Communication device, circuit and method for confirming receipt of messages sent through unidirectional communication channels

An electronic communication device for facilitating communication between one or more remote devices for voice communication over a unidirectional radio communication channel, the device comprising a receiver for receiving an incoming voice message from a first remote device, a speaker for playing the incoming voice message, a microphone for receiving an output to generate an outgoing voice message, a transmitter for sending the outgoing voice message to a second remote device, an indicator to indicate whether the receiver is in a passive mode or an active mode, and a confirmation circuit to be connected to the receiver, the transmitter, the speaker and the indicator for recording the incoming voice message when the receiver is in an active mode, playing the recorded voice message and sending the played voice message to the remote device as a confirmation receipt of the incoming voice message when the receiver is in a passive mode.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of radio communication and more specifically to a repeater, electronic circuit and method for confirming receipt of a voice message sent through a unidirectional channel such as a radio communication channel in a walkie/talkie communication system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional walkie/talkie systems do not enable a confirmation of receipt of a voice message. As a result, the user transmitting the voice message cannot confirm that his/her message has been received at the other side. The transmitting user generally relies on a human at the other side of the channel to confirm back to him/her that the message has been received. If no human is at the repeater at the time the voice message is sent, no confirmation is sent back to the transmitting user. The user may think that his voice message has been successfully received at the other end when it has not. This is a limitation in the present state of the art walkie talkie systems.

More specifically, when a voice message is sent by a user over a walkie/talkie channel, it is received by a repeater at the other end of the channel. The problem with existing transmission devices (walkie/talkie) is that when a user sends a voice message, the user does not know if the voice message has been received at the other side of the channel by the receiver.

Therefore, there is a need to implement means by which a confirmation of safe receipt of the message can be given to users in a walkie-talkie system. Further, there is a need to provide a confirmation to the person relaying the voice message so that he/she positively knows that the message has been received, and does not wait for human confirmation from the other end.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior-art and the needs as mentioned above, the general purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method for confirming receipt of a message sent through a single frequency channel in walkie/talkie systems that is configured to include all advantages of the prior art and to overcome the drawbacks inherent in the prior art offering some added advantages.

To achieve the above objectives and to fulfill the identified needs, in one aspect, the present disclosure provides a repeater and electronic circuit for confirming receipt of a voice message sent through a single frequency channel in walkie/talkie communication systems.

Specifically, in an embodiment of the invention, the present invention provides an electronic communication device capable of facilitating communication between one or more remote devices for voice communication. The electronic communication device includes at least one receiver for receiving an incoming voice message from a first remote device via radio communication, at least one first speaker connected to the at least one receiver for playing back the incoming voice message, at least one microphone operationally connected to at least one second speaker for receiving an output from the at least one second speaker in order to generate an outgoing voice message, and at least one transmitter connected to the at least one microphone for sending the outgoing voice message to a second remote device.

In an embodiment of the invention, the second remote device is the first remote device from which the message has been received. According to this embodiment, the microphone is operationally connected to the at least one second speaker via a recorder which records the message played by the at least one second speaker before being relayed to the microphone and thereafter to the transmitter for transmitting the message to the first remote device. In another embodiment, the microphone is operationally connected to the at least one first speaker via a delay circuit adapted to time delay the played message before being relayed to the microphone and then to the transmitter for transmission to the first remote device. This is in order to allow the message to be received entirely by the receiver before it is being resent via the transmitter back to the first remote device. This is because the communication channel is a unidirectional communication channel which cannot enable simultaneous bidirectional communication of messages.

Further, the electronic communication device includes at least one indicator connected to the at least one receiver and adapted to provide a passive mode signal when the at least one receiver is in a passive mode, and to provide an active mode signal when the at least one receiver is in an active mode. Furthermore, in an embodiment of the invention, the electronic communication device includes at least one confirmation circuit connected to the at least one indicator and adapted to record the incoming voice message when the at least one indicator is in an active mode. The at least one confirmation circuit is adapted to play the recorded voice message and the at least one confirmation circuit sends the played voice message to the first remote device when the indicator is in a passive mode, thereby confirming the safe receipt of the voice message.

