Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP0559187A1/en
Timestamp: 2019-06-18 15:30:56
Document Index: 542597942

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 23']

EP0559187A1 - Adapter for connecting a portable telephone to a mobile telephone - Google Patents
Adapter for connecting a portable telephone to a mobile telephone Download PDF
EP0559187A1
EP0559187A1 EP19930103440 EP93103440A EP0559187A1 EP 0559187 A1 EP0559187 A1 EP 0559187A1 EP 19930103440 EP19930103440 EP 19930103440 EP 93103440 A EP93103440 A EP 93103440A EP 0559187 A1 EP0559187 A1 EP 0559187A1
EP19930103440
EP0559187B1 (en
Tetsuya C/O Fujitsu Limited Hanawa
Akihide c/o Fujitsu Limited Nishiyama
Hideki c/o Fujitsu Limited Kurebayashi
Kunio C/O Fujitsu Limited Watanabe
Hideharu c/o Fujitsu Limited Suzuki
Isao c/o Fujitsu Limited Fudemoto
1992-03-06 Priority to JP49466/92 priority Critical
1992-03-06 Priority to JP4946692A priority patent/JP3054893B2/en
1992-03-09 Priority to JP50938/92 priority
1992-03-09 Priority to JP5093892 priority
1993-03-03 Application filed by Fujitsu Ltd filed Critical Fujitsu Ltd
1993-09-08 Publication of EP0559187A1 publication Critical patent/EP0559187A1/en
1998-11-04 Publication of EP0559187B1 publication Critical patent/EP0559187B1/en
A mobile telephone unit includes at least one portable mobile telephone (8) having a first connector (8b), a communication unit body (1) having at least an external connection terminal part (6), a radio transmitter/receiver (2), a baseband processor (3), a communication control part (4) and a handset part (5), and a buffer unit (7). The buffer unit (7) has a second connector (7a) which is connectable to the external connection terminal part (6) of the communication unit body (1), a third connector (7b) which is connectable to the first connector (8b) of the portable mobile telephone (8) which is mounted on the buffer unit (7), an identifying circuit (9) for identifying communication conditions of the portable mobile telephone (8) which is mounted on the buffer unit (7), and a control signal transmitting circuit (10) for notifying the communication conditions identified by the identifying circuit (9) to the communication control part (4) of the communication unit body (1), so that the communication control part (4) of communication unit body (1) changes or converts the communication conditions responsive to the notified communication conditions.
The services of portable mobile telephones and automobile telephones are expanding, and the number of subscribers are increasing with this expansion. The portable mobile telephone is convenient to carry around because it is light. However, the portable mobile telephone uses an antenna with a relatively small gain and a transmission output of the portable mobile telephone is relatively small, thereby restricting the environment in which the portable mobile telephone can make a call. On the other hand, the automobile telephone can use an antenna with a relatively large gain, but the automobile telephone is heavy and is unsuited to carry around. Accordingly, there are demands to provide in one mobile telephone the advantageous features of both the portable mobile telephone and the automobile telephone.
FIG.1 is a system block diagram for explaining an example of a conventional automobile telephone system and portable mobile telephone system. In FIG.1, at least one of the communications company, the connecting conditions and the radio frequencies differs between two mobile communication networks 50 and 60.
The portable mobile telephones 54 and 55 and the automobile telephone 56 make transmission and reception between the base stations 52-1 through 52-n. Similarly, the portable mobile telephones 64 and 65 and the automobile telephone 66 make transmission and reception between the base stations 62-1 through 62-m. FIG.1 shows a case where the user of the portable telephone 55 rides in an automobile and uses the antenna or the like of the automobile telephone 56, and the user of the portable telephone 65 rides in an automobile and uses the antenna or the like of the automobile telephone 66.
In addition, the automobile telephones 56 and 66 uses the battery of the automobile as the power unit, that is, a battery which has a relatively large capacity. The automobile telephones 56 and 66 use an antenna which has a relatively large gain and is designed for use on an automobile, so as to make the transmission and reception with one of the base stations 52-1 through 52-n and 62-1 through 62-m. Hence, the radio frequency used by the automobile telephones 56 and 66 is in the 800 MHz band, and the transmission output is approximately 5 W.
