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United States Patent
5805981
Sugio , ; et al.
September 8, 1998
Title
Communication terminal and communication system with image display and image storage section
Abstract
A pager comprises a receiver for receiving an image designating code together with a message, a display section, a memory for storing a plurality of images, and a CPU for, based on the image designating code received by the receiver, selecting an associated image and displaying the image together with the message on the display section. When a ringing signal transmitted from a base station is directed to this pager, the pager acquires a subsequent message and displays the associated image together with the message when the message contains an image designating code.
Inventors:
Sugio; Naoaki
(Fussa,
JP
)
, Hayakawa; Morihiko
(Tachikawa,
JP
)
, Maehara; Kazuyoshi
(Fussa,
JP
)
, Takahashi; Oh
(Tanashi,
JP
)
, Sakamaki; Katsuya
(Tachikawa,
JP
)
, Nakamura; Hiroyuki
(Akishima,
JP
)
, Nagatomo; Shouichi
(Fussa,
JP
)
Assignee:
Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
(Tokyo,
JP
)
Appl. No.:
457093
Filed:
June 1, 1995
Foreign Application Priority Data
Jun 06, 1994 [JP] 6-123754
Jun 07, 1994 [JP] 6-125047
Jun 10, 1994 [JP] 6-129320
Jun 10, 1994 [JP] 6-129369
Jun 21, 1994 [JP] 6-139080
Jun 21, 1994 [JP] 6-139081
Jun 21, 1994 [JP] 6-139083
Jul 14, 1994 [JP] 6-162367
Jan 31, 1995 [JP] 7-014250
Current U.S. Class:
340/7.56
345/636
Current International Class:
G08B 5/22 (20060101)
Field of Search:
455/38.1,38.4 345/116 340/825.44,825.45
U.S. Patent Documents
5087905
February 1992
Kuramatsu et al.
Foreign Patent Documents
WO-A-89 10610
Nov., 1989
WO
WO-A-91 03885
Mar., 1991
WO
Primary Examiner:
Marcelo; Melvin
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman, Langer & Chick
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A communication terminal comprising:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving an image designating code;
a display (24) for displaying an image;
an image storage section (19, 20 and 25) for storing a plurality of images; and
display control means (14) for reading an image corresponding to said image designating code, received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), from said image storage section (19, 20 and 25), and displaying said image on said display (24),
wherein said image storage section (19, 20 and 25) stores said plurality of images corresponding to the same image designating codes and image selection data for designating which image in said plurality of images is to be displayed in response to the same image designating codes; and
wherein said display control means (14) reads said image designating code and said image from said image storage section in accordance with said image selection data to be displayed on said display (24).
2. A communication terminal comprising:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving an image designating code;
a display (24) for displaying an image;
an image storage section (19, 20 and 25) for storing a plurality of images;
display control means (14) for reading an image corresponding to said image designating code, received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), from said image storage section (19, 20 and 25), and displaying said image on said display (24); and
image preparing means (14, 23) for preparing an image and storing said prepared image in said image storage section (25) in association with said image designating code.
3. A communication terminal comprising:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving an image designating code;
a display (24) for displaying an image;
an image storage section (19, 20 and 25) for storing a plurality of images; and
display control means (14) for reading an image corresponding to said image designating code, received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), from said image storage section (19, 20 and 25), and displaying said image on said display (24),
wherein:
said image is formed by a combination of patterns of a plurality of parts;
said image storage section (19, 20 and 25) stores said patterns of said plurality of parts and combination data defining combinations of said patterns of said plurality of parts in association with said image designating code; and
said display control means (14) displays said patterns of said plurality of parts based on said combination data associated with said received image designating code on said display means (24).
4. A communication terminal comprising:
an image storage section (19) for storing a basic pattern and patterns of individual parts;
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving a first designating code for designating said basic pattern and an image designating code including a second designating code for designating a pattern of a part of said basic pattern to be changed;
a display (24) for displaying an image; and
display control means (14) for controlling said display (24) in accordance with said image designating code received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15),
wherein:
said image storage section (19) stores said basic pattern and patterns of individual parts; and
said display control means (14) includes:
means for reading said basic pattern from said image storage section (19) in accordance with said first designating code received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), and reading said pattern of said part to be changed from said image storage section (19) in accordance with said second designating code received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), thereby changing said basic pattern; and
means for switchingly displaying said basic pattern and said changed basic pattern on said display (24).
5. A communication terminal comprising:
an image storage section (19) for storing patterns of individual parts constituting a basic pattern;
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving a first designating code for designating said basic pattern and an image designating code including a second designating code for designating a pattern of a part of said basic pattern to be changed;
a display (24) for displaying an image; and
display control means (14) for controlling said display (24) in accordance with said image designating code received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), and
wherein said display control means (14) includes:
means for reading said basic pattern from said image storage section (19) to form a basic pattern in accordance with said first designating code received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), and reading said pattern of said part to be changed from said image storage section (19) in accordance with said second designating code received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), thereby changing said basic pattern; and
means for switchingly displaying said basic pattern and said changed basic pattern on said display (24).
6. A communication terminal comprising:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving a message;
a keyword detector for detecting whether the message received by said receiving section includes a predetermined keyword or not;
an image storage section (19) which stores an image for a group of a plurality of keywords;
a display (24) for displaying an image; and
display control means (14) for reading an image corresponding to the detected keyword from said image storage section when said keyword detector detects said keyword in the received message, and displaying the read image and the received message on said display (24).
7. A communication terminal comprising:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving a message;
a keyword detector for detecting whether the message received by said receiving section includes a predetermined keyword or not;
an image storage section (19);
a display (24) for displaying an image; and
display control means (14) for reading an image corresponding to the detected keyword from said image storage section when said keyword detector detects said keyword in the received message, and displaying the read image and the received message on said display (24);
wherein when said message includes a plurality of keywords, said display control means (14) displays associated images on said display (24) with a predetermined priority.
8. A communication terminal comprising:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving a message,
a keyword detector for detecting whether the message received by said receiving section includes a predetermined keyword or not;
an image storage section (19);
a display (24) for displaying an image; and
display control means (14) for reading an image corresponding to the detected keyword from said image storage section when said keyword detector detects said keyword in the received message, and displaying the read image and the received message on said display (24);
wherein:
said image storage section stores a plurality of images corresponding to the detected keyword; and
said display control means reads the plural images corresponding to the detected keyword from said image storage section when said keyword detector detects said keyword in the received message, and sequentially displays, on said display, the read images while being changed.
9. A communication terminal comprising:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving an image designating code,
a display (24) for displaying an image;
an image storage section (19, 20 and 25) for storing a plurality of images;
display control means (14) for reading an image corresponding to said image designating code, received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), from said image storage section (19, 20 and 25), and displaying said image on said display (24); and
selection/preparation means (23, 14) for selecting or preparing an image to be displayed on a destination communication terminal, based on an image stored in said image storage section (19, 25),
wherein said display control means (14) includes means (14) responsive to an operation of said selection/preparation means (23, 14) to convert said selected or prepared image to a sequence of codes to be transmitted to be displayed on said destination communication terminal and displaying said converted sequence of codes on said display (24).
10. The communication terminal according to claim 9, wherein:
said selection/preparation means (23, 14) includes means for selecting or preparing a message to be displayed on said destination communication terminal; and
said display control means (14) further includes means responsive to a selection/preparation operation of said selection/preparation means (23, 14) to convert said selected or prepared message to a sequence of codes to be transmitted to be displayed on said destination communication terminal and displaying said converted sequence of codes, together with said sequence of codes converted from said image, on said display (24).
11. A communication terminal comprising:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving an image designating code;
a display (24) for displaying an image;
an image storage section (19, 20 and 25) for storing a plurality of images;
display control means (14) for reading an image corresponding to said image designating code, received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), from said image storage section (19, 20 and 25), and displaying said image on said display (24);
selection/preparation means (23, 14) for selecting or preparing an image to be displayed on a destination communication terminal, based on an image stored in said image storage section (19, 25); and
a transmission section (21, 22, 27 and 26) which is responsive to an operation of said selection/preparation means (23, 14) for converting said selected or prepared image to a sequence of codes to be transmitted to be displayed on said destination communication terminal and transmitting said converted sequence of codes.
12. The communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein:
said selection/preparation means includes means for preparing a message to be displayed on said destination communication terminal; and
said transmission section includes means responsive to a selection/preparation operation of said selection/preparation means for converting said prepared message to a sequence of codes to be transmitted to be displayed on said destination communication terminal and transmitting said converted sequence of codes together with said sequence of codes converted from said image.
13. A communication system comprising:
an input section (1, 7 and 8) for inputting a message including at least one of characters, numerals and symbols;
a communication terminal (4, 9) for receiving a signal transmitted from a transmission section (3, 5 and 6), determining if said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself, and obtaining and displaying said message when determining that said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself;
said input section (1, 7 and 8) inputting a message including an image designating code for designating a display image;
said communication terminal (4, 9) including:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving said message and said image designating code;
a display (24) for displaying an image;
an image storage section (19, 20 and 25) for storing a plurality of images; and
display control means (14) for selecting an image corresponding to said image designating code, received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), from said plurality of images stored in said image storage section (19, 20 and 25), based on said image designating code, and displaying said image on said display (24);
wherein:
said image is formed by a combination of patterns of a plurality of parts;
said input section (1, 7 and 8) inputs a message including an image designating code for defining said combination of patterns;
said image storage section (19, 20 and 25) stores said patterns of said plurality of parts and combination data indicating combinations of patterns of a plurality of parts corresponding to said image designating code; and
said display control means (14) displays patterns of a plurality of parts combined based on said combination data corresponding to said received image designating code on said display (24).
14. A communication system comprising:
an input section (1, 7 and 8) for inputting a message including at least one of characters, numerals and symbols;
a transmission section (3, 5 and 6) for converting said message, input through said input section (1, 7 and 8), to a signal of a predetermined format and transmitting said signal; and
a communication terminal (4, 9) for receiving said signal transmitted from said transmission section (3, 5 and 6), determining if said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself, and obtaining and displaying said message when determining that said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself;
said input section (1, 7 and 8) inputting a message including an image designating code for designating a display image;
said communication terminal (4, 9) including:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving said message and said image designating code;
a display (24) for displaying an image;
an image storage section (19, 20 and 25) for storing a plurality of images; and
display control means (14) for selecting an image corresponding to said image designating code, received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), from said plurality of images stored in said image storage section (19, 20 and 25), based on said image designating code, and displaying said image on said display (24),
wherein:
said image storage section (19, 25) stores a plurality of images in association with image designating codes;
said input section (1, 7 and 8) inputs a message including an image designating code for designating said plurality of images; and
said display control means (14) reads a plurality of images associated with said image designating code received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) from said image storage section (19, 5) and sequentially displays said images on said display (24).
