US20050181838A1 - Portable mobile unit - Google Patents
Portable mobile unit Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050181838A1 US20050181838A1 US11/097,653 US9765305A US2005181838A1 US 20050181838 A1 US20050181838 A1 US 20050181838A1 US 9765305 A US9765305 A US 9765305A US 2005181838 A1 US2005181838 A1 US 2005181838A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- sound
- pattern
- ringing
- mobile unit
- portable mobile
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M19/00—Current supply arrangements for telephone systems
- H04M19/02—Current supply arrangements for telephone systems providing ringing current or supervisory tones, e.g. dialling tone or busy tone
- H04M19/04—Current supply arrangements for telephone systems providing ringing current or supervisory tones, e.g. dialling tone or busy tone the ringing-current being generated at the substations
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a portable mobile unit for alerting a user (or subscriber) of incoming of a signal by means of ringing, and in particular to a portable mobile unit being suitable for alerting of the condition when a phone call is coming in, through such the ringing sound.
- a melody generator which is capable of producing different melodies according to a choice of the user, is widely prevailed and getting popular among cellular phone users to discriminate her/his cellular phone from others'. with which each user can produce her/his own melody, thereby obtaining the discrimination thereof from others.
- Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-4442 1998
- Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 08-251258 1996
- Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 08-251258 there is already known an apparatus having a means for producing its own original sound for alerting of the incoming call, by taking in sounds from an external microphone in advance.
- a beep sound with its frequency range simply expanded or with its tempo made variable is used so as to enable the melody to sound more natural than that of a previous type using a beep sound which sounds rather mechanical.
- an apparatus utilizing a FM sound source which can play tones of musical instruments by synthesizing the sounds from a sound database is manufactured or put on a market recently.
- this apparatus is designed to synthesize not vocal sounds but particular musical instrumental sounds.
- a PCM sound source enables to produce the vocal sounds or sound effects (such as, mimic sounds), which can increase the number of the alerting sounds infinitely.
- alerting used in another purpose such as distinguishing callers by changing the ringing sound or by changing a light-emission pattern instead, is shown in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 09-312684 (1997). This improves utility value thereof, because the user can know who is calling (i.e., a caller) only by hearing the ringing sound.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a portable mobile unit with improved usability, capable of discriminating the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call sufficiently or enabling the user to grasp various conditions by changing the ringing sound when the telephone call comes in.
- a portable mobile unit for alerting the user on incoming of a signal by a ringing sound comprising: a ringing sound generator having a plurality of sound sources therewith; and a controller for controlling operations of the portable mobile unit, wherein the controller controls the ringing sound generator, when the signal comes in, so that it generates the ringing sound with using at least one of the a plurality of sound sources, upon basis of a condition which is set up in advance.
- the ringing sound generator comprises: a memory for storing a plurality of sound data which are generated with different generation methods, respectively; a plurality of reproducer for reproducing the plurality of sound data stored in accordance with the respective generation methods; and a reproduction timing memory for performing selection of the sound data to be reproduced among the plurality of sound data and for storing reproduction timings to form the patterns for the respective sound data selected, wherein the controller controls the reproduction timing means, so as to reproduce the sound data selected in accordance with the reproduction timings, respectively.
- the plurality of sound data contain therein a sound data of a waveform coding method, in which quantization width is set up depending upon a level of amplitude or power, and a sound data of an analytic composition coding method, in which the signal is modeled, so as to be encoded into.
- a sound data of a waveform coding method in which quantization width is set up depending upon a level of amplitude or power
- an analytic composition coding method in which the signal is modeled, so as to be encoded into.
- the condition which is set up in advance includes: when the telephone number of a caller is coincident with the registered telephone number; when a portion of the telephone number (for example, the area code, etc.) of the caller is coincident with a portion of the registered telephone number (for example, the area code, etc.); when a day of incoming of the signal is contained within a period which is setup in advance; when the number of times of the incoming calls in absence is contained within a range of number of times which is set up in advance; when the remaining battery capacity is contained within a range of capacity which is set up in advance, when the signal comes in; when an environmental sound of the portable mobile unit is contained within a condition of sound which is set up in advance, when the signal comes in; when a sound volume level in an environment of the portable mobile unit is contained within a range of sound volume level which is set up in advance, when the signal comes in; and when it is detected that the portable mobile unit is held in a hand of a user, by means of at least either one of a heat
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main portion of a sound data reproduction portion in a portable mobile unit, according to a first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a table of showing a relationship between sound data number and reproduction timing thereof, respectively, in the portable mobile unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing selection of the pattern number based on a telephone number of a caller, in the portable mobile unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 4 is a table of showing a relationship between the telephone number of the caller and the pattern number, in the portable mobile unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing selection of the pattern number based on a time of the incoming call to the portable mobile unit, according to a second embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 6 is a table of showing a relationship between the time of the incoming call and the pattern number, in the portable mobile unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing selection of the pattern number based on the number of times of the telephone calls from a specific telephone number to the portable mobile unit, according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 8 is a table of showing a relationship between the number of times of the incoming calls from the specific telephone number and the pattern number, in the portable mobile unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing control on the ringing sound based on a condition of sound in an environment of the portable mobile unit, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 10 is a table of showing a relationship between a mode and the pattern number, for controlling the ringing sound based on the condition of sound in the environment of the portable mobile unit, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 11 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing selection of the pattern number based on remaining power of a battery in the portable mobile unit, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 12 is a table of showing a relationship between the remaining power of the battery and the pattern, in the portable mobile unit according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 13 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing control on the ringing sound upon the basis a level of noises in the environment of the portable mobile unit, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 14 is a table of showing a relationship between a mode and the pattern number for controlling the ringing sound upon basis of the level of noises in the environment of the portable mobile unit, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 15 is a block diagram for showing the structure of the portable mobile unit, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 16 is a front view for showing an outlook of the portable mobile unit, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17 C are views for showing examples of screens displayed when setting up the ringing sound on the portable mobile unit, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and in particular, FIG. 17A shows “Ringing sound change menu” display, FIG. 17B “Chang upon telephone number of caller” display, and FIG. 17C a pattern selection display for the ringing sound, respectively; and
- FIG. 18 is a flow chart when the ringing sound thereof is reproduced in the portable mobile unit, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 1 to 18 a cellular phone as one kind of the portable mobile unit.
- FIG. 15 The structures of the cellular phone, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, will be shown in FIG. 15 , wherein a reference numeral 1510 indicates a transmission antenna, 1511 a radio-wave portion for converting between transmission data and radio-wave signals, 1512 a coding/decoding process unit for converting the transmission data into audio signals, 1513 a microphone, 1514 a receiver, 1515 a memory for communication, holding programs, data, etc., therein, which are necessary for the control of operations as the cellular phone, 1516 a communication controller for controlling the present cellular phone, 1517 a display, and 1518 a key-input portion.
- a reference numeral 1510 indicates a transmission antenna, 1511 a radio-wave portion for converting between transmission data and radio-wave signals, 1512 a coding/decoding process unit for converting the transmission data into audio signals, 1513 a microphone, 1514 a receiver, 1515 a memory for communication, holding programs, data, etc., therein, which are necessary for
- a reference numeral 1519 indicates a ringing sound generator for generating the ringing sound when it receives the radio-wave signal, and 1520 a speaker for outputting the alerting signal that is reproduced in the ringing sound generator 1519 , audibly.
- “reproduce” means to output a sound data that is stored or a sound data that is received with the incoming call, or to output an audible frequency signal that is converted from an inputted sound data.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram of showing details of the communication controller 1516 and the ringing sound generator 1519 shown in the FIG. 15 .
- the cellular phone in the present embodiment can reproduce a plurality of sound data simultaneously.
- a plurality of memories are provided for storing the sound data corresponding to a plurality of the sound data methods thereof.
- a sound data memory 3 a of the FM sound source a sound data memory 3 b of the PCM sound source and a sound data memory 3 c of the MIDI method
- a sound data reproduction portion 4 a of the FM sound source a sound data reproduction portion 4 b of the PCM sound source, and a sound data reproduction portion 4 c of the MIDI method, respectively, as the sound data reproduction portions for reproducing the sound data corresponding to those methods.
- the sound data reproduction portion 4 a of the FM sound source, the sound data reproduction portion 4 b of the PCM sound source, and the sound data reproduction portion 4 c of the MIDI method are connected to the controller 2 .
- the controller 2 selects the sound data to be reproduced from the plurality of the sound data stored in a reproduction timing memory 1 , and also determines a reproduction timing for the sound data selected, thereby making the sound data reproduction portion reproduce the selected sound data at the reproduction timing determined, respectively.
- Outputs of the respective sound reproduction portions are connected to a mixer 5 , to be mixed with one another therein, and at the end, they are outputted outside, as the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call through a speaker 6 (corresponding to the speaker 1520 shown in the FIG. 15 ), which is connected to the mixer 5 .
- the reproduction timing memory 1 are stored sound data numbers to be reproduced and the respective timings for reproductions thereof, etc.
- the sound data numbers it is assumed that No. 1 corresponds to the sound data of the FM sound source, No. 2 to the sound data of the PCM sound source, and No. 3 to the sound data of the MIDI method, respectively.
- the sound data should not be restricted only to the above, and also the sound data of the MP3 method can be used, and it may be given by No. 4 as the sound data No. thereof, in such the case.
- the sound data number such as No. 5 or No. 6, is allotted to the added sound data.
- the pattern numbers can be changed depending upon the telephone number of a person who is speaking to, or depending upon the number of times of the incoming calls (i.e., when the telephone calls arrive). Methods and kinds for presetting thereof will be explained in more details, later.
- the reproduction timing is controlled so as to be ON or OFF status, so that the sound data will be reproduced at ON status, while no sound data at OFF status.
- FIG. 16 is a front view for showing an outlook of the cellular phone, according to the present embodiment.
- a front surface a surface, on which are provided keys, a display, a microphone, a speaker, etc, for operations by a user
- a speaker 1602 as a receiver is provided at one end thereof, and in an area from this to the other end thereof are provided a display 1603 and various kinds of keys.
- the various kinds of keys include therein an up-key 1604 , a down-key 1605 , a left-key 1606 and a right-key 1607 , for shifting a cursor displayed on the display into the up-side, the down-side, the left-hand side and the right-hand side, respectively, a decision-key 1608 for deciding a content that is inputted, a clear-key 1609 for deleting or releasing the content that is inputted, and a function-key 1610 for selecting and executing various functions therewith.
- the down-key 1605 , the left-key 1606 , the right-key 1607 and the decision-key 1608 are also assigned a part of numeral number keys for inputting the telephone number and/or time, etc., therewith.
- the microphone 1513 is provided at the other end, however it is omitted shown in the figure.
- the selection On the screen is performed the selection, on which items the ringing sound should be changed, i.e., the change may be made upon the telephone number of the person who is speaking to (i.e., the caller), the time when the phone call comes in, and the number of times of the absent incoming calls.
- a sign of inequity such as “>” is displayed at the left-hand side thereof.
- an edge i.e., an acute angle portion at the right-hand side, in this case
- the screen is shifted to “pattern selection screen for ringing sound” (d 3 ) shown in the FIG. 17C when the decision-key is pushed down, wherein it is possible to select the pattern of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call, corresponding to the selected telephone number.
- the pattern mentioned herein means, as is shown in the FIG. 2 , what is reproduced at the predetermined reproduction timing from the sound data generated by the different sound sources.
- pushing down the up-key 1604 or the down-key 1605 shifts the cursor, thereby selecting the pattern number at her/his desire.
- the ringing sound of that pattern is reproduced from the speaker 1602 every time when the pattern is selected, thereby enabling confirmation of the pattern.
- Pattern No. 2 as the desired pattern and by pushing down the decision-key, it is possible to set up the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call.
- the sound data from the FM sound source of the sound data No. 1, the PCM sound source of the sound data No. 2 and the MP3 sound source of the sound data No. 4 are reproduced at the timings shown in the same figure.
- FIG. 3 is a block diagram of showing function blocks, which are necessary for performing the selection of the pattern numbers upon basis of the telephone number of the caller.
- a receiver 101 for receiving the radio-wave signals corresponds to a receiver circuit portion, which is contained within the radio-wave portion 1511 shown in the FIG. 15 , and a telephone number detector 102 to the communication controller 1516 shown in the FIG. 15 , which detects the telephone number after demodulation of the radio-wave signals, in accordance with the program stored in the memory 1515 for communication.
- pattern number memory 103 in which are stored the telephone numbers and the pattern numbers of the ringing sounds for alerting of the incoming calls corresponding thereto, as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the pattern number memory 103 can be stored the pattern numbers of the ringing sounds for alerting of the incoming calls corresponding to the incoming calls 103 a and 103 b to the telephone numbers which are preset and stored, or those corresponding to a certain portion of the telephone numbers, such as the incoming calls 103 c and 103 d to the area code of the telephone numbers of the callers, thereby enabling extensive variations of services responding to the desires from the users.