The portable telephone of the type described above may be carried when riding the automobile, and an adapter for connecting the portable telephone to the automobile telephone has been proposed. Such a connection is shown in FIG.1 as a connection of the portable telephone 55 and the automobile telephone 56 and a connection of the portable telephone 65 and the automobile telephone 66. The proposed adapter connects the portable telephone to the automobile antenna which has the larger gain than that of the portable telephone, and also connects the portable telephone to the battery of the automobile having the larger capacity than that of the portable telephone. There has also been a proposal to connect the portable telephone to the automobile telephone via the adapter such as a cable so that a radio transmitter/receiver part of the automobile telephone can be utilized by the portable telephone.
Furthermore, there are many communications companies providing the portable telephone services, and the connecting conditions between the base station and the portable telephone, the radio frequencies and the like differ among the different communications companies. As a result, if a subscriber subscribes to one communications company, this subscriber can connect and communicate via the base station of this one communications company but cannot connect to the base stations of other communications companies. In addition, even in the case of the same communications company, the radio frequency band may be insufficient and different radio frequency bands may be used depending on the service area. Moreover, the communication system may be different among the communications companies, that is, one communications company may employ an analog system and another communications company may employ a digital system.
On the other hand, if the communications company providing the portable mobile telephone service and the communications company providing the automobile telephone service differ, there was a problem in that the portable telephone cannot use the radio transmitter/receiver part of the automobile telephone. In addition, even if the same communications company provides the portable mobile telephone service and the automobile telephone service, the portable telephone cannot use the radio transmitter/receiver part of the automobile telephone if the radio frequency bands used by the portable telephone and the automobile telephone differ.
In addition, if two or more people carry their portable telephones when riding the same automobile, the proposed adapter can only connect one of the portable telephones to the automobile telephone. The connection of the other portable telephones to the automobile telephone must wait until the call using the connected portable telephone is finished. After the call is finished, the user must perform the troublesome operation of disconnecting the connected portable telephone from the adapter and then connecting another portable telephone to the adapter. Therefore, there was a problem in that a satisfactory service cannot be provided if two or more people carry their portable telephones when rising the same automobile such as a bus which is mounted with the automobile telephone.
FIG.2 shows an example of a conventional mobile telephone unit. In FIG.2, a portable telephone 100 includes a man-machine interface and a communication controller. The man-machine interface includes a microphone 111, a speaker 112, a display 113, a keyboard 114, and a central processing unit (CPU) 115 which controls the display 113 and the keyboard 114. The communication controller includes a CPU 101, a read only memory (ROM) 102 which prestores programs for executing software operations of the CPU 101, a random access memory (RAM) 103 for writing and reading data which are used for the control, and a programmable ROM 104 such as an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) which prestores non-volatile information such as dialing numbers and identification (ID) information.
A switch 116 is provided between the man-machine interface and the communication controller of the portable telephone 100. The man-machine interface and the communication controller are connected when the switch 116 is connected to a terminal A, and information can be exchanged in this case. The data from the CPU 101 and an audio signal from the microphone 111 are modulated by being passed through a baseband circuit 105 and a transmitter/receiver 106, and are transmitted to a base station (not shown) via an antenna 107. On the other hand, a radio signal from the base station is received by the transmitter/receiver 106 via the antenna 107 and is demodulated by being passed through the baseband circuit 105. Hence, the received audio signal is supplied to the speaker 112 via the switch 116, and the received data is supplied to the CPU 101.
On the other hand, an automobile telephone 200 includes a communication controller, a transmitter/receiver 206 and an antenna 207 which are fixedly provided on an automobile (not shown). The communication controller includes a CPU 210, a ROM 202 and a RAM 203. A handset 220 is connected to the communication controller via a signal interface. The handset 220 includes a microphone 211, a speaker 212, a display 213, a keyboard 214 and a CPU 215, similarly to the man-machine interface of the portable telephone 100. The microphone 211 is used to input the voice which is to be transmitted , and the speaker 212 is used to output the received voice. The display 213 displays the input from the keyboard 214, information related to the received data and the like.
According to this mobile telephone unit shown in FIG.2, the CPU 201 and the baseband circuit 205 within the automobile telephone 200 and the CPU 101 and the baseband circuit 105 within the portable telephone 100 can be switched and connected to the man-machine interface (111-115) of the portable telephone 100 via the switch 116. Hence, when connecting the portable telephone 100 and the automobile telephone 200, the switch 116 is connected to a terminal B, so that the man-machine interface (111-115) of the portable telephone 100 is connected to the automobile telephone 200.