15. A communication system comprising:
an input section (1, 7 and 8) for inputting a message including at least one of characters, numerals and symbols;
a transmission section (3, 5 and 6) for converting said message, input through said input section (1, 7 and 8), to a signal of a predetermined format and transmitting said signal; and
a communication terminal (4, 9) for receiving said signal transmitted from said transmission section (3, 5 and 6), determining if said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself, and obtaining and displaying said message when determining that said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself;
said input section (1, 7 and 8) inputting a message including an image designating code for designating a display image;
said communication terminal (4, 9) including:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving said message and said image designating code;
a display (24) for displaying an image;
an image storage section (19, 20 and 25) for storing a plurality of images; and
display control means (14) for selecting an image corresponding to said image designating code, received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), from said plurality of images stored in said image storage section (19, 20 and 25), based on said image designating code, and displaying said image on said display (24),
and wherein:
said image designating code comprises a first designating code for designating a basic pattern and a second designating code for designating a pattern of a part of said basic pattern to be changed;
said input section (1, 7 and 8) inputs a message including said first designating code and said second designating code;
said image storage section (19) stores said basic pattern and patterns of individual parts; and
said display control means (14) includes:
means for reading said basic pattern from said image storage section (19) in accordance with said first designating code received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), reading said pattern of said part to be changed from said image storage section (19) in accordance with said second designating code received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), and changing said basic pattern; and
means for switchingly displaying said basic pattern and said changed basic pattern on said display (24).
16. A communication system comprising:
an input section (1, 7 and 8) for inputting a message including at least one of characters, numerals and symbols;
a transmission section (3, 5 and 6) for converting said message, input through said input section (1, 7 and 8), to a signal of a predetermined format and transmitting said signal; and
a communication terminal (4, 9) for receiving said signal transmitted from said transmission section (3, 5 and 6), determining if said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself, and obtaining and displaying said message when determining that said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself;
said input section (1, 7 and 8) inputting a message including an image designating code for designating a display image;
said communication terminal (4, 9) including:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving said message and said image designating code;
a display (24) for displaying an image;
an image storage section (19, 20 and 25) for storing a plurality of images; and
display control means (14) for selecting an image corresponding to said image designating code, received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), from said plurality of images stored in said image storage section (19, 20 and 25), based on said image designating code, and displaying said image on said display (24),
wherein:
said image designating code comprises a first designating code for designating a basic pattern and a second designating code for designating a pattern of a part of said basic pattern to be changed;
said input section (1, 7 and 8) inputs said first designating code and said second designating code;
said image storage section (19) stores a plurality of patterns of individual parts constituting an image; and
said display control means (14) includes:
means for reading patterns of a plurality of parts from said image storage section (19) to form a basic pattern in accordance with said first designating code received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), reading said pattern of said part to be changed from said image storage section (19) in accordance with said second designating code received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), and changing said basic pattern; and
means for switchingly displaying said basic pattern and said changed basic pattern on said display (24).
17. A communication system comprising:
an input section (1, 7 and 8) for inputting a message including at least one of characters, numerals and symbols;
a transmission section (3, 5 and 6) for converting said message, input through said input section (1, 7 and 8), to a signal of a predetermined format and transmitting said signal; and
a communication terminal (4, 9) for receiving said signal transmitted from said transmission section (3, 5 and 6), determining if said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself, and obtaining and displaying said message when determining that said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself;
said input section (1, 7 and 8) inputting a message including an image designating code for designating a display image;
said communication terminal (4, 9) including:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving said message and said image designating code;
a display (24) for displaying an image;
an image storage section (19, 20 and 25) for storing a plurality of images; and
display control means (14) for selecting an image corresponding to said image designating code, received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), from said plurality of images stored in said image storage section (19, 20 and 25), based on said image designating code, and displaying said image on said display (24),
wherein:
said communication terminal (4) further includes selection/preparation means (14, 23) for selecting or preparing an image to be displayed on a destination communication terminal (9), based on an image stored in said image storage section (19,
25); and
said display control means (14) includes means responsive to an operation of said selection/preparation means (14, 23) to convert said selected or prepared image to a sequence of codes to be transmitted to be displayed on said destination communication terminal (9) and displaying said converted sequence of codes on said display (24).
18. A communication system comprising:
an input section (1, 7 and 8) for inputting a message including at least one of characters, numerals and symbols;
a transmission section (3, 5 and 6) for converting said message, input through said input section (1, 7 and 8), to a signal of a predetermined format and transmitting said signal; and
a communication terminal (4, 9) for receiving said signal transmitted from said transmission section (3, 5 and 6), determining if said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself, and obtaining and displaying said message when determining that said signal is directed to said communication terminal itself;
said input section (1, 7 and 8) including means for inputting a message including an image designating code for designating a display image;
said communication terminal (4, 9) including:
a receiving section (11 to 13 and 15) for receiving said message and said image designating code;
a display (24) for displaying an image;
an image storage section (19, 20 and 25) for storing a plurality of images; and
display control means (14) for selecting an image corresponding to said image designating code, received by said receiving section (11 to 13 and 15), from said plurality of images stored in said image storage section (19, 20 and 25), based on said image designating code, and displaying said image on said display (24),
wherein said communication terminal (4) further includes:
selection/preparation means (14, 23) for selecting or preparing an image to be displayed on a destination communication terminal (9), based on an image stored in said image storage section (19, 25); and
a transmission section (21, 22, 27 and 26) responsive to an operation of said selection/preparation means (14, 23) to convert said selected or prepared image to a sequence of codes to be transmitted to be displayed on said destination communication terminal (9) and transmitting said converted sequence of codes.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication terminal and a communication system, and, more particularly, to a pager capable of displaying an image like a portrait and a paging system for the pager.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known systems for transmitting information such as numerals and characters include a paging system, a teleterminal system and a digital portable telephone system. Of those systems, the paging system is very popular as personal communication means as well as business communication means because portable terminals (pagers) are compact and light and their services charges are inexpensive although the paging system is a one-way communication system.
Pagers with a display function include an NP pager (Numeric Pager) type capable of displaying numerical information and an IP page (Information Pager) type capable of displaying character information. A telephone, a personal computer and the like are used as means for calling a pager and inputting a message to be displayed. There are companies which process transmission information, operation service companies and the like.
Information prepared by a telephone, a personal computer or the like is transmitted via a public telephone line to a pager service company. The pager service company converts the received information to a radiowave of a predetermined signal system, e.g., the POCSAG system, and transmits the radiowave.
The NP type pager informs the user of a ringing (calling) by some sound and displays a sequence of numbers included in the received signal. While an IP type pager informs the user of a call by some sound and displays character information included in the received signal. With the use of the NP type or IP type page, a message formed by a sequence of numbers or character information can be displayed on the pager and can thus be transmitted to the pager owner.
In a paging system using pagers which can display character information and a sequence of numerals, only one way of informing the users of the importance, urgency and the like of the received message is to change the ring back tone informing the user of a ringing. Therefore, the conventional pagers suffer poor expressions and have a difficulty in clearly informing the users of callers, the urgency or importance of a message, or the intentions or feeling of the callers.
This shortcoming is common to other types of communication terminals and communication systems which transmit information in the form of characters, numerals, symbols or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal and a communication system which are better in operability.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal and a communication system which can clearly inform a user of the urgency and/or importance of a message, a caller and the like.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal and a communication system which can transmit a message specifying the sender of the message, the section where the sender belongs, the feeling and/or intentions of the sender and the name of the sender.
To achieve the above objects, a communication terminal according to one aspect of this invention comprises:
receiving means for receiving an image designating code;
display means for displaying data;
image storage means for storing a plurality of images; and
display control means for reading image data corresponding to the image designating code, received by the receiving means, from the image storage means and displaying the image on the display means.
With the above structure, an image corresponding to a specific image designating code can be displayed on the display means in the receiving apparatus like a pager. This structure allows a sender to transmit his or her feeling and/or intentions by means of a portrait representing a human expression or to transmit a business or a matter of business in the form of an image.
If a typical message including characters, numerals, symbols and the like is received and displayed together with an image, it is possible to express a business or a matter of business more surely.
The images may be dynamic pictures or pseudo dynamic pictures by switchingly displaying a plurality of pictures.
A sequence of codes corresponding to an image may be prepared for the purpose of allowing a receiver to display the image.
A communication system according to another aspect of this invention comprises:
input means for inputting a message including at least one of characters, numerals and symbols;
transmission means for converting the message, input through the input means, to a signal of a predetermined format and transmitting the signal; and
a communication terminal for receiving the signal transmitted from the transmission means, determining if the signal is directed to the communication terminal itself, and obtaining and displaying the message when determining that the signal is directed to the communication terminal itself,
the input means including means for inputting message including an image designating code for designating a display image,
the communication terminal including:
receiving means for receiving the message and the image designating code;
display means for displaying data;
image storage means for storing a plurality of images; and
display control means for selecting image corresponding to the image designating code, received by the receiving means, from the plurality of images stored in the image storage means based on the image designating code, and displaying the image on the display means.
The communication system like a paging system, which has the above structure, can send an arbitrary image designating code to permit an arbitrary image to be displayed on the display means of the communication terminal. It is therefore possible to transmit the feeling of a sender to a receiver in the form of a portrait representing a human expression or to transmit the sender's business or matter of business in the form of an image.
If a typical message includes characters, numerals, symbols and the like is received and displayed together with an image, it is possible to express a business or a matter of business more surely. The images may be dynamic pictures or pseudo dynamic pictures by switchingly displaying a plurality of images.