- the communication controller 1516 determines the pattern number, corresponding to the telephone number detected, based on the data stored in the pattern number memory 103 , and thereafter reads out the reproduction timings corresponding to those pattern numbers based on the data stored in the reproduction timing memory 1 shown in the FIG. 1 , thereafter it shifts to the processes for producing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call.
- the receiver 101 receives the radio-wave signal so as to demodulate it, when the telephone call comes in to the cellular phone, as shown in the FIG. 3 , and the demodulated signal is sent to the telephone number detector 102 , thereby detecting the telephone number of the caller (the person who is speaking to) from the data after being demodulated in the telephone number detector 102 .
- the signal corresponding to that telephone number is sent to the pattern number memory 103 , and compared to the telephone numbers stored therein, therefore the pattern number being preset to that telephone number is outputted from the pattern number memory 103 .
- the telephone number of the caller is “012-345-6789”, for example, the ringing sound of the pattern number “1” is reproduced, which is preset to that number as is shown in the FIG. 4 , for alerting the user of the incoming call, and then the sound data No. “1”, the sound data No. “2” and the sound data No. “3” are reproduced.
- the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call it is possible to change the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call, depending upon each of the areas where the callers live in, by setting up the pattern numbers for each of the area codes to be stored. For example, when the upper three (3) digits are “045”, the ringing sound of the pattern number “3” is reproduced for alerting of the incoming call, and then the sound data No. “3” in the FIG. 2 is reproduces.
- the controller portion 2 accesses to the reproduction timing memory 1 so as to start a search for the reproduction timings of the respective sound data (s 3 ).
- the controller 2 checks the reproduction timing for the sound data No. “1” (of the FM sound source) (s 4 a ), the reproduction timing for the sound data No. “2” (of the PCM sound source) (s 4 b ), and the reproduction timing for the sound data No. “3” (of the MIDI sound source) (s 4 c ), respectively.
- the transmitted sound data are mixed therein and is delivered to the speaker 6 .
- the speaker 6 outputs the transmitted sound data in the form of the audible sound for alerting of the incoming call (s 6 ). Thereafter, a decision is made on whether the search is conducted up to the end or not (s 7 ), and if deciding that the search is necessary for the next reproduction timing, the search is conducted on for the next timing (s 8 ), again.
- the sound data No. “2” is turned to ON at the reproduction timing of the time point b (s 4 b ). Then, into the sound data reproduction portion 4 b for the PCM sound source, having the sound data No. “2”, the sound data 3 b of the PCM sound source is read in, so as to be sent to the mixer (s 5 b ). In the mixer 5 , the transmitted three sound data are mixed with one another, and are delivered to the speaker 6 . The speaker 6 outputs the sound data in the form of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call (s 6 ).
- the sound database such as the FM sound source
- the human voices and the like producing the sound effects (such as, the mimic sounds) of the PCM sound source, in addition thereto.
- an infinite or unlimited number of variations can be obtained when producing the sound for alerting the user of the incoming call, as well as an effect of small-sizing of the capacity.
- the variations of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call comes to be abundant, thereby obtaining the discrimination from the ringing sound of the cellular phone owned by other, with ease.
- the abundance of the variation in the ringing sound for alerting of incoming call it is possible to store the names of the owners of the telephone numbers which are stored in the pattern number memory, as the sound data of the PCM sound source, in advance, so as to reproduce them in the form of human voices, thereby obtaining the names of the callers, as the ringing sound for alerting them of the incoming call.
- the caller's name is “Ieyasu TOKUGAWA” and it is stored as the sound data “Ieyasu TOKUGAWA” corresponding thereto, the sound “Ieyasu TOKUGAWA” is reproduced by the human voice when the call comes in from him. This is also effective even when the caller uses the cellular phone.
- SUZUKI as the friend in her/his hometown, both having the same name, are registered in the cellular phone, the music relating to the company (for instance, a commercial song of the company) and the colleague's name “SUZUKI” are reproduced, at the predetermined timing for the colleague Mr. SUZUKI, while the music relating to the hometown (for instance, a folk music or a music subjecting the area of the hometown) and the friend's name “SUZUKI” are reproduced, at the predetermined timing for the friend Mr. SUZUKI.
- the music relating to the company for instance, a commercial song of the company
- the colleague's name “SUZUKI” are reproduced, at the predetermined timing for the colleague Mr. SUZUKI
- the music relating to the hometown for instance, a folk music or a music subjecting the area of the hometown
- the friend's name “SUZUKI” are reproduced, at the predetermined timing for the friend Mr. SUZUKI.
- the sound data 1 is made of the FM sound source, the sound data 2 of the PCM sound source and the sound data 3 of the MIDI sound source, with using the sound data 1 and 3 , the music relating to the company is reproduced, and with using the sound data 2 , the colleague name Mr. SUZUKI is reproduced, at the reproduction timing b, in the case of the colleague Mr. SUZUKI.
- the friend Mr. SUZUKI with using the sound data 1 and 3 , the music is reproduced relating to the hometown, and with using the sound data 2 , the friend name Mr. SUZUKI is reproduced at the reproduction timing b.
- the areas are stored as the sound data of the PCM sound source, to be reproduced in the form of the human voices, thereby it is possible to know the location of the telephone call from the person who is speaking to, when the call comes in.
- the area code of the caller is “ 045 ” and the sound data “YOKOHAMA” is stored corresponding thereto, it is reproduced as “YOKOHAMA” in the form of the human voice when the call comes in.
- the sound data “YOKOHAMA” is stored corresponding to the area code of the caller into the sound data 2 , and the caller, for example Mr. SATO, is stored into the sound data 3 , thereby it is possible for the user to know that the telephone call comes in from Mr. SATO in YOKOHAMA, by reproducing the “YOKOHAMA” and “SATO” together with the reproduction sound of the sound data 1 .
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram of showing function blocks necessary for performing the selection of the pattern number based on the time when the call comes in.
- a receiver 201 corresponds to the receiver circuit portion contained within the radio-wave portion 1511 shown in the FIG.
- the timer function 204 operates as the clock, in accordance with the program stored in the memory 1515 for communication, thereby outputting the time from it.
- the incoming call time detector 202 detects the time when the radio-wave signal comes in, by means of an output of the timer function 204 in accordance with the program stored in the memory 1515 for communication, when it receives information indicative of the incoming call time from the receiver 201 .
- the communication controller 1516 determines the pattern number corresponding to the detected time, based on the data stored in the pattern number memory 203 , and thereafter it reads out the reproduction timings of the sound data corresponding to that pattern number, based on the data which are stored in the reproduction timing memory 1 shown in the FIG.
- the set-up for example, in which the pattern No. “1” 203 a is applied to when the call comes in a time zone from 0:00 AM to 8:00 AM, while the ringing sound of the pattern No. “2” 203 b is reproduced when it comes in from 5:15 PM to 9:30 PM.
- the incoming call time is 1:00 AM
- the ringing sound of the pattern No. “1” i.e., the sound data No. “1”
- the ringing sound for alerting the incoming call can be changed depending upon the time zones, therefore it is possible to bring the ringing sound to be suitable for the environments where the user is, for example, by setting up a refreshing ringing sound during the time period from the midnight to the early morning, while setting a gay ringing sound of a large volume during the time period when she/he will be in a noisy place, in particular after 5:00 PM (after the office time).
- timer function 204 it is possible to obtain a calendar function by setting a unit of time to be a day or a month. With this, it is possible to make a distinction of a day of the week, or between weekdays and holidays, or to make the change thereof depending upon the months. Further, by setting up the time zone when the call should come in from a specific person, it is also possible to change the call ringing sound depending upon the time difference between the time when she/he has the telephone call actually.
- the ringing sound is changed, by performing the selection on the pattern numbers depending upon the number of times of the incoming calls in her/his absence from that telephone number.
- the structures of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, but except for the control program and the functions of the communication controller 1516 , and the contents of the pattern number table, which is stored in the memory 1515 for communication.
- FIG. 7 is a block diagram of showing function blocks, which are necessary for performing the selection of the pattern number, depending upon the number of times of the incoming calls. Explaining by referring to the circuit constructions of the cellular phone shown in the FIG.
- a receiver 301 for receiving the radio-wave corresponds to the receiving circuit portion which is contained within the radio-wave portion 1511 shown in the FIG. 15 , and a telephone number detector 302 to the communication controller 1516 shown in the FIG. 15 , wherein the telephone number is detected, in accordance with the program stored in the memory 1515 for communication, after demodulation of the radio-wave signal, and the number of times of the detected incoming calls in absence is counted up for each of the telephone numbers.
- in absence means the case where no response is made by a receiver even when the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is reproduced for a time longer than the preset time period, or by the number being larger than the preset one, when the call comes in, and it means, in particular, in the case of the cellular phone, for example, when the user does not keep it at hand, or when the user turns off the power switch thereof while attending at a conference, seeing a movie, riding on a train, or driving a car, etc., or when the user changes the cellular phone into a manner mode (i.e., vibration mode), etc.
- the communication controller 1516 renews the number of times of the incoming calls from the telephone numbers stored in the incoming call number memory 304 , by means of increment thereof, when the call comes in from the preset telephone number, in absence.
- the pattern No. “1” 303 a is applied to when it comes in first time, but when the incoming call is not accepted, i.e., in case where no response is made to it, the pattern No. “2” 303 b is applied to if the same telephone number is detected.
- the setup in which, without response to those, further the pattern No. “3” is applied to if the same telephone number is detected at the third time.
- the ringing sound of the pattern No. “1” 303 a is reproduced for it, i.e., the sound data No.
- the ringing sound of the pattern No. “2” 303 b is reproduced for it, i.e., the sound data No. “1”, the sound data No. “2” and the sound data No. “4” shown in the FIG. 2 are reproduced.
- the ringing sound of the pattern No. “3” 303 c is reproduced for the it, i.e., the sound data No. “3” shown in the FIG. 2 is reproduced.
- the communication controller 1516 sends the pattern number corresponding to that number of times to the reproduction timing memory 1 shown in the FIG. 1 , thereafter, and then shifts into the process for producing the ringing sound for alerting the incoming call.
- the mode is so set up that it operates only to the preset telephone numbers, for the purpose of protecting the operation of this mode from the retry operations being troublesome, due to annoying and persistent telephone calls for persuasion, nuisance phone calls, prank calls such as silent telephone calls, etc., and with this, it is also possible to notice emergency and/or importance of the telephone call made, for example, when a member of the family or the relative is in sick.
- the program may be changed, so that the communication controller 1516 counts up the number of the ringing in one time of the incoming call from the detected telephone number, in the place of the number of times of the absent incoming calls, so as to stored it into the incoming call time memory 304 , as well as, to renew it by increment thereof.
- the ringing sound with a lapse of time within the one time of the incoming call.
- the ringing is made by a gentle sound in the beginning thereof, and is changed to a noisy sound when the number of ringing come to be very large, thereby alerting the user of the incoming call, easily.
- the mode is set up depending upon the condition of sounds in an environment where the cellular phone is used, and the selection of the pattern number is conducted according to that mode, thereby changing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call.
- the mode is set up for alerting of the incoming call in a noisy environment where the telephone apparatus is used, such as, on the street in common, or for alerting of the incoming call in a scene or place to be silent, such as in a conference, and the change of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is conducted by selecting the pattern number depending upon that mode.
- the mode is set up depending upon a noise level of the environment of the cellular phone that is accepting the incoming call, and the change of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is conducted by selecting the pattern number depending upon that mode.
- the structures of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, but except for the control program and the function of the communication controller 1516 , and the contents of the pattern number table stored in the memory 1515 for communication.
- the FIGS. 9 and 13 are block diagrams of showing function blocks necessary for performing the selection of the pattern number based on the sound (noise) condition of the environment.
- receivers 401 and 601 , a ringing sound controller 402 and an environment noise detector 602 , and the pattern number memories 403 and 603 have functions similar to each other, respectively, therefore explanation will be given only on the representative one shown in the FIG. 9 .
- the receiver 401 corresponds to the receiver circuit portion contained within the radio-wave portion 1511 shown in the FIG. 15
- the ringing sound controller 402 to the communication controller 1516 shown in the FIG. 15 , wherein the mode is set up in accordance with the program stored in the memory 1515 for communication, corresponding to the sound (noise) conditions of the environment of the cellular phone, so as to select the pattern number upon that mode.
- the sound (noise) condition of the environment is decided based on the frequency of sound (noise) detected by a microphone 1513 , a level of the sound pressure thereof, a difference between high and low levels in the sound pressure thereof, a continuing time of a certain level of the sound pressure thereof, or a continuing time of sound of a specific frequency range, etc.
- a portion of the memory area of the memory 1515 for communication shown in the FIG. 15 is assigned as the pattern number memory 403 , wherein the pattern numbers of the ringing sounds are stored corresponding to the sound (noise) conditions in the environment of the cellular phone, as shown in the FIG. 6 .
- the relationship between them are also similar to the receiver 601 , the environment noise detector 602 and the pattern number memory 603 .
