WO2003003765A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: WO2003003765A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/006319
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Swerup
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2001-06-14
Filing date: 2002-06-10
Publication date: 2003-01-09
Also published as: SE519177C2; SE0102117L; SE0102117D0

Abstract

A method in a mobile communication network of providing a subscriber with at least one message. According to the invention the method comprises the following steps: - recording one or more messages in a node (28) in the network; - downloading the first part of at least the first message from the node (28) in the network to the memory (12) in the mobile terminal (2); - setting up a connection to the network while replaying the first part of the message from the memory (12) to the subscriber; - starting to download the remaining part of the message while replaying the first part; and - replaying the remaining part of the message to the subscriber after the first part has been replayed.

Description

METHOD OF REPLAYING VOICEMAIL MESSAGES IN A MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal connectable to a cellular network, comprising receiving means for receiving messages from a node in the network, a memory adapted to store messages received from the node in the network, a speaker adapted to replay the messages to the user and a processor controlling at least the receiving means and the memory.

It also relates to a method in a mobile communication network of providing a subscriber with at least one message.

Furthermore it relates to a. node for use in a cellular telecommunication network.

RELATED ART

Such a mobile terminal is disclosed in GB 2 254 524. This document describes a mobile telephone with a memory for saving messages. The problem with this way of saving messages is that the memory has to be rather large. This increases the size, the weight and also the cost of the mobile terminal.

However the^'most common way to save messages for users of mobile telephones today is to save them in a unit in the network, for example a voice mail system, which could be coupled to the MSC, mobile service switching center. The problem with this, way of saving messages is thai when the user wants to listen to his messages he first has to wait for the connection to the voice mail system and then also for the ordering dialogue to be completed. This could mean a waiting time of a few seconds. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal comprising a method for storing messages that eliminates the waiting time mentioned above without making the mobile terminal big and lumbering.

This object has been achieved by a mobile terminal of the initially defined kind, which is characterised in that the memory is adapted to store a first part of at least one message, and in that the mobile terminal comprises - downloading means for downloading of the first part of at least one message to the memory in the mobile terminal;

- means for setting up a connection to the network while replaying the first part of the message; and

-. downloading means for downloading the remaining part of the mes- sage/messages from the network to the mobile terminal.

The object has also been achieved by a method of the initially defined kind, which is characterised by the following steps:

- recording one or more messages in a node in the network; - downloading the first part of at least the first message, from the node in the network to the memory in the mobile terminal;

- setting up a connection to the network while replaying the first part of the message from the memory to the subscriber; and

- replaying the remaining part of the message to the subscriber after the first part has been played.

The object has also been achieved by a node of the initially defined kind, which is characterised in that it comprises a voice mail system for saving messages and node downloading means for downloading of the first part of at least one message to the mobile terminal and node downloading means for downloading of the remaining part/parts to the mobile, terminal. This mobile terminal, method and node makes it possible to avoid the waiting time for the connection to the network in the replaying of messages since the connection is set up while the user is listening to the first part of the message, which already lies in the mobile terminal.

Preferably the downloading of the first part to the mobile terminal is performed through an automatically set up data connection or by silent notification. The downloading is performed by the downloading means in the mobile terminal and also by node downloading means in the node in the network.

The linking of the different message parts is suitably performed by sending out a signal from the mobile terminal when the replaying of the first part is about to end. The node responds to this signal and downloads the rest of the message. Preferably a buffer memory is also provided in the mobile terminal. This buffer memory is adapted to buffer the first part of the remaining part coming from the voice mail ■ system in the network. This buffer memory ensures that the remaining part does not overlap the first part.

In a first embodiment of the invention the first part of only the first message is downloaded by means of the node downloading means and the downloading means in the mobile terminal to the memory in the mobile terminal.

In a second embodiment of the invention the first part of every messages are down- loaded by means of the node downloading means and the downloading means in the mobile terminal to the memory in the mobile terminal. Also some information about the messages, such as the calling number, are downloaded to the memory. Preferably the mobile terminal comprises a display on which the information can be shown. Then, by means of the processor, the user can choose from this display which mes- sage he wants to listen to. A possible variant of the second embodiment is that the node is adapted to store the messages in predefined groups in dependence of the originator of the message. The node downloading means are also adapted to download the first part of the first message in every group. This enables the user to choose a group of messages, for example work related messages, to listen to.

Suitably the mobile terminal comprises a speaker for the replaying of the messages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic figure of a mobile terminal according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic figure of the mobile terminal communicating with a mobile telephone network.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the process for storing and listening to messages in a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the process for storing and listening to messages in a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows a mobile terminal 2. As is common in the art, the mobile terminal 2 comprises an antenna 4, which feeds a receiver 6 with the incoming signal. The receiver 6 in turn feeds a speaker 8 with the signal via a first amplifier 10. A memory 12 is connected via a processor 14 to the first amplifier 10. The processor 14 controls the transmission and processing of data in the terminal 2. A microphone 16 is connected to a transmitter 18 via a second amplifier 19. The transmitter 18 transmits the output from the microphone 16 via the antenna 4 out to the air. The second amplifier 19 is also connected to the processor 14. According to the invention a first part of one or more of the messages is downloaded from the network, through the antenna 4, the receiver 6, the first amplifier 10 and the processor 14 and stored in . the memory 12.