A sequence of codes to be transmitted may be prepared in the communication terminal for the purpose of allowing a receiver to display an arbitrary image.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one example of a communication system to which the present invention is applied;
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagrams showing the structure of one example of pager used in this invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying a standard message table stored in a ROM 19;
FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying a portrait table stored in the ROM 19;
FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying the appearance of a pager according to one embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the reception operation of a pager according to an embodiment 1-1 of this invention;
FIGS. 7 through 10 are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the embodiment 1-1 in a reception mode;
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a memory area in a RAM 20 used in an embodiment 1-2;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment 1-2;
FIGS. 13A through 14D are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the embodiment 1-2;
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a memory area in a RAM 20 in a pager according to an embodiment 1-3;
FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the reception operation of the pager according to the embodiment 1-3;
FIGS. 17A through 17C are diagrams showing memory areas in a RAM 20 in a pager according to an embodiment 1-4;
FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining the reception operation of the pager according to the embodiment 1-4;
FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 20A to 20C are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the embodiment 1-4;
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a portrait code matrix for a woman stored in a ROM 19 in a pager according to a second embodiment;
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a portrait code matrix for a man stored in the ROM 19 in the pager according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a self-made standard message code matrix stored in the ROM 19 in the pager according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a memory area in a message bank 25 in the pager of the second embodiment;
FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a portrait preparing process executed by the pager of the second embodiment;
FIGS. 26A through 26I are diagrams showing display examples at the time a portrait is prepared by the pager of the second embodiment;
FIGS. 26J through 26L are diagrams showing display examples at the time a portrait is prepared by the pager of the second embodiment;
FIGS. 27A and 27B are flowcharts for explaining the reception operation of the pager of the second embodiment;
FIGS. 28 through 33 are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the second embodiment in a reception mode;
FIG. 34 is a perspective view of a pager according to a third embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 35 is a flowchart for explaining the procedures for preparing a sequence of transmission codes in the pager of the third embodiment;
FIGS. 36A through 36E are diagrams showing display examples at the time of preparing a sequence of transmission codes for a message including a dynamic picture in the pager of the third embodiment;
FIG. 37 is a flowchart for explaining the reception operation of the pager of the third embodiment;
FIGS. 38A through 43C are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the third embodiment;
FIG. 44 is a flowchart for explaining the transmission operation of a pager according to a fourth embodiment;
FIGS. 45A through 45C are flowcharts for explaining the procedures for preparing a sequence of transmission codes in the pager of the fourth embodiment;
FIG. 46 is a flowchart for explaining the reception operation of the pager of the fourth embodiment;
FIGS. 47A through 51 are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the fourth embodiment;
FIG. 52 is a flowchart for explaining the operation to receive a message including a dynamic picture in the pager of the fourth embodiment;
FIG. 53 is a diagram showing one example of a business illustration data matrix;
FIGS. 54A and 54B are diagrams showing other display examples for the pager of the fourth embodiment;
FIG. 55 is a pattern code matrix;
FIG. 56 is a flowchart for explaining the procedures for preparing a sequence of transmission codes for a message in a pager according to a fifth embodiment;
FIGS. 57A through 57H are diagrams showing display examples at the time of preparing a sequence of transmission codes in the pager of the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 58 is a flowchart for explaining the reception operation of the pager of the fifth embodiment;
FIGS. 59 through 64 are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 65 is a diagram showing portrait table stored in a ROM 19 in a sixth embodiment;
FIG. 66 is a flowchart for explaining the reception operation of the pager of the sixth embodiment;
FIGS. 67A through 72F are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the sixth embodiment in a reception mode;
FIG. 73 is a diagram showing examples of messages stored in a message bank 25 in a pager according to a seventh embodiment;
FIG. 74 is a flowchart illustrating a portrait preparing process executed by the pager of the seventh embodiment;
FIGS. 75A through 75J are diagrams showing display examples at the time a portrait is prepared by the pager of the seventh embodiment;
FIGS. 75K through 75O are diagrams showing display examples at the time a self-made standard message is prepared by the pager of the seventh embodiment;
FIGS. 76A and 76B are flowcharts for explaining the reception operation of the pager of the seventh embodiment;
FIGS. 77A through 85C are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the seventh embodiment in a reception mode;
FIG. 86 is a diagram exemplifying a standard message table used in an eighth embodiment;
FIG. 87 is a diagram showing an example of a free message code matrix used in the eighth embodiment;
FIG. 88 is a diagram exemplifying a portrait table used in the eighth embodiment;
FIG. 89 is a diagram exemplifying a dynamic picture pattern table used in the eighth embodiment;
FIG. 90 is a flowchart for explaining the reception operation of a pager according to the eighth embodiment;
FIGS. 91 through 100C are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the eighth embodiment in a reception mode;
FIG. 101 is a diagram showing one example of a portrait table stored in a ROM 19 used in an embodiment 9-1;
FIG. 102 is a flowchart for explaining the reception operation of a pager according to the embodiment 9-1;
FIGS. 103A through 103C are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the embodiment 9-1;
FIG. 104 is a diagram showing one example of a portrait table stored in a ROM 19 used in an embodiment 9-2;
FIG. 105 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a pager according to the embodiment 9-2;
FIGS. 106A through 109 are diagrams showing display examples for the pager of the embodiment 9-2 in a reception mode; and
FIG. 110 is a diagram showing a display example for a numeric pager.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described referring to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1-1
FIG. 1 shows the structure of a pager service system according to this embodiment.
As illustrated, telephone terminals 1 like push-phones, a personal computer 7, a modular Jack 28 connected to a pager 8 or the like, which are provided to make a call and input a message, are connected via a public telephone line 2 or the like to a center (central control station) 5 controlled by a pager service company 3. The center 5 is connected to a transmission base station 6. In the illustrated system, calling targets are a plurality of pagers 4 and 9 located in the area under the control of the pager service company 3. When a ringing (calling) code for calling a specific pager or pages 4 and 9 is input from the telephone terminal 1 or the personal computer 7, this ringing code is sent via the public telephone line 2 to the center 5. The center 5 converts the received ringing code to a calling signal of the POCSAG standards and sends it to the transmission base station 6. The transmission base station 6 converts the supplied calling signal to a radio frequency signal and broadcasts the signal. Each pager 4 or 9 intermittently receives the radio frequency signal broadcasted from the transmission base station 6 at a time slot designated by the frame data and determines if the ringing signal included in the radio frequency signal matches with the ringing code assigned to itself. The pager 4 or 9 which has determined that there is a match informs the user of ringing by a tone, light, vibration, display or the like. If message data follows the ringing signal, the pager 4, receives the massage data and displays a message in accordance with this message data.
FIG. 2 shows the circuit structure of the pager 4 of the embodiment. As illustrated, the pager 4 has an antenna 11, an RF (Radio Frequency) receiver 12, a decoder 13, a CPU (control section) 14, an ID (IDentification)-ROM 15, a loudspeaker 16, a vibrator 17, an LED 18, a ROM 19, a RAM 20, an input section 23, and a display section 24.
The RF receiver 12 demodulates a radiowave received at the antenna 11. The ID-ROM 15 stores data particularly assigned to the target pager 4, more specifically, frame data, address data and the like. The decoder 13 collates a ringing signal included in the demodulated, received signal with data stored in the ID-ROM 15, and outputs a ringing detection signal to the CPU 14 when both matches with each other. When message data follows the ringing signal, the decoder 13 also outputs this message data to the CPU 14. The CPU 14 controls the individual circuits; for example, it obtains message data and displays the message in accordance with the message data on the display section 24.
The input section 23 has a plurality of operation keys and a power switch. When any operation key is operated, a key operation signal is supplied to the CPU 14. In accordance with this key operation signal, the CPU 14 drives and controls the display section 24.
The display section 24 has a liquid crystal (LC) panel, an LC panel driver and a display buffer. Other display elements than the LC display, such as an EL display and plasma display, may be used as the display section 24.
The ROM 19 holds a program or the like for controlling the CPU 14, a standard message table as shown in FIG. 3 and a portrait table as shown in FIG. 4. The standard message table stores message codes "01" to "20" and standard messages in association with one another, as shown in FIG. 3. The portrait table stores portrait codes "21" to "36" and portraits in association with one another, as shown in FIG. 4.
The data for displaying portraits is control data for defining the selective operations of a plurality of display segments of a liquid crystal display (LCD) element constituting the display section 24, namely, the activation (ON action) and deactivation (OFF action) of the display segments. Prepared as portraits are some types of expression patterns of each of a man and a woman.
The RAM 20 has a memory area for storing message data or the like received by the target pager 4.
The loudspeaker 16 has a driver and a buffer, and generates a tone when the ringing signal is received. The vibrator 17 vibrates when the ringing signal is received. The LED 18 is lit or blinks when the ringing signal is received.
In FIG. 2, a dialer key 21 and a dialer key speaker 22 are provided with the pages 8 and 9 having a function for forming a message, converting the message to a dialing tone signal and transmitting the message as the dialing tone signal. A message bank 25 is a storage section to store arbitrary portraits and self-made standard message when prepared. A modular plug 26 and an interface 27 are provided with the pages 8 and 9 for transmitting codes by connecting the modular jack 28 and modular plug 26 with each other. (The dialer key 21, dialer key speaker 22, message bank 25, modular plug 26 and interface 27 are not used in this embodiment, but are used in some embodiments which will be discussed later.)
FIG. 5 shows the appearance of the pager 4. As illustrated, the pager 4 has the display section 24 on one major surface with a set key 31, a select key 32 a mode key 33 at the top and a power key 34 at one side.
The display section 24 has a character message display area 24a for displaying a character-based message, a portrait display area 24b for displaying a portrait, a control information display area 24c for displaying control information, a time display area 24d for displaying the current time or reception time, and a symbol display area 24e for displaying a symbol when receiving a ringing signal.
The portrait display area 24b is constituted of a segment display section for displaying sixteen types of portraits shown in FIG. 4. The portrait display area 24b may be constituted of a dot matrix display section, in which case control data for displaying the portrait is stored in a dot pattern form in the ROM 19.
The set key 31 is for setting and registering data to be selected. The select key 32 serves to select arbitrary data. The mode key 33 serves to switch the operation mode.
A description will now be given of the procedures for transmitting a message to the pager 4 in the paging system having the above-described structure.
There are two types of messages to be displayed: an ordinary message which is the transmitted message directly displayed by the pager 4 on the receiver side, and a message of a standard format, which is obtained by restoring a message or an image in a predetermined form previously stored in the pager 4 on the receiver side based on the transmitted data and is then displayed. In sending a message of a standard format, a predetermined "standard format designating code" including "*" is input as will be described below.