- the ringing sound controller 402 decides the level of the sound pressure, the difference between high and low levels in the sound pressure, the continuing time of a certain level of the sound pressure thereof, or the continuing time of sound of a specific frequency range, etc., so as to decide between the case or place of the noisy environment, such as, on the street in common, and the case or place to be silent, such as in the conference, etc.
- the conference there is the difference between high and low levels in the sound pressure, upon the fact of whether someone makes a statement or not, and the sound within a frequency range of a human voice is detected continuously.
- the sound within the frequency range of the human voice is detected continuously too, however the level of the sound pressure is low, and the difference between high and low levels in the sound pressure is small.
- the sound pressure level is large, but the difference between high and low levels in the sound pressure is small, and the sound is detected continuously in a wide frequency range.
- the ringing sound controller 402 decides the environment of the cellular phone based on, for example, large or small of the sound pressure level, the difference between high and low in the sound pressure level, the continuing time of the sound within a certain sound pressure level, or the difference of the continuing times of the sound within a specific frequency range, so as to determine the mode number, thereby selecting the pattern number corresponding to that mode from those which are stored in the pattern number memory 403 .
- the pattern number memory 403 are preset the pattern numbers depending upon the setting mode, as shown in the FIG. 10 .
- the set-up of the mode may be made by her/himself appropriately, for example, the mode No. “1” for the case where the environment is noisy, the mode No.
- the pattern numbers are set up, simply corresponding to the sound volume level of noises in the environment of the cellular phone, to be stored in the pattern number memory 603 .
- the environment noise detector 602 determines the sound volume level of noises in the environment of the cellular phone upon the sound pressure level of the sound detected by the microphone 1513 .
- the pattern numbers are set up corresponding to the environmental noise levels, as shown in the FIG. 14 .
- the environmental noise level for example, the range being equal or larger than 60 dB in the sound pressure level is set at the mode No.
- the communication controller 1516 sends the pattern number to the reproduction timing memory 1 shown in the FIG. 1 , to shift into the processes for producing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call.
- a noticeable ringing sound is set up in advance, which can be distinct from the environmental sound, easily.
- the ringing sound in the mode which should be set up in the silent scene, such as in the library, for alerting of the incoming call, is set to be as silent as possible, so that it can be noticed only by her/himself.
- the ringing sound is reproduced when the phone call comes in, which is set up in advance by her/himself, for fitting to the condition of the environmental sounds (noises).
- the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is set to be as silent as possible, so that it can be noticed only by her/himself.
- the environmental noise is detected automatically, when the phone call comes in, and the ringing is made by the sound that is set up in advance by her/himself.
- the present invention should not be restricted only to the above embodiments, but it may be a cellular phone having a heat/pressure sensor for detecting that the user holds it in her/his hand, or a temperature sensor, etc., thereby to change the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call.
- a heat/pressure sensor for detecting that the user holds it in her/his hand
- a temperature sensor etc.
- the pressure sensor when the temperature is detected to be equal or higher than 25° C. while not being held in hand, it is decided that the temperature is high, i.e., being located in a hot place or in a hot season, the ringing sound may be changed to one that gives a cool feeling, so as to soften or calm the user's mind.
- the photo sensor it is possible to add a function of making the ringing sound large when the cellular phone lies inside a bag, while making it silent one when it is taken out from the bag to sense the light outside. Also, in recent years, it is inhibited and punished under the law to use the cellular phone in a car.
- the above embodiment can be practiced with using an output of the heat sensor, the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, the photo sensor or the acceleration sensor, in the place of the output of the microphone 1513 provided as the environmental noise sensor in the fourth embodiment.
- the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is changed by conducting the selection of the pattern number depending upon a remaining battery capacity of the cellular phone.
- the structures of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, but except for the control program and the functions of the communication controller 1516 and the contents of the pattern number table stored in the memory 1515 for communication.
- FIG. 11 is a block diagram for showing function blocks, which are necessary for conducting the selection of the pattern number depending upon the remaining battery capacity. Explaining with reference to the circuit constructions of the cellular phone shown in the FIG.
- a battery function 504 is a portion for supplying electric power to the apparatus or for storing the electric power charged from a charger (not shown in the figure)
- a receiver 501 for receiving the radio-wave signals corresponds to the receiver circuit portion contained within the radio-wave portion 1511 shown in the FIG. 15
- a remaining battery capacity detector 502 corresponds to the communication controller 1516 shown in the FIG. 15 , which detects the charged battery capacity at present from the battery function 504 , upon receipt of an information of the incoming call from the receiver 501 , in accordance with the program stored in the memory 1515 for communication.
- pattern number memory 503 in which the pattern numbers of the ringing sounds are stored corresponding to the remaining battery capacities, as shown in the FIG. 12 .
- the pattern numbers are set up and stored, corresponding to the remaining battery capacities obtained in the remaining battery capacity detector 502 , as shown in the FIG. 12 , so that, for example, the pattern No. “1”, 503 a is applied to when the remaining battery capacity is full, the pattern No. “2” 503 b is applied to when the remaining capacity is only for two (2) of the memories on the display, and the pattern No. “3” 503 c is applied to when charging is necessary.
- the communication controller 1516 After selecting the pattern number corresponding to the remaining battery capacity, the communication controller 1516 sends the said pattern number to the reproduction timing memory 1 shown in the FIG. 1 , thereby to shift into the processes for producing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call. In this instance, it is also possible to reproduce a voice sound, such as “you can use this about ten (10) minutes more” or “you can use this about three (3) minutes more”, corresponding to the remaining capacity of the battery, with using the PCM sound source as the one of the sound data.
- the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call can be changed upon basis of, in the place of the remaining battery capacity, but an electric field of an antenna, remaining memories of address book, an accumulated time of the telephone conversation.
- the user can grasp the information relating to the electric field of an antenna, the remaining memories of address book, the accumulated time of the telephone conversation, additionally, when the telephone call comes in.
- the ringing sound of the cellular phone comes to be consistent with that of other's, accidentally, if the ringing sound is changed corresponding to the environmental conditions.
- the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call can be produced with the relatively small capacity, by mainly using an analytical composition coding method (the FM sound source), as well as abundance of the sounds of the music instruments.
- an analytical composition coding method the FM sound source
- the PCM sound resource method such as the sound source method of recording directly from the microphone
- the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call upon basis of the present time and/or the remaining battery capacity, it is possible to obtain an additional information by only hearing the ringing sound, i.e., grasping the present time roughly or to knowing the remaining battery capacity. Also, with changing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call, upon basis of the call number from a specific person, the ringing sound control mode, or the environmental noise level, respectively, it is possible to obtain an effect that the owner can notice the incoming call easily.
- the present invention while achieving sufficient discrimination on the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call, it is possible to obtain the cellular phone, with which the various conditions can be grasped from the change of the ringing sound when the telephone call comes in, therefore having a superior usability.
Abstract
A portable mobile unit for alerting on incoming of a signal by a ringing sound, comprises: a ringing sound generator for generating the ringing sound in a plurality of patterns; and a controller for controlling operations of the portable mobile unit, wherein the controller select one pattern from the a plurality of patterns based on conditions which are set up in advance, when the signal comes in, so as to control the ringing sound generator to generate the ringing sound for alerting a user of the incoming call, thereby providing the portable mobile unit being superior in the usability, with which various conditions can be grasped by means of change in the ringing sound when the telephone call comes in, while achieving the discrimination of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a portable mobile unit for alerting a user (or subscriber) of incoming of a signal by means of ringing, and in particular to a portable mobile unit being suitable for alerting of the condition when a phone call is coming in, through such the ringing sound.
- 2. Prior Art
- With conventional cellular phones, it is common to generate the ringing sound for alerting of incoming phone calls, from various tone data which are obtained by coding the tone signals digitally. The users of the cellular phone can easily recognize the incoming call (i.e., arrival of the telephone call) to her/his own cellular phone by the ringing sound. Recently, users of such cellular phones are increasing in number very rapidly, which brings about cases that people having their own cellular phones happen to be within the same place or area very often. this results in confusion of the incoming call with that to others, and then there occurs a demand or a necessity for discriminating or differentiating the ringing sound of each the cellular phone from others. For example, a melody generator, which is capable of producing different melodies according to a choice of the user, is widely prevailed and getting popular among cellular phone users to discriminate her/his cellular phone from others'. with which each user can produce her/his own melody, thereby obtaining the discrimination thereof from others. Further, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-4442 (1998), there is already known an apparatus having a function of renewing the melody by means of download thereof, and also, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 08-251258 (1996), there is already known an apparatus having a means for producing its own original sound for alerting of the incoming call, by taking in sounds from an external microphone in advance. Conventionally, for discriminating the ringing sound, a beep sound with its frequency range simply expanded or with its tempo made variable is used so as to enable the melody to sound more natural than that of a previous type using a beep sound which sounds rather mechanical. In addition, an apparatus utilizing a FM sound source, which can play tones of musical instruments by synthesizing the sounds from a sound database is manufactured or put on a market recently. However, this apparatus is designed to synthesize not vocal sounds but particular musical instrumental sounds. Also, a PCM sound source enables to produce the vocal sounds or sound effects (such as, mimic sounds), which can increase the number of the alerting sounds infinitely. However, it brings about a demerit of requiring data capacity too much, particularly, for the cellular phone, which is demanded to be light-weighted and small-sized.
- Also, alerting used in another purpose, such as distinguishing callers by changing the ringing sound or by changing a light-emission pattern instead, is shown in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 09-312684 (1997). This improves utility value thereof, because the user can know who is calling (i.e., a caller) only by hearing the ringing sound.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a portable mobile unit with improved usability, capable of discriminating the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call sufficiently or enabling the user to grasp various conditions by changing the ringing sound when the telephone call comes in.
- According to the present invention, for accomplishing the above-mentioned object, there is provided a portable mobile unit for alerting the user on incoming of a signal by a ringing sound, comprising: a ringing sound generator having a plurality of sound sources therewith; and a controller for controlling operations of the portable mobile unit, wherein the controller controls the ringing sound generator, when the signal comes in, so that it generates the ringing sound with using at least one of the a plurality of sound sources, upon basis of a condition which is set up in advance.
- According to a preferable embodiment of the present invention, the ringing sound generator comprises: a memory for storing a plurality of sound data which are generated with different generation methods, respectively; a plurality of reproducer for reproducing the plurality of sound data stored in accordance with the respective generation methods; and a reproduction timing memory for performing selection of the sound data to be reproduced among the plurality of sound data and for storing reproduction timings to form the patterns for the respective sound data selected, wherein the controller controls the reproduction timing means, so as to reproduce the sound data selected in accordance with the reproduction timings, respectively.
- Further, according to other preferable embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of sound data contain therein a sound data of a waveform coding method, in which quantization width is set up depending upon a level of amplitude or power, and a sound data of an analytic composition coding method, in which the signal is modeled, so as to be encoded into. With those means mentioned above, while using that which composes a main phrase from the sound data base, such as the FM sound source, the human voices or the like producing the sound effects of the PCM sound source can be used, additionally. Thereby, it is possible to obtain an infinite number of variations, as well as to bring the capacity to be small.
- Also, the condition which is set up in advance, includes: when the telephone number of a caller is coincident with the registered telephone number; when a portion of the telephone number (for example, the area code, etc.) of the caller is coincident with a portion of the registered telephone number (for example, the area code, etc.); when a day of incoming of the signal is contained within a period which is setup in advance; when the number of times of the incoming calls in absence is contained within a range of number of times which is set up in advance; when the remaining battery capacity is contained within a range of capacity which is set up in advance, when the signal comes in; when an environmental sound of the portable mobile unit is contained within a condition of sound which is set up in advance, when the signal comes in; when a sound volume level in an environment of the portable mobile unit is contained within a range of sound volume level which is set up in advance, when the signal comes in; and when it is detected that the portable mobile unit is held in a hand of a user, by means of at least either one of a heat sensor and a pressure sensor, etc.
