Abstract:
The present invention provides a hybrid terminal capable of resolving a problem arising from receiving and processing a transmission information originated by the own terminal, in a communication system that interconnects a PTT based network and a PoC based network by carrying out protocol conversions at servers of both networks. A hybrid terminal to be used in such a communication system includes a processing module configured to detect whether an ID information contained in a signal received by either the PTT communication function module or the PoC communication function module is an ID information of own terminal or not, and apply a special processing to a received signal that contained the ID information of the own terminal, which is different from an ordinary signal processing applied to any other received signals that contained the ID information other than the ID information of the own terminal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-014050 filed on Jan. 28, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a hybrid terminal having functions of both a cell phone and a radio terminal. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-536928, a method for realizing a PTT (Push To Talk) function in a cell phone is disclosed. The PTT function is a function for providing a user with a convenience in use as that of a half duplex radio terminal. Namely, the user can originate calls to a plurality of other users and communicate with them by simply pressing a communication button without inputting telephone numbers and the like. The other user will have a speech output of the communication content from a cell phone of that originating user without pressing a response button. The PTT function in the cell phone is also referred to as a PoC (Push-to-Talk over Cellular) function in distinction from the PTT function of the radio terminal. 
         [0004]    On the other hand, a hybrid terminal having functions of both a cell phone and a radio terminal is conceivable. In the hybrid terminal, either one of the PoC function in the communication network of the cell phone (hereinafter referred to as LTE/3G network) such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) or 3G (3 rd  Generation) and the PTT function in the communication network of the radio terminal (hereinafter referred to as LMR (Land Mobile Radio) network) can be selectively used depending on purposes. For example, it suffices to use the PoC function in the case where a high speed communication is desired, or it suffices to use the PTT function in the case where a communication at more remote location is desired. 
         [0005]    In the case of contemplating the utilization of the hybrid terminal, it is conceivable to use a communication system that interconnects a PTT based network and a PoC based network by carrying out protocol conversions at servers of both networks. In such a communication system, in the case where the hybrid terminal originates signals with either one of the PTT function and the PoC function, there is a possibility for another one of the PTT function and the PoC function to receive signals originated by the own terminal 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention has an object of providing a hybrid terminal capable of resolving a problem arising from receiving and processing a transmission information originated by the own terminal, in a communication system that interconnects a PTT based network and a PoC based network. 
         [0007]    In order to solve the problem noted above, the present invention provides a hybrid terminal to be used in a communication system that interconnects a PTT based network and a PoC based network by carrying out protocol conversions at servers of both networks, comprising: a PTT communication function module configured to transmit/receive information using a PTT communication function; a PoC communication function module configured to transmit/receive information using a PoC communication function; and a processing module configured to detect whether an ID information contained in a signal received by either the PTT communication function module or the PoC communication function module is an ID information of own terminal or not, and apply a special processing to a received signal that contained the ID information of the own terminal, which is different from an ordinary signal processing applied to any other received signals that contained the ID information other than the ID information of the own terminal. 
         [0008]    In this hybrid terminal, the processing module may apply the special processing to prohibit receiving or processing any information subsequent to the ID information of the own terminal 
         [0009]    In this hybrid terminal, the processing module may apply the special processing to prohibit a reproduction of the received signal from speakers, when it is detected that the ID information contained in the received signal is the ID information of the own terminal and the received signal includes speech information. 
         [0010]    In this hybrid terminal, the processing module may apply the special processing to disconnect a connection to the PTT based network or the PoC based network from which the received signal is received. 
         [0011]    In this hybrid terminal, the processing module may add the ID information of the own terminal before a transmission information content of a signal to be originated from the hybrid terminal. 
         [0012]    In this hybrid terminal, the processing module may switch a state of the hybrid terminal from a receiving waiting state at one of the PTT communication function module and the PoC communication function module to a receiving waiting state at another one of the PTT communication function module and the PoC communication function module, in response to a command from a server of one of the PTT based network and the PoC based network so as to be able to receive an emergency information occurring in said one of the PTT based network and the PoC based network. 