The control functions of the CPU 101 within the portable telephone 100 include a man-machine interface task 310 and a communication task 302 as shown in FIG.3. The CPU 115 includes a display-keyboard control function 204. The exchange of information between the control functions of the CPU 100 and the display-keyboard control function 304 of the CPU 115 is prescribed as an interface 303. On the other hand, the control functions of the CPU 201 within the automobile telephone 200 includes a man-machine interface task 401 and a communication task 402 as shown in FIG.3. In addition, the CPU 215 of the handset 220 includes a display-keyboard control function 404.
When connecting the portable telephone 100 and the automobile telephone 200, the switch 116 is connected to the terminal B. Hence, the exchange of information between the display-keyboard control function 304 of the CPU 115 within the portable telephone 100 and the man-machine interface task 401 within the automobile telephone 200 is made via an interface 403 as shown in FIG.3. In other words, the portable telephone 100 is used in place of the handset 220, and the man-machine interface task 401 and the communication task 402 are carried out by the automobile telephone 200.
FIG.4 shows another example of a conventional mobile telephone unit. In FIG.4, those parts which are the same as those corresponding parts in FIG.2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.
In FIG.4, the transmitter/receiver 106 of a portable telephone 500 includes a modulator 501, a transmitting amplifier 502, a transmitter/receiver duplexer 503, a receiving amplifier 504 and a demodulator 505. A dependent contact of the transmitter/receiver duplexer 503 is connected to a movable contact of a switch 506. A terminal A of the switch 506 is connected to the antenna 107, and a terminal B of this switch 506 is connected to a radio frequency (RF) interface 510.
Accordingly, according to this conventional mobile telephone unit shown in FIG.4, when using the portable telephone 500 and the automobile telephone 600 in the connected state, the portable telephone 500 includes the man-machine interface task 301 and the communication function 302 of the CPU 101, and the display-keyboard control function 304 of the CPU 115, as shown in FIG.5. On the other hand, the automobile telephone 600 is used as a booster which only has the function of amplifying the transmitting signal and the received signal, and the high-frequency signals are exchanged via the RF interface 510.
Therefore, according to the conventional mobile telephone unit shown in FIG.2, even if the portable telephone 100 and the automobile telephone 200 are connected, the automobile telephone 200 must be provided with the man-machine interface task 401 which matches the man-machine interface task 301 of the portable telephone 100 which has various man-machine interface functions depending on each user, in order to standardize the operating method and functions between the case where the portable telephone 100 is used by itself and the case where the portable telephone 100 is connected to the automobile telephone 200 and used.
On the other hand, according to the conventional mobile telephone unit shown in FIG.4, the call can only be made with the system to which the portable telephone 500 is subscribed, because the modem methods and the communication control methods differ among the systems. In order to enable the call to both the subscribed system of the portable telephone 500 and the subscribed system of the automobile telephone 600, the communication controller, the modulator and the demodulator must be designed to conform to the two different systems. As a result, even if a part of the circuitry is used in common between the two systems, it is still necessary to provide two independent circuit systems for a majority of parts of the communication controller, the modulator and the demodulator. In other words, the circuit construction becomes complex, and the cost of the unit becomes high. Furthermore, the software of the communication control function must be provided independently for the two systems.
FIG.1 is a system block diagram for explaining an example of a conventional automobile telephone system and a portable mobile telephone system;
FIG.2 is a system block diagram showing an example of a conventional mobile telephone unit;
FIG.3 is a diagram for explaining a control operation of the conventional mobile telephone unit shown in FIG.2;
FIG.4 is a system block diagram showing another example of a conventional mobile telephone unit;
FIG.5 is a diagram for explaining a control operation of the conventional mobile telephone unit shown in FIG.4;
FIG.6 is a system block diagram for explaining the operating principle of one aspect of the present invention;
FIG.7 is a system block diagram showing a first embodiment of a mobile telephone unit according to the present invention;
FIG.8 is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of a buffer unit shown in FIG.7;
FIG.9 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of a CPU of the buffer unit shown in FIG.8;
FIG.10 is a system block diagram showing a second embodiment of the mobile telephone unit according to the present invention;
FIG.11 is a system block diagram showing a third embodiment of the mobile telephone unit according to the present invention;
FIG.12 is a diagram for explaining a control operation of the third embodiment;
FIG.13 is a time chart for explaining a call out operation of the third embodiment;
FIG.14 is a time chart for explaining a call in operation of the third embodiment;
FIG.15 is a system block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the mobile telephone unit according to the present invention;
FIG.16 is a flow chart for explaining an initializing process of the third and fourth embodiments; and
FIGS.17 and 18 are flow charts for explaining the operation of the fourth embodiment.