First, the user inputs the ringing code of the target pager 4 from the push-phone 1, personal computer 2 or the like. Then, the user input a message. The following are available messages:
(1) no message (only inform ringing),
(2) an ordinary message,
(3) any of standard messages shown in FIG. 3,
(4) any of portraits shown in FIG. 4, and
(5) any combination of the portraits shown in FIG. 4 and the standard messages shown in FIG. 3.
In the case of (1), the user inputs the ringing code. In the case of (2), the user inputs an ordinary message, e.g., numerals, sequentially after inputting the ringing code. In the case of (3), after inputting the ringing code, the user inputs standard message data including a standard message designating code "*4*4" which indicates that the subsequent data is a standard message, and an arbitrary one of message codes in the standard message table shown in FIG. 3. In the case of (4), after inputting the ringing code, the user inputs portrait data including a portrait designating code "*5*5" which indicates that the subsequent data is a portrait code and an arbitrary one of portrait codes in the portrait table shown in FIG. 4. In the case of (5), the user inputs a standard message in the manner described in the case of (3), and then inputs a portrait in the manner described in the case of (4).
The input ringing code and message data are sent via the public telephone line 2 to the center 5. The center 5 converts the received data to a signal of the POCSAG standards and sends the signal to the transmission base station 6. Then, the transmission base station 6 converts this signal to a radio frequency signal and broadcasts the signal.
The reception operation of the pager 4 according to this embodiment will now be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 6.
First, the reception process is performed in step S1. More specifically, each pager 4 receives a radio frequency signal, sent from the transmission base station 6, at the antenna 11, and demodulates the received signal in the RF receiver 12. The decoder 13 detects the "ringing signal (address data) included in the received signal, collates it with the ID code (address data) stored in the ID-ROM 15. When there is a coincidence, the decoder 13 sends a ringing detection signal to the CPU 14. The CPU 14 executes a process starting at step S2 in response to this ringing detection signal.
In step S2, the CPU 14 detects if message data follows this ringing signal. If there is no subsequent message data, the CPU 14 display the symbol on the symbol display area 24e of the display section 24, and drives the loudspeaker 16, vibrator
17 and LED 18 to inform the user of the ringing.
When some message data follows the ringing signal, the CPU 14 controls the decoder 13 to continue the reception operation, and obtains the subsequent data, after which the flow proceeds to step S4.
The CPU 14 determines whether a standard format designating code "*4*4" or "*5*5" is present at the head of the received message data. As stated above, the standard format designating code "*4*4" serves to designate one of the standard messages in the standard message table shown in FIG. 3, and the standard format designating code "*5*5" serves to designate one of the portraits in the portrait in the portrait table shown in FIG. 4. When there is no standard format designating code "*4*4" or "*5*5", the CPU 14 displays a message (ordinary message) in accordance with the received message data on the display section 24 in step S5. The CPU 14 also displays the symbol on the display section 24 and drives the loudspeaker 16, vibrator 17 and LED
18 to inform the user of the ringing, and then stores the reception time and the received message data in the RAM 20. After this, the CPU 114 terminates this processing.
When it is determined in step S4 that the standard format designating code "*4*4" or "*5*5" is present at the head of the message, it is determined in step S6 if the message data immediately after the ringing signal is the portrait data including the portrait designating code "*5*5" and one of the portrait codes "21" to "36" to designate a portrait. When the portrait data does not exist, the flow proceeds to step S10. In step S10, it is determined if the message data immediately after the ringing signal is the standard message data including the standard format designating code "*4*4" and one of the message codes "01" to "20". When the message data does not exists, the CPU 14 drives the loudspeaker 16, etc. to inform the ringing and causes the message display area 24a to display that there is no message in step S11. Further, the reception time is saved in the RAM 20.
When it is determined in step S10 that the standard message data exists, the ringing is informed, and one of the standard messages shown in FIG. 3 which corresponds to the message code is displayed on the message display area 24a. Further, the reception time and the message code are saved in the RAM 20.
When it is determined in step S6 that there exits the portrait data, the flow proceeds to step S7 where it is determined if there is data (message) following that portrait data.
When it is determined in step S7 that there is subsequent data, the ringing is informed and (1) the portrait among those shown in FIG. 4 which is designated by the portrait code and the standard message among those shown in FIG. 3 which is designated by the message code are displayed on the display section 24 if the subsequent data is standard message data (the standard message designating code "*4*4" and the message code), or (2) the received message is displayed together with the portrait if the message data is ordinary message data in step S8. Further, the message data and a reception time are saved in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
When it is determined in step S7 that there is no subsequent data, the ringing is informed, the portrait corresponding to the portrait code is displayed on the display section 24, and the received message data and the reception time are stored in the RAM 20 in step S9. Thereafter, the processing is terminated.
FIG. 7 shows a display example in the case where message data "*5*528*4*420" has been received. This message data has the portrait code "28" following the portrait designating code "*5*5", and the message code "20" following the standard format designating code "*4*4". Therefore, the flow proceeds in the order of step S1.fwdarw.step S2.fwdarw.step S4.fwdarw.step S6.fwdarw.step S7.fwdarw.step S8. In step S8, the ringing is informed, the portrait which is assigned with the portrait code "28" and the standard message "AGREED" assigned with the message code "20" are read from the portrait table shown in FIG. 4 and the standard message table shown in FIG. 3 in the ROM 19 respectively, and the portrait and standard message are respectively displayed in the portrait display area 24b and the message display area 24a as shown in FIG. 7. Further, the received message data and the reception time are saved in the RAM 20.
FIG. 8 shows a display example in the case where message data "*5*528" has been received. This message data has the portrait code "28" following the portrait designating code "*5*5". Therefore, the flow proceeds in the order of step S1.fwdarw.step S2.fwdarw.step S4.fwdarw.step S6.fwdarw.step S7.fwdarw.step S9. In step S9, after the ringing is informed, the portrait assigned with the portrait code "28" is read from the portrait table shown in FIG. 4 in the ROM 19, and is displayed in the portrait display area 24b as shown in FIG. 8. Further, the received message data and the reception time are saved in the RAM 20.
FIG. 9 shows a display example in the case where message data "*4*420" has been received. This message data has the message code "20" following the standard message designating code "*4*4". Therefore, the flow proceeds in the order of step S1.fwdarw.step S2.fwdarw.step S4.fwdarw.step S6.fwdarw.step S10.fwdarw.step S12. In step S12, after the ringing is informed, the standard message "AGREED" is read from the standard message table in the ROM 19 and is displayed in the message display area
24a in the display section 24 as shown in FIG. 9. Further, the received message data and the reception time are saved in the RAM 20.
FIG. 10 shows a display example in the case where message data "*4*4" has been received. This message data has no data after the standard message designating code "*4*4". Therefore, the flow proceeds in the order of step S1.fwdarw.step S2.fwdarw.step S4.fwdarw.step S6.fwdarw.step S10.fwdarw.step S11. In step S11, the ringing is informed and an image indicating no message is displayed in the message display area 24a. Further, the received message data and the reception time are saved in the RAM 20.
As described above, the paging system and pager according to this embodiment can allow an arbitrary portrait to be selected from a plurality of portraits with different expressions and to be displayed on the pager. Accordingly, not only character information and a sequence of numerals but also the intention and feeling of the caller can be displayed as an image, i.e., a portrait on the pager, so that expressions can be given to the display contents of a message.
Embodiment 1-2
Although the example of displaying portraits with different expressions on a pager has been illustrated in the foregoing description of the embodiment 1-1, it is possible to display the portraits of different persons. The embodiment accomplishing the latter display function will be described below.
The basic structure of the internal circuitry of the pager 4 is the same as the structure shown in FIG. 2, except that the RAM 20 has memory areas where telephone numbers Da of a plurality of callers, names Db corresponding to the telephone numbers Da and portraits Dc are stored, as shown in FIG. 11 as well as an memory area for storing received message data. In FIG. 11, the portraits indicates the persons corresponding to the telephone numbers.
In this embodiment, a caller who calls the pager 4 first calls the center 5, for example, and then sequentially inputs the ringing code of the target pager 4, the telephone number designating code "*09" and the caller's own telephone number. The center 5 converts the ringing code, the telephone number designating code "*09" indicating that the subsequent code is a telephone number, and the caller's own telephone number to a signal of the POCSAG standards. Then, the transmission base station 6
converts this signal to a radio frequency signal and broadcasts the signal.
The operation of the pager according to this embodiment will now be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 12.
First, the same reception process as carried out in step S1 is performed in step S101. More specifically, the received, demodulated ringing signal is collated with the ID code stored in the ID-ROM 15, and when both match with each other, a ringing detection signal is sent to the CPU 14. In response to this ringing detection signal, the CPU 14 executes a process starting at step S102
In step S102, the CPU 14 determines if message data follows this ringing signal. If there is no subsequent message data, the flow advances to step S103 to inform the ringing. The informing of the ringing is accomplished by means of any of the loudspeaker 16, the vibrator 17 and the LED 18, or by displaying the occurrence of the ringing event on the display section 24. FIG. 13A shows a display example of this case. Displayed on the display section 24 are the symbol indicating the occurrence of the ringing event and the time.
When it is determined in step S102 that message data follows the ringing signal, the flow proceeds to step S104. In step S104, it is determined if the message data after the ringing signal is telephone number data comprising a telephone number designating code "*9" and a telephone number, by determining whether or not the telephone number designating code, e.g., "*09", is located at the head of the message data.
When the message data is not telephone number data, the flow moves to step S105 where the ringing is informed and a message in accordance with the received message data is displayed on the display section 24. Further, the received message data is stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated. FIG. 13B shows a display example when "*4*403" has been received as message data. In this case, the symbol indicating the informing of the ringing, the reception time and the message "RETURN" are displayed on the display section 24 in the step S105.
When the telephone number designating code "*09" is detected in step S104, the data following this code is determined as telephone number and the flow proceeds to step S106. In step S106, the telephone numbers stored in the area Da in FIG. 11
are searched for the telephone number whose lower four digits match with the lower four digits of the received telephone number.
When no corresponding telephone number is found in this search, the flow goes to step S107 where the ringing is informed, and the received telephone number is displayed on the display section 24, and the telephone number and the reception data are stored in the RAM 20. Thereafter, the processing is terminated. FIG. 13C shows a display example in this case. Suppose that the telephone number designating code "*09" and "111-1111" have been received as message data. The telephone number whose lower four digits match with "1111", the lower four digits of the received telephone number, is not stored in the area Da in FIG. 11. Therefore, the symbol, the reception time and the telephone number "111-1111" are displayed on the display section 24.