         [0013]    According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a hybrid terminal capable of resolving a problem arising from receiving and processing a transmission information originated by the own terminal, in a communication system that interconnects a PTT based network and a PoC based network. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a hybrid terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a network diagram showing a configuration of a communication system containing the hybrid terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a network diagram showing another configuration of a communication system containing the hybrid terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a network diagram showing another configuration of a communication system containing the hybrid terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    In the following, one embodiment of the hybrid terminal according to the present invention will be described in detail with references to the drawings. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a hybrid terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0020]    The hybrid terminal  100  includes an application processing unit  110 , an LTE/3G module  120 , and an LMR module  130 . The application processing unit  110  includes an application module  111  for carrying out a signal processing and a control of the hybrid terminal as a whole, a touch screen display  112  that functions both as an operation input unit and a display unit, a camera  113 , a speaker  114 , and a microphone  115 . The hybrid terminal  100  may also include a unit for executing a GPS function or a unit for executing a near distance wireless function such as Bluetooth, although it is not shown in the figure. 
         [0021]    The application processing unit  110  executes various types of applications. For example, in the case of transmitting/receiving speech signals, the application processing unit  110  encodes the speech signals inputted from the microphone  115  and sends them to the LTE/3G module  120  or the LMR module  130 . Also, the application processing unit  110  decodes signals inputted from the LTE/3G module  120  or the LMR module  130  and outputs them from the speaker  114 . 
         [0022]    The LTE/3G module  120  is connected to an LTE/3G network via an antenna  121 , and carries out a transmission of signals received from the application module  111  while receiving and sending signals received from the LTE/3G network to the application module  111 . The LMR module  130  is connected to an LMR network via an antenna  131 , and carries out a transmission of signals received from the application module  111  while receiving and sending signals received from the LMR network to the application module  111 . 
         [0023]    In the following, the operation at a time of transmitting and receiving speech signals will be described. In this case, the user selects whether to transmit signals with the PoC function or with PTT function, at the touch screen display  112 . In the case where the PoC function is selected, the application module  111  transmits the speech signals inputted at the microphone  115  via the LTE/3G module  120 . In the case where the PTT function is selected, the application module  111  transmits the speech signals inputted at the microphone  115  via the LMR module  130 . 
         [0024]    In the case of transmitting signals with the PoC function or the PTT function, it is possible to receive signals by using the other module that is not used for transmission. Namely, in the case of transmitting signals using the PoC function, it is possible to receive speech signals from the PTT based network by using the LMR module  130 . Similarly, in the case of transmitting signals using the PTT function, it is possible to receive speech signals from the PoC based network by using the LTE/3G module  120 . 
         [0025]    In the case of not transmitting any signals, both of the LTE/3G module  120  and the LMR module  130  may be set in a receiving waiting state, or either one of them may be selectively set in a receiving waiting state. 
         [0026]    Now, a configuration of a communication system containing the hybrid terminal  100  ( 100   a,    100   b ) of the present invention will be described with references further to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . 
         [0027]    Radio terminals  200   a,    200   b  are connected to an LMR wireless base station  401 . The radio terminals  200   a,    200   b  transmit and receive information with respect to a server on an LMR side (referred hereinafter as LMR server)  403  via an LMR network  402  (which may be the Internet). 
         [0028]    Cell phones  300   a,    300   b  are connected to an LTE/3G wireless base station  411 . The cell phones  300   a,    300   b  transmit and receive information with respect to a server on an LTE/3G side (referred hereinafter as LTE/3G server)  413  via an LTE/3G network  412  (which may be the Internet). 
         [0029]    Hybrid terminals  100   a,    100   b  are connected to the LMR wireless base station  401  and the LTE/3G wireless base station  411 . The hybrid terminals  100   a,    100   b  transmit and receive information with respect to the LMR server  403  via the LMR network  402 , and also transmit and receive information with respect to the LTE/3G server  413  via the LTE/3G network  412 . 
         [0030]    In the case of carrying out the transmission, the hybrid terminal  100   a  or  100   b  adds an information for identifying own terminal (referred hereinafter as terminal ID information) to a transmission information content. Here, this terminal ID information may be configured to be added or transmitted before the transmission information content, whenever the transmission operation is carried out. In this way, it becomes possible to check which terminal&#39;s information it is before the transmission information content arrives at a time of receiving. 
