or of a selection of display mode are transmitted from the server (2) to the portable object (1) for updating a time zone adjustment module or a module for selecting the time display mode to choose whether to display the time at 12 o'clock or 24 h. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that message or information signals are transmitted from the server (2) to the portable object (1), which comprises a display device (14) for reading messages, in order to provide it with information on the state of its watch functions on the basis of the settings and / or updates carried out of said watch functions over time. Method according to claim 1, in which the portable object is a telephone watch (1), in particular a wristwatch comprising a mobile telephone, which comprises storage means (23, 33) in which the server number (2 ) autographed is recorded, characterized in that said server number is automatically dialed by time periods programmed by the user of said watch. Portable object, in particular portable telephone watch (1), for implementing the method according to one of the preceding claims, said object comprising a microprocessor with a time-keeping circuit (22), a mobile telephone unit (27), means for dialing a telephone number (12), a microphone (31) and an earpiece (32) connected to said mobile telephone unit (27), and at least one device for displaying the time ( 11), of the date and / or of messages (14), characterized in that it comprises storage means (23, 33) in which a dedicated telephone number of a server (2) providing signals of clock function data is recorded, and in that the call number recorded in the storage means (23, 33) is capable of being dialed automatically in the mobile telephone unit (27) by programmed periods of time to establish a telephone link with said server (2) in order to receive r signals for adjusting and / or updating the watch functions of said object.

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