In an embodiment of the invention, the present disclosure provides a confirmation circuit adapted to be connected to a repeater having a receiver, a transmitter, a speaker connected to the receiver, a microphone connected to the transmitter, and a Light Emitting Device (LED) connected to the receiver. The LED is adapted to be powered off when the receiver is in an active mode and to be powered on when the receiver is in a passive mode. The confirmation circuit includes at least one recorder for recording the incoming voice message received at the receiver. The recorder being adapted to play back the recorded massage and comprise a speaker output adapted to output the played back recorded message. The confirmation circuit further includes a first relay connected to the at least one recorder, to the LED and to the speaker. The first relay is adapted to activate the recorder to record the incoming voice message when the receiver is in an active mode. More specifically, the first relay is adapted to activate the recorder to record the incoming voice message when the LED is powered off.

Further, in an embodiment of the invention, the confirmation circuit includes a second relay coupled to the at least one recorder, to the at least one indicator and to the microphone. The recorder comprises a speaker output for outputting the played back recorded message. The second relay is adapted to activate the at least one recorder to play the recorded message when the receiver is in a passive mode. More specifically, the second relay is adapted to activate the recorder to play the recorded voice message when the LED is powered on and to relay the played message to the microphone, which is operationally connected to the recorder speaker output for receiving an output therefrom in order to generate an outgoing voice message. At least one transmitter is connected to the at least one microphone for sending the outgoing voice message to the remote device, thereby confirming the safe receipt of the voice message.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for confirming safe receipt of a voice message transmitted by a remote device to a repeater having a receiver, a transmitter, a speaker connected to the receiver, a microphone connected to the transmitter, and a Light Emitting Device (LED) connected to the receiver. The method includes receiving the voice message from the remote device. After receiving the voice message, the method includes recording the voice message while the receiver is in an active mode and the recording is being done by a recorder. Further, the method includes playing the recorded message while the receiver is a passive mode, wherein the message is being played by the recorder. While playing the recorded message, the method includes transmitting the played message received to the remote device via the transmitter, thereby confirming safe receipt of the voice message.

This together with the other aspects of the present invention along with the various features of novelty that characterized the present disclosure is pointed out with particularity in claims annexed hereto and forms a part of the present invention. For better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specified objective attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

The terms “having”, “comprising”, “including”, and variations thereof signify the presence of a component which is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

The present invention provides a repeater and electronic circuit for confirming receipt of a voice message sent through a single frequency channel in walkie/talkie communication system and its usage are described with reference toFIGS. 1-5.

Further, the present invention provides method for confirming safe receipt of a voice message which is shown with reference to variousFIG. 6. It should be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the term “electronic communication device” as referenced herein refers to an electronic device that allows an individual to make communication with other devices, especially allowing voice communication with other devices.

Referring toFIGS. 1-5, there is shown an electronic communication device100. The electronic communication device100is capable of facilitating communication between one or more remote devices or walkie/talkies300tuned in a same channel for voice communication via wireless communication or radio communication using radio network600. The electronic communication device100as explained herein has circuitry similar to the circuitry of a known in the art repeaters, which is used in voice communication over single frequency radio networks or walkie talkie systems, and may interchangeably referred to as repeater100. The main function of the repeater in a walkie talkie system is to receive a signal and retransmit it, preferably at a higher level or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances.

The electronic communication device100will now be explained. In various embodiments of the present invention, the electronic communication device100includes circuitry similar to conventional repeater.

In one embodiment, the repeater100includes a receiver110for receiving an incoming voice message from a first remote device300via radio communication600. Further, the repeater100includes at least one speaker (only one speaker140is shown) coupled to the receiver110. The speaker140is configured for playing back the incoming voice message received by the receiver110.