-
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main portion of a sound data reproduction portion in a portable mobile unit, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a table of showing a relationship between sound data number and reproduction timing thereof, respectively, in the portable mobile unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing selection of the pattern number based on a telephone number of a caller, in the portable mobile unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a table of showing a relationship between the telephone number of the caller and the pattern number, in the portable mobile unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing selection of the pattern number based on a time of the incoming call to the portable mobile unit, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 6 is a table of showing a relationship between the time of the incoming call and the pattern number, in the portable mobile unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing selection of the pattern number based on the number of times of the telephone calls from a specific telephone number to the portable mobile unit, according to a third embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 8 is a table of showing a relationship between the number of times of the incoming calls from the specific telephone number and the pattern number, in the portable mobile unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing control on the ringing sound based on a condition of sound in an environment of the portable mobile unit, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 10 is a table of showing a relationship between a mode and the pattern number, for controlling the ringing sound based on the condition of sound in the environment of the portable mobile unit, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing selection of the pattern number based on remaining power of a battery in the portable mobile unit, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 12 is a table of showing a relationship between the remaining power of the battery and the pattern, in the portable mobile unit according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of showing function blocks for performing control on the ringing sound upon the basis a level of noises in the environment of the portable mobile unit, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 14 is a table of showing a relationship between a mode and the pattern number for controlling the ringing sound upon basis of the level of noises in the environment of the portable mobile unit, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 15 is a block diagram for showing the structure of the portable mobile unit, according to the first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 16 is a front view for showing an outlook of the portable mobile unit, according to the first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C are views for showing examples of screens displayed when setting up the ringing sound on the portable mobile unit, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and in particular,FIG. 17A shows “Ringing sound change menu” display,FIG. 17B “Chang upon telephone number of caller” display, andFIG. 17C a pattern selection display for the ringing sound, respectively; and -
FIG. 18 is a flow chart when the ringing sound thereof is reproduced in the portable mobile unit, according to the first embodiment of the present invention. - Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be fully explained by referring to the attached drawings, i.e., FIGS. 1 to 18. In the embodiments that will be mentioned below, explanation will be given on an example, wherein the present invention is applied to, in particular, a cellular phone as one kind of the portable mobile unit.
- The structures of the cellular phone, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, will be shown in
FIG. 15 , wherein areference numeral 1510 indicates a transmission antenna, 1511 a radio-wave portion for converting between transmission data and radio-wave signals, 1512 a coding/decoding process unit for converting the transmission data into audio signals, 1513 a microphone, 1514 a receiver, 1515 a memory for communication, holding programs, data, etc., therein, which are necessary for the control of operations as the cellular phone, 1516 a communication controller for controlling the present cellular phone, 1517 a display, and 1518 a key-input portion. Areference numeral 1519 indicates a ringing sound generator for generating the ringing sound when it receives the radio-wave signal, and 1520 a speaker for outputting the alerting signal that is reproduced in theringing sound generator 1519, audibly. Further, in the explanation given below, “reproduce” means to output a sound data that is stored or a sound data that is received with the incoming call, or to output an audible frequency signal that is converted from an inputted sound data. -
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of showing details of thecommunication controller 1516 and theringing sound generator 1519 shown in theFIG. 15 . The cellular phone in the present embodiment can reproduce a plurality of sound data simultaneously. According to the present embodiment, a plurality of memories are provided for storing the sound data corresponding to a plurality of the sound data methods thereof. In more details, there are provided asound data memory 3 a of the FM sound source, asound data memory 3 b of the PCM sound source and asound data memory 3 c of the MIDI method, and are also provided a sounddata reproduction portion 4 a of the FM sound source, a sounddata reproduction portion 4 b of the PCM sound source, and a sounddata reproduction portion 4 c of the MIDI method, respectively, as the sound data reproduction portions for reproducing the sound data corresponding to those methods. Also, the sounddata reproduction portion 4 a of the FM sound source, the sounddata reproduction portion 4 b of the PCM sound source, and the sounddata reproduction portion 4 c of the MIDI method are connected to thecontroller 2. Thecontroller 2 selects the sound data to be reproduced from the plurality of the sound data stored in areproduction timing memory 1, and also determines a reproduction timing for the sound data selected, thereby making the sound data reproduction portion reproduce the selected sound data at the reproduction timing determined, respectively. Outputs of the respective sound reproduction portions are connected to amixer 5, to be mixed with one another therein, and at the end, they are outputted outside, as the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call through a speaker 6 (corresponding to thespeaker 1520 shown in theFIG. 15 ), which is connected to themixer 5. - As is shown in
FIG. 2 , in thereproduction timing memory 1 are stored sound data numbers to be reproduced and the respective timings for reproductions thereof, etc. With the sound data numbers, it is assumed that No. 1 corresponds to the sound data of the FM sound source, No. 2 to the sound data of the PCM sound source, and No. 3 to the sound data of the MIDI method, respectively. The sound data should not be restricted only to the above, and also the sound data of the MP3 method can be used, and it may be given by No. 4 as the sound data No. thereof, in such the case. Hereinafter, every time when the sound data is further added to, the sound data number, such as No. 5 or No. 6, is allotted to the added sound data. The pattern numbers can be changed depending upon the telephone number of a person who is speaking to, or depending upon the number of times of the incoming calls (i.e., when the telephone calls arrive). Methods and kinds for presetting thereof will be explained in more details, later. The reproduction timing is controlled so as to be ON or OFF status, so that the sound data will be reproduced at ON status, while no sound data at OFF status. - Next, explanation will be given on the method for presetting the pattern numbers.
FIG. 16 is a front view for showing an outlook of the cellular phone, according to the present embodiment. On a front surface (a surface, on which are provided keys, a display, a microphone, a speaker, etc, for operations by a user) of amain body 1601 of the telephone apparatus, aspeaker 1602 as a receiver is provided at one end thereof, and in an area from this to the other end thereof are provided adisplay 1603 and various kinds of keys. The various kinds of keys include therein an up-key 1604, a down-key 1605, a left-key 1606 and a right-key 1607, for shifting a cursor displayed on the display into the up-side, the down-side, the left-hand side and the right-hand side, respectively, a decision-key 1608 for deciding a content that is inputted, a clear-key 1609 for deleting or releasing the content that is inputted, and a function-key 1610 for selecting and executing various functions therewith. To the up-key 1604, the down-key 1605, the left-key 1606, the right-key 1607 and the decision-key 1608 are also assigned a part of numeral number keys for inputting the telephone number and/or time, etc., therewith. At the other end is provided themicrophone 1513 as a mouthpiece, however it is omitted shown in the figure. - Explanation will be given on a method for changing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call, based on the telephone number of the caller, through operations of the above-mentioned keys. Exemplary screens displayed on the
display 1603 in this time are shown inFIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C. First, when the function-key 1610 and the key that is assigned to selection for a menu screen are pushed down, then it is shifted to the screen for “menu for changing ringing sound” (d1) shown in theFIG. 17A . On the screen is performed the selection, on which items the ringing sound should be changed, i.e., the change may be made upon the telephone number of the person who is speaking to (i.e., the caller), the time when the phone call comes in, and the number of times of the absent incoming calls. As the cursor for indicating the item to be selected, a sign of inequity, such as “>” is displayed at the left-hand side thereof. Then, by pushing down the up-key 1604 or the down-key 1605, so as to shift the cursor, an edge (i.e., an acute angle portion at the right-hand side, in this case) of the sign of inequity “>” is aligned to the item to be selected. In case of changing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call based on the telephone number, “1. Telephone number of a caller” is selected, and the decision-key is pushed down. Then, it is shifted to “screen for changing ringing upon telephone number of caller” as shown in theFIG. 17B (d2). On this screen, pushing down the up-key 1604 or the down-key 1605 shifts the cursor thereof, so as to select the telephone number to be changed in the ringing sound, and pushing down the decision-key can make the selection of the telephone number of the caller. However, it may be also possible to input the telephone number of the caller, directly with using the numeral keys, in the place of the mentioned above. After the selection of the telephone number is made, the screen is shifted to “pattern selection screen for ringing sound” (d3) shown in theFIG. 17C when the decision-key is pushed down, wherein it is possible to select the pattern of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call, corresponding to the selected telephone number. The pattern mentioned herein means, as is shown in theFIG. 2 , what is reproduced at the predetermined reproduction timing from the sound data generated by the different sound sources. Herein, pushing down the up-key 1604 or the down-key 1605 shifts the cursor, thereby selecting the pattern number at her/his desire. With the cellular phone of the present embodiment, the ringing sound of that pattern is reproduced from thespeaker 1602 every time when the pattern is selected, thereby enabling confirmation of the pattern. Herein, by selecting “2. Pattern No. 2” as the desired pattern and by pushing down the decision-key, it is possible to set up the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call. With the pattern No. 2, as shown in theFIG. 2 , the sound data from the FM sound source of the sound data No. 1, the PCM sound source of the sound data No. 2 and the MP3 sound source of the sound data No. 4 are reproduced at the timings shown in the same figure. When it is desired to turn the screen back to the previous one, it can be shifted back to the screen (d2) by pushing down the clear-key 1609 on the screen (d3). In the similar manner, it can be turned back to the screen (d1) by pushing down the clear-key 1609 on the screen (d2). - Next, explanation will be given on the processes up to the reproduction of the sound data, by referring to the
FIGS. 1, 2 , 3, 4 and 18. - Herein, explanation will be given on an example of the method, where the pattern number is selected upon basis of the telephone number of the caller, thereby to reproduce it.
-
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of showing function blocks, which are necessary for performing the selection of the pattern numbers upon basis of the telephone number of the caller. Explaining by referring to the circuit constructions of the cellular phone shown inFIG. 15 , areceiver 101 for receiving the radio-wave signals corresponds to a receiver circuit portion, which is contained within the radio-wave portion 1511 shown in theFIG. 15 , and atelephone number detector 102 to thecommunication controller 1516 shown in theFIG. 15 , which detects the telephone number after demodulation of the radio-wave signals, in accordance with the program stored in thememory 1515 for communication. A portion of the memory area of thememory 1515 for communication shown in theFIG. 15 is assigned as apattern number memory 103, in which are stored the telephone numbers and the pattern numbers of the ringing sounds for alerting of the incoming calls corresponding thereto, as shown inFIG. 4 . In thepattern number memory 103 can be stored the pattern numbers of the ringing sounds for alerting of the incoming calls corresponding to theincoming calls incoming calls communication controller 1516 determines the pattern number, corresponding to the telephone number detected, based on the data stored in thepattern number memory 103, and thereafter reads out the reproduction timings corresponding to those pattern numbers based on the data stored in thereproduction timing memory 1 shown in theFIG. 1 , thereafter it shifts to the processes for producing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call. - Hereinafter, explanation will be given in more details, by referring to a flowchart.
- In the flowchart shown in
FIG. 18 , when the telephone call comes in (s1), detection is made on the telephone number of the caller, etc., and the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is selected (s2). In a case where the ringing sound is set to be changed depending upon the telephone number of the caller, thereceiver 101 receives the radio-wave signal so as to demodulate it, when the telephone call comes in to the cellular phone, as shown in theFIG. 3 , and the demodulated signal is sent to thetelephone number detector 102, thereby detecting the telephone number of the caller (the person who is speaking to) from the data after being demodulated in thetelephone number detector 102. The signal corresponding to that telephone number is sent to thepattern number memory 103, and compared to the telephone numbers stored therein, therefore the pattern number being preset to that telephone number is outputted from thepattern number memory 103. If the telephone number of the caller is “012-345-6789”, for example, the ringing sound of the pattern number “1” is reproduced, which is preset to that number as is shown in theFIG. 4 , for alerting the user of the incoming call, and then the sound data No. “1”, the sound data No. “2” and the sound data No. “3” are reproduced. - Also, it is possible to change the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call, depending upon each of the areas where the callers live in, by setting up the pattern numbers for each of the area codes to be stored. For example, when the upper three (3) digits are “045”, the ringing sound of the pattern number “3” is reproduced for alerting of the incoming call, and then the sound data No. “3” in the
FIG. 2 is reproduces. - The
controller portion 2 accesses to thereproduction timing memory 1 so as to start a search for the reproduction timings of the respective sound data (s3). Thecontroller 2 checks the reproduction timing for the sound data No. “1” (of the FM sound source) (s4 a), the reproduction timing for the sound data No. “2” (of the PCM sound source) (s4 b), and the reproduction timing for the sound data No. “3” (of the MIDI sound source) (s4 c), respectively. Herein, in the beginning of alerting by the ringing sound to the incoming call (i.e., at a time point a in theFIG. 2 ), since the sound data No. “1” and the sound data No. “3” are turned ON, and then they are shifted to (s5 a) and (s5 c), respectively. Since the sound data No. “2” is turned OFF, it is not processed, and is in a condition of search waiting. Into the sounddata reproduction portion 4 a for the FM sound source, having the sound data No. “1”, thesound data 3 a of the FM sound source is read in, so as to be sent to the mixer (s5 a). In the similar manner, into the sounddata reproduction portion 4 c for the MIDI sound source, having the sound data No. “3”, thesound data 3 c of the MIDI sound source is read in, so as to be sent to the mixer (s5 c). In themixer 5, the transmitted sound data are mixed therein and is delivered to thespeaker 6. Thespeaker 6 outputs the transmitted sound data in the form of the audible sound for alerting of the incoming call (s6). Thereafter, a decision is made on whether the search is conducted up to the end or not (s7), and if deciding that the search is necessary for the next reproduction timing, the search is conducted on for the next timing (s8), again. - During the reproduction of the sound data No. “1” and the sound data No. “3”, after a minute (for example, at the time point b in the
FIG. 2 ), also the sound data No. “2” is turned to ON at the reproduction timing of the time point b (s4 b). Then, into the sounddata reproduction portion 4 b for the PCM sound source, having the sound data No. “2”, thesound data 3 b of the PCM sound source is read in, so as to be sent to the mixer (s5 b). In themixer 5, the transmitted three sound data are mixed with one another, and are delivered to thespeaker 6. Thespeaker 6 outputs the sound data in the form of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call (s6). Thereafter, decision is made on whether the search is conducted up to the end or not (s7) and if deciding that the search is necessary for the next reproduction timing, the search is conducted on for the next timing (s8), again. In case of deciding that the search is completed up to the end, the reproduction of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is finished (s9). Even in processing of all of those processes, the reproduction of the data of ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is completed (s9), when the user thereof starts communication by holding the cellular phone in her/his hand. - With taking those steps mentioned above, it is possible to reproduce the sound data, simultaneously, which are stored in accordance with the a plurality of methods. Further, with using such the methods, it is possible to save the memory by setting up the time for reproduction thereof to be short, in particular, even for the sound data of the PCM sound source, which generally needs a large memory capacity. Also, there is a possibility that the circuit scale come to be a little bit bigger, however it is possible to reproduce vocal sounds i.e. human voices or the like by means of that PCM sound source, for example, together with a background of the tones of musical instruments, such as, a piano and/or a guitar, reproduced by the FM sound source. Using a method of composing the sounds from the sound database, such as the FM sound source, for main phrases, it is possible to use the human voices and the like producing the sound effects (such as, the mimic sounds) of the PCM sound source, in addition thereto. With this, an infinite or unlimited number of variations can be obtained when producing the sound for alerting the user of the incoming call, as well as an effect of small-sizing of the capacity. As a result of this, the variations of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call comes to be abundant, thereby obtaining the discrimination from the ringing sound of the cellular phone owned by other, with ease.