When the target telephone number is searched out in the search in step S106, the flow proceeds to step S108 where it is determined if name corresponding to this telephone number is stored in the area Db.
When the corresponding name is stored there, the flow moves to step S109 where it is determined if the corresponding portrait is stored in the area Dc. When the corresponding portrait is stored there, the flow proceeds to step S110 where the ringing is informed, the received telephone number, the name and the portrait read from the ROM 19 are displayed on the display section 24. Further, those pieces of data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
FIG. 14A shows a display example in this case. Suppose that the telephone number designating code "*09" and "123-4567" have been received. The lower four digits of this telephone number, "4567", match with the lower four digits of the telephone number "123-4567" stored in the area Da shown in FIG. 11, and the corresponding name and portrait are respectively stored in the areas Db and Dc. Therefore, the flow proceeds in the order of step S101.fwdarw.step S104.fwdarw.step S106.fwdarw.step S108.fwdarw.step S109.fwdarw.step S110. In step S110, the symbol indicating the reception and the reception time are displayed together with the telephone number "123-4567", the name "SUGIO" and the portrait on the display section 24. Further, those pieces of data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
When it is determined in step S109 that no corresponding portrait is stored in the area Dc, the flow proceeds to step S111 where the ringing is informed and the telephone number and name are displayed on the display section 24. Further, those pieces of data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
FIG. 14B shows a display example in this case. Suppose that the telephone number designating code "*09" and the telephone number "444-4444" have been received as message data. The telephone number "444-4444" having the same lower four digits "4444" of the received telephone number is stored in the area Da. The corresponding name is stored in the area Db. But, no corresponding portrait is stored in the area Db. Therefore, the symbol, the reception time, the telephone number "444-4444" and the name "AOKI" are displayed on the display section 24.
When it is determined in steps S106 and S108 that a telephone number whose lower four digits coincide with the lower four digits of the received telephone number is stored in the area Da but no corresponding name is stored in the area Dc, the flow proceeds to step S112. In step S112, it is determined if corresponding portrait is stored in the area Dc. When it is determined that the corresponding portrait is stored, the flow moves to step S113 where the symbol, the telephone number and the portrait are displayed on the display section 24. Further, those pieces of data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
FIG. 14C shows a display example in this case. Suppose that the telephone number designating code "*09" and the telephone number "333-3333" have been received as message data. The telephone number having the same lower four digits "3333" of the received telephone number is stored in the area Da. While no corresponding name is stored in the area Db, the corresponding portrait is stored in the area Dc. Therefore, the symbol, the reception time, the telephone number "333-3333" and the portrait are displayed on the display section 24.
When it is determined in step S112 that no corresponding portrait is stored in the area Dc, the flow moves to step S114 where the symbol and the telephone number are displayed on the display section 24. Further, those pieces of data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
FIG. 14D shows a display example in this case. Suppose that the telephone number designating code "*09" and the telephone number "666-6666" have been received as a message. The telephone number "666-6666" having the same lower four digits "6666" of the received telephone number is stored in the area Da. But, no corresponding name and no corresponding portrait are stored in the respective areas Db and Dc. Therefore, the symbol, the reception time, and the telephone number "666-6666" are displayed on the display section 24.
According to this embodiment, the telephone numbers specifying callers are stored in conjunction with the names and portraits in the RAM 20. Therefore, a caller can be clearly displayed on the pager 4 by the combination of the telephone number, name and portrait, so that the user can accurately confirm the caller.
Embodiment 1-3
In the embodiment 1-2, it is discriminated whether or not to display a name, a portrait and the like by checking the presence/absence of data in the RAM 20. The display contents may be set by setting a flag. An embodiment covering this feature will now be discussed.
The basic structures of the paging system and pager 4 according to this embodiment are the same as those shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, except that the RAM 20 has memory areas Da to Dd to previously store the telephone numbers of a plurality of callers, names corresponding to the telephone numbers and corresponding portraits respectively, as shown in FIG. 15. The telephone numbers, name and portrait are substantially the same data structure as those used in the embodiment 1-2. The flag comprises two bits data and specifies one of display modes: the flag "1 (01)" indicates the display of a name and a portrait, the flag "2 (10)" indicates the display of a portrait, and the flag "3 (11)" indicates the display of a name.
The operation of the pager 4 according to this embodiment will now be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 6.
First, when it is determined in step S201 of the reception process that the ringing signal matches with the ID code of the pager 4, the decoder 13 sends a ringing detection signal to the CPU 14. In response to this ringing detection signal, the CPU 14 executes a process starting at step S202.
In step S202, it is determined if message data follows this ringing signal. When it is determined that there is no subsequent message data, the flow proceeds to step S203 to inform the ringing. This is accomplished by driving the loudspeaker
16, vibrator 17 and/or LED 18, and displaying the symbol on the symbol display area 24e in the display section 24. A display example for this case is the same as the one shown in FIG. 13A.
When message data follows the ringing signal, the flow proceeds to step S204. In step S204, it is determined if the message data after the ringing signal is telephone number data by determining whether or not the telephone number designating code "*09" is located at the head of the message data.
When it is determined that the message data is not telephone number data, the flow moves to step S205 where the ringing is informed, the received message is displayed on the display section 24, and this message and the reception time is stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated. A display example in this case is the same as the above-described example shown in FIG. 13B.
When the message data is determined as telephone number data in step S204, the flow proceeds to step S206. In step S206, the telephone numbers stored in the area Da shown in FIG. 15 are searched for the telephone number whose lower four digits match with the lower four digits of the received telephone number.
When no matched telephone number is found in this search, the flow goes to step S207 where the ringing is informed, and the received telephone number is displayed on the display section 24 and is stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated. A display example in this case is the same as the above-describe example shown in FIG. 13C.
When the target telephone number is searched out in the search in step S206, the flow proceeds to step S208 where the associated flag stored in the flag area Dd is referred to.
When the flag "1" is stored, the flow moves to step S209 where the symbol, telephone number, name and portrait are displayed on the display section 24. Further, these pieces of data portrait are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
Suppose that the telephone number designating code "*09" and telephone number "123-4567" are received as message data. The telephone number "123-4567" whose lower four digits match with the lower four digits "4567" of this telephone number is stored in the area Da. The flag corresponding to this telephone number is "1". Therefore, the symbol, reception time, telephone number "123-4567", name "SUGIO" and portrait are displayed on the display section 24, as shown in FIG. 14A.
When it is determined in step S208 that the flag "2" is stored, the flow moves to step S210 where the symbol and portrait are displayed on the display section 24, and these pieces of data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
Suppose that the telephone number designating code "*09" and telephone number "333-3333" are received. The telephone number "333-3333" whose lower four digits match with the lower four digits "3333" of this telephone number is stored in the area Da. The flag corresponding to this telephone number "333-3333" is "2". Therefore, the symbol, reception time, telephone number "333-3333" and portrait are displayed on the display section 24, as shown in FIG. 14C.
When it is determined in step S208 that the flag "3" is stored, the flow moves to step S211 where the symbol and name are displayed as the display contents defined by the flag "3" on the display section 24, and these pieces of data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
Suppose that the telephone number designating code "*09" and telephone number "444-4444" are received. The telephone number "444-4444" whose lower four digits match with the lower four digits "4444" of this telephone number is stored in the area Da in the RAM 20. The flag corresponding to this telephone number is "3". Therefore, the symbol, reception time, telephone number "444-4444" and name "AOKI" are displayed on the display section 24, as shown in FIG. 14B.
According to this embodiment, the display mode is set by the flag in accordance with the telephone number of a caller. Therefore, information about the caller such as name and telephone number may be arbitrarily combined and displayed. Thus, the user can correctly confirm the caller at a glance.
Embodiment 1-4
While the portrait of a caller is displayed on the display section 24, an emblem or the like indicating a company for which the caller works may be displayed instead. An embodiment covering this feature will now be discussed.
The basic structures of the paging system and pager 4 according to this embodiment are the same as those shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. The RAM 20 has the first memory area shown in FIG. 17A, the second memory area shown in FIG. 17B and the third memory area shown in FIG. 17C. The first memory area includes memory area Da1, Db1 and Dc1 where the telephone numbers of a plurality of possible (or potential) callers, name corresponding to the telephone numbers and portrait are respectively stored. The second memory area includes memory area Da2, Db2 and Dc2 where the telephone numbers of a plurality of possible callers, company name corresponding to the telephone numbers and company emblem are respectively stored, as shown in FIG. 17B. The third memory area includes memory areas Dd1 and Dd2 where a display flag d1 for a person and a display flag d2 for a company are stored, as shown in FIG. 17C. Each of the display flags d1 and d2 is formed of two bits data.
The portrait data shown in FIG. 17A represents the individual callers, and the company emblem data shown in FIG. 17B represents companies to which the callers belong. The data structure of the flags d1 and d2 are substantially same as those of flags in the embodiment 1-3. The display flag d1 for a person shown in FIG. 17C specifies the display mode: the flag "1" indicates the display of a name and a portrait, the flag "2" indicates the display of a portrait, and the flag "3" indicates the display of a name. The display flag d2 for a company also specifies the display mode: the flag "1" indicates the display of a company name and a company emblem, the flag "2" indicates the display of a company emblem, and the flag "3" indicates the display of a company name.
The reception operation of the pager 4 according to this embodiment will now be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 18.
First, when it is detected in step S301 that the received ringing signal matches with the ID code, the CPU 14 executes a process starting at step S302.
In step S302, it is determined if message data follows this ringing signal. When it is determined that there is no subsequent message data, the flow proceeds to step S303 to inform the ringing. This informing process involves a process of driving one of the loudspeaker 16, vibrator 17 and LED 18, and the display of the symbol indicating that a call has been made. A display example in this case is the same as the one shown in FIG. 13A.
When message data follows the ringing signal, the flow proceeds to step S304. In step S304, it is determined if the message data after the ringing signal is telephone number data by determining whether or not there is an ID code at the head of the message data.
When it is determined that the message data is not telephone number data, the flow moves to step S305 where the ringing is informed, the message is displayed on the display section 24 and the received message data and reception time are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated. A display example in this case is the same as the one shown in FIG. 13B.
When the message data is determined as telephone number data in step S304, the flow proceeds to step S306. In step S306, the telephone numbers stored in the areas Da1 and Da2 shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B are searched for the telephone number whose lower four digits match with the lower four digits of the received telephone number.