Furthermore, the repeater100includes at least one microphone (one microphone130is shown). Further, the repeater100includes at least one transmitter (one transmitter120is shown) coupled to the microphone130for sending the outgoing voice message to a second remote device300aor300bvia the radio communication600, or radio network600. In this manner, the repeater100is able to retransmit a signal, preferably at a higher level or higher power, so that the signal can cover longer distances and reach other remote devices or walkie talkies300.

Further, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the repeater100further includes at least one indicator (one indicator160shown) coupled to the receiver110. The indicator160plays a critical role in sending confirmation to the first remote device300about receipt of the voice message, which is explained below. The indicator160is adapted to provide a passive mode signal when the receiver110is in a passive mode, and to provide an active mode signal when the receiver110is in an active mode.

In an embodiment of the invention, the indicator160is adapted to power on when the receiver110is in a passive mode, and power off when the receiver110is in an active mode. In various embodiments, the indicator160may be a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a bulb, a p-n junction diode and the like. However, such examples should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, the repeater100includes a delay circuit135for increasing the waiting time of the recorded message before being relayed to the microphone130. Further, the microphone130is operationally connected to the at least one first speaker140via a delay circuit135adapted to time delay the played message before being relayed to the microphone130for transmission to the first remote device300. This is in order to allow the message to be received entirely by the receiver110before it is being resent via the transmitter120back to the first remote device300. This is because the communication channel is a unidirectional communication channel which cannot enable simultaneous bidirectional communication of messages.

Referring toFIGS. 1-5again, in one embodiment of the present invention, the repeater100is adapted to receive a confirmation circuit180. The confirmation circuit180is adapted to be connected to the indicator160. The confirmation circuit180is adapted to record the incoming voice message when the indicator provides an active mode signal (receiver110is in an active mode), for example, when the LED160is powered off. Further, the confirmation circuit180is adapted to play the recorded voice message. Further, the confirmation circuit180is configured to send the played voice message to the first remote device300(which has sent the incoming message) via radio communication600, when the indicator160provides a passive mode signal (receiver110is in a passive mode), for example when the LED160is powered on. As a result, the first remote device300gets a confirmation of the safe receipt of the voice message.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the confirmation circuit180comprises the following components. Firstly, the confirmation circuit180comprises a recorder184having a memory to store the recorded information. The memory may be a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, a hard disk, a flash memory, a magnetic disk and an optical disk. However, such examples should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention. The recorder184comprises a speaker output185adapted to output the played back recorded message.

Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the confirmation circuit180further comprises a first relay182adapted to be connected to the recorder184, to the indicator (i.e. LED160in this example) and to the receiver110. Also, the confirmation circuit180further comprises a second relay186adapted to be connected to the recorder184, to the indicator (e.g. LED160) and to the microphone130.

In various embodiments, the first relay182is adapted to activate the recorder184to record the incoming voice message when the receiver is in an active mode (message receiving mode). More specifically, the first relay182is adapted to activate the recorder184to record the incoming voice message when the indicator160provides an active mode signal (i.e. LED160is powered off for example).

Furthermore, the second relay186is adapted to be connected to the recorder184, to the indicator or LED160and to the microphone130. The second relay186is adapted to activate the recorder184to play the recorded message when the receiver110is in a passive mode. More specifically, the second relay186is adapted to activate the recorder to play the recorded voice message when the LED160is powered on and to relay the played message to the microphone130.

The microphone130which is operationally connected to the speaker output185of the recorder110receives an output with the played back recorded message therefrom, and the transmitter120which is coupled to the microphone140, sends the played recorded message to the first remote device300. This recorded message is heard by an operator at the end of the first remote device300, thereby confirming the safe receipt of the voice message.

In other words, by installing the confirmation circuit180, the repeater100becomes enabled to send confirmation messages to the remote device300, which has actually transmitted the incoming voice message.