- As an example of the abundance of the variation in the ringing sound for alerting of incoming call, other than those mentioned above, it is possible to store the names of the owners of the telephone numbers which are stored in the pattern number memory, as the sound data of the PCM sound source, in advance, so as to reproduce them in the form of human voices, thereby obtaining the names of the callers, as the ringing sound for alerting them of the incoming call. For example, if the caller's name is “Ieyasu TOKUGAWA” and it is stored as the sound data “Ieyasu TOKUGAWA” corresponding thereto, the sound “Ieyasu TOKUGAWA” is reproduced by the human voice when the call comes in from him. This is also effective even when the caller uses the cellular phone.
- In the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the capacity in acknowledging of who is calling to, in particular, by combining the human voices by means of the sound data of the PCM sound sources. When the number is increased in the registrations of the callers, it is very difficult to remember of which ringing sound is assigned to whom. It is in particular true when there are persons having the same family name among her/his colleagues and friends. For example, in a case where Mr. SUZUKI, as the colleague in a company and Mr. SUZUKI, as the friend in her/his hometown, both having the same name, are registered in the cellular phone, the music relating to the company (for instance, a commercial song of the company) and the colleague's name “SUZUKI” are reproduced, at the predetermined timing for the colleague Mr. SUZUKI, while the music relating to the hometown (for instance, a folk music or a music subjecting the area of the hometown) and the friend's name “SUZUKI” are reproduced, at the predetermined timing for the friend Mr. SUZUKI. For example, in the
pattern 2, assuming that thesound data 1 is made of the FM sound source, thesound data 2 of the PCM sound source and thesound data 3 of the MIDI sound source, with using thesound data sound data 2, the colleague name Mr. SUZUKI is reproduced, at the reproduction timing b, in the case of the colleague Mr. SUZUKI. While, in the case of the friend Mr. SUZUKI, with using thesound data sound data 2, the friend name Mr. SUZUKI is reproduced at the reproduction timing b. With this, in the case where the persons having the same family name are registered, it is possible to make a distinction, at first in the relationship between them (i.e., the colleague of the company or the friend), by means of thesound data sound data 3, as well, therefore the caller can be acknowledged easily, even in the case where the number of registration is large and the persons having the same name are registered therein. - In a case where the caller uses a telephone apparatus which is connected to the telephones station through a telephone line (including an optical cable), the areas are stored as the sound data of the PCM sound source, to be reproduced in the form of the human voices, thereby it is possible to know the location of the telephone call from the person who is speaking to, when the call comes in. For example, in a case where the area code of the caller is “045” and the sound data “YOKOHAMA” is stored corresponding thereto, it is reproduced as “YOKOHAMA” in the form of the human voice when the call comes in. For example, in the
pattern 2 shown in theFIG. 2 , assuming that thesound data 1 is made of the FM sound source, and thesound data sound data 2, and the caller, for example Mr. SATO, is stored into thesound data 3, thereby it is possible for the user to know that the telephone call comes in from Mr. SATO in YOKOHAMA, by reproducing the “YOKOHAMA” and “SATO” together with the reproduction sound of thesound data 1. In this manner, it is possible for the user to understand who makes the telephone call and/or from where it is made, among the persons registered in advance, by only hearing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call, but without answering the telephone, thereby enabling the user to respond it appropriately. - Next, explanation will be given on other example of the method for selecting the pattern number, as a second embodiment, by referring to the
FIGS. 5 and 6 . - With the present embodiment, with selecting the pattern number based on the time when the call comes in, the change is made in the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call. The structures of the present embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, but except for the control program and the functions of the
communication controller 1516 and the contents the pattern number table, which is stored in thememory 1515 for communication.FIG. 5 is a block diagram of showing function blocks necessary for performing the selection of the pattern number based on the time when the call comes in. Explaining by referring to the circuit constructions of the cellular phone shown in theFIG. 15 , areceiver 201 corresponds to the receiver circuit portion contained within the radio-wave portion 1511 shown in theFIG. 15 , and both a callarrival time detector 202 and atimer function 204 to thecommunication controller 1516 shown in theFIG. 15 . Thetimer function 204 operates as the clock, in accordance with the program stored in thememory 1515 for communication, thereby outputting the time from it. The incomingcall time detector 202 detects the time when the radio-wave signal comes in, by means of an output of thetimer function 204 in accordance with the program stored in thememory 1515 for communication, when it receives information indicative of the incoming call time from thereceiver 201. A portion of the memory area of thememory 1515 for communication shown in theFIG. 15 is assigned as apattern number memory 203, wherein the pattern numbers of the sounds for alerting of the incoming calls are stored, corresponding to the times of the incoming calls, as shown in theFIG. 6 . With the present embodiment, it is possible to store the pattern numbers of the ringing sounds into thepattern number memory 203, corresponding to theincoming calls communication controller 1516 determines the pattern number corresponding to the detected time, based on the data stored in thepattern number memory 203, and thereafter it reads out the reproduction timings of the sound data corresponding to that pattern number, based on the data which are stored in thereproduction timing memory 1 shown in theFIG. 1 , and then shifts into the process for producing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call. In theFIG. 6 is shown the set-up, for example, in which the pattern No. “1” 203 a is applied to when the call comes in a time zone from 0:00 AM to 8:00 AM, while the ringing sound of the pattern No. “2” 203 b is reproduced when it comes in from 5:15 PM to 9:30 PM. In more details, in a case where the incoming call time is 1:00 AM, since it falls within a first setting time, from 0:00 AM to 8:00 AM as shown in theFIG. 6 , therefore the ringing sound of the pattern No. “1”, i.e., the sound data No. “1”, the sound data No. “2” and the sound data No. “3” shown in theFIG. 2 are reproduced. Also, when the call comes in at 8:00 PM, since it falls within a second setting time, from 5:15 PM to 9:30 PM, therefore the ringing sound of the pattern No. “2”, i.e., the sound data No. “1”, the sound data No. “2” and the sound data No. “4” shown in theFIG. 2 are reproduced. With this, it is possible for the user to grasp the present time roughly, by only hearing the ringing sound for altering her/him of the incoming call. As a result of this, since she/he can grasp the time roughly, within her/his various activities in relation to the time, therefore she/he can take action having sufficient time. Also, the ringing sound for alerting the incoming call can be changed depending upon the time zones, therefore it is possible to bring the ringing sound to be suitable for the environments where the user is, for example, by setting up a refreshing ringing sound during the time period from the midnight to the early morning, while setting a gay ringing sound of a large volume during the time period when she/he will be in a noisy place, in particular after 5:00 PM (after the office time). - Also, with using the
timer function 204, it is possible to obtain a calendar function by setting a unit of time to be a day or a month. With this, it is possible to make a distinction of a day of the week, or between weekdays and holidays, or to make the change thereof depending upon the months. Further, by setting up the time zone when the call should come in from a specific person, it is also possible to change the call ringing sound depending upon the time difference between the time when she/he has the telephone call actually. - Next, explanation will be given on a third example of the method for selecting the pattern number, as a third embodiment, by referring to
FIGS. 7 and 8 . - In the present embodiment, with identifying a specific telephone number from those of the callers, the ringing sound is changed, by performing the selection on the pattern numbers depending upon the number of times of the incoming calls in her/his absence from that telephone number. The structures of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, but except for the control program and the functions of the
communication controller 1516, and the contents of the pattern number table, which is stored in thememory 1515 for communication.FIG. 7 is a block diagram of showing function blocks, which are necessary for performing the selection of the pattern number, depending upon the number of times of the incoming calls. Explaining by referring to the circuit constructions of the cellular phone shown in theFIG. 15 , areceiver 301 for receiving the radio-wave corresponds to the receiving circuit portion which is contained within the radio-wave portion 1511 shown in theFIG. 15 , and atelephone number detector 302 to thecommunication controller 1516 shown in theFIG. 15 , wherein the telephone number is detected, in accordance with the program stored in thememory 1515 for communication, after demodulation of the radio-wave signal, and the number of times of the detected incoming calls in absence is counted up for each of the telephone numbers. Here, “in absence” means the case where no response is made by a receiver even when the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is reproduced for a time longer than the preset time period, or by the number being larger than the preset one, when the call comes in, and it means, in particular, in the case of the cellular phone, for example, when the user does not keep it at hand, or when the user turns off the power switch thereof while attending at a conference, seeing a movie, riding on a train, or driving a car, etc., or when the user changes the cellular phone into a manner mode (i.e., vibration mode), etc. A portion of memory area of thememory 1515 for communication shown in theFIG. 15 is assigned as apattern number memory 303 and an incomingcall number memory 304, wherein the pattern numbers of the ringing sounds for alerting of the incoming are stored, corresponding to the number of times of the incoming calls in absence and that of the incoming calls, as shown inFIG. 8 . Thecommunication controller 1516 renews the number of times of the incoming calls from the telephone numbers stored in the incomingcall number memory 304, by means of increment thereof, when the call comes in from the preset telephone number, in absence. - In
FIG. 8 , depending upon the number of times of the incoming calls to the specific telephone number that is preset in advance, the pattern No. “1” 303 a is applied to when it comes in first time, but when the incoming call is not accepted, i.e., in case where no response is made to it, the pattern No. “2” 303 b is applied to if the same telephone number is detected. There is shown the setup, in which, without response to those, further the pattern No. “3” is applied to if the same telephone number is detected at the third time. In more details, when the telephone call comes in at the first time, the ringing sound of the pattern No. “1” 303 a is reproduced for it, i.e., the sound data No. “1”, the sound data No. “2” and the sound data No. “3” shown in theFIG. 2 are reproduced. Also, when the telephone call comes in at the second time, the ringing sound of the pattern No. “2” 303 b is reproduced for it, i.e., the sound data No. “1”, the sound data No. “2” and the sound data No. “4” shown in theFIG. 2 are reproduced. And, when the telephone call comes in at the third time, the ringing sound of the pattern No. “3” 303 c is reproduced for the it, i.e., the sound data No. “3” shown in theFIG. 2 is reproduced. If a response is made upon it after elapsing a several number of the incoming calls, when the absence is dissolved, thecommunication controller 1516 sends the pattern number corresponding to that number of times to thereproduction timing memory 1 shown in theFIG. 1 , thereafter, and then shifts into the process for producing the ringing sound for alerting the incoming call. - In this case, the mode is so set up that it operates only to the preset telephone numbers, for the purpose of protecting the operation of this mode from the retry operations being troublesome, due to annoying and persistent telephone calls for persuasion, nuisance phone calls, prank calls such as silent telephone calls, etc., and with this, it is also possible to notice emergency and/or importance of the telephone call made, for example, when a member of the family or the relative is in sick.
- With using the PCM sound source, it is possible to reproduce wards, such as “This is a telephone call for second time”, for the incoming call in absence at the second time from the preset telephone number. In this manner, with setting up the sound of calling people's attention in relation to the increasing number of times, the incoming call comes to be more noticeable, gradually, with the increase of the number of times thereof, and even if the first call is not noticed, the telephone call is accepted with certainty. Also, the number of the times of the incoming calls can be seen, therefore it is possible to understand the emergency and/or the importance thereof from it, thereby obtaining a superior usability.
