Patent Publication Number: US-2007099631-A1

Title: Communication mode switching system and method for the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      (1) Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to a communication mode switching system and a method thereof, and more particularly to a system and a method that can alter the communication mode according to position information of a mobile communication apparatus.  
      (2) Description of the Prior Art  
      Currently, most of mobile communication apparatuses have mode switching functions. Users can switch around various communication modes to determine a proper one that most suitable for the environment. Yet, in the case that a proper communication mode is not used due to whatever reasons, ill-communication problems resulted from the misuse of the communication mode may arise to bother the users.  
      To compensate possible misuse in communication modes, some operation control station have been setup in some fixed locations so as to remote control the mode switch of the neighboring mobile communication apparatuses. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional setup of an operation control station and the a typical mobile communication apparatus is shown in a block diagram. The communication mode of the mobile communication apparatus  12  can be controlled by the operation control station  11 . the operation control station  11  includes a mode controller  13  and a mode broadcaster  14 . the mobile communication apparatus  12  includes a mode receiver  15  and a processing unit  16 .  
      In the operation control station  11 , the mode controller  13  is used to generate a mode signal  131  that is then forwarded to the mode broadcaster  14 . The mode signal  131  can be contains setup by an operation end, or built-in data of the mode controller  13 . The mode broadcaster  14  is used to encode the incoming mode signal  131  into a radio signal  141  that is further forwarded wirelessly to the mode receiver  15  of the mobile communication apparatus  12 .  
      In the mobile communication apparatus  12 , the mode receiver  15  is used to decode the radio signal  141  back into the mode signal  131  that is further forwarded to the processing unit  16 . After receiving the mode signal  131 , the processing unit  16  can then switch its communication mode.  
      In the aforesaid art, the communication mode of the mobile communication apparatus  12  is remotely switched and controlled by the operation control station  11 . However, such a switching is possible if and only if the mobile communication apparatus  12  is located adjacent at a limit distance to the operation control station  11 . That is to say that, if the mobile communication apparatus  12  is operated beyond the work region of the operation control station, the mode switching would never happen to the mobile communication apparatus  12  even that the mode switch is urgent needed.  
      Therefore, a more convenient and less location-oriented communication mode switching system and its application method are definitely welcome to the ordinary skilled person in the art.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication mode switching system and a method thereof. In particular, the mobile communication apparatus utilizing the system can determine a proper communication mode based on its position information.  
      In the present invention, the communication mode switching system is applicable to most of the mobile communication apparatuses for switching the operational communication mode. The communication mode switching system comprises a database, a positioning module, a communication module, and a processing module. The database is for storing at least a communication mode, parameters of the communication mode. The correspondence table is for providing mapping relationships between the communication modes and the position information. The positioning module is for receiving a radio signal, for example, the radio signal from satellites of the global position system (GPS), for further calculating the current position information of the concerned mobile communication apparatus. The processing module for comparing the position information with the correspondence table to obtain the communication mode corresponding to the position information. After the proper communication mode is determined, the corresponding parameters are updated to the communication module so as to further direct the mobile communication apparatus to switch to the proper communication mode.  
      All these objects are achieved by the communication mode switching system and the method thereof described below. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will now be specified with reference to its preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a conventional operation control station and a typical mobile communication apparatus;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the communication mode switching system in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the method for the communication mode switching system of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the communication mode of blocking incoming calls in accordance with the present invention; and  
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the communication mode of answering automatically the incoming messages in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The invention disclosed herein is directed to a communication mode switching system and a method thereof. In the following description, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention. In other instance, well-known components are not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a preferred embodiment of the communication mode switching system in accordance with the present invention is shown. The communication mode switching system is applicable to most of mobile communication apparatuses for switching their operational communication modes. As shown, the communication mode switching system comprises an operation interface  21 , a positioning module  22 , a processing module  23 , a database  24 , and a communication module  25 . The operation interface  21  is provided to the users for setting up various communication modes and respective parameters for those communication modes, and also for determining correspondence table for elucidating the mapping relationships between position information and the communication modes. The positioning module  22  can comprise an antenna  221  and a calculation unit  222 . The antenna  221  is for receiving a radio signal, for example, the radio signal from satellites of the global position system (GPS), for further calculating the position information  26  of the mobile communication apparatus. The position information  26  is further provided to the processing module  23 . For the technique of obtaining the position information  26  from the positioning module  22  is a technique well known to an ordinary skilled person in the art and also not the topic of the present invention, details regarding such a technique are omitted herein. The processing module  23  stores the correspondence table, the communication modes and the respective parameters, setup by the users through the operation interface  21 , into the database  24  to complete the fore-setup procedure.  