First, a description will be given of the operating principle of one aspect of the present invention, by referring to FIG.6.
A communication unit body 1 shown in FIG.6 includes at least a radio transmitter/receiver 2 which is connected to an antenna 1a, a baseband processor 3, a communication control part 4, a handset part 5, and an external connection terminal part 6. In other words, the communication unit body 1 forms an automobile telephone. On the other hand, a buffer unit 7 has a construction which enables connection of a portable telephone 8 to the external connection terminal part 6 of the communication unit body 1.
Next, a description will be given of a first embodiment of a mobile telephone unit according to the present invention, by referring to FIG.7.
In FIG.7, a mobile telephone unit generally includes a communication unit body 11, a buffer unit 12 and a portable telephone 13. The communication unit body 11 is connected to a battery 14, an antenna 15, a handset 25, a hands-free microphone (HFM) 26, a hands-free speaker (HFS) 27, a hands-free dial (HFD) 28, a facsimile machine 29 and a personal computer 30.
In the communication unit body 11, the shared transmitter/receiver branching filter 16, the amplifier 17 and the radio processor 18 form the radio transmitter/receiver 2 shown in FIG.6. The baseband processor 19 corresponds to the baseband processor 3 shown in FIG.6. The communication controller 20, the logic controller 21 and the subscriber's number storage 22 form the communication control part 4 shown in FIG.6. Furthermore, the handset 25, the hands-free microphone 26, the hands-free speaker 27 and the hands-free dial 28 form the handset part 5 shown in FIG.6.
FIG.8 shows an embodiment of the buffer unit 12. The buffer unit 12 shown in FIG.8 includes the connectors 31 and 32, a CPU 36, a RAM 37, a ROM 38, an interface 39, an audio switch 40 and a charge controller 41. The functions of the identifying means 9 and the control signal transmitting means 10 shown in FIG.6 are realized by control processor functions of the CPU 36. The ROM 38 stores programs of the CPU 36 and the like. The connector 31 includes high-frequency signal terminals t1, power terminals t2, low-frequency signal terminals t3 for the audio signal or the like, and control signal terminals t4.
Because it is possible to automatically set the subscriber's number of the portable telephone 13 to the communication unit body 11, the user of the portable telephone 13 can receive the registered special services or the like even when riding the automobile by use of the automobile telephone which is made up of the communication unit body 11. In other words, the portable telephone 13 can be applied to the automobile telephone similarly to the manner in which an identification (ID) card is used.
Next, a description will be given of the operation of the CPU 36 of the buffer unit 12 when recognizing the communications company and the radio frequency band of the portable telephone 13 by the CPU 36, with reference to FIG.9.
The process shown in FIG.9 starts when the portable telephone 13 is connected to the communication unit body 11 via the buffer unit 12. A step S101 reads the subscriber's number of the portable telephone 13 from the subscriber's number storage 34 of the portable telephone 13. A step S102 recognizes the communications company to which the portable telephone 13 is subscribed based on the read subscriber's number. Then, a step S103 recognizes the radio frequency band of the portable telephone 13 based on the read subscriber's number. These steps S101 through S103 correspond to the functions of the identifying means 9 shown in FIG.6.
In addition, a step S104 notifies the recognizes communications company and radio frequency band to the communication unit body 11, and the process ends. This step S104 corresponds to the function of the control signal output means 10 shown in FIG.6.
Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the mobile telephone unit according to the present invention, by referring to FIG.10. In FIG.10, those parts which are the same as those corresponding parts in FIG.7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, the illustration of the battery, handset, facsimile machine, personal computer and the like in FIG.10 is omitted.
The functions of the identifying means 46 and the control signal transmitting means 47 of the buffer unit 45 can be realized by the control functions of the CPU and the like of the buffer unit 45 corresponding to the CPU 36 and the like shown in FIG.8.