- Also, the program may be changed, so that the
communication controller 1516 counts up the number of the ringing in one time of the incoming call from the detected telephone number, in the place of the number of times of the absent incoming calls, so as to stored it into the incomingcall time memory 304, as well as, to renew it by increment thereof. In this case, it is possible to change the ringing sound with a lapse of time within the one time of the incoming call. For example, the ringing is made by a gentle sound in the beginning thereof, and is changed to a noisy sound when the number of ringing come to be very large, thereby alerting the user of the incoming call, easily. - Next, explanation will be given on a fourth example of the method for selecting the pattern number, as a fourth embodiment, by referring to
FIGS. 9, 10 , 13 and 14. - With the present embodiment, the mode is set up depending upon the condition of sounds in an environment where the cellular phone is used, and the selection of the pattern number is conducted according to that mode, thereby changing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call. In
FIGS. 9 and 10 , the mode is set up for alerting of the incoming call in a noisy environment where the telephone apparatus is used, such as, on the street in common, or for alerting of the incoming call in a scene or place to be silent, such as in a conference, and the change of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is conducted by selecting the pattern number depending upon that mode. InFIGS. 13 and 14 , the mode is set up depending upon a noise level of the environment of the cellular phone that is accepting the incoming call, and the change of the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is conducted by selecting the pattern number depending upon that mode. The structures of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, but except for the control program and the function of thecommunication controller 1516, and the contents of the pattern number table stored in thememory 1515 for communication. TheFIGS. 9 and 13 are block diagrams of showing function blocks necessary for performing the selection of the pattern number based on the sound (noise) condition of the environment. Sincereceivers sound controller 402 and anenvironment noise detector 602, and thepattern number memories FIG. 9 . Explaining by referring to the circuit constructions of the cellular phone shown in theFIG. 15 , thereceiver 401 corresponds to the receiver circuit portion contained within the radio-wave portion 1511 shown in theFIG. 15 , and the ringingsound controller 402 to thecommunication controller 1516 shown in theFIG. 15 , wherein the mode is set up in accordance with the program stored in thememory 1515 for communication, corresponding to the sound (noise) conditions of the environment of the cellular phone, so as to select the pattern number upon that mode. The sound (noise) condition of the environment is decided based on the frequency of sound (noise) detected by amicrophone 1513, a level of the sound pressure thereof, a difference between high and low levels in the sound pressure thereof, a continuing time of a certain level of the sound pressure thereof, or a continuing time of sound of a specific frequency range, etc. A portion of the memory area of thememory 1515 for communication shown in theFIG. 15 is assigned as thepattern number memory 403, wherein the pattern numbers of the ringing sounds are stored corresponding to the sound (noise) conditions in the environment of the cellular phone, as shown in theFIG. 6 . The relationship between them are also similar to thereceiver 601, theenvironment noise detector 602 and thepattern number memory 603. - In the cases of the
FIGS. 9 and 10 , the ringingsound controller 402 decides the level of the sound pressure, the difference between high and low levels in the sound pressure, the continuing time of a certain level of the sound pressure thereof, or the continuing time of sound of a specific frequency range, etc., so as to decide between the case or place of the noisy environment, such as, on the street in common, and the case or place to be silent, such as in the conference, etc. For example, in the conference, there is the difference between high and low levels in the sound pressure, upon the fact of whether someone makes a statement or not, and the sound within a frequency range of a human voice is detected continuously. Also, in a case of a library, etc., the sound within the frequency range of the human voice is detected continuously too, however the level of the sound pressure is low, and the difference between high and low levels in the sound pressure is small. On the other hand, in the noisy environment, such as on the street, the sound pressure level is large, but the difference between high and low levels in the sound pressure is small, and the sound is detected continuously in a wide frequency range. The ringingsound controller 402 decides the environment of the cellular phone based on, for example, large or small of the sound pressure level, the difference between high and low in the sound pressure level, the continuing time of the sound within a certain sound pressure level, or the difference of the continuing times of the sound within a specific frequency range, so as to determine the mode number, thereby selecting the pattern number corresponding to that mode from those which are stored in thepattern number memory 403. In thepattern number memory 403 are preset the pattern numbers depending upon the setting mode, as shown in theFIG. 10 . The set-up of the mode may be made by her/himself appropriately, for example, the mode No. “1” for the case where the environment is noisy, the mode No. “2” for the case where people must be silent, such as in the library, and the mode No. “3” where the incoming call is taken into the consideration, such as in an ordinary room. Herein, the pattern Nos. “1”, “2” and “3” are setup depending upon the mode Nos. “1”, “2” and “3”, respectively. - In the cases of the
FIGS. 13 and 14 , the pattern numbers are set up, simply corresponding to the sound volume level of noises in the environment of the cellular phone, to be stored in thepattern number memory 603. In those cases, theenvironment noise detector 602 determines the sound volume level of noises in the environment of the cellular phone upon the sound pressure level of the sound detected by themicrophone 1513. In thepattern number memory 603, the pattern numbers are set up corresponding to the environmental noise levels, as shown in theFIG. 14 . On the environmental noise level, for example, the range being equal or larger than 60 dB in the sound pressure level is set at the mode No. “1” 603 a, to be felt “very noisy” in the environment for a person who makes that set-up, the range from 59 dB to 40 dB in the sound pressure level at the mode No. “2” 603 b, to be felt “rather noisy”, and the range being equal or less than 39 dB in the sound pressure level at the mode No. “3” 603 c, to be felt “no noise”. Each of those ranges may be set up freely, depending upon the personal feeling of the person who makes that set-up. - Thereafter, the
communication controller 1516 sends the pattern number to thereproduction timing memory 1 shown in theFIG. 1 , to shift into the processes for producing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call. - Herein, for the pattern number corresponding to the cases of noisy environments, a noticeable ringing sound is set up in advance, which can be distinct from the environmental sound, easily. And the ringing sound in the mode, which should be set up in the silent scene, such as in the library, for alerting of the incoming call, is set to be as silent as possible, so that it can be noticed only by her/himself. With this, the ringing sound is reproduced when the phone call comes in, which is set up in advance by her/himself, for fitting to the condition of the environmental sounds (noises).
- Also, for the pattern number corresponding to the case that the environmental noise level is felt “very noisy”, a high-pitched ringing sound is set up in advance, so that it can be easily noticed. Also, in the case that the environmental noise level is felt to be “no noise”, such as in the library, the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is set to be as silent as possible, so that it can be noticed only by her/himself. With this, the environmental noise is detected automatically, when the phone call comes in, and the ringing is made by the sound that is set up in advance by her/himself.
- As a result of this, it is possible to make the ringing for alerting of the incoming call by an appropriate sound corresponding to the environmental condition, when the phone call comes in. Also, with increasing the number of the mode settings, it is possible to cope with complication in the condition of using the cellular phones by the users.
- The present invention should not be restricted only to the above embodiments, but it may be a cellular phone having a heat/pressure sensor for detecting that the user holds it in her/his hand, or a temperature sensor, etc., thereby to change the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call. When the user holds the cellular phone in her/his hand, there is no necessity of rising up a loud ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call. Then, with mounding the heat sensor for detecting a human body temperature or the pressure sensor capable of detecting the condition of being held in hand, it is automatically detected that the cellular phone is held in her/his hand, thereby to control the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call to be small. Also, by combining the pressure sensor with the temperature sensor, when the temperature is detected to be equal or higher than 25° C. while not being held in hand, it is decided that the temperature is high, i.e., being located in a hot place or in a hot season, the ringing sound may be changed to one that gives a cool feeling, so as to soften or calm the user's mind. Also, by combining with a photo sensor, it is possible to add a function of making the ringing sound large when the cellular phone lies inside a bag, while making it silent one when it is taken out from the bag to sense the light outside. Also, in recent years, it is inhibited and punished under the law to use the cellular phone in a car. Then, by adding a function of detecting the cellular phone lying inside the car, so as to automatically decide that the car is in driving, by means of an acceleration sensor, it is also possible to automatically change the ringing sound for alerting the user of the incoming call to be small, so that the user cannot notice it, or change it to the mode by the number of times of the absent incoming calls, according to the third embodiment. The above embodiment can be practiced with using an output of the heat sensor, the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, the photo sensor or the acceleration sensor, in the place of the output of the
microphone 1513 provided as the environmental noise sensor in the fourth embodiment. - Next, explanation will be given on a fifth example of the method for selecting the pattern number, as a fifth embodiment, by referring to
FIGS. 11 and 12 . - With the present embodiment, the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call is changed by conducting the selection of the pattern number depending upon a remaining battery capacity of the cellular phone. The structures of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, but except for the control program and the functions of the
communication controller 1516 and the contents of the pattern number table stored in thememory 1515 for communication.FIG. 11 is a block diagram for showing function blocks, which are necessary for conducting the selection of the pattern number depending upon the remaining battery capacity. Explaining with reference to the circuit constructions of the cellular phone shown in theFIG. 15 , abattery function 504 is a portion for supplying electric power to the apparatus or for storing the electric power charged from a charger (not shown in the figure), areceiver 501 for receiving the radio-wave signals corresponds to the receiver circuit portion contained within the radio-wave portion 1511 shown in theFIG. 15 , and a remainingbattery capacity detector 502 corresponds to thecommunication controller 1516 shown in theFIG. 15 , which detects the charged battery capacity at present from thebattery function 504, upon receipt of an information of the incoming call from thereceiver 501, in accordance with the program stored in thememory 1515 for communication. A portion of the memory area of thememory 1515 for communication shown in theFIG. 15 is assigned as apattern number memory 503, in which the pattern numbers of the ringing sounds are stored corresponding to the remaining battery capacities, as shown in theFIG. 12 . In thepattern number memory 503, the pattern numbers are set up and stored, corresponding to the remaining battery capacities obtained in the remainingbattery capacity detector 502, as shown in theFIG. 12 , so that, for example, the pattern No. “1”, 503 a is applied to when the remaining battery capacity is full, the pattern No. “2” 503 b is applied to when the remaining capacity is only for two (2) of the memories on the display, and the pattern No. “3” 503 c is applied to when charging is necessary. After selecting the pattern number corresponding to the remaining battery capacity, thecommunication controller 1516 sends the said pattern number to thereproduction timing memory 1 shown in theFIG. 1 , thereby to shift into the processes for producing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call. In this instance, it is also possible to reproduce a voice sound, such as “you can use this about ten (10) minutes more” or “you can use this about three (3) minutes more”, corresponding to the remaining capacity of the battery, with using the PCM sound source as the one of the sound data. - In a case when the telephone call comes in, in this manner, the user can grasp the remaining battery capacity only by hearing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call. As a result of this, since it is possible to ascertain the remaining battery capacity before telephone conversation, the user can make the telephone conversation in short, or can ask the caller to make a call again after the charging thereof, therefore it is possible to prevent the telephone conversation from being unexpectedly interrupted or cut off. (Conventionally, there occurs a case where the telephone conversation is interrupted or cut off, unexpectedly, when the battery capacity comes to be empty or rare during thereof.) Also, it is possible to make the user strongly notice the necessity of charging the battery of the cellular phone, by setting up the ringing sound for the necessity of charging, so that the user can notice it easily.
- Further, the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call can be changed upon basis of, in the place of the remaining battery capacity, but an electric field of an antenna, remaining memories of address book, an accumulated time of the telephone conversation. With this, the user can grasp the information relating to the electric field of an antenna, the remaining memories of address book, the accumulated time of the telephone conversation, additionally, when the telephone call comes in.
- Also, it can be considered that the ringing sound of the cellular phone comes to be consistent with that of other's, accidentally, if the ringing sound is changed corresponding to the environmental conditions. For preventing the ringing sound from that of the other's in such the case, it may be possible to reproduce the name of a user as the sound data of the PCM sound source. For example, assuming that the name of the user is Taro HITACHI, it may be reproduced as “HITACHI”, “Taro” or “Taro HITACHI”.
- In the embodiment in the above, the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call can be produced with the relatively small capacity, by mainly using an analytical composition coding method (the FM sound source), as well as abundance of the sounds of the music instruments. Accompanying with this, using a wave-form coding method (the PCM sound resource method), such as the sound source method of recording directly from the microphone, makes it possible to obtain an effect that the ringing sound of the cellular phone owned by her/himself is discriminated from that of other's. In this instance, a large data capacity is necessary for holding the data of the PCM sound source, however there can be obtained an effect that the memory capacity can be reduced by using the data of the PCM sound source in addition thereto.
- Also, with changing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call upon basis of the telephone number of the caller, it is possible to acknowledge the caller in advance. With this, there can be obtained an effect that the user can decide to respond to the caller who seems to have an important matter, or to hold the telephone call that seems to be unnecessary to respond, by only hearing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call.
- Further, with changing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call upon basis of the present time and/or the remaining battery capacity, it is possible to obtain an additional information by only hearing the ringing sound, i.e., grasping the present time roughly or to knowing the remaining battery capacity. Also, with changing the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call, upon basis of the call number from a specific person, the ringing sound control mode, or the environmental noise level, respectively, it is possible to obtain an effect that the owner can notice the incoming call easily.