         [0031]    Between the LMR server  403  and the LTE/3G server  413 , a prescribed conversion is carried out with respect to information to be exchanged, such that an exchange of information between different networks becomes possible. Here, as far as a portion related to the terminal ID information is concerned, a conversion of information may be made in a format that can be recognized at least by the hybrid terminal. For example, at the LTE/3G server  413 , the terminal ID information that is added before the information transmitted by the hybrid terminal  100   a  or  100   b  may be converted into a format that can be interpreted by the LMR server  403 , without applying any conversion to the transmission information content. 
       &lt;First Exemplary Case&gt; 
       [0032]    In  FIG. 2 , the operation in the case where the hybrid terminal  100   a  carried out the transmission of information by the PoC operation will be described. In carrying out the transmission of information by the PoC operation, the hybrid terminal  100   a  adds the terminal ID information before the information to be transmitted. The terminal ID information and the transmission information content transmitted by the hybrid terminal  100   a  are supplied to the LTE/3G server  413  via the LTE/3G wireless base station  411  and the LTE/3G network  412 . 
         [0033]    The LTE/3G server  413  converts the acquired information from a PoC based format to a PTT based format, and supplies the converted information to the LMR server  403 . Here, at a time of converting information into the PTT based format, a transmission format alone may be converted without applying any conversion to the content of the terminal ID information that is added before the transmission information content. The LMR server  403  acquires this information that has been converted such that it can be interpreted by the PTT based network, and multicasts this information via the LMR network  402  and the LMR wireless base station  401 . 
         [0034]    The information that is transmitted from the LMR wireless base station  401  in this way is then received by the radio terminals  200   a,    200   b  and the hybrid terminal  100   b  that are connected to the LMR network  402 . 
         [0035]    Here, even at the hybrid terminal  100   a  that has transmitted the information to the PoC based network, it is possible to receive the information that has been transmitted from the LMR wireless base station  401 . However, in the case where the transmitted information is the speech information taken from the microphone  115  of the hybrid terminal  100   a,  if the received information were to be reproduced from the speaker  114  of the hybrid terminal  100   a,  there would be a possibility of giving adverse effects such as howling. 
         [0036]    For this reason, the hybrid terminal  100   a  that has transmitted the information detects the terminal ID information added before the transmission information content, and compares it to see if it is the same terminal ID information as the terminal ID information of the own terminal or not. When it is the same terminal ID information, the hybrid terminal  100   a  does not receive any subsequent information, or does not carry out a signal processing after receiving. Here, it is assumed that the hybrid terminal  100   a  receives the information but prohibits the reproduction from the speaker  114  in the case where the received information is the speech information. 
         [0037]    It is also possible to contemplate the case of disconnecting the connection on the LMR side here. In that case, however, if an emergency communication occurs on the LMR side during the transmission, it would be impossible to receive this emergency communication. 
         [0038]    In the above description, the hybrid terminal  100   a  added the terminal ID information before the information to be transmitted, but it may be possible to make the LTE/3G server  413  to add the terminal ID information if the LTE/3G server  413  is capable of individually identifying each hybrid terminal  100   a  or  100   b,  rather than transmitting the terminal ID information from each hybrid terminal  100   a  or  100   b.  Note however that the terminal ID information to be added by the LTE/3G server  413  should be the terminal ID information that can be recognized by the relevant hybrid terminal itself. 
       &lt;Second Exemplary Case&gt; 
       [0039]      FIG. 3  shows the case where the hybrid terminal  100   a  carried out the transmission of information by the PTT operation, in the same system configuration as in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0040]    In carrying out the transmission of information by the PTT operation, the hybrid terminal  100   a  adds the terminal ID information before the information to be transmitted. The terminal ID information and the transmission information content transmitted by the hybrid terminal  100   a  are supplied to the LMR server  403  via the LMR wireless base station  401  and the LMR network  402 . 
         [0041]    The LMR server  403  converts the acquired information from a PTT based format to a PoC based format, and supplies the converted information to the LTE/3G server  413 . Here, at a time of converting information into the PoC based format, a transmission format alone may be converted without applying any conversion to the content of the terminal ID information that is added before the transmission information content. 
         [0042]    The LTE/3G server  413  acquires this information that has been converted such that it can be interpreted by the PoC based network, and multicasts this information via the LTE/3G network  412  and the LTE/3G wireless base station  411 . 
         [0043]    The information that is transmitted from the LTE/3G wireless base station  411  in this way is then received by the cell phones  300   a,    300   b  and the hybrid terminal  100   b  that are connected to the LTE/3G network  412 . 
