Radio selective calling receiver

A radio selective calling receiver includes a plurality of notification means, a schedule function section, a storage section, and a timepiece section. Each notification means notifies the reception of a call signal to the receiver. The schedule function section allows to input schedule time zones and icons indicating contents of schedule events in the respective time zones. The storage section stores the schedule time zones and icons, which are input by using the schedule function section, in correspondence with each other. The storage section also stores notification means, of the plurality of notification means, which is selected and set in correspondence with each icon indicating the contents of the schedule. Upon receiving the call signal, the timepiece section identifies an icon indicating the contents of the schedule event in the time zone including the reception time on the basis of the schedule time zones stored in the storage section and the reception time of the call signal, selects a notification means corresponding to the icon from the notification means stored in the storage section, and performs notification by using the selected notification means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to a radio selective calling receiver and,
 more particularly, to a radio selective calling receiver that can use a
 schedule function.
 As a conventional radio selective calling receiver, for example, a receiver
 like the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-55969 is
 available. This radio selective calling receiver includes a schedule
 storage means for storing schedule time zones and notification means
 corresponding to the time zones. The receiver compares the reception time
 of a received call signal with the time zones stored in the schedule
 storage means, and selects a notification means corresponding to the time
 zone including the reception time from the schedule storage means. The
 receiver then performs notification by using the selected notification
 means.
 In this case, the user sets schedule time zones and notification means
 corresponding to the time zones in the schedule storage means in
 accordance with his/her schedule every time he/she sets it. That is, in
 the conventional radio selective calling receiver, the user inputs
 schedule time zones and notification means corresponding to the time zones
 and stores them in the schedule storage means every time he/she sets
 his/her schedule.
 Recently, in the above radio selective calling receiver, the user inputs
 schedule data together with icons indicating the contents of the
 respective schedule data, thereby allowing the user to determine the
 contents of each schedule data with a quick glimpse at the corresponding
 icon. In this case, the user must set icons as well as schedule time zones
 and notification means corresponding to the time zones every time he/she
 sets his schedule. This operation is troublesome for the user.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and has as its
 object to provide a radio selective calling receiver that can simplify
 schedule input operation.
 In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention,
 there is provided a radio selective calling receiver comprising a
 plurality of notification means for notifying reception of a call signal
 to the receiver, schedule means for allowing to input schedule time zones
 and icons indicating contents of schedule events in the respective time
 zones, schedule storage means for storing the schedule time zones and
 icons, which are input by using the schedule means, in correspondence with
 each other, notification function storage means for storing notification
 means, of the plurality of notification means, which is selected and set
 in correspondence with each icon indicating the contents of the schedule,
 and notification control means for, when receiving the call signal,
 identifying an icon indicating the contents of the schedule event in the
 time zone including the reception time on the basis of the schedule time
 zones stored in the schedule storage means and the reception time of the
 call signal, selecting a notification means corresponding to the icon from
 the notification means stored in the notification function storage means,
 and performing notification by using the selected notification means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 An embodiment of the present invention will be described next.
 FIG. 1 shows a radio selective calling receiver according to an embodiment
 of the present invention.
 A radio selective calling receiver 100 is comprised of an antenna 1, a
 radio section 2, a control section 3, a nonvolatile memory (ID-ROM) 4, a
 display section 5, a switch circuit 6, a notification means switching
 section 7, a vibrator motor 8, a speaker 9, a light-emitting diode (LED)
 10, a comparing section 11, a schedule function section 12, a storage
 section 13, a timepiece section 14, and the like.
 The antenna 1 is used to receive radio signals. The radio section 2 is a
 circuit for modulating the radio signal received by the antenna 1. The
 control section 3 is, for example, a microcomputer for storing reception
 times and controlling the respective components of the radio selective
 calling receiver 100. The ID-ROM 4 is a memory storing the selective call
 number of this receiver.
 The display section 5 is a display circuit for displaying a message and
 time. The switch circuit 6 is a circuit for sounding reset, display
 ON/OFF, time correction, a read of a stored message, and the like.
 The notification means switching section 7 is a circuit for selecting one
 of the following notification means: the vibrator motor 8, the speaker 9,
 and the LED 10. The vibrator motor 8 is a notification means (mechanical
 vibration notification means) for performing notification by means of
 vibrations. The speaker 9 is a notification means (sounding notification
 means) for performing notification by means of sounds. The LED 10 is a
 notification means (optical notification means) for performing
 notification by means of light.
 The schedule function section 12 is a circuit block for allowing the user
 to input schedule data. The storage section 13 is a memory circuit for
 storing schedule time zones and icons indicating the contents of the
 schedule events corresponding to the respective time zones, which are
 input as schedule data, in a table T1; default notification means (to be
 described later), in a table T2; and notification means selected/set in
 correspondence with the icons indicating the contents of the respective
 schedule events, in a table T3. The comparing section 11 is a circuit for
 comparing the reception time of a call signal with the time zones stored
 in the table T1. The timepiece section 14 is a circuit for generating real
 time data. The control section 3, the notification means switching section
 7, and the comparing section 11 constitute the timepiece section 14.