When no matched telephone number is found in this search, the flow goes to step S307 where the symbol and the telephone number are displayed on the display section 24, and those data and reception time are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated. A display example in this case is the same as the one shown in FIG. 13C.
When it is determined through the search in step S306 that the telephone number whose lower four digits match with the lower four digits of the received telephone number is stored in the telephone numbers stored in the areas Da1 and Da2 shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the flow proceeds to step S308 where it is determined if the display contents of the pager 4 are set for the person mode or the company mode. With regard to this mode and the flag d1 for a person (hereinafter simply referred to as "person flag") and the flag d2 for a company (hereinafter simply referred to as "company flag"), which will be discussed later, an arbitrary mode should have been selected using the mode key 33 and should have been set by the set key 31.
If the person mode is set, the flow moves to step S309 to refer to the contents of the person flag d1 shown in FIG. 17C.
When the "1" is set as the person flag d1, the flow moves to step S310 where the ringing is informed, and the name and portrait are displayed on the display section 24. Further, those data and reception time are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
Suppose that the telephone number "123-4567" is received as a message after the telephone number designating code "*09". As the corresponding telephone number "123-4567" is stored in the area Da1 in FIG. 17A, the symbol, the reception time, telephone number "123-4567", name "SUGIO" and portrait are displayed on the display section 24, as shown in FIG. 14A.
When it is determined in step S309 that "2" is set as the person flag d1, the flow moves to step S311. In this step S311, the ringing is informed and the portrait is displayed on the display section 24, and those data are stored in the RAM 20
after which the processing is terminated.
Suppose that the telephone number "123-4567" is received after the telephone number designating code "*09". In this case, the symbol, reception time, telephone number "123-4567" and portrait, but excluding the name, are displayed on the display section 24, as shown in FIG. 19A.
When it is determined in step S309 that "3" is set as the person flag d1, the flow moves to step S312. In step S312, the ringing is informed, the name is displayed on the display section 24, and those data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
Suppose that the telephone number designating code "*09" and telephone number "123-4567" are received. In this case, the symbol, reception time, telephone number "123-4567" and name are displayed on the display screen, as shown in FIG. 19B.
If it is determined in step S308 that the company mode is set, the flow moves to step S313 to refer to the contents of the company flag d2 shown in FIG. 17C.
When the "1" is set as the company flag d2, the flow moves to step S314. In step S314, the symbol, company name and company emblem are displayed on the display section 24, and those data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated. Suppose that the telephone number designating code "*09" and the telephone number "123-4567" are received. In this case, the lower four digits "4567" of this telephone number match with the lower four digits of the telephone number "123-4567" stored in the area Da2 in FIG. 17B. Thus, the symbol and reception time are displayed on the display screen together with the telephone number "123-4567", company name "AAA Inc." and company emblem, as shown in FIG. 20A.
When it is determined in step S313 that "2" is set as the company flag d2, the flow moves to step S315. In step S315, the symbol, received telephone number and company emblem are displayed on the display section 24, and those data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated. A display example for the case where the telephone number "123-4567" has been received as a message is shown in FIG. 20B.
When it is determined in step S313 that "3" is set as the company flag d2, the flow moves to step S316. In step S316, the symbol, reception time, telephone number and company name are displayed on the display section 24, and the reception time, telephone number and company name are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated. A display example for the case where the telephone number "123-4567" has been received as a message is shown in FIG. 20C.
According to this embodiment, an image indicating the caller can be displayed together with other character and numeral information in the display mode set by the flag according to the person mode or the company mode. Thus, the user can correctly confirm the caller with not only portraits but also any images.
Second Embodiment
In the embodiments 1-1 to 1-4, a predetermined image is displayed on the display section. But, this invention is not limited to those embodiments. For example, a portrait to be displayed may be prepared by the user. The following will describe an embodiment of the pager 4 which allows the user to prepare a portrait, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The basic structures of the paging system and the pager 4 according to this embodiment are the same as those of the embodiment 1-1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The ROM 19 in this embodiment however stores a portrait code matrix for woman shown in FIG. 21, a portrait code matrix for man shown in FIG. 22, a self-made standard message code matrix shown in FIG. 23, a program for switching five types of modes, a reception standby mode (main mode), a time setting mode, a ringing tone switching mode, a portrait preparing mode and a self-made standard message preparing mode, in accordance with the number of depressions of the mode key 33, a program for selecting individual data shown in FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 in accordance with the depressing operations of the select key 32 and the mode key 33, and the like. The portrait code matrix for woman includes basic pattern data of the portrait of a woman and changing pattern data of parts constituting the portrait, such as eyebrow, left eye, right eye, mouth, sweat, blood vessel, tear, cheek, hand and heart, as shown in FIG. 21. The portrait code matrix for man includes basic pattern data of the portrait of a man and changing pattern data of parts constituting the portrait, such as eyebrow, left eye, right eye, mouth, sweat, blood vessel, tear, cheek, hand and heart, as shown in FIG. 22. The portrait is displayed in accordance with control data for controlling the activation (ON action) and deactivation (OFF action) of a plurality of display segments constituting a portrait in the portrait display area 24b of the display section 24.
In this embodiment, the message bank 25 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the CPU 14. The message bank 25, which is constituted of a volatile memory, has a memory area for storing a message (a portrait and self-made standard message) prepared in accordance with the message preparing flowchart in FIG. 25, as shown in FIG. 24.
The portrait display area 24b of the display section 24 shown in FIG. 5 is constituted of segments for displaying the individual parts constituting a portrait.
The area in the message bank 25 for storing portrait data stores codes of the patterns of the individual parts constituting a portrait. A portrait is displayed by activating those of the segments of the portrait display area 24b which are associated with the pattern codes stored in the message bank 25. The portrait display area 24b may be constituted of a dot matrix display section. In this case, a portrait is displayed in a dot pattern, part by part.
A method of preparing a portrait and a self-made standard message and registering them in the message bank 25 in the pager 4 of this embodiment will be described in detail, with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 25 and the display examples in FIGS. 26A to 26M.
First, the user depresses the mode key 3 in the reception standby mode to set the portrait preparing mode. A display example in the portrait preparing mode is shown in FIG. 26A. In the initial state in this mode, the basic pattern of a woman's portrait shown in FIG. 21 is displayed in the portrait display area 24b of the display section 24. Then, the user depresses the set key 31 to enter the preparing mode and starts preparing a portrait (step S401).
Next, when the depression of the select key 32 is repeated in step S402, the CPU 14 repeatedly displays the basic patterns of the portraits of a man and a woman. After determining either the man or woman, the user depresses the set key 31. In response to this key depression, the CPU 14 sets the basic pattern that is displayed then. It is assumed here that the basic pattern of a woman is selected as shown in enlargement in FIG. 26B.
Next, the user depresses the set key 31 if there are no displayed parts the user wants to change, or the user operates the select key 32 if there are some parts to be changed. Those key operations are detected in step S403. When the set key 31
is depressed, the flow proceeds to step S405, and when the select key 32 is depressed, the flow proceeds to step S404. In step S404, the user selects an arbitrary pattern, part by part.
The process in step S404 will now be described in detail with reference to the display example. First, suppose that the basic pattern selected in step S402 is the basic pattern for a woman as shown in FIG. 26B and the portrait to be prepared is the one shown in FIG. 26H.
The user sequentially depresses the mode key 33 to designate the part to be changed in accordance with the portrait code matrix for woman illustrated in FIG. 21, and selects the pattern using the select key 32.
The detailed description of a specific operational example will be given below. As the mode key 33 is depressed, a changeable or selectable part is changed and blinks in the order of eyebrow.fwdarw.left eye.fwdarw.right eye.fwdarw.mouth .fwdarw.sweat.fwdarw.blood vessel.fwdarw.tear.fwdarw.cheek.fwdarw.hand.fwdarw.heart .fwdarw.eyebrow and so forth. In preparing the portrait shown in FIG. 26H from the basic pattern shown in FIG. 26B, first, the user depresses the mode key 33 twice to make the left eye blink as the selectable part as shown in FIG. 26C. Next, the user depresses the select key 32 once, so that the pattern among the pattern data of the left eye shown in FIG. 21, which corresponds to "1" on the horizontal scale, is displayed as shown in FIG. FIG. 26D and blinks. As this pattern is the target pattern of the left eye of the portrait in FIG. 26H, the selection of the left eye is finished. Next, the user depresses the mode key 33 twice to make the mouth pattern changeable, and operates the select key 32 to select the pattern, resulting in the state in FIG. 26E. Further, the user depresses the mode key 33 five times, and depresses the select key 32 once to set the hand pattern as shown in FIG. 26F. Then, the user depresses the mode key 33 once and the select key 32 once to display the heart as shown in FIG. 26G.
As the desired portrait is completed through the above operation, the user operates the set key 31. Consequently, the portrait shown in FIG. 26H is set. A display example of the entire display section at this time is shown in FIG. 26I.
Subsequently, the flow moves to step S405 where the user designates the address with the select key 32 to register the prepared portrait in the message bank 25. After the address designation, the user depresses the set key 31. In response to the operation of the set key 31, the CPU 14 registers the pattern codes of the individual parts of the prepared portrait at the designated address as shown in FIG. 24. As nothing can be registered at the addresses where the standard messages (hereinafter, fixed standard message) shown in FIG. 3 are registered, any other address than those should be designated.
In preparing the user's self-made standard message in association with the portrait prepared and the registered in the above-described manner and registering that message in the message bank 25, the user should depress the mode key 33. This key operation is detected in step S406, and the operation mode is changed to the self-made standard message preparing mode from the portrait preparing mode in step S407. Accordingly, the display is changed to the state shown in FIG. 26J from the state in FIG. 26I. When the user depresses the select key 32 in the self-made standard message code matrix shown in FIG. 23 is read from the ROM 19. As the character "" in the self-made standard message code matrix is displayed, blinking, at the character input position in the message display area 24a as shown in FIG. 26K, the user depresses the select key 32 to select the coordinates in the horizontal direction in the matrix and depresses the mode key 33 to select the vertical coordinates in the matrix. Once a character to be set is determined, the user should depress the set key 31. To prepare the words "PLEASE WAIT", for example, the select key 32 should be depressed five times and the mode key 33 should be depressed three times to display "P". When "P" is displayed, the set key 31 should be depressed. The characters "L", "E", "A", "S", "E", "", "W", "A", "I" and "T" are set in the similar manner. After the preparation of the message is completed, the same register address as the address of the portrait is designated by depressing the select key 32 and is registered by depressing the set key 31.