         [0044]    Here, even at the hybrid terminal  100   a  that has transmitted the information to the PTT based network, it is possible to receive the information that has been transmitted from the LTE/3G wireless base station  411 . However, in the case where the transmitted information is the speech information taken from the microphone  115  of the hybrid terminal  100   a,  if the received information were to be reproduced from the speaker  114  of the hybrid terminal  100   a,  there would be a possibility of giving adverse effects such as howling. 
         [0045]    For this reason, the hybrid terminal  100   a  that has transmitted the information detects the terminal ID information added before the transmission information content, and compares it to see if it is the same terminal ID information as the terminal ID information of the own terminal or not. When it is the same terminal ID information, the hybrid terminal  100   a  does not receive any subsequent information, or does not carry out a signal processing after receiving. Here, it is assumed that the hybrid terminal  100   a  receives the information but prohibits the reproduction from the speaker  114  in the case where the received information is the speech information. 
         [0046]    It is also possible to contemplate the case of disconnecting the connection on the LTE/3G side here. In that case, however, if an emergency communication occurs on the LTE/3G side during the transmission, it would be impossible to receive this emergency communication. 
         [0047]    In the above description, the hybrid terminal  100   a  added the terminal ID information before the information to be transmitted, but it may be possible to make the LMR server  403  to add the terminal ID information if the LMR server  403  is capable of individually identifying each hybrid terminal  100   a  or  100   b,  rather than transmitting the terminal ID information from each hybrid terminal  100   a  or  100   b.  Note however that the terminal ID information to be added by the LMR server  403  should be the terminal ID information that can be recognized by the relevant hybrid terminal itself. 
       &lt;Third Exemplary Case&gt; 
       [0048]    The third exemplary case contemplates a situation in which the hybrid terminal  100   a ,  100   b  is originally in the receiving waiting state at either the LTE/3G module  120  or the LMR module  130 , in the similar system configuration as in the first exemplary case. In  FIG. 4 , the hybrid terminal  100   a  is in the receiving waiting state at the LMR module  130 , and the hybrid terminal  100   b  is in the receiving waiting state at the LTE/3G module  120 . 
         [0049]    In this situation, when the emergency information is transmitted within the LTE/3G network  412 , the hybrid terminal  100   b  can receive the emergency information directly from the LTE/3G wireless base station  411 , but the hybrid terminal  100   a  cannot receive the emergency information directly from the LTE/3G wireless base station  411 . 
         [0050]    As described in the first exemplary case, the hybrid terminal  100   a  can be made to be able to receive information from the LMR wireless base station  401 , if the LTE/3G server  413  is made to convert the acquired information from the PoC based format to the PTT based format and supply the converted information to the LMR server  403 . However, in the case where the emergency information is transmitted as data of large capacity containing image data, for example, the LMR network  402  may take a long time for transmission, or may have a possibility of being unable to transmit information completely. 
         [0051]    In order to avoid such a trouble, when the emergency information is received, the LTE/3G server  413  commands the LMR server  403  to detect one hybrid terminal that can be connected to the LTE/3G wireless base station  411  among the hybrid terminals that are currently connected to the LMR wireless base station  401  but not connected to the LTE/3G wireless base station  411 , and makes that one hybrid terminal to connect to the LTE/3G wireless base station  411 . If that one hybrid terminal is the hybrid terminal  100   a,  the hybrid terminal  100   a  switches from the receiving waiting state at the LMR module  130  to the receiving waiting state at the LTE/3G  120  according to the command received via the LMR wireless base station  401 , such that the hybrid terminal  100   a  can receive the emergency information directly from the LTE/3G wireless base station  411 . 
         [0052]    The third exemplary case has been an exemplary case where the hybrid terminal  100   a  is originally in the receiving waiting state at the LMR module  130 , and when the emergency information is transmitted within the LTE/3G network  412 , the hybrid terminal  100   a  is made to switch to the receiving waiting state at the LTE/3G module  120 . Alternatively, it may be possible to make the configuration such that the hybrid terminal  100   a  is originally in the receiving waiting state at the LTE/3G module  120 , and when the emergency information is transmitted within the LMR network  402 , the hybrid terminal  100   a  is made to switch to the receiving waiting state at the LMR module  130 . 
         [0053]    Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that any changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.