 Note that the schedule function section 12 may be incorporated in the radio
 selective calling receiver 100 or in an externally connected electronic
 notebook 200 or the like.
 Of the schedule data input from the schedule function section 12, only the
 time zones accompanying icons are stored in the table T1 of the storage
 section 13, together with the icons.
 In addition, the notification means selected and set in advance from a
 plurality of notification means (8, 9, 10) are stored in the table T3 of
 the storage section 13 in correspondence with the respective icons
 indicating the contents of the schedule.
 FIG. 2 shows examples of data stored in the tables T1, T2, and T3 of the
 storage section 13. In this case, schedule time zones and icons indicating
 the contents of schedule events corresponding to the respective time zones
 are stored in the table T1. In set time 1, an icon indicating a sleep is
 stored in correspondence with a schedule time zone "00:00-06;00". In set
 time 2, an icon indicting movement by train is stored in correspondence
 with a schedule time zone "07:00-09:00". In set time 3, an icon indicating
 a lunch is stored in correspondence with a schedule time zone
 "12:00-13:00". In set time 4, an icon indicating a meeting is stored in
 correspondence with a schedule time zone "15:00-17:00". In set time 5, an
 icon indicating a sleep is stored in correspondence with a schedule time
 zone "19:00-20:00".
 The speaker 9 as the above default notification means is stored in the
 table T2. This default notification means is set in advance as default
 data in correspondence with an icon for which no notification means has
 been set. That is, the speaker 9 as this default notification means is
 always assigned to an icon for which no notification means has been set by
 the user.
 In the table T3, the LED 10 is stored in correspondence with the icon
 indicating a sleep, and the vibrator motor 8 is stored in correspondence
 with the icon indicating movement by train. In addition, the vibrator
 motor 8 is stored in correspondence with the icon indicating a lunch, and
 the LED 10 is stored in correspondence with the icon indicating a meeting.
 Furthermore, the speaker 9 is stored in correspondence with the icon
 indicating movement by car and the icon indicating a date. Note that no
 notification means is set for the icon indicating that the user is out. In
 this case, the default notification means is assigned, as described above.
 These notification means corresponding to the respective icons are set in
 advance in the table T3 except for the default notification means.
 The operation of this embodiment will be described next.
 The radio signal received by the antenna 1 is demodulated by the radio
 section 2. The control section 3 compares the self-selective call number
 stored in the ID-ROM 4 with the selective call number contained in this
 demodulated data. If they coincide with each other, the time at which the
 radio signal (call signal) is received is stored in the control section 3.
 The comparing section 11 reads out the reception time stored in the control
 section 3, and determines a specific time zone, stored in the table T1 of
 the storage section 13, to which the reception time corresponds. The
 control section 3 reads out an icon corresponding to the time zone
 determined by the comparing section 11 from the table T1, and selects a
 notification means corresponding to this icon from the table T3.
 The control section 3 sends a notification means selection signal
 indicating the selected notification means to the notification means
 switching section 7. The notification means switching section 7 notifies
 the user of the reception of the call by using the vibrator motor 8, the
 speaker 9, or the LED 10 which is the notification means corresponding to
 the received notification means selection signal. At this time, if a
 message is contained in the received radio signal, the message is
 displayed on the display section 5.
 Note that if the radio selective calling receiver 100 has an electronic
 notebook function, the schedule function section 12 is a function
 incorporated in the radio selective calling receiver 100. If the radio
 selective calling receiver 100 can be connected to the electronic notebook
 200, and the schedule function is implemented upon this connection, the
 schedule function section 12 is a function incorporated in the electronic
 notebook.
 If the schedule function section 12 is incorporated in the radio selective
 calling receiver 100, it suffices if the user only sets schedule time
 zones by using the schedule function section 12, and operates icons
 indicating the contents of the schedule. Since the notification means in
 the set time zones are stored in advance in the table T3 of the storage
 section 13 in correspondence with the icons, they need not be input.
 If the schedule function section 12 is incorporated in the electronic
 notebook 200, when the radio selective calling receiver 100 is connected
 to the electronic notebook 200, the schedule time zones and the icons
 indicating the contents of the schedule which are set by the schedule
 function section 12 are read out from the electronic notebook 200 and
 stored in the table T1 of the storage section 13. In this case as well,
 since the notification means in the set time zones are stored in advance
 in the table T3 of the storage section 13 in correspondence with the
 icons, they need not be input.
 Icons and notification means, except for the default notification means,
 can be set in the table T3 by using the switch circuit 6. More
 specifically, the user selects/determines notification means corresponding
 to the respective icons by using the switch circuit 6 while checking the
 icons set by the schedule function section 12 and displayed by the control
 section 3 on the display section 5. The control section 3 stores the
 selected/determined notification means in the table T3 of the storage
 section 13 in correspondence with the respective icons.
 FIG. 3 shows notification means control processing in the radio selective
 calling receiver 100. The operation of the radio selective calling
 receiver 100 will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.
