Portable radio communication apparatus with automatic answering

Abstract: A portable radio communication apparatus is disclosed which comprises the following components: an antenna (1) for transmitting/receiving a radio frequency message signal; radio/modulator-demodulator means (3) for demodulating a received radio frequency message signal by converting its frequency and for modulating a transmitting message signal to effect its frequency conversion into a radio frequency; message memory means (5) for storing transmitting/received messages; display means (7) for displaying the transmitting/ received messages; automatic answering message memory means (22) for storing at least a plurality of IDs; operation means (6) ; and control means (4) for selecting an automatic answering mode by an operation of the operation means (6) when the user is absent and for automatically answering when a match occurs between an ID in the received message and an ID in the automatic answering message memory means (22).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION: The present invention relates to portable radio communication apparatus such as a digital mobile phone having a two-way message transmitting/receiving function for use mainly in the field of mobile communication. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART: As an additional function for mobile phones, the SMS (Short Message Service) transmitting function in two-way message transmission is specified in GSM03.40 of GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) standard of the digital mobile phone standard which constitutes one of the European Telecommunications Standards (ETS),. The SMS functions to transmit a message of a maximum of 160 characters through a wireless circuit in opposite directions. Construction of a conventional portable radio communication apparatus will be described below with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of a portable radio communication apparatus having a conventional two-way message transmitting function. Fig. 4 is a front view showing an external appearance of the portable radio communication apparatus of Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 3, the apparatus includes: an antenna 1 for transmitting/receiving a radio frequency signal; a radio section 2 for effecting a frequency conversion to a radio frequency or, for example, to an intermediate frequency; a modulator-demodulator section 3 operating for example in GMSK (Gaussian Filtered Minimum Shift Keying) modulating/demodulating method; a control section 4 having such as CPU, ROM, RAM for controlling the apparatus as a whole; a message memory 5 such as of RAM for temporarily storing a transmitting/received message; an operation section 6; a display section 7 such as of liquid crystal; a sound processing section 8; a microphone 9; and a speaker 10. In Fig. 4, Numerals 6a, 6b and 6c denote a function key section, a 10-key section and a volume key, respectively. Further, in Fig. 4, the function key section 6a includes: PWR key for performing switching on/off of power supply; STO key serving as a registering key for abbreviated dialing phone numbers; FCN key serving as a function key capable of calling various functions by a combination with numeral keys; END key for terminating a communication; P key serving as "one-touch" dialing key for an instant originating of call to already registered phone numbers; RCL key serving as a calling key for abbreviated dialing phone numbers; CLR key serving as a clearing key; and SEND key serving as a transmitting/receiving key. The 10-key section 6b includes keys for Arabic numerals of 1, 2, 3, 9, 0, an asterisk (*) key and a sharp (#) key, the numeral keys and the like serving also as character keys (A, B, C, ) as shown when operating in a character input mode. However, the numerical key "0" corresponds to an operator call and is incapable of character input. Operation of the conventional radio communication apparatus will be described below. A received message signal of SMS enters the control section 4 for its decoding from the antenna 1 through the radio section 2 and modulator-demodulator section 3. It is then displayed as a message by the display section 7 and may be recorded at the message memory 5 by an operation of the operation section 6. A transmitting message signal of SMS may be formed by inputting one character at a time by means of the 10-key section 6b using the alphabet of A, B, C at the 10-key section 6b while confirming it on the display section 7. Upon a transmitting operation (SEND key) at the operation section 6, the formed message is encoded at the control section 4 and is then transmitted from the antenna 1 through the modulator-demodulator section 3 and radio section 2. Further, if the receiving side is absent, a problem of inconvenience occurs in case of an emergency, since no response will be received by the party originating the message and no transfer will be made. US-A-5 058 150 discloses an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable radio communication apparatus in which automatic answering or automatic transferring in case of users absence is possible. A portable radio communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises the features of claim 1. Accordingly, it is possible in case of users absence to respond to the party at the other end of communication. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a portable radio communication apparatus according to an Embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of this Embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of a conventional portable radio communication apparatus; and Fig. 4 is a front view showing the external appearance of a conventional portable radio communication apparatus. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of an Embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of this Embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1, a portable radio communication apparatus according to Embodiment 7 comprises: an antenna 1; a radio section 2; a modulator-demodulator section 3; a control section 4; a message memory 5; an operation section 6; a display section 7; a sound processing section 8; a microphone 9; a speaker 10; and an automatic answering message memory 22 formed of RAM or the like and storing answering message and/or address for transfer. The above operation section 6 includes a function key section 6a, a 10-key section 6b and a volume key 6c. If a message has been automatically received in case of users absence, no response will be made to the party at the other end of communication though the received message is stored to the message memory 5. Thus, in Embodiment 7, the automatic answering message memory 22 is provided, which stores answering message and/or transfer address corresponding to ID. If a match occurs upon a collation between the ID in a received message and a destination ID for each answering message stored in the automatic answering message memory 22, the control section 4 automatically answers by reading out the answering message. Further, by storing a transfer address to the automatic answering message memory 22 instead of an answering message, the received message may be automatically transferred. Operation of this Embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 2. At step 90, upon an operation of the FCN key, the control section 4 selects "automatic answering message forming function". Next, at step 91, the control section 4 forms an answering message or transfer address by an operation of the numeral keys, etc. Next, at step 92, by an operation of the numeral keys, etc., the control section 4 inputs a registered call originator ID to which a designated answering is desired. Next, at step 93, the control section 4 stores the formed answering message or transfer address and the relevant registered call originator ID to the automatic answering message memory 22 by an operation of the END key. At step 94, upon an operation of the FCN key, the control section 4 selects "automatic answering in case of users absence" by which an automatic response is made when the user is absent. Next, in steps 95 to 96, upon receiving a message, the control section 4 collates the call originator ID in the received message with the registered call originator ID in the automatic answering message memory 22. At step 97, if the IDs match each other, the control section 4 reads out the relevant answering message from the automatic answering message memory 22 and automatically transmits it to the originating party of the above message. Alternatively, if the transfer address is registered, the control section 4 transfers the received message to the transfer address. At step 98, if the IDs do not match, the control section 4 does not effect an automatic answering. Also, no transferring will be made. In this Embodiment, since an answering message and call originator ID to which the answering is designated are stored to the automatic answering message memory 22, it is possible in case of users absence to respond to the party at the other end of communication. Further, since a transfer address and call originator ID for designating an answering operation are stored to the automatic answering message memory 22, the user of the apparatus is able to know the content of a message even when he/she is absent.