- According to the present invention, while achieving sufficient discrimination on the ringing sound for alerting of the incoming call, it is possible to obtain the cellular phone, with which the various conditions can be grasped from the change of the ringing sound when the telephone call comes in, therefore having a superior usability.
Claims (13)
1-15. (canceled)
16. A portable mobile unit, comprising:
a sound generator which generates a ringing sound in accordance with plurality of patterns including a first pattern and a second pattern;
a number memory which stores a plurality of telephone numbers;
a number selector which selects a telephone number from the plurality of telephone numbers; and
a controller being configured to control said sound generator and generate a ringing sound of the first pattern if the number of incoming calls received from a given telephone number without having been answered is less than a predetermined number, and generate a ringing sound of the second pattern if the number of incoming calls received from the given telephone number without having been answered is equal to or greater than the predetermined number,
wherein the given phone number is one from the plurality of telephone numbers stored in the number memory.
17. A portable mobile unit according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a counter which counts how many times incoming calls are received from the given telephone number without having been answered.
18. A portable mobile unit according to claim 16 , wherein said sound generator has a plurality of sound sources.
19. A portable mobile unit according to claim 18 , wherein said sound generator generates the ringing sound using at least two of said sound sources.
20. A portable mobile unit, comprising:
a sound generator which generates a ringing sound in accordance with plurality of patterns including a first pattern and a second pattern;
an input portion which inputs a telephone number; and
a controller which controls said sound generator so as to generate a ringing sound of the first pattern if the number of calls received from the inputted telephone number without having been answered is less than a predetermined number, and to generate a ringing sound of the second pattern if the number of calls received from the inputted telephone number without having been answered is equal to or more than the predetermined number.
21. A portable mobile unit according to claim 20 , further comprising:
a counter that is configured to count the number of times calls are received from a given telephone number.
22. A portable mobile unit according to claim 20 , wherein said sound generator has a plurality of sound sources.
23. A portable mobile unit according to claim 22 , wherein said sound generator generates the ringing sound by combining at least two of said sound sources.
24. A portable mobile unit, comprising:
a sound generator which generates a ringing sound in accordance with plurality of patterns including a first pattern and a second pattern; and
a controller being configured to control said sound generator and generate a ringing sound of the first pattern if the number of incoming calls received from a given telephone number without having been answered is less than a predetermined number, and generate a ringing sound of the second pattern if the number of incoming calls received from the given telephone number without having been answered is equal to or greater than the predetermined number,
25. A portable mobile unit according to claim 24 , further comprising:
a counter that is configured to count the number of times calls are received from a given telephone number.
26. A portable mobile unit according to claim 24 , wherein said sound generator has a plurality of sound sources.
27. A portable mobile unit according to claim 26 , wherein said sound generator generates the ringing sound by combining at least two of said sound sources.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/097,653 US20050181838A1 (en) | 2000-01-07 | 2005-04-01 | Portable mobile unit |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2000005858A JP4167785B2 (en) | 2000-01-07 | 2000-01-07 | Mobile phone |
JP2000-005858 | 2000-01-07 | ||
US09/755,878 US6928306B2 (en) | 2000-01-07 | 2001-01-04 | Portable mobile unit |
US11/097,653 US20050181838A1 (en) | 2000-01-07 | 2005-04-01 | Portable mobile unit |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/755,878 Continuation US6928306B2 (en) | 2000-01-07 | 2001-01-04 | Portable mobile unit |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20050181838A1 true US20050181838A1 (en) | 2005-08-18 |
Family
ID=18534479
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/755,878 Expired - Lifetime US6928306B2 (en) | 2000-01-07 | 2001-01-04 | Portable mobile unit |
US11/097,653 Abandoned US20050181838A1 (en) | 2000-01-07 | 2005-04-01 | Portable mobile unit |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/755,878 Expired - Lifetime US6928306B2 (en) | 2000-01-07 | 2001-01-04 | Portable mobile unit |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US6928306B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4167785B2 (en) |
Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20030100346A1 (en) * | 2001-11-26 | 2003-05-29 | Nokia Corporation | Method and system for transferring data in a hand-held electronic device |
US20050208903A1 (en) * | 2004-03-17 | 2005-09-22 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Mobile phone and vibration control method of mobile phone |
US20060003742A1 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2006-01-05 | Seligmann Doree D | Log-based ringtones |
US20060003743A1 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2006-01-05 | Taryn Moody | Log-based ringtone service |
US20070248055A1 (en) * | 2006-04-20 | 2007-10-25 | Nikhil Jain | Tagging Language For Broadcast Radio |
US20080070640A1 (en) * | 2006-09-15 | 2008-03-20 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Mobile communication terminal and method for performing automatic incoming call notification mode change |
US20080146197A1 (en) * | 2006-12-14 | 2008-06-19 | Motorola, Inc. | Method and device for emitting an audible alert |
US20080248816A1 (en) * | 2004-08-27 | 2008-10-09 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Information Terminal |
US20080248783A1 (en) * | 2007-04-03 | 2008-10-09 | Motorola, Inc. | Method and apparatus to facilitate selecting an audible alert that will contrast with local audible ambient content |
US20080313697A1 (en) * | 2007-06-18 | 2008-12-18 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Apparatus and methods of enhancing radio programming |
US20090045951A1 (en) * | 2007-06-18 | 2009-02-19 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Device and methods of providing radio data system information alerts |
US20100015992A1 (en) * | 2008-07-15 | 2010-01-21 | Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab | Method and apparatus for automatic physical configuration of mobile communication devices |
US20100080366A1 (en) * | 2008-09-30 | 2010-04-01 | International Business Machines Corporation | Call processing based on call patterns and other criteria |
US20100105423A1 (en) * | 2008-10-24 | 2010-04-29 | Shekhar Gupta | System and method for controlling a feature of a telecommunications device based on the body temperature of a user |
US20100105427A1 (en) * | 2008-10-24 | 2010-04-29 | Shekhar Gupta | Telecommunications system and method for monitoring the body temperature of a user |
US20100250985A1 (en) * | 2009-03-31 | 2010-09-30 | Embarq Holdings Company, Llc | Body heat sensing control apparatus and method |
US20130273894A1 (en) * | 2012-04-16 | 2013-10-17 | Yang Xin | In coming call warning device and method using same |
US8686878B2 (en) | 2012-08-03 | 2014-04-01 | Honeywell International Inc. | Systems and methods for context sensitive notification |
US20160373574A1 (en) * | 2014-02-24 | 2016-12-22 | Zte Corporation | Method and device for calling in mute mode |
Families Citing this family (75)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7305256B2 (en) * | 2001-02-05 | 2007-12-04 | Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc. | Method, apparatus and program for providing user-selected alerting signals in telecommunications devices |
FR2821226B1 (en) * | 2001-02-22 | 2003-06-20 | Cit Alcatel | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SIGNALING A CALL OR MESSAGE TO ITS ADDRESSEE |
GB0107642D0 (en) * | 2001-03-27 | 2001-05-16 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd | Communication terminal handling user-to-user information received during a call |
US7024228B2 (en) * | 2001-04-12 | 2006-04-04 | Nokia Corporation | Movement and attitude controlled mobile station control |
US20100255890A1 (en) * | 2001-06-27 | 2010-10-07 | John Mikkelsen | Download management of audio and visual content, product method and system |
US20100029261A1 (en) * | 2001-06-27 | 2010-02-04 | John Mikkelsen | Virtual wireless data cable method, apparatus and system |
CA2809894C (en) * | 2001-06-27 | 2017-12-12 | Skky Incorporated | Improved media delivery platform |
US9712582B2 (en) | 2001-06-27 | 2017-07-18 | Skky, Llc | Telephone initiated protocol-improved media delivery platform |
US20100191602A1 (en) * | 2001-06-27 | 2010-07-29 | John Mikkelsen | Mobile banking and payment platform |
US20100077022A1 (en) * | 2001-06-27 | 2010-03-25 | John Mikkelsen | Media delivery platform |
JP4200348B2 (en) * | 2001-07-06 | 2008-12-24 | 日本電気株式会社 | Mobile terminal and ringing method for incoming call |
JP2003046606A (en) * | 2001-08-01 | 2003-02-14 | Nec Corp | Portable communication terminal device and sound ringing method for the same |
JP2003051864A (en) * | 2001-08-06 | 2003-02-21 | Nec Corp | Wireless mobile terminal |
JP2003060745A (en) * | 2001-08-22 | 2003-02-28 | Sony Corp | Device and method for transmitting information and monitoring device |
JP4779264B2 (en) * | 2001-09-05 | 2011-09-28 | ヤマハ株式会社 | Mobile communication terminal, tone generation system, tone generation device, and tone information providing method |
US20030054867A1 (en) * | 2001-09-18 | 2003-03-20 | Homayoun Dowlat | Method and apparatus for alerting users of incoming calls and messages |
US7415291B1 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2008-08-19 | At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. | Device and method for augmenting cellular telephone audio signals |
US7277734B1 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2007-10-02 | At&T Bls Intellectual Property, Inc. | Device, system and method for augmenting cellular telephone audio signals |
US20030096639A1 (en) * | 2001-11-16 | 2003-05-22 | Cluff Dean K. | Distinctive recordable ringer |
JP2003224626A (en) * | 2002-01-30 | 2003-08-08 | Nec Saitama Ltd | Portable telephone set, and incoming notice control method and program used for the portable telephone set |
US7110798B2 (en) * | 2002-05-09 | 2006-09-19 | Shary Nassimi | Wireless headset |
JP2003332973A (en) * | 2002-05-15 | 2003-11-21 | Hitachi Ltd | Wireless communication device |
JP3870843B2 (en) * | 2002-05-27 | 2007-01-24 | ヤマハ株式会社 | Music generation system and sound module |
JP4310084B2 (en) * | 2002-07-30 | 2009-08-05 | 富士通株式会社 | Information processing terminal and guidance display program |
KR100486527B1 (en) * | 2002-08-17 | 2005-05-03 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Photographing control apparatus for mobile communication terminal with camera |
US20040119755A1 (en) * | 2002-12-18 | 2004-06-24 | Nicolas Guibourge | One hand quick dialer for communications devices |
US20040120506A1 (en) * | 2002-12-20 | 2004-06-24 | Boyd David W. | Method and apparatus for inconspicuous audio notification |
EP1445922A1 (en) * | 2003-02-06 | 2004-08-11 | Dialog Semiconductor GmbH | Monolithic optical read-out circuit |
JP4700351B2 (en) * | 2003-02-07 | 2011-06-15 | ノキア コーポレイション | Multi-user environment control |
US7142893B2 (en) * | 2003-05-01 | 2006-11-28 | Nokia Corporation | Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating identification of a mobile telephone |
US7031745B2 (en) * | 2003-05-12 | 2006-04-18 | Shen Ein-Yiao | Cellular phone combined physiological condition examination and processing device |
US6993364B2 (en) * | 2003-05-29 | 2006-01-31 | Motorola, Inc. | Communication device with history based alerts and method therefor |
KR100548357B1 (en) * | 2003-06-23 | 2006-02-02 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | A method and a device of automatic controlling amplifying level with receiving signal for mobile phone |
JP2005020225A (en) * | 2003-06-25 | 2005-01-20 | Casio Comput Co Ltd | Communication terminal apparatus and program for communication control process |
JP3915754B2 (en) * | 2003-08-04 | 2007-05-16 | ソニー株式会社 | Mobile terminal and ringtone generation method |
US7966034B2 (en) * | 2003-09-30 | 2011-06-21 | Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab | Method and apparatus of synchronizing complementary multi-media effects in a wireless communication device |
DE10346660B4 (en) * | 2003-10-08 | 2006-12-21 | Audi Ag | Information and communication device |
US20050113147A1 (en) * | 2003-11-26 | 2005-05-26 | Vanepps Daniel J.Jr. | Methods, electronic devices, and computer program products for generating an alert signal based on a sound metric for a noise signal |
US7620428B2 (en) | 2004-03-02 | 2009-11-17 | Nec Corporation | Portable terminal device |
US7496352B2 (en) * | 2004-03-02 | 2009-02-24 | International Business Machines Corporation | Environmentally driven phone behavior |
US20060059199A1 (en) * | 2004-08-18 | 2006-03-16 | Nokia Corporation | Cellular radio telecommunications terminal, a system, a method, a computer program and a user interface |
US20060040683A1 (en) * | 2004-08-18 | 2006-02-23 | Nokia Corporation | Cellular radio telecommunications terminal, a system, a method, a computer program and a user interface |