 Upon reception of a radio signal containing the self-radio selective call
 number (step S100), the control section 3 stores the reception time (step
 S101). The control section 3 then loads the stored reception time (step
 S102) and set time 1 (step S103), and checks whether the reception time
 falls within set time 1 (step S104). If the reception time falls within
 set time 1, the control section 3 recognizes the icon corresponding to set
 time 1 in the table T1, i.e., the icon indicating a sleep (step S105). The
 control section 3 controls the notification means switching section 7 in
 accordance with this recognition result to perform notification by using
 the LED 10 as the notification means set in the table T3 in correspondence
 with the icon indicating a sleep (step S106).
 If it is determined in step S104 that the reception time falls outside set
 time 1, the control section 3 loads set time 2 (step S107), and checks
 whether the reception time falls within set time 2 (step S108). If the
 reception time falls within set time 2, the control section 3 recognizes
 the icon corresponding to set time 2 in the table T1, i.e., the icon
 indicating movement by train (step S109). The control section 3 also
 controls the notification means switching section 7 in accordance with
 this recognition result to perform notification by using the vibrator
 motor 8 as the notification means set in the table T3 in correspondence
 with the icon indicating movement by train (step S110).
 It is determined in step S108 that the reception time falls outside set
 time 2, the control section 3 loads set time 3 (step S111), and checks
 whether the reception time falls within set time 3 (step S112). If the
 reception time falls within set time 3, the control section 3 recognizes
 the icon corresponding to set time 3 in the table T1, i.e., the icon
 indicating a meal (step S113). The control section 3 controls the
 notification means switching section 7 in accordance with this recognition
 result to perform notification by using the speaker 9 as the notification
 means set in the table T3 in correspondence with the icon indicating a
 lunch. (step S114).
 If it is determined in step S112 that the reception time falls outside set
 time 3, the control section 3 loads set time 4 (step S115), and checks
 whether the reception time falls within set time 4 (step S116). If the
 reception time falls within set time 4, the control section 3 recognizes
 the icon corresponding to set time 4 in the table T1, i.e., the icon
 indicating a meeting (step S117). The control section 3 controls the
 notification means switching section 7 to perform notification by using
 the LED 10 as the notification means set in the table T3 in correspondence
 with the icon indicating a meeting (step S118).
 If it is determined in step S116 that the reception time falls outside set
 time 4, the control section 3 loads set time 5 (step S119), and checks
 whether the reception time falls within set time 5 (step S120). If the
 reception time falls within set time 5, the control section 3 recognizes
 the icon corresponding to set time 5 in the table T1, i.e., the icon
 indicating a lunch (step S121). The control section 3 controls the
 notification means switching section 7 in accordance with this recognition
 result to perform notification by using the vibrator motor 8 as the
 notification means set in the table T3 in correspondence with the icon
 indicating a meeting (step S122).
 If it is determined in step S120 that the reception time falls outside 5,
 the control section 3 performs notification by using the default
 notification means in the table T2, i.e., the speaker 9 (step S123).
 As described above, according to this embodiment, the vibrator motor 8, the
 speaker 9, the LED 10, or the like is set a s a notification means in
 correspondence with each icon indicating the contents of a schedule, and
 the icons and the notification means set in correspondence with the
 respective icons are stored in the storage section 13 in advance. With
 respect to an icon for which no notification means is set, the speaker 9
 as the default notification means is automatically effected. In inputting
 schedule data, for example, the user selects schedule time zones and icons
 corresponding to the contents of the schedule. To perform notification by
 using a notification means, the control section 3 identifies the
 notification means set in advance in correspondence with each icon on the
 basis of the reception time of a radio signal containing the self-radio
 selective call number, the current time, the schedule event set in the
 time zone including the current time, and the icon indicating the contents
 of the schedule event selected when the schedule event is set in this time
 zone. The control section 3 then performs notification by using this
 identified notification means. With this operation, the user need not set
 any notification means in schedule input operation. This simplifies the
 schedule input operation performed by the user.
 According to this radio selective calling receiver, notification means
 corresponding to the contents of a schedule can be controlled easily and
 automatically. In addition, the user can recognize the reception of a call
 more reliably even during a quiet meeting or in a place with large noise
 in the process of movement without annoying anyone. Furthermore,
 notification means are automatically set by only operating icons
 indicating the contents of a schedule, thereby omitting notification means
 setting operation. This can eliminate trouble to the user in setting
 notification means, and allows more reliable recognition of the reception
 of a call by means of an automatically set notification means.
 In the embodiment described above, the three types of notification means,
 i.e., the vibrator motor 8, the speaker 9, and the LED 10, have been
 exemplified as notification means. However, the types of notification
 means are not limited to these three types.
 As has been described above, according to the present invention, upon
 reception of a call signal, an icon indicating the contents of a schedule
 event in a time zone including the reception time is read out from the
 schedule storage means, and a notification means corresponding to this
 icon is selected from the notification means stored in the notification
 function storage means. Notification is then performed by using the
 selected notification means. In inputting schedule data, therefore, the
 user may only input schedule time zones and icons indicating the contents
 of schedule events in the respective time zones. The user need not set any
 notification means in schedule input operation. This simplifies the
 schedule input operation performed by the user.