The connector 31 of the buffer unit 45 is connected to the external connection terminal part 23 of the communication unit body 11, and the users of the portable telephones 13A, 13B and 13C connect the connectors (only 33A shown) of the portable telephones 13A, 13B and 13C to the connector 48 of the buffer unit 45 when riding the same automobile which is provided with the automobile telephone, that is, the communication unit body 11. The buffer unit 45 detects the mounting of the portable telephones 13A, 13B and 13C, and transfers to the communication unit body 11 the subscriber's numbers which are read from the subscriber's number storages (only 34A shown) of the portable telephones 13A, 13B and 13C using the function of the control signal transmitting means 47.
Accordingly, one of the users of the portable telephones 13A through 13C wishing to make a call can call via the communication unit body 11 using the subscriber's number of his portable telephone by carrying out a calling operation from the portable telephone or the hands-free dial of the communication unit body 11. In addition, a call to each one of the portable telephones 13A through 13C can be identified in the communication unit body 11 or the buffer unit 45, so as to alarm the user of the called portable telephone by a ringing bell or the like. In this case, it is possible easily identify the called portable telephone by displaying the called subscriber's number, for example.
Next, a description will be given of a third embodiment of the mobile telephone unit according to the present invention, by referring to FIGS.11 and 12. FIG.11 shows an essential part of the third embodiment, and FIG.12 is a diagram for explaining the control operation of the third embodiment.
In FIG.11, a portable telephone 710 is made up of a communication control part A, a baseband circuit 715, a transmitter/receiver 716, an antenna 717, a man-machine interface B, and a switch 723.
The CPU 731, the ROM 732, the RAM 733 and the EEPROM 734 which form the communication control part of the automobile telephone 730 carry out operations siimilar to those of the communication control part A of the portable telephone 710. In addition, the baseband circuit 35, the transmitter/receiver 736 and the antenna 737 carry out operations similar to those of the baseband circuit 715, the transmitter/receiver 716 and the antenna 717 of the portable telephone 710. However, the transmission output of the automobile telephone 730 is greater than that of the portable telephone 710.
As shown in FIG.12, the control functions of the CPU 711 of the portable telephone 710 includes a man-machine interface task (man-machine interface function) 751 and a communication task (communication control function) 752. The exchange of information between the tasks 751 and 752 is prescribed as an interface 753. In addition, the CPU 722 of the portable telephone 710 includes a display-keyboard control task 754.
On the other hand, the control functions of the CPU 731 of the automobile telephone 730 includes a communication task 755 and a man-machine interface task 758. When using the automobile telephone 730 by itself, the man-machine interface 758 exchanges information between the communication task 755 and a display-keyboard control task 756 which is a control function of the CPU 745 of the handset 740. When using the automobile telephone 730 in a state where the portable telephone 710 is connected thereto, only the man-machine interface 751 operates. By connecting the switch 723 of the portable telephone 710 to the terminal b in FIG.11, the microphone 718 and speaker 719 become connected to the baseband circuit 735 of the automobile telephone 730 via this switch 723.
When the portable telephone 710 and the automobile telephone 730 are connected in the above described manner, the necessary exchange of information between the man-machine interface task 751 of the CPU 711 within the portable telephone 710 and the communication task 755 of the CPU 731 within the automobile telephone 730 is made via an interface 757. This interface 757 is set the same as the interface 753 between the communication task 752 and the man-machine interface task 751 within the portable telephone 710. Hence, according to this embodiment, the man-machine interface task 751 of the portable telephone 710 is used when the automobile telephone 730 is used in the state where the portable telephone 710 is connected thereto, unlike the conventional mobile telephone units shown in FIGS.2 and 4.
Next, a description will be given of the operating sequence of the interface 753 of the portable telephone 710 when making a call out, by referring to FIG.13.
Next, a description a description will be given of the operating sequence of the interface 753 of the portable telephone 710 when making a call in, by referring to FIG.14.
If the portable telephone 710 and the automobile telephone 730 are connected, the operations identical to those shown in FIGS.13 and 14 are carried out between the man-machine interface task 751 and the communication task 755 via the interface 757. In this case, even if the man-machine interfaces differ between the portable telephone 710 and the automobile telephone 730, it is possible to always realize the same functions and operating methods as the portable telephone 710. For this reason, it is possible to connect a plurality of portable telephones 710 having different man-machine interfaces to one kind of automobile telephone 730, that is, to the same automobile telephone 730.
Next, a description will be given of a fourth embodiment of the mobile telephone unit according to the present invention, by referring to FIG.15. In FIG.15, those parts which are the same as those corresponding parts in FIG.11 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.
If the portable telephone 710 and the automobile telephone 730 are connected in the third embodiment shown in FIG.11, the communication control between the mobile telephone unit and the base station is carried out solely by the communication control part within the automobile telephone 730. For this reason, the mobile telephone unit can only communicate with a system to which the automobile telephone 730 can communicate. But in this fourth embodiment, measures are taken so that the mobile telephone unit can communicate with both systems to which the portable telephone and the automobile telephone can communicate, even if the two systems differ.
In FIG.15, a portable telephone 760 includes a switch 761 in addition to those elements of the portable telephone 710 shown in FIG.11. This portable telephone 760 can communicate with a first system. The transmitter/receiver 716 has a known modem circuit construction including a modulator 762, a transmitting amplifier 763, a transmitter/receiver duplexer 764, a receiving amplifier 765 and a demodulator 766.
The automobile telephone 780 includes a switch 781 and the transmitter/receiver duplexer 787 in addition to those elements of the automobile telephone 730 shown in FIG.11. In FIG.15, the construction of the transmitter/receiver 736 is shown so as to facilitate the understanding of the description, but the construction of the transmitter/receiver 736 may be the same as that of the transmitter/receiver 736 shown in FIG.11. More particularly, the transmitter/receiver 736 is shown as including a modulator 782, a transmitting amplifier 783, a transmitter/receiver duplexer 784, a receiving amplifier 785 and a demodulator 786. The switch 781 includes two linked switching parts. The switch 781 connects a transmitting output end of the transmitter/receiver duplexer 787 to an input end of the transmitting amplifier 783 and connects a receiving input end of the transmitter/receiver duplexer 787 to an output end of the receiving amplifier 785 when connected to the terminal a.
Next, a description will be given of the operation of this embodiment shown in FIG.15. When communicating with the first system by connecting the portable telephone 760 and the automobile telephone 780, the switch 723 is connected to the terminal a, the switch 761 is connected to the terminal b and the switch 781 is connected to the terminal a. Hence, the man-machine interface B of the portable telephone 760 is connected to the communication control part A and the baseband circuit 715 via the switch 723 and exchanges information therewith. In addition, a high-frequency signal (RF signal) is exchanged between the transmitter/receiver 716 and the transmitter/receiver circuit within the automobile telephone 780 via an RF interface 772.
Next, a description will be given of an initializing process of the third and fourth embodiments, by referring to FIG.16. This initializing process determines the connected/disconnected state of the portable telephone 710 (or 760) with respect to the automobile telephone 730 (or 780). In FIG.16, the process of the CPU 711 within the portable telephone 710 (or 760) is shown on the left hand side, and the process of the CPU 731 within the automobile telephone 730 (or 780) is shown on the right hand side.
In FIG.16, the CPU 711 transmits a connection confirmation signal to the automobile telephone 730 (or 780) in a step S201 when the power of the portable telephone 710 (or 760) is turned ON. The CPU 711 then decides whether or not a connection response signal is received from the automobile telephone 730 (or 780) in a step S202. If the decision result in the step S202 is YES, the CPU 711 determines that the portable telephone 710 (or 760) is connected to the automobile telephone 730 (or 780) in a step S203. In other words, a connected mode of the portable telephone 710 (or 760) is detected. After the step S203, the communication task 752 of the portable telephone 710 (or 760) is made inactive, and the man-machine interface task 751 is made active.
But if the decision result in the step S301 is NO, the CPU 731 decides whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the decision of the step S301 was made. The process returns to the step S301 if the decision result in the step S304 is NO. On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S304 is YES, the CPU 731 determines that the portable telephone 710 (or 760) is disconnected from the automobile telephone 730 (or 780). In other words, the independent mode of the portable telephone 710 (or 760) is detected. After the step S305, the communication task 755 of the automobile telephone 730 (or 780) is made active, and the man-machine interface 758 is made active.
Next, a description will be given of the system selection operation of the fourth embodiment after the initializing process shown in FIG.16 is carried out. In FIG.17, the process of the portable telephone 710 (or 760) is shown on the left hand side, and the process of the automobile telephone 730 (or 780) is shown on the right hand side. In FIG.17, those steps which are the same as those corresponding steps in FIG.16 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.
