Abstract:
The present invention relates to a communication system. The communication system includes a handheld communication device embedding a primary communication module therein, and a secondary communication apparatus. The primary communication module is configured for communicating with the secondary communication apparatus in a predetermined area. When a user of the handheld communication device forgets the handheld communication device halfway, an incoming call of ring tones of the handheld communication device don&#39;t annoy and affect others around. The present invention also provides an incoming call prompting method for supporting the aforementioned communication system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a communication system, and more particularly, to a handheld communication device and a secondary communication apparatus. 
         [0003]    2. General Background 
         [0004]    Handheld communication devices (e.g., mobile phones) generally provide a plurality of notification settings from a menu of sound settings, such as a ring tone, a vibration, and a combination of a ring tone and a vibration. When receiving an incoming call, a mobile phone will alert a user by the notification settings predetermined or set by the user of the mobile phone. Generally, the mobile phone is frequently set to ring. Accordingly, when the user hears the ringing from the mobile phone, the user may answer the incoming call. If the user is beyond the audible range of the ringing of the mobile phone, the mobile phone will ring repeatedly. If no one answers the incoming call, the mobile phone will stop ringing after a period of time (e.g., about fifty seconds), which may be a default time or set by the user. 
         [0005]    In some public places that require quiet, such as offices, classrooms, etc, calls that go unanswered may become an audible ringing noise, and annoy nearby people. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a system that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]    A communication system is provided. The communication system includes a handheld communication device and a secondary communication apparatus, wherein the handheld communication device includes a detecting unit for detecting an incoming call; a primary communication module, for communicating with the secondary communication apparatus in a predetermined area; a CPU, for invoking the primary communication module to send a search signal to the secondary communication apparatus when the detecting unit detects the incoming call, and for deactivating a predetermined alert type of the handheld communication device when the primary communication module receives a response signal from the secondary communication apparatus. 
         [0008]    An incoming call prompting method adapted for a handheld communication device is provided. Wherein the handheld communication device includes a primary communication module for communicating with a secondary communication apparatus in a predetermined area, the method includes the steps of: (a) detecting an incoming call; (b) sending a search signal to the secondary communication apparatus; (c) receiving a response signal from the secondary communication apparatus; and (d) deactivating a predetermined alert type of the handheld communication device. 
         [0009]    Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to measuring scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the communication system. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a hardware infrastructure of a communication system for prompting an incoming call in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of the handheld communication device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of the secondary communication apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating a preferred incoming call prompting method which is performed by the communication system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a hardware infrastructure of a communication system for prompting an incoming call in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The communication system  1  includes a handheld communication device  10  (hereinafter “the device”) and a secondary communication apparatus  20  (hereinafter “the apparatus”). The device  10  is a communication terminal such as a mobile phone, a PDA, etc. The apparatus  20  is a wireless accessory of the device  10 , and is carried by owner of the device  10 ; for example, the apparatus  20  can be worn on the wrist of the owner, or pinned on the owner&#39;s clothes. The device  10  includes a primary communication module  100 . The primary communication module  100  is configured for communicating with the apparatus  20  in a predetermined area. The predetermined area may be a range where the owner of the device  10  can successfully answer an incoming call from the device  10 , e.g. ten meters between the device  10  and the apparatus  20 . The primary communication module  100  and the apparatus  20  may be Bluetooth modules or radio frequency identification (RFID) modules. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of the device  10 . The device  10  includes an antenna  170 , a radio frequency (RF) unit  110 , a detecting unit  120 , a central processing unit (CPU)  130 , a storage unit  140 , a display unit  150  (e.g., liquid crystal display (LCD)), a primary communication module  100 , an input unit  160 , and a timing unit  180 . The input unit  160  typically includes a plurality of input keys. The antenna  170  and the RF unit  110  are configured for communicating with an external wireless communication network (not shown). The wireless communication network may be a global system for mobile communication (GSM), a code division multiple access (CDMA), a general packet radio service (GPRS), or any other wireless network. The detecting unit  120  is configured for detecting the incoming call via the antenna  170  and the RF unit  110 . 
         [0017]    The CPU  130 , electrically coupled to the detecting unit  120 , is configured for controlling the primary communication module  100  to process the incoming call from the detecting unit  120 . When the detecting unit  120  detects the incoming call, the CPU  130  invokes the primary communication module  100  to send a search signal for detecting whether the apparatus  20  is in the predetermined area. If the primary communication module  100  does not receive a response signal from the apparatus  20 , meaning a distance between the device  10  and the apparatus  20  exceeds the predetermined area or the apparatus  20  is turned off, the CPU  130  activates a predetermined alert type. If the primary communication module  100  receives the response signal from the apparatus  20  in the predetermined area, the CPU  130  deactivates the predetermined alert type. The predetermined alert type of the device  10  may be a ring tone, a vibration, or a combination of a ring tone and a vibration. When receiving the search signal from the device  10 , the apparatus  20  prompts the owner that the device  10  has the incoming call through a predetermined manner, such as a flash, a vibration, etc. 
