Wireless communication apparatus

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus having a first communication device (portable) and a second communication device (stationary) for mutually performing wireless communication. Reception of a wireless communication signal from the first communication device is detected by the second communication device. If no wireless communication signal has been received, the second communication device transmits an alarm signal to the first communication device, and if this state where no wireless communication signal is detected continues for a predetermined period, the second communication device transmits an alarm signal different from the initial alarm signal to the first communication device. Thereafter, the second communication device stops transmission of wireless communication signal to the first communication device.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus such as a cordless telephone, capable of communication by wireless communication means. Conventionally, carrier sensing in cordless telephones is performed independently by a main phone and a subphone. That is, the main phone monitors a carrier signal in radio waves emitted from the subphone, and if it becomes that the carrier signal cannot be detected for a predetermined period, the main phone stops transmission of radio waves. The subphone also detects a carrier signal in radio waves emitted from the main phone, and if it becomes that the carrier signal cannot be detected, the subphone displays an alarm message at predetermined intervals. When the carrier has not been detected for a predetermined period, the subphone stops transmission of radio waves. Accordingly, in the above conventional cordless telephone, in a case where output power of radio waves emitted by the subphone becomes low due to, e.g., depletion of a built-in battery, the main phone cannot detect the carrier signal not necessary from the subphone, though the subphone may detect the carrier signal from the main phone. In this case, there is a problem that the main phone may stop transmission of radio waves while any alarm message indicating that no carrier has been detected at the subphone is displayed. Document EP-A-0 305 108 discloses a cordless telephone system comprising a radio telephone set connected to a connection unit through a radio communication circuit. When the connection unit receives a field smaller than a predetermined value, and a first time expires, it sends an out-of-range alarm signal. After a second time expires, the connection unit sends a speech end signal and disconnects the radio communication circuit. Document EP-A- 0 310 379 discloses a radio telephone apparatus for use in a cellular mobile telephone system. The signal strength of radio-frequency signal received over the communication channel is periodically checked to determine if it has fallen below a predetermined signal strength and if so the user is alerted. When the signal strength falls below a second predetermined signal strength, the apparatus causes a disconnection of the telephone link. A second indication step makes it possible to provide a more rapid periodic alarm or a more important message. These systems make it possible to provide an alarm message. However, there is no degree of alarm. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems by providing a wireless communication system which gives different degrees of alarm. The above object is attained by providing a wireless communication system as claimed in claim 1. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same name or similar parts throughout the figures thereon. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a telephone exchange device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a main phone of a cordless telephone apparatus; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of a subphone of the cordless telephone apparatus; Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a controller of the main phone of the cordless telephone apparatus; Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a controller of the subphone of the cordless telephone apparatus; Fig. 6 is an example of an alarm sound 1 according to the embodiment; Fig. 7 is an example of an alarm display 1 according to the embodiment; and Fig. 8 is an example of an alarm sound 2 according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Preferred embodiment of the present invention will now described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a telephone exchange apparatus containing cordless telephones to which the present invention is applied. In Fig. 1, a telephone exchange apparatus 3 is connected to an integrated services digital network (ISDN) 1 via a digital interface 7 and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 2 such as an analog communication network via an analog interface 8. Also, the telephone exchange apparatus 3 accommodates dedicated extension telephones 4a and 4b, and extension cordless telephones consisting of main phones 4c, 4d and 4e and subphones 4c' 4d' and 4e', via an extension interface 5. A plural items of audio information from the respective interfaces are exchanged in a communication switch 6, under the control of a controller 9. Program for the controller 9 to perform control is stored in a ROM 10, and reading/writing of data necessary for the control is made by using a RAM 11. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a main phone of the cordless telephone. The main phone is connected to the telephone exchange apparatus 3 via a line 100 and an interface 14. Audio information from the telephone exchange apparatus 3 is transferred to a tuner 12 via an audio interface 13. A controller 15 controls the respective circuits of the main phone and transmission of control signals to and from a subphone is done using the tuner 12. A program for the controller 15 to perform control of the main phone is stored in a ROM 16, and reading/writing of data necessary for the control is made by using a RAM 17. The tuner 12 also has a function of detecting wireless communication signals. The tuner 12 includes a MODEM (not shown). Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of the subphone of the cordless telephone. The subphone performs wireless communication with the main phone via a tuner 18. Audio information from the main phone is received by a tuner 18 and passed through an audio interface 19, and sent to receiver 20 while audio information inputted from a microphone 21 is transmitted to the main phone through the audio interface 19 and the tuner 18. A controller 22 controls audio processing, detection of key input from keys 25, display on an LCD 26 and indication on an LED 27, and also controls transmission of control signals using the tuner 18, to and from the main phone. A program for the controller 22 to perform control of the subphone is stored in a ROM 23, and reading/writing of data necessary for the control is made by using a RAM 24. The tuner 18 includes a MODEM (not shown). Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the controller 15 of the main phone. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the controller 22 of the subphone. The flowchart of Fig.4 shows a carrier detection processing at the main phone when it is in communication. In communication with the subphone, the controller 15 of the main phone continually monitors carrier signals of the communication channel. In a case where a carrier signal from the subphone is not detected by the tuner 12 ("YES" at step S401) and a state where no carrier signal is detected continues for less than one minute ("NO" at step S402), the controller 15 activates the tuner 12 to transmit an "alarm command 1" to the subphone at five-second intervals (S405 and S406) so as to inform the absence of carrier. This alarm command 1 is transmitted by radio waves associated with the communication channel, and received by the subphone. If the controller 15 has not detected the carrier signal for more than one minute ("YES" at step S402), the tuner 12 is activated to transmit an "alarm command 2" to the subphone, so as to inform the subphone of shutting off the communication channel (S403). After that, the controller 15 shuts off the wireless communication channel, stops transmission of radio waves, and disconnect the communication between the line 100 and the telephone exchange apparatus 3. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by the subphone in response to the alarm commands which are transmitted from the main phone as shown in Fig. 4. When the controller 22 of the subphone receives an alarm command 1 from the main phone ("YES" at step S504), the controller 22 displays an "alarm 1" (S505) to be described later. When the controller 22 receives the alarm command 2 from the main phone ("YES" at step S501), the controller displays an "alarm 2" to be described later, and shuts off the communication channel (S503). Figs. 6 to 8 show examples of alarm display at the subphone. The subphone emits an alarm 1 which sounds like "[pi]" (1000 Hz, 100 msec) from the audio interface 19 via the receiver 20, as shown in Fig. 6, while displaying a message "OUT OF RANGE" as shown in Fig. 7 on the LCD 26. Similarly, the subphone emits an alarm 2 which sounds like "[pi pi pi]" (2000 Hz, 250 msec) as shown in Fig. 8. It should be noted that the transmission intervals of the alarm command 1 are not limited to five seconds, but an appropriate time period may be selected so long as it is shorter than one minute. It should also be noted that duration of the state where no carrier signal is detected is not limited to one minute. Further, the audio interface 13 of the main phone and the audio interface 19 of the subphone may incorporate a signal transmission/reception circuit which treats a frequency outside of an audio frequency band (300 Hz to 3400 Hz) of, e.g., an ordinary telephone line, for modulating a signal of the alarm at the frequency out of that band and transmitting the command. Since the transmission of alarm command in this manner affects no influence in the audio frequency band, occurrence of noise due to the transmission of an alarm can be prevented, and only alarm sound can be heard from the subphone. Further, the main phone itself may transmit the "alarm 1" sounds like "[pi] (1000 Hz, 100 msec) and the "alarm 2" sounds like "[pi pi pi]" (2000 Hz, 250 msec) to the subphone. The present invention is applicable to a wireless communication apparatus such as a cordless telephone, which can be directly connected to a public telephone line. As described above, according to the present invention, when a carrier signal from the subphone has not been detected for a predetermined period, the main phone transmits an alarm command to the subphone, and stops transmission of a wireless signal to the subphone. By adopting this configuration, it is possible to avoid abrupt shut-off of radio waves from the main phone to the subphone. Further, when a wireless signal has not been received for a predetermined period, the main phone transmits an alarm command and stops transmission of wireless signal to the subphone. This allows a user, for example, to charge a battery built-in the subphone, in accordance with the alarm command. Furthermore, repetition of transmission of the alarm command, or change of display in accordance with the degree of alarm indicated by the alarm command makes notification of the alarm exactly. In addition, as the main phone has the subphone stop transmission of wireless signal, quick termination