More specifically, referring toFIGS. 1-5, in one embodiment of the present invention, when the remote device300sends a voice message to the communication device100(such as repeater), the receiver110of the repeater100receives the incoming voice message from the remote device300. Thereafter, the receiver110goes in an active mode. The receiver110is adapted to power off the LED160in the active mode. Further, in active mode, the LED160is adapted to send activation signal to the first relay182which is coupled to the recorder184. After receiving the activation signal, the first relay182is adapted to activate the recorder184to record the incoming voice message. Further, the recorded voice message is stored in the memory of the recorder184.

Further, when no voice message is received at the receiver110, the receiver110automatically goes into the passive mode and turns on the LED160. Further, in such passive mode, the LED160is adapted to send an activation signal to the second relay182which is coupled to the recorder184. After receiving the activation signal, the second relay186is adapted to activate the recorder184to play the recorded voice message and relay the played message to the microphone130. Since the microphone130is operationally connected to the speaker output185of the recorder110for receiving an output therefrom, the message is received by the microphone, and the transmitter120which is connected to the microphone130sends the played voice message to the first remote device300, confirms the safe receipt of the voice message.

Now referring toFIG. 2, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention in which the confirmation circuit180may be installed inside conventional remote devices or walkie talkies400communicating in short range communication rather than in a repeater. In this embodiment, there is shown a communication between the plurality of remote devices or walkie/talkies400. The confirmation circuit180is coupled to an LED160and installed inside the walkie talkies400for providing the confirmation safe receipt of messages to each other within a short range communication via radio communication600.

Referring toFIG. 3, there is shown yet another embodiment of the present invention which shows communication between the plurality of remote devices or walkie/talkies400in long range communication in which the confirmation circuit180may be installed inside conventional remote devices or walkie talkies400. In this embodiment, the remote devices400include the LED160and the confirmation circuit180for providing the confirmation safe receipt to each other within a long range communication.

The confirmation circuit180may be adapted for the different devices depending on how the indicator (for example LED160) is configured in these walkie talkie devices. For example, in some of these devices, the LED160is turned on while the device is in an active mode, while in other devices, the LED160is turned on while the device is in a passive mode.

Referring toFIG. 6, there is shown a detailed flow chart of how a confirmation safe receipt is sent to the remote device300by the repeater100. As shown inFIG. 6, the method starts at step70. At step72, it is verified if the voice message is received at the receiver110. If it is received, the receiver110automatically goes in an active mode, and the LED160gets in the active mode (LED160is turned off), at step74. Further, in the active mode, the LED160is adapted to send activation signal to the first relay182and activate the first relay at step76. After step76, the first relay182is adapted to activate the recorder184at step77. After activation, the recorder184records the incoming voice message at step78. Further, the recorded message is stored in the memory at step79.

In case at step72, if it is verified if the voice message is not received at the receiver110, therefore the receiver110automatically goes into the passive mode and the LED160is turned on, at step80. Further, in the passive mode, the LED160is adapted to send activation signal to the second relay182and activate the second relay182. After receiving the activation signal, the second relay186is adapted to activate the recorder184, at step86. After activation, the recorder184accesses the recorder memory shown in step79. Further, the recorder84is adapted to play the recorded voice message and output the played back recorded message via a speaker output185, at step88. At the time of playing, the played voice message is relayed to the microphone130. The microphone130is operationally connected to the speaker output of the recorder184for receiving an output in order to send the played message to the transmitter120via microphone at step130, Thereafter, the transmitter120transmits the played message to the remote device300, thereby confirming the safe receipt of the voice message. Further, the method end at step95.

The electronic communication device100, as shown and described, has many advantages. Firstly, the electronic communication device100is capable of sending receipt of the voice message to the user in response to the sent voice message. Secondly, the electronic communication device100is capable of facilitating efficient communication between one or more remote device300in short range as well as in long range communication. Further, the confirmation circuit of the electronic communication device100may be installed in existing walkie/talkie system for improving the long and short range communication without the need of any intermediate device. Moreover, the electronic communication device100is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate, and involves a simple solution to the problem of confirmation of delivery of voice messages in conventional walkie talkie systems.