If there is no change to the registered self-made standard message, the user depresses the mode key 33. This key operation is detected in step S406 and the flow proceeds to step S409. In step S409, the operation for preparing and registering a message consisting of a portrait and a self-made standard message is finished and the operation mode is switched to the reception mode.
The procedures for calling the pager 4 of this embodiment are basically the same as those of the previous embodiment. When the user wants to display a portrait on the destination pager 4, the user inputs the address of an area in the message bank 25 where the desired portrait is stored after the portrait designating code "*5*5". In this case, it is necessary to previously confirm the portrait stored in the message bank 25 of the destination pager 4. An arbitrary message may be input instead of the portrait or may be input together with the portrait.
The case where the pager 4 of this embodiment has received the ringing signal will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS. 27A and 27B and the display examples shown in FIGS. 28-33.
First, the received ringing signal is collated with the ID code stored in the ID-ROM 15 in step S501. When there is a match, the flow proceeds to the processing which starts at step S502.
It is determined in step S502 whether or not message data follows this ringing signal. When there is not subsequent message data, the ringing is informed by displaying the symbol on the symbol display area 24e of the display section 24 in step S503.
When message data follows the ringing signal, the CPU 14 controls the decoder 13 so as to receive and obtain the message consecutively. Then, the CPU 14 determines whether the standard format designating code "*4*4" or "*5*5" is present at the head of the received message data (step S504). When there is no standard format designating code, the ringing is informed, the reception time and message are displayed on the message display area 24a of the display section 24, and the reception time and message data are stored in the RAM 20 after which this processing will be terminated.
When it is determined in step S504 that the standard format designating code is present at the head of the message data, the flow proceeds to step S506. In step S506, the CPU 14 determines if there is portrait data. More specifically, the CPU
14 determines if the standard format designating code is the portrait designating code, the message data following the portrait designating code is data indicating the address in the message bank 25 and the portrait is stored at this address.
When the decision in step S506 is "NO", the flow moves to step S514 and when the decision in step S506 is "YES", the flow moves to step S507. In step S507, it is determined if the self-made standard message is stored together with the portrait at the designated address.
When it is determined in step S507 that the self-made standard message is stored together with the portrait at the designated address, it is determined whether or not message data follows the received address data in step S508. When there is no message data after the received address data, the flow advances to step S510. When there is message data after the received address data, on the other hand, the flow advances to step S509. Of the portrait and self-made standard message stored at the designated address in the message bank 25, the self-made standard message is not displayed but the portrait and the received message are displayed at the display section 24 in step S509. Further, the ringing is informed and this message data is stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
FIG. 28 shows a display example where message data is "*5*531*4*420". In this case, the address data "31" follows the portrait designating code "*5*5", further followed by "*4*420" as message data. Thus, the flow proceeds in the above-described order, and the portrait stored at the address "31" in the message bank 25 and the message "AGREED" among the fixed standard messages shown in FIG. 3 stored in the ROM 19 which corresponds to the code "20" are displayed on the display section 24.
When it is determined in step S508 that no message data is located directly after the received address data, the flow moves to step S510. In step S510, the portrait stored at the address in the message bank 25 indicated by the received address data and the self-made standard message are displayed on the display section 24. The ringing informing process is also executed. Further, the received message data is stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing will be terminated.
FIG. 29 shows a display example where message data is "*5*531". The address data "31" is present after the portrait designating code "*5*5". Thus, the portrait stored at the address "31" in the message bank 25 and the self-made standard message "PLEASE WAIT" are displayed on the display section 24.
When it is determined in step S507 that no self-made standard message data is stored at the location specified by the received address data, it is determined in step S511 if message data is present immediately after this address data. When there is no subsequent message data, the flow proceeds to step S513. When subsequent message data is present, on the other hand, the flow proceeds to step S512. In step S512, the portrait stored at the address in the message bank 25 indicated by the received address data and the message based on the message data following the received address data are displayed on the display section 24, and the ringing informing process is also executed. Further, the received message data is stored in the RAM 20. Thereafter, the processing will be terminated.
FIG. 30 shows a display example based on message data "*5*533*4*410". The address data "33" follows the portrait designating code "*5*5", further followed by standard message data "*4*410". No self-made standard messages are stored at the address "33" in the message bank 25. Thus, the portrait stored at the address "33" in the message bank 25 is displayed on the message display areas 24a of the display section 24. Further, the fixed standard message "WAIT" is read out from the standard message table shown in FIG. 3 based on the message data "*4*410".
When it is determined in step S511 that no message data is located directly after the received address data, the flow moves to step S513 to display the portrait stored at that address. After the ringing is informed, the received message data is stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing will be terminated.
FIG. 31 shows a display example where message data is "*5*533". The address data "33" is present after the portrait designating code "*5*5". While portrait is stored at the address "33" in the message bank 25, no self-made standard message is stored there. Thus, the portrait stored at the address "33" in the message bank 25 is displayed on the display section 24.
When it is determined in step S506 that (1) there is no image designating code "*5*5", (2) data following the portrait designating code "*5*5" is not address data for the message bank 25, or (3) no portrait is stored at the location specified by the address data following the portrait designating code "*5*5", the flow proceeds to step S514. When it is determined in step S514 that no self-made standard message data or no fixed standard message data is present at the location indicated by the address data, the ringing is informed after which the processing will be terminated.
FIG. 32 shows a display example when the received message data is "*5*532". The address data "32" following the portrait designating code "*5*5" is not the address in the message bank 25. There is no fixed standard message at the address "32". Thus, the display for informing the ringing is presented as shown in FIG. 33.
When it is determined in step S514 that self-made standard message or fixed standard message is present, this self-made standard message or fixed standard data is displayed and the ringing is informed in step S516. Thereafter, this processing will be terminated.
FIG. 33 shows a display example based on the message data "*5*555*4*401". No portrait is stored at the address "55" in the message bank 25. The flow therefore proceeds to step S514. There is a message code "01" after the standard message designating code "*4*4". Thus, "URGENT" is read out from the standard messages table shown in FIG. 3 stored in the ROM 19 and is displayed on the display section 24 in step S516.
According to the paging system and pager 4 of this embodiment as described above, the intention, feeling and the like of a caller can be transmitted in the form of a portrait together with the character information. It is therefore possible to provide an expressive message. Portraits to be displayed on the pager 4 can be previously prepared by each user. Therefore, varieties of displays that are not given by fixed patterns can be presented if the correspondence between portrait codes and portrait is taught to the individual users who transmit messages.
Third Embodiment
In the above-described embodiments, a portrait is a still picture. To improve the expressing feature, however, a plurality of portraits may be switchingly displayed. While the pager in the above-described embodiments only has a message receiving ability, the pager itself may be equipped with a function to prepare a transmission message. The following will describe an embodiment of the pager 4 which has a function to display a portrait in a dynamic mode by sequentially displaying a plurality of portraits, changing one after another, on the display section and a function to simply prepare to-be-transmitted message data to display the dynamic picture.
FIG. 34 shows the outline of the pagers 8 and 9 used in the third embodiment. These pagers 8 and 9 are so designed that the key input section 23 and the display section 24 are coupled via a hinge section 41 and can be folded in two.
The key input section 23, unlike those in the embodiment 1-1 and the second embodiment, has numerical keys 42, a set key 43, a select key 44 and a mode key 45. The numerical keys 42 include keys "1" to "0", a "*" key and a "#" key. The set key
43 is for setting and registering selected data. The select key 44 serves to select data. The mode key 45 serves to switch the operation mode of pagers 8 and 9, such as the transmission message preparing mode, time setting mode, ringing tone switching mode and the like by the number of operations. The key input section 23 has a power switch 46 and a reset switch 47 too.
The display section 24 has a message display section 241 constituted of a liquid crystal panel for displaying a message, a portrait display section 242 constituted of segments for displaying a portrait and a transmission code display section 243
for displaying a transmission code.
The operation of the pagers 8 and 9 according to the third embodiment will be described below.
A description will be given first of an operation to prepare a message including a dynamic picture in the pager 8 and an operation to transmit a prepared message to another pager 9, with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 35.
First, the user selects the transmission message preparing mode using the mode key 45 (step S601). Next, the user sets the type of a message to be transmitted (step S602). As described above, messages include an ordinary message which is the transmitted message data itself that is displayed on the pager 9 on the receiver side, and a standard message to be displayed which is obtained by restoring a standard message or an image previously stored on the receiver side pager based on the transmitted data. In transmitting a standard message, the user first inputs a standard format designating code including "*" and then inputs a message code. In transmitting a non-standard message, the user input the desired message directly.
When no standard message is to be transmitted, i.e., when the first input data is not "*", the decision in step S602 is "NO" and the flow proceeds to step S603. The user inputs message data (a sequence of numerals) to be transmitted, by using the numeral keys 42. The input sequence of numerals is displayed on the transmission code display section 243.
The user can transmit a message by operating, for example, the push buttons of the push-phone 1 shown in FIG. 1 while referring to the sequence of numerals displayed on the transmission code display section 243 (step S604).
The user inputs the standard format designating code "*4*4" when transmitting a standard message or inputs the portrait designating code "*5*5" when transmitting a portrait. In transmitting only a standard message, therefore, the decision in step S602 is "YES", the decision in step S605 is "NO", and the flow proceeds to step S606. The input standard format designating code "*4*4" is displayed on the transmission code display section 243.
In step S606, the user inputs one of the message codes "01" to "20" corresponding to the desired fixed standard message in the standard message table shown in FIG. 3. The input code is displayed on the transmission code display section 243.
In this manner, the button numbers of the push-phone 1 which should be operated in transmitting standard message and the input sequence of the numbers are displayed on the transmission code display section 243.
The user can transmit a message by operating, for example, the push buttons of the push-phone 1 shown in FIG. 1 while referring to the sequence of numerals displayed on the transmission code display section 243 (step S604).
To transmit a portrait, the user inputs the portrait designating code "*5*5". In this case, the decisions in steps S602 and S605 are "YES", and the flow proceeds to step S607. In step S607, "*5*5" is displayed on the transmission code display section 243, and a predetermined portrait among portraits in the portrait table shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, blinking, on the portrait display section 242 of the display section 24.