Claims: A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising: an antenna (1) for transmitting and/or receiving a radio frequency message signal; radio modulator-demodulator means (3) for demodulating a received radio frequency message signal by converting its frequency and for modulating a message signal to be transmitted to effect its frequency conversion into a radio frequency; message memory means (5) for storing messages which are received or to be transmitted; display means (7) for displaying the messages which are received or to be transmitted; automatic answering message memory means (22) for storing at least a plurality of IDs; and operation means (6); control means (4) are provided for selecting an automatic answering mode by an operation of the operation means (6) characterized in that the automatic answering message memory means (22) are adapted to store a registered message originator ID associated with an answering message corresponding to the registered message originator ID; and control means (4) automatically answer, upon receiving a received message received from a registered message originator identified by its ID, when a match occurs between a message originator ID in the received message and a registered message originator ID in the automatic answering message memory means (22), which control means (4) are adapted to select the answering message corresponding to the registered message originator ID and to transmit it to the registered message originator. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation means (6) include: an FCN key capable of calling various functions; an END key serving as a call terminating key; and a 10-key (6b); and wherein the control means (4) have the following functions: selecting an automatic answering message forming mode by an operation of the FCN key, forming an answering message and inputting a registered message originator ID by an operation of the 10-key (6b), storing the formed answering message and corresponding registered message originator ID to the automatic answering message memory means (22) by an operation of the END key; and wherein the control means (4) have the following additional functions: selecting an automatic answering mode for users absence by an operation of the FCN key, and transmitting the answering message corresponding to the registered message originator when a match occurs between the message originator ID in the received message and the registered message originator ID in the automatic answering message memory means (22). The apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the automatic answering message memory means (22) store a registered message originator ID and a transfer address corresponding to the ID; and wherein the control means (4) transfer the received message to the transfer address corresponding to the registered message originator ID when a match occurs between the message originator ID in the received message and the registered message originator ID in the automatic answering message memory means (22). The apparatus according to any of daims 1 to 3, wherein the operation means (6) include: an FCN key capable of calling various functions; an END key serving as a call terminating key; and a 10-key (6b); and wherein the control means (4) have the following functions: selecting an automatic answering message forming mode by an operation of the FCN key, forming a transfer address and inputting a registered message originator ID by an operation of the 10-key (6b), and storing the formed transfer address and corresponding registered message originator ID to the automatic answering message memory means (22) by an operation of the END key; and wherein the control means (4) have the following additional functions: selecting an automatic answering mode for users absence by an operation of the FCN key, and transferring the received message to the transfer address corresponding to the registered message originator ID when a match occurs between the message originator ID in the received message and the registered message originator ID in the automatic answering message memory means (22).

Inventors: NONAMI TAKAYUKI, NONAMI, TAKAYUKI, Nonami, Takayuki, Mitsubishi Denki K.K.
Applicants: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP, MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H04Q7
IPC codes: H04M1, H04W4