      Furthermore, the processing module  23  compares the position information  26  of the concerned mobile communication mode with the correspondence table stored in the database  24  so as to obtain a proper or optimal communication mode. After the proper communication mode is determined, the corresponding parameters are retrieved from the database  24  and further updated to the communication module  25 . In the present invention, the database  24  can also be used to store various brief messages that may be forwarded to the communication module  25  along with the communication modes. The processing module  23  can update the parameters of the proper communication mode to the communication module  25 , and then the communication module  25  directs the operation of the mobile communication apparatus in accordance with the new parameters of its updated communication mode. In the present invention, the communication modes for switching comprise a mode of stopping any dialing of the mobile communication apparatus, a mode of limiting dialing to specific calling parties, a mode of limiting specific calling patterns, a mode of blocking all the incoming calls, a mode of accepting only specific incoming calls, a mode of accepting only specific calling patterns, a mode of forwarding the incoming calls, a mode of answering automatically the incoming messages, a mode of sending automatically the outgoing messages, a mode of switching to a vibration mode, and a mode of switching to a silent mode, of the mobile communication apparatus.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the method for the communication mode switching system in accordance with the present invention is shown. The method comprises the step of:  
      Step  310 : Storing communication modes and parameters for the communication modes into a database;  
      Step  320 : Storing a correspondence table into the database, wherein the correspondence table elucidate mapping relationships between the communication modes and the position information;  
      Step  330 : Receiving a radio signal and further calculating the current position information of the mobile communication apparatus;  
      Step  340 : comparing the current position information with correspondence table to obtain the corresponding communication mode corresponding to the position information;  
      Step  350 : Determining whether a communication mode is needed to be switched;  
      Step  360 : Updating the corresponding parameters of the new communication mode into a communication module; and  
      Step  370 : Controlling the mobile communication apparatus based on the parameters of the corresponding communication mode.  
      In the foregoing procedures, the radio signals for determining the position information can be provided by satellites of the GPS. In the present invention, the method can further comprise a step of setting up the communication modes and the respective parameters of the communication modes. In addition, the method can further comprise a step of setting the relationship between the communication mode and the position information into the correspondence table.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the communication mode of blocking incoming calls of the method in accordance with the present invention is shown. Switching of this communication mode includes the steps of:  
      Step  410 : Begin;  
      Step  420 : Confirming the current position information;  
      Step  430 : Obtaining a communication mode respective to the current position information;  
      Step  440 : Determining whether a communication mode is needed to be switched;  
      Step  450 : Setting up the communication mode to block all incoming calls; and  
      Step  460 : End.  
      In the foregoing procedures, the user end can refer the mode of blocking all incoming calls to some specific locations such as libraries, conference room, and so on in the correspondence table.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the communication mode of answering automatically the incoming messages of the method in accordance with the present invention is shown. Switching of this communication mode includes the steps of:  
      Step  510 : Begin;  
      Step  520 : Confirming the current position information;  
      Step  530 : Obtaining a communication mode respective to the current position information;  
      Step  540 : Determining whether a communication mode is needed to be switched;  
      Step  550 : Setting up the communication mode to block all incoming calls;  
      Step  560 : Setting up the communication mode also to answer automatically the incoming messages; and  
      Step  570 : End.  
      In the foregoing procedures, the user end can refer the mode of answering automatically all the incoming messages to some specific locations such as libraries, conference room, and so on in the correspondence table so as to avoid possible bothering of incoming calls but inform the calling ends that the response calls can be expected late on or that the receiving end is busy.  
      In the present invention, a specific mode of sending automatically messages to a specific end can be included, which can be applicable to the mobile communication apparatus carried by kids. In such an application, the receiving end can be the kids&#39; parents, and the specific positions may include schools, extension education units, homes and so on. As soon as the kids arrive any of the aforesaid positions, the communication mode switching system of the present invention would immediately send messages to their parents to inform their safety arrival.  
      While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.