The blinking portrait can be switched to another portrait by operating the select key 44. With the portrait to be transmitted being displayed in a blinking mode, the user operates the set key 43. The portrait is set by this key operation. The portrait code of the portrait selected in step S608 is displayed after the portrait designating code "*5*5" of the transmission code display section 243.
In transmitting a dynamic image on the pager 9, the user further inputs the portrait designating code "*5*5". The presence or absence of this portrait designating code is determined in step S609. When the decision in this step is "YES", the flow moves to step S612. In transmitting a still picture, on the other hand, the decision in step S609 is "NO".
In transmitting only a portrait, the user operates the set key 43 again. Because of this key operation, the decision in step S610 is "NO", and the flow proceeds to step S604. The portrait as a still picture can be transmitted at this stage by inputting the code displayed on the transmission code display section 243 using the push-phone 1.
When a message is to be transmitted together with a portrait, i.e., when the set key 43 has not been operated again, the decision in step S610 is "YES", and the flow proceeds to step S611. It is determined in this step if a standard message should be transmitted. When no standard message is transmitted, i.e., when the "*" key has not been operated, the decision in step S611 is "NO", and the flow proceeds to step S603. In step S603, the user inputs an ordinal numeral as message data. The input numeral is displayed on the transmission code display section 243.
When a standard message is to be transmitted together with a portrait, i.e., when the standard message designating code "*4*4" is input, the decision in step S611 is "YES", and the flow proceeds to step S606. In step S606, a message code corresponding to the desired standard message in the standard message table shown in FIG. 3 is input. Those codes are also displayed on the transmission code display section 243. Message including a standard message and a portrait of a still picture can be transmitted by sequentially transmitting codes, displayed on the transmission code display section 243, from the push-phone 1 or the like.
When it is determined in step S609 that a dynamic picture should be transmitted, it is the determined in step S612 if the preparation of a dynamic picture is completed. The flow then returns to steps S607 and S608 to select a portrait with a different expression from that of the previous selected portrait. When it is determined in step S612 that the preparation of a dynamic picture is completed, the flow proceeds to the above-described step S610.
It is also determined if a message should be transmitted together with the portrait in this case. When no message is to be transmitted, the decision in step S610 is "NO". When a message should be transmitted, on the other hand, the decision in step S610 is "YES" and the flow proceeds to step S611. When no standard message is to be transmitted, the decision in step S611 is "NO" after which the flow proceeds to the aforementioned step S603. In step S604, the user can transmit the message consisting of numerals and a portrait consisting of a dynamic picture by sequentially transmitting codes which are displayed on the transmission code display section 243, from the push-phone 1 or the like.
When a fixed standard message is to be transmitted, the decision in step S611 is "YES", and the flow proceeds to step S606. In step S606, a message code corresponding to the desired standard message in the standard message table shown in FIG. 3
is input. The flow then proceeds to step S604 where the fixed standard message data and a portrait consisting of a dynamic picture can be transmitted.
FIGS. 36A through 36C and FIGS. 37A and 37B illustrate procedures of preparing a message code in the case of transmitting a portrait consisting of a dynamic picture and a fixed standard message. Suppose that the portrait designating code "*5*5" has been keyed in. In this case, the decisions in steps S602 and S605 become "YES" and the portrait is displayed on the portrait display section 242 in step S607. When the set key 43 is depressed while the portrait assigned with the portrait code "21" in the portrait code matrix is blinking on the portrait display section 242, the portrait is displayed in a steady form on the portrait display section 242 as shown in FIG. 36A in step S608. The code "21" is displayed following the portrait designating code "*5*5" on the transmission code display section 243.
In transmitting a dynamic picture to the pager 9, the user input the portrait designating code "*5*5" again. By this key operation, the decision in step S609 is "YES", the decision in step S612 is "NO" and the next available portrait is displayed in step S607. Subsequently, when the set key 43 is depressed while the portrait with the portrait code "27" is blinking on the portrait display section 242, the portrait designating code "*5*5" and the portrait code "27" of the selected portrait are displayed after "*5*521" on the transmission code display section 243 as shown in FIG. 36B in step S608.
Further, when the set key 43 is depressed after the portrait designating code "*5*5" is input and while the portrait with the portrait code "26" is blinking, the portrait designating code "*5*5" and the portrait code "26" are displayed after "*5*521*5*527" on the transmission code display section 243 as shown in FIG. 36C.
Next, when the standard message designating code "*4*4" and the message code "12" are input, the decisions in steps S612, S610 and S611 are "YES", as shown in FIG. 37A. Because of the message code "12", the corresponding standard message "I'LL GO HOME" is displayed on the message display section 241 in step S606. When the set key 43 is operated, the standard message designating code "*4*4" and the message code "12" are displayed after "*5*521*5*527*5*526" on the transmission code display section 243 as shown in FIG. 37B.
The user can transmit the prepared message to the pager 9 by sequentially transmitting codes, displayed on the transmission code display section 243, from the push-phone 1 or the like.
The reception operation of the pager 9 will now be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 37.
First, the RF receiver 12 demodulates the radio frequency signal, received at the antenna 11, and sends the demodulated signal to the decoder 13. The decoder 13 determines if the ringing signal in the demodulated signal matches with the ID code stored in the ID-ROM 15. When both match with each other, the decoder 13 sends the ringing detection signal to the CPU 14. The CPU 14 executes a process starting at step S702 in response to this ringing detection signal.
In step S702, the CPU 14 determines if message data follows this ringing signal. If there is no subsequent message data, the CPU 14 proceeds to step S703 to inform the user of the ringing, for example, by displaying a symbol indicating the ringing.
When some message data follows the ringing signal, the CPU 114 controls the decoder 13 to continue the reception of the incoming signal, obtains the message data, and determines if the standard format designating code "*4*4" or "*5*5" is present at the head of the message.
When the standard format designating code "*4*4" or "*5*5" does not exist, the ringing is informed and the received message is displayed on the display section 24 in step S705. Subsequently, the ringing is informed and then the reception time and the received message data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
When it is determined in step S704 that there is message data including the standard format designating code "*4*4" or "*5*5" at the head, the flow proceeds to step S706 where it is determined if there is the portrait data including the portrait designating code "*5*5" and the portrait code. When there is no portrait data "*5*5", the flow proceeds to step S707 where it is determined if there are the standard message data including the standard message designating code "*4*4" and a message code. When there is no standard message data, the ringing is informed in step S708 after which the processing is terminated. When the standard message data exists, the corresponding standard message is displayed on the display section 24 in step S709. Further, the reception time and the received message data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
FIG. 38A shows a display example in the case where message data "*4*4" has been received. As the message code is not present after the standard message designating code "*4*4", the decision in step S707 is "NO". Therefore, the reception time and the symbol indicating no-message are displayed on the display section 24.
FIG. 38B shows a display example in the case where message code "*4*416" has been received. As the message code "16" is present after the standard message designating code "*4*4", the decision in step S707 is "YES" and "APPOINTMENT OK" corresponding to the message code "16" is read from the standard message table in FIG. 3 in the ROM 19. This message is displayed on the message display section 241 of the display section 24.
When the presence of the portrait data is determined in step S706, the flow proceeds to step S711. In step S711, it is determined if there are a plurality of pairs of the portrait designating codes "*5*5" and portrait codes. When there are a plurality of pairs of the portrait designating codes "*5*5" and portrait codes, the flow proceeds to step S712 to determine is message data follows the last portrait code. When message data is present after the last portrait code, the flow proceeds to step S713 where the ringing is informed and a plurality of portraits corresponding to the plurality of portrait codes are displayed on the portrait display section 242 of the display section 24, sequentially switched from one another. As a result, the displayed portraits becomes a dynamic picture. Further, the ringing is informed, the message is displayed on the message display section 241 of the display section 24, and the received message data is stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
FIGS. 39A to 39C show display examples when message data "*5*521*5*527*5*526*4*412" has been received.
Because this message data contains a plurality of pairs of the portrait designating codes "*5*5" and portrait codes, the decisions in step S702, S704, S706 and S711 are "YES". As the subsequent standard message data "*4*412" exists, the decision in step S712 is also "YES". In step S713, therefore, the portraits corresponding to the portrait codes "21", "27" and "26" are read from the portrait table shown in FIG. 4. Those three portraits are displayed, switched from one to another, on the portrait display section 242 in the order of FIG. 39A.fwdarw.FIG. 39B.fwdarw.FIG. 39C.fwdarw.FIG. 39A and so forth. Based on the standard message designating code "*4*4" and the message code "12", "I'LL GO HOME" is read from the standard message table in FIG. 3 in the ROM 19, and this message is commonly displayed on the message display section 241 as shown in FIGS. 39A to 39C.
When it is determined in step S712 that message data is not present immediately after the portrait code, the flow proceeds to step S714. In step S714, the ringing is informed and a plurality of portraits corresponding to a plurality of portrait codes are displayed, switched from one to another, on the portrait display section 242. Therefore, the displayed portrait becomes a dynamic picture. Subsequently, the reception time, received message data and so forth are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
FIGS. 40A to 40C show display examples when the received message is "*5*521*5*527*5*526". This message data does not contain message data immediately after the portrait code. Thus, the decision in step S712 is "NO", and the flow proceeds to step S714. In step S714, the portraits corresponding to the portrait codes "21", "27" and "26" are read from the portrait table shown in FIG. 4. Those three portraits are displayed, switched from one to another, on the portrait display section 242 in the order of FIG. 40A.fwdarw.FIG. 40B.fwdarw.FIG. 40C.fwdarw.FIG. 40A and so forth.
When it is determined in step S711 that there is just one pair of the portrait designating code "*5*5" and the portrait code (no plural pairs), the flow proceeds to step S715. In step S715 it is determined if message data exists immediately after the portrait code. When it is determined that message data immediately follows the portrait code, the flow proceeds to step S716. In step S716, the ringing is informed and the portrait data corresponding to the portrait code is displayed on the portrait display section 242 and the message is displayed on the message display section 41. Further, those data are stored in the RAM 20 after which the processing is terminated.
FIG. 41A shows a display example when there is only one pair of the portrait designating code and portrait code and message data immediately follows the portrait code. In this display example, the received message is "*5*528*4*4*416". In this case, based on the portrait designating code "*5*5" and the portrait code "28", the portrait corresponding to the portrait code "28" is read from the portrait table shown in FIG. 4 and is displayed on the portrait display section 242. Further, based on the standard messa