of communication is possible. Further, while in communication, by transmitting an alarm using a signal at a frequency outside of an audio frequency band (300 Hz to 3400 Hz), a certain noise which is audible in communication can be eliminated. The present invention can be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or to an apparatus comprising a single device. As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: A wireless communication system comprising a first wireless communication apparatus (4c, 4d, 4e) and a second wireless communication apparatus (4c', 4d', 4e') for communicating via communication channel, said first wireless communication apparatus is adapted to transmit a first command to the second wireless communication apparatus if a wireless signal from the second wireless communication apparatus is not detected, and adapted to transmit a second command to the second wireless communication apparatus after the transmission of the first command, and said second wireless communication apparatus is adapted to output a first alarm in accordance with the first command, and adapted to shut off the communication channel in accordance with the second command, characterized in that said second wireless communication apparatus is adapted to output a second alarm in accordance with the second command. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication apparatus is adapted to shut off the communication channel after the transmission of the second command. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication apparatus is adapted to transmit the second command if the wireless signal is not detected for a predetermined period. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication apparatus is adapted to repeatedly transmit the first command before the transmission of the second command. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second wireless communication apparatus is adapted to output the first and second alarms audibly with different patterns. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second wireless communication apparatus is adapted to output the first alarm visibly. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication apparatus is adapted to transmit the first and second commands by utilizing a frequency outside of an audible frequency band. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication apparatus is adapted to transmit the first command if a carrier of the wireless signal is not detected. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication apparatus is a stationary device and said second wireless communication apparatus is a portable device. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication apparatus is adapted to disconnect a connection with an external line (1, 2, 100) in accordance with the transmission of the second command. A wireless communication method between a first wireless communication apparatus (4c, 4d, 4e) and a second wireless communication apparatus (4c', 4d', 4e') for communicating via a communication channel, comprising: a first transmission step (S406) of transmitting a first command from said first wireless communication apparatus to the second wireless communication apparatus if a wireless signal from second wireless communication apparatus is not detected, a first output step (S505) of outputting a first alarm at said second wireless communication apparatus in accordance with the first command, a second transmission step (S403) of transmitting a second command from said first wireless communication apparatus to the second wireless communication apparatus after the transmission of the first command, a shut-off step (S503) of shutting off the communication channel at said second wireless communication apparatus in accordance with the second command, characterized in that it comprises: a second output step (S503) of outputting a second alarm at said second wireless communication apparatus in accordance with the second command. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a second shut-off step (S404) of shutting off the communication channel at said first wireless communication apparatus after the transmission of the second command. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second command is transmitted in said second transmission step if the wireless signal is not detected for a predetermined period. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first command is repeatedly transmitted in said first transmission step before the transmission of the second command. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first and second alarms are audibly outputted in said first and second output steps with different patterns. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first alarm is visibly outputted in said first output step. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first and second commands are transmitted in said first an second transmission steps by utilizing a frequency outside of an audible frequency band. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first command is transmitted in said first transmission step if a carrier of the wireless signal is not detected. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first wireless communication apparatus is a stationary device and said second wireless communication apparatus is a portable device. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a disconnection step of disconnecting a connection with an external line (1, 2, 100) at the first wireless communication apparatus in accordance with the transmission of the second command.

Inventors: WATANABE MITSUHIRO, WATANABE, MITSUHIRO, Watanabe, Mitsuhiro, c/o Canon K.K.
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H04M1
IPC codes: H04M1, H04B7, H04Q7