US7136482B2 (en) * | 2004-10-26 | 2006-11-14 | Motorola, Inc. | Progressive alert indications in a communication device |
US20060135139A1 (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2006-06-22 | Cheng Steven D | Method for changing outputting settings for a mobile unit based on user's physical status |
US20060234759A1 (en) * | 2005-02-21 | 2006-10-19 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Apparatus and method for processing a function execution recommendation alarm event in wireless terminal |
CN100459442C (en) * | 2005-04-04 | 2009-02-04 | 英华达(南京)科技有限公司 | Mobile telephone utilizing broadcast setting alarm clock and incoming telephone ring tone |
JP4559909B2 (en) * | 2005-05-11 | 2010-10-13 | 株式会社東芝 | Mobile communication device |
US8140127B2 (en) * | 2005-05-18 | 2012-03-20 | Broadcom Corporation | System and method for controlling notification characteristics of a mobile communication device |
KR100668341B1 (en) * | 2005-06-29 | 2007-01-12 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Method and apparatus for function selection by user's hand grip shape |
KR20070037267A (en) * | 2005-09-30 | 2007-04-04 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Mobile terminal for identifying a caller |
US20070075844A1 (en) * | 2005-10-04 | 2007-04-05 | Taylor John F | Alarm apparatus |
JP4679429B2 (en) * | 2006-04-27 | 2011-04-27 | 任天堂株式会社 | Sound output program and sound output device |
JP4916762B2 (en) * | 2006-05-02 | 2012-04-18 | 任天堂株式会社 | GAME PROGRAM AND GAME DEVICE |
US8010094B2 (en) * | 2006-06-06 | 2011-08-30 | Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. | Mobile device with themed multimedia effects |
US20080075271A1 (en) * | 2006-09-08 | 2008-03-27 | International Business Machines Corporation | Configurable phone option to increase or decrease ring tone volumes |
US20080183755A1 (en) * | 2007-01-31 | 2008-07-31 | Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab | Methods for storing an alert file by converting the alert file to a lower complexity file format and using the converted alert file to generate an alert and related electronic devices and computer program products |
JP4984979B2 (en) * | 2007-03-07 | 2012-07-25 | 日本電気株式会社 | Information processing terminal, information processing terminal control method, and program |
US9703520B1 (en) | 2007-05-17 | 2017-07-11 | Avaya Inc. | Negotiation of a future communication by use of a personal virtual assistant (PVA) |
TW200935704A (en) * | 2008-02-01 | 2009-08-16 | Tsann Kuen Entpr Co Ltd | Induction type electrical power structure and system |
US8190214B2 (en) | 2008-02-19 | 2012-05-29 | Denso Corporation | In-vehicle handsfree apparatus |
JP5121609B2 (en) * | 2008-07-09 | 2013-01-16 | 富士通テン株式会社 | Navigation device |
TWI384845B (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2013-02-01 | Inventec Appliances Corp | Portable communication device and incoming call alert control method thereof |
JP5229110B2 (en) * | 2009-05-22 | 2013-07-03 | ソニー株式会社 | Portable device, control method thereof and program |
US20100308187A1 (en) * | 2009-06-04 | 2010-12-09 | Pi-Fen Lin | Integrated magnetic device and a magnetic board thereof |
KR101712906B1 (en) * | 2009-12-23 | 2017-03-08 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Mobile terminal and method for controlling charging thereof |
US8731475B1 (en) | 2009-12-30 | 2014-05-20 | Sprint Spectrum L.P. | Method and system for determining environmental characteristics of a called communication device |
US8487760B2 (en) * | 2010-07-09 | 2013-07-16 | Nokia Corporation | Providing a user alert |
US8922376B2 (en) * | 2010-07-09 | 2014-12-30 | Nokia Corporation | Controlling a user alert |
CN102668606B (en) | 2010-07-30 | 2016-06-08 | 松下知识产权经营株式会社 | Without line apparatus |
US9008301B2 (en) | 2012-03-27 | 2015-04-14 | Boaz APT | System and method for modifying or disabling the ringtone for an incoming call based on the existence of nonexistence of previous calls from the same caller |
US9565081B2 (en) | 2014-05-19 | 2017-02-07 | Ebay Inc. | Phone thermal context |
US20170052613A1 (en) * | 2015-08-18 | 2017-02-23 | Motorola Mobility Llc | Method and Apparatus for In-Purse Detection by an Electronic Device |
JP6974048B2 (en) * | 2017-06-26 | 2021-12-01 | 京セラ株式会社 | Phones, phone control methods and phone programs |
US10503159B2 (en) * | 2017-09-20 | 2019-12-10 | Plantronics, Inc. | Dynamic model-based ringer profiles |
US11740726B2 (en) * | 2021-03-08 | 2023-08-29 | International Business Machines Corporation | Touch sensitivity management |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5771001A (en) * | 1996-11-18 | 1998-06-23 | Cobb; Marlon J. | Personal alarm system |
US5870684A (en) * | 1995-12-29 | 1999-02-09 | Nec Corporation | Radio communication apparatus with adjustable alert tone |
US6175721B1 (en) * | 1995-06-30 | 2001-01-16 | Sony Corporation | Communication device having incoming indicators |
USRE37281E1 (en) * | 1991-08-21 | 2001-07-17 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Battery voltage alarm apparatus |
US6308086B1 (en) * | 1998-01-30 | 2001-10-23 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Portable cellular phone with custom melody ring setting capability |
US20010051536A1 (en) * | 1997-03-26 | 2001-12-13 | Toshihiko Muramatsu | Communication device to inform a user of a call differently according to the caller |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4130731A (en) * | 1976-12-29 | 1978-12-19 | International Mobile Machines Incorporated | Portable telephone system |
US5563951A (en) * | 1994-07-25 | 1996-10-08 | Interval Research Corporation | Audio interface garment and communication system for use therewith |
GB2323245A (en) * | 1997-03-14 | 1998-09-16 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd | Mobile phone |
JP3603705B2 (en) * | 1999-11-29 | 2004-12-22 | ヤマハ株式会社 | Sound source circuit and telephone terminal device using the same |
-
2000
- 2000-01-07 JP JP2000005858A patent/JP4167785B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2001
- 2001-01-04 US US09/755,878 patent/US6928306B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2005
- 2005-04-01 US US11/097,653 patent/US20050181838A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USRE37281E1 (en) * | 1991-08-21 | 2001-07-17 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Battery voltage alarm apparatus |
US6175721B1 (en) * | 1995-06-30 | 2001-01-16 | Sony Corporation | Communication device having incoming indicators |
US5870684A (en) * | 1995-12-29 | 1999-02-09 | Nec Corporation | Radio communication apparatus with adjustable alert tone |
US5771001A (en) * | 1996-11-18 | 1998-06-23 | Cobb; Marlon J. | Personal alarm system |
US20010051536A1 (en) * | 1997-03-26 | 2001-12-13 | Toshihiko Muramatsu | Communication device to inform a user of a call differently according to the caller |
US6308086B1 (en) * | 1998-01-30 | 2001-10-23 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Portable cellular phone with custom melody ring setting capability |
Cited By (33)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7103390B2 (en) * | 2001-11-26 | 2006-09-05 | Nokia Corporation | Method and system for transferring data in a hand-held electronic device |
US20030100346A1 (en) * | 2001-11-26 | 2003-05-29 | Nokia Corporation | Method and system for transferring data in a hand-held electronic device |
US20050208903A1 (en) * | 2004-03-17 | 2005-09-22 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Mobile phone and vibration control method of mobile phone |
US20060003742A1 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2006-01-05 | Seligmann Doree D | Log-based ringtones |
US20060003743A1 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2006-01-05 | Taryn Moody | Log-based ringtone service |
US7308253B2 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2007-12-11 | Avaya Technology Corp. | Log-based ringtone service |
US7343150B2 (en) | 2004-06-30 | 2008-03-11 | Avaya Technology Corp. | Log-based ringtones |
US20080248816A1 (en) * | 2004-08-27 | 2008-10-09 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Information Terminal |
US20070248055A1 (en) * | 2006-04-20 | 2007-10-25 | Nikhil Jain | Tagging Language For Broadcast Radio |
US8670393B2 (en) | 2006-04-20 | 2014-03-11 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Tagging language for broadcast radio |
US20080070640A1 (en) * | 2006-09-15 | 2008-03-20 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Mobile communication terminal and method for performing automatic incoming call notification mode change |
US8285339B2 (en) * | 2006-09-15 | 2012-10-09 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd | Mobile communication terminal and method for performing automatic incoming call notification mode change |
US20080146197A1 (en) * | 2006-12-14 | 2008-06-19 | Motorola, Inc. | Method and device for emitting an audible alert |
US20080248783A1 (en) * | 2007-04-03 | 2008-10-09 | Motorola, Inc. | Method and apparatus to facilitate selecting an audible alert that will contrast with local audible ambient content |
US20080313697A1 (en) * | 2007-06-18 | 2008-12-18 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Apparatus and methods of enhancing radio programming |
US20090045951A1 (en) * | 2007-06-18 | 2009-02-19 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Device and methods of providing radio data system information alerts |
US8638219B2 (en) * | 2007-06-18 | 2014-01-28 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Device and methods of providing radio data system information alerts |
US8744337B2 (en) | 2007-06-18 | 2014-06-03 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Apparatus and methods of enhancing radio programming |
US20100015992A1 (en) * | 2008-07-15 | 2010-01-21 | Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab | Method and apparatus for automatic physical configuration of mobile communication devices |
US20100080366A1 (en) * | 2008-09-30 | 2010-04-01 | International Business Machines Corporation | Call processing based on call patterns and other criteria |
US8054962B2 (en) * | 2008-09-30 | 2011-11-08 | International Business Machines Corporation | Call processing based on call patterns and other criteria |
US20100105423A1 (en) * | 2008-10-24 | 2010-04-29 | Shekhar Gupta | System and method for controlling a feature of a telecommunications device based on the body temperature of a user |
US8494482B2 (en) | 2008-10-24 | 2013-07-23 | Centurylink Intellectual Property Llc | Telecommunications system and method for monitoring the body temperature of a user |
US8494574B2 (en) * | 2008-10-24 | 2013-07-23 | Centurylink Intellectual Property Llc | System and method for controlling a feature of a telecommunications device based on the body temperature of a user |
US20100105427A1 (en) * | 2008-10-24 | 2010-04-29 | Shekhar Gupta | Telecommunications system and method for monitoring the body temperature of a user |
US8560872B2 (en) | 2009-03-31 | 2013-10-15 | Centurylink Intellectual Property Llc | Body heat sensing control apparatus and method |
US20100250985A1 (en) * | 2009-03-31 | 2010-09-30 | Embarq Holdings Company, Llc | Body heat sensing control apparatus and method |
US9244514B2 (en) | 2009-03-31 | 2016-01-26 | Centurylink Intellectual Property Llc | Body heat sensing control apparatus and method |
US20130273894A1 (en) * | 2012-04-16 | 2013-10-17 | Yang Xin | In coming call warning device and method using same |
US8983553B2 (en) * | 2012-04-16 | 2015-03-17 | Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. | In coming call warning device and method using same |
US8686878B2 (en) | 2012-08-03 | 2014-04-01 | Honeywell International Inc. | Systems and methods for context sensitive notification |
US20160373574A1 (en) * | 2014-02-24 | 2016-12-22 | Zte Corporation | Method and device for calling in mute mode |
US9876899B2 (en) * | 2014-02-24 | 2018-01-23 | Xi'an Zhongxing New Software Co. Ltd. | Method and device for calling in mute mode |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US6928306B2 (en) | 2005-08-09 |
JP4167785B2 (en) | 2008-10-22 |
US20010014616A1 (en) | 2001-08-16 |
JP2001197158A (en) | 2001-07-19 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6928306B2 (en) | Portable mobile unit | |
US6947728B2 (en) | Mobile phone with music reproduction function, music data reproduction method by mobile phone with music reproduction function, and the program thereof | |
JP2001094635A (en) | Telephone terminal | |
KR100555094B1 (en) | Portable telephone | |
US5854826A (en) | Ring voice message generating device and method of automatic answering telephone | |
JP4600321B2 (en) | Mobile phone | |
JP3319976B2 (en) | Phone | |
JP2001053832A (en) | Portable terminal equipment | |
JP2000316038A (en) | Ring tone generator | |
JP2003046603A (en) | Portable telephone set combined with music player | |
JP4269475B2 (en) | Mobile phone and musical sound generation control method | |
KR101114155B1 (en) | Bell service method using mp3 music of mobile phone | |
JPH09307606A (en) | Telephone set | |
KR20040050575A (en) | Communication device capable of reproducing into calling sound specific part of audio file and method thereof | |
TW437184B (en) | Editing and transmitting method for musical alarm of pager | |
KR20010079142A (en) | Ringtone, ringtone, dial tone of mobile communication terminal, playback device and recording method using the terminal | |
JPH09168042A (en) | Portable telephone set | |
JP2007124584A (en) | Portable telephone set | |
JPH10313351A (en) | Portable telephone set recording incoming-call tone | |
JPH08242272A (en) | Communication equipment having voice alarm for personal use and its method | |
JP2004040240A (en) | Mobile terminal for sounding ringer tone | |
JP2001177605A (en) | Portable telephone set | |
JP2002152363A (en) | Incoming sound generating device | |
JP2002094617A (en) | Portable terminal and voice-message reproducing method | |
KR19990016887U (en) | Bell signal burner of mobile phone |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |