Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Auxiliary data signaling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-01
2004-12-28
Corsaro, Nick (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Auxiliary data signaling
C455S563000, C455S550100, C704S271000, C704S270100, C379S088130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06836668
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a portable communication apparatus such as a portable or mobile telephone terminal, and in particular to a voice-character conversion technique for use in the portable communication apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been proposed a portable communication apparatus having a voice-to-character conversion receiving section and a character-to-voice conversion transmitting section in Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 9-116648. More specifically, in the voice-to-character conversion receiving section, a voice recognizer recognizes voice words from voice signals received from the opposite party through a communication line and a voice-to-character converter converts the recognized voice words to character data, which are displayed on a display of the terminal. In the character-to-voice conversion transmitting section, a voice synthesizer inputs character data and generates corresponding voice data and a converter converts voice data to voice signals to be transmitted to the opposite party through the communication line.
However, in this conventional portable communication apparatus, a data transmission/reception route is fixed such that voice-to-character conversion is performed when receiving and character-to-voice conversion is performed when transmitting. Therefore, for example, voice-to-character conversion cannot be performed when transmitting. This provides a portable communication apparatus with little flexibility.
Further, when character data is received and displayed on screen, the called user creates a message and it is converted to voice data and then transmitted. Therefore, there is developed a time difference from when the opposite party transmits a message to when receiving a voice response to the message.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a portable communication apparatus and a voice-character conversion method allowing increased flexibility in transmission and reception.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable communication apparatus and a voice-character conversion method allowing quick response with simplified operation.
According to the present invention, a portable communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving a voice message and a character message to and from a base station in a mobile communications system, includes: a switch for selecting one of a first communication mode and a second communication mode depending on a setting instruction; and a voice-character converter for performing a selected one of a first conversion from voice to character data and a second conversion from character to voice data according to the selected communication mode.
The first communication mode may be such that a voice message received from the base station is converted into character data and a character message to be transmitted is converted into voice data. The second communication mode may be such that a character message received from the base station is converted into voice data and a voice message to be transmitted is converted into character data. The voice-character converter may perform a selected one of the first conversion and the second conversion depending on which of transmission and reception is performed in the selected communication mode.
The portable communication apparatus further includes: a memory for previously storing at least one response character message; and a controller controlling such that a response character message is read out from the memory depending on an instruction and the voice-character converter performs the second conversion on the response character message.
The switch may further select a non-conversion communication mode depending on the setting instruction, wherein the non-conversion communication mode is such that neither a voice message nor a character message is converted.
A portable communication apparatus includes: a radio system for transmitting and receiving a voice message and a character message to and from a base station in a mobile communications system; a voice data processor for voice input and output; a character data processor for character data input and output; a first converter for converting voice data to character data; a second converter for converting character data to voice data; a first switch for selecting one of the first converter and the second converter to connect it to the radio system; a second switch for selecting one of the voice data processor and the character data processor to connect it to the selected one of the first converter and the second converter, depending on which of a first communication mode and a second communication mode is selected, wherein the first communication mode is such that a voice message received from the base station is converted into character data and a character message to be transmitted is converted into voice data, and the second communication mode is such that a character message received from the base station is converted into voice data and a voice message to be transmitted is converted into character data; and a controller controlling such that the first switch selects one of the first converter and the second converter depending on which of transmission and reception is performed in the selected one of the first communication mode and the second communication mode.
When the first communication mode is selected, the controller may control the first switch such that the first converter is selected when a voice message is received by the radio system and the second converter is selected when a character message to be transmitted is input from the character data processor.
Alternatively, when the second communication mode is selected, the controller may control the first switch such that the second converter is selected when a character message is received by the radio system and the first converter is selected when a voice message to be transmitted is input from the voice data processor.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a portable communication apparatus includes: a voice-character converter for performing two-directional conversion switching between a first direction from voice to character data and a second direction from character to voice data; and a controller for controlling the voice-character converter such that an operation mode of switching between the first and second directions is determined depending on which of a first communication mode and a second communication mode is selected.
As described above, according to the present invention, a voice/character conversion direction can be changed by its user, resulting in enhanced convenience to subscribers. Especially, improved communicability between the handicapped and the able-bodied as if to talk by telephone can be achieved.
Further, using the response message memory, a prompt reply of a fixed message can be made during communication, allowing easy input operation and improved convenience. Since a reply message can be sent immediately after a voice or character message has been received, the communication can be made in a form similar to telephone communication.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5724410 (1998-03-01), Parvulescu et al.
patent: 5987405 (1999-11-01), Bantz et al.
patent: 5995590 (1999-11-01), Brunet et al.
patent: 5-22436 (1993-01-01), None
patent: 5-130177 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 8-186654 (1996-07-01), None
patent: 9-116648 (1997-05-01), None
patent: 9-233215 (1997-09-01), None
patent: 11-41344 (1999-02-01), None
patent: 11-168552 (1999-06-01), None
Copy of Japanese Office Action dated Dec. 3, 2002.
Copy of English translation of Japanese Office Action dated Dec. 3, 2002.
Corsaro Nick
Dickstein, Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky L.L.P.
NEC Corporation
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