The process shown in FIG.17 is carried out when the connected mode is detected in both the portable telephone 710 (or 760) and the automobile telephone 730 (or 780). In other words, after the step S203, the CPU 711 of the portable telephone 710 (or 760) notifies the selected system, that is, the first or second system, to the automobile telephone 730 (or 780) in a step S212. The selected system is stored in the EEPROM 714 of the portable telephone 710 (or 760). Then, the CPU 711 sets the system mode to the selected system by appropriately controlling the connections of the switches and the like within the portable telephone 710 (or 760). The portable telephone 710 (or 760) thereafter carries out the operation described above.
Next, a description will be given of the operation of the fourth embodiment when the selected system mode is changed (or switched), by referring to FIG.18. In FIG.18, the process of the portable telephone 710 (or 760) is shown on the left hand side, and the process of the automobile telephone 730 (or 780) is shown on the right hand side.
In FIG.18, the CPU 711 of the portable telephone 710 (or 760) decides whether or not a system mode change instruction is received from the user or the like in a step S221. The process continues the normal operation of the portable telephone 710 (or 760) if the decision result in the step S221 is NO.
A mobile telephone unit comprising: at least one portable mobile telephone (8) having a first connector (8b); and a communication unit body (1) including at least an external connection terminal part (6), a radio transmitter/receiver (2), a baseband processor (3), a communication control part (4) and a handset part (5); characterized in that there is provided: a buffer unit (7) having a second connector (7a) which is connectable to the external connection terminal part (6) of said communication unit body (1), a third connector (7b) which is connectable to the first connector (8b) of said portable mobile telephone (8) which is mounted on said buffer unit (7), identifying means (9) for identifying communication conditions of said portable mobile telephone (8) which is mounted on said buffer unit (7), and control signal transmitting means (10) for notifying the communication conditions identified by the identifying means (9) to the communication control part (4) of said communication unit body (1), so that the communication control part (4) of communication unit body (1) changes or converts the communication conditions responsive to the notified communication conditions.
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the third connector (7b) of said buffer unit (7) absorbs differences in the first connectors (8b) of portable mobile telephones (8), so that a plurality of kinds of portable mobile telephones (8) are connectable to said communication unit body (1) via said buffer unit (7).
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the communication conditions include radio frequencies used for transmission and service conditions.
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said communication unit body (1) forms a part of an automobile telephone, and said portable mobile telephone (8) makes a communication using communication functions of the automobile telephone when mounted on said buffer unit (7).
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said communication unit body (1) makes a communication using a subscriber's number of said portable mobile telephone (8) which is mounted on said buffer unit (7) based on the communication conditions received from the control signal transmitting means (10) of said buffer unit (7).
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said portable mobile telephone (8) further includes first storage means (34, 34A) for storing at least a subscriber's number of said portable mobile telephone (8), said buffer unit (7) further includes second storage means (22), and the control signal transmitting means (10) includes means (36) for storing the subscriber's number stored in the first storage means (34, 34A) into the second storage means (22) and for automatically transferring the subscriber's number stored in the second storage means (22) to the communication control part (4) of said communication unit body (1) when said portable mobile telephone (8) is mounted on said buffer unit (7) and said buffer unit (7) is connected to said communication unit body (1).
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said communication unit body (1) further includes a battery (14) for supplying power to each part of said communication unit body (1), and said buffer unit (7) further includes means (41) for supplying the power from the battery (14) to said portable mobile telephone (8) when said portable mobile telephone (8) is mounted on said buffer unit (7) and said buffer unit (7) is connected to said communication unit body (1).
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the third connector (7b) of said buffer unit (7) is connectable to the first connectors (8b) of a plurality of portable mobile telephones (8).
A mobile telephone unit comprising: at least one portable mobile telephone (710, 760) including a first communication control function (752) for making a radio communication with a base station, and a man-machine interface function (751) related to operation and display; and an automobile telephone (730, 780) including a second communication control function (755) for making a radio communication with a base station, characterized in that there is provided: first interface means (757) for exchanging information between the man-machine interface function (751) of said portable mobile telephone (710, 760) and the communication control function (755) of said automobile telephone (730, 780).
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the first communication control function (752) of said portable mobile telephone (710, 760) enables a radio communication with the base station of a first communication system, and the second communication control function (755) of said automobile telephone (730, 780) enables a radio communication with the base station of a second communication system which is different from the first communication system.
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said portable mobile telephone (710, 760) further includes second interface means (753) for exchanging information between the first communication control function (752) and the man-machine interface function (751), and said first interface means (757) is set identical to the second interface means (753).