         [0018]    The timing unit  180  is configured for measuring time. When the detecting unit  120  detects the incoming call, the timing unit  180  starts to measure time. If the CPU  130  receives an answer signal for the incoming call generated from the input unit  160 , the timing unit  180  stops measuring time. If the CPU  130  does not receive the answer signal for the incoming call and the measured time exceeds a predetermined time (e.g., about fifty seconds), the timing unit  180  stops measuring time. The CPU  130  disconnects a communication with the incoming call, and establishes a missed call record. The missed call record includes a telephone number or a name of a caller of the missed call, a date of the missed call, and a time of the missed call. The storage unit  140  stores the missed call record. The display unit  150 , electrically coupled to the CPU  130 , is configured for displaying information under controls of the CPU  130 . 
         [0019]    The primary communication module  100  includes a sending unit  102 , a processing unit  104 , and a receiving unit  106 . When the detecting unit  120  detects the incoming call from the wireless communication network, the CPU  130  controls the processing unit  104  of the primary communication module  100  to invoke the sending unit  102  to send the search signal to the apparatus  20 . The processing unit  104  detects whether the receiving unit  106  receives the response signal from the apparatus  20 . If the receiving unit  106  receives the response signal, the processing unit  104  sends a first signal to the CPU  130  indicative of receiving the response signal. The CPU  130  deactivates the predetermined alert type in response to the first signal. If the receiving unit  106  does not receive the response signal from the apparatus  20 , the processing unit  104  sends a second signal to the CPU  130  indicative of not receiving the response signal. The CPU  130  activates the predetermined alert type in response to the second signal. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of the secondary communication apparatus  20 . The apparatus  20  includes a power source  200 , a power management unit  210 , a switch  220 , a communicating unit  230 , and a prompting unit  240 . The power source  200  is configured for supplying power to all units of the apparatus  20 . The power management unit  210  is configured for controlling the power source  200  and connecting the power source  200  to the switch  220 . When the switch  220  is not actuated, the power management unit  210  controls the power source  200  to stop supplying power, meaning the apparatus  20  is turned off. When the switch  220  is actuated, the power management unit  210  controls the power source  200  to supply power to the apparatus  20  and the apparatus  20  receives the search signal from the device  10  in the predetermined area. 
         [0021]    The communicating unit  230  is configured for receiving the search signal from the primary communication module  100  and sending the response signal to the primary communication module  100 . When receiving the search signal from the primary communication module  100 , the communicating unit  230  sends the response signal to the primary communication module  100  in the predetermined area. The prompting unit  240 , electrically coupled to the communicating unit  230 , is configured for prompting the owner that the device  10  has the incoming call through the predetermined manner after the communicating unit  230  receives the search signal. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating a preferred incoming call prompting method which is performed by the communication system  1 . In step S 400 , the device  10  is in an idle state, meaning the device  10  is turned on but is not currently being used by the owner of the device  10 , and the detecting unit  120  detects the incoming call. In step S 410 , the CPU  130  invokes the timing unit  180  to start to measure time. In step S 420 , the sending unit  102  of the primary communication module  100  sends the search signal to the apparatus  20 . In step S 430 , the primary communication module  100  detects whether the response signal from the apparatus  20  is received. If the primary communication module  100  does not receive the response signal from the apparatus  20 , in step S 440 , and the CPU  130  activates a predetermined alert type of the device  10 . 
         [0023]    If the primary communication module  100  receives the response signal, in step S 450 , the CPU  130  deactivates the predetermined alert type. In step S 460 , the CPU  130  determines whether it receives the answer signal for the incoming call generated from the input unit  160 . If receiving the answer signal, in step S 465 , the CPU  130  invokes the timing unit  180  to stop measuring time. If the CPU  130  does not receive the answer signal, in step S 470 , the CPU  130  determines whether the measured time exceeds the predetermined time. If the measured time does not exceed the predetermined time, the flow returns to S 460 . If the measured time exceeds the predetermined time, in step S 480 , the CPU  130  invokes the timing unit  180  to stop measuring time. In step S 490 , the CPU  130  disconnects a communication with the incoming call, and established the missed call record. 
         [0024]    It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.