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said portable mobile telephone (710, 760) further includes memory means (714) for storing dial information, and the man-machine interface function (751) controls write and read operations of the memory means (714).
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the dial information includes at least names and telephone numbers related thereto.
A mobile telephone unit comprising a portable mobile telephone (760) capable of communicating with a first communication system; and an automobile telephone (780) including control circuit means (731-735) and modem circuit means (782, 786) for communicating with a second communication system which is different from the first communication system, and transmitter/receiver circuit means (783-785, 787) for communicating with one of either the first or second communication system, characterized in that there are provided: signal line interface means (771) for exchanging data and audio signals between said portable mobile telephone (760) and the control circuit means (731-735) and the modem circuit means (782, 786) of said automobile telephone (780); and radio frequency interface means (772) for exchanging radio-frequency signals between said portable mobile telephone (760) and the transmitter/receiver circuit means (783-785, 787) of said automobile telephone (780).
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that:
said portable mobile telephone (760) further includes an antenna (717), a man-machine interface (B), a baseband circuit (715), a modem circuit (762, 766) , a transmitter/receiver circuit (763-765), a first switch (723) and a second switch (761), said first switch (723) coupling the man-machine interface (B) to the baseband circuit (715) and the modem circuit (762, 766) or to the signal line interface means (771), said second switch (761) coupling the transmitter/receiver circuit (763-765) to the antenna (717) when using said portable mobile telephone (760) by itself and to said radio frequency interface means (772) when using said portable mobile telephone (760) in a state coupled to said automobile telephone (780); and
said automobile telephone (780) further includes a third switch (781) for coupling the transmitter/receiver circuit means (783-785, 787) to the control circuit means (731-735) and the modem circuit means (782, 786) or to said radio frequency interface means (772).
The mobile telephone unit as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that:
all circuits of said portable mobile telephone (760) are active, the first switch (723) couples the man-machine interface (B) to the baseband circuit (715) and the modem circuit (762, 766) within said portable mobile telephone (760), only the transmitter/receiver circuit means (783-785, 787) of said automobile telephone (780) is active and the third switch (781) couples the transmitter/receiver circuit means (783-785, 787) to said radio frequency interface means (772) when making a communication with the first communication system in a state where the portable mobile telephone (760) is coupled to said automobile telephone (780); and
only the man-machine interface (B) within said portable mobile telephone (760) is active, the first switch (723) couples the man-machine interface (B) to said signal line interface means (771), all circuits within said automobile telephone (780) are active and the third switch (781) couples the control circuit means (731-735) and the modem circuit means (782, 786) within said automobile telephone (780) to the transmitter/receiver circuit means (783-785, 787) when making a communication with the second communication system in the state where the portable mobile telephone (760) is coupled to said automobile telephone (780).
EP19930103440 1992-03-06 1993-03-03 Adapter for connecting a portable telephone to a mobile telephone Expired - Lifetime EP0559187B1 (en)
JP49466/92 1992-03-06
JP50938/92 1992-03-09
EP0559187A1 true EP0559187A1 (en) 1993-09-08
EP0559187B1 EP0559187B1 (en) 1998-11-04
EP19930103440 Expired - Lifetime EP0559187B1 (en) 1992-03-06 1993-03-03 Adapter for connecting a portable telephone to a mobile telephone
EP0838909A1 (en) * 1996-10-28 1998-04-29 Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle Means for allowing the use of a radio communication apparatus in an aeroplane
FR2784847A1 (en) * 1998-10-20 2000-04-21 Sagem Telephone network connection for fixed and mobile phones provides management of links between mobile phone and fixed cable telephone
1993-03-03 DE DE1993621858 patent/DE69321858D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
1993-03-03 EP EP19930103440 patent/EP0559187B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
1993-03-03 DE DE1993621858 patent/DE69321858T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
1993-03-05 US US08/026,684 patent/US5450471A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
FR2755327A1 (en) * 1996-10-28 1998-04-30 Aerospatiale Device for permitting the use in a aircraft of radio communication means
EP1003346A1 (en) * 1998-10-20 2000-05-24 Sagem Sa Terminal of a telephone network, having access to services available to a mobile terminal of another network
DE69321858T2 (en) 1999-05-12
DE69321858D1 (en) 1998-12-10
US5450471A (en) 1995-09-12
EP0559187B1 (en) 1998-11-04
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