A buffer memory 20 is provided preferably in connection to the receiver 6, either between the receiver 6 and the first amplifier 10, as shown in figure 1, or anywhere between the antenna 4 and the speaker 8. It could also be placed together with the memory 12. The buffer memory 20 is also connected to the processor 14. It is adapted to buffer the first part of the remaining part of the message/messages in order to ensure that the message parts will link correctly together in the replaying of the message to the user, as will be described in more detail in the following.

The mobile terminal 2 can also comprise a display 21, connected to the processor .14, for displaying information about the messages.

Fig. 2 shows the mobile terminal 2 in fig. 1 communicating with a mobile telephone network 23. A BTS, Base Transceiver Station, 22 is receiving the signals from the mobile terminal 2. The BTS 22 is in this case connected to a PSTN, Public Switched Telephone Network, 24 via the mobile telephone network, which is shown comprising a BSC, Base Station Controller, 26, and a MSC, Mobile Services Switching Centre, 27. More units will usually be present, but the person skilled in the art is familiar with the structure of a cellular telephone communication network and it is therefore not discussed in any detail here. The incoming messages to the user of the mobile terminal 2 are first stored in a node called voice mail system 28 in the network, connected for example to the MSC 27. This voice mail system 28 comprises node downloading means 29a for downloading of the first part of at least the first message to the mobile terminal 2 and node downloading means 29b for downloading of the remaining part of the message/messages to the mobile terminal 2. The node downloading means 29b should be arranged to respond to a signal coming from the mobile terminal 2 telling when the remaining part should link on to the first part and be replayed to the user.

. In a first embodiment of the invention a first part of the first message is downloaded to the memory 12 in the mobile terminal 2. In this embodiment the downloading is performed with a method referred to here as automatic data connection. According to this method a data connection automatically is set up while the user is turning on his mobile terminal and the connection to the BTS 22 is set up. The first part of the first message lying in the voice mail system 28 is downloaded by means of the node downloading means 29a to the memory 12 through the data connection without the user doing anything to achieve this. When the first part is downloaded the user is notified with for example a beep from the terminal 2 and a message on the display 21 telling that the user has got new messages.

Another possible method for the downloading of the first part from the voice mail system 28 to the memory 12 in the mobile terminal 2 is called silent notification. Silent notification is an existing method for silent transmission of small messages from the network to the mobile terminal 2. The message is restricted to just 200 characters so a few seconds of talk will require something like 20 such silent notification transmissions. This may take some time and therefore the method described above, automatic data connection, is to prefer.

In a second embodiment of the invention a first part of each message and some in- formation about each message, for example the calling number, is downloaded from the voice mail system 28 by means of the node downloading means 29a to the memory 12 in the mobile terminal 2. The downloading methods are the same as in the first embodiment. When the first parts are downloaded the user is notified with for example a beep from the terminal 2 and a message on the display 21 telling that the user has got new messages. The information about the messages is shown on the display 21 and the user can choose by means of the processor 14 which mes- sage/messages he wants to listen to. A disadvantage of this second embodiment is that this method requires more memory in the mobile terminal 2 since the memory 12 has to accommodate the first part of each message instead of just the first part of the first message.

A possible variant of the second embodiment is shown in fig.2. The difference from the second embodiment described above is that the voice mail system 28 is adapted to divide the messages into predefined groups 30a,30b,30c, such as for example messages concerning work 30a, home 30b or children 30c. Then the first part of the first message in each of these groups 30a,30b,30c is downloaded as above to the memory 12. The display 21 shows in which groups 30a,30b,30c there are messages and the user is able to choose by means of the processor 14 which groups 30a,30b,30c he wants to listen to.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the process for storing and listening to messages in the first embodiment of the invention, in which only the first part of the first message is downloaded to the memory 12 in the mobile terminal 2. The process starts at block 3 with the recording of one message in the voice mail system 28. This could be the first message or there could be messages recorded before which has not been replayed to the user.

At block 32 the user switches on his terminal and at block 34, the first part, preferably a few seconds, of the first message in the voice mail system 28 is downloaded to the memory 12 through an automatic data connection that is automatically set up when the user switches on his terminal. When the downloading of the first part is done the user is notified with for example a beep from the terminal 2 and a message on the display 21 telling that the he has got new messages. This is block 36 in fig. 3.

Then the process continues at block 38. There the user decides to listen to the mes- sages and after this decision two events take place at the same time. This is illustrated in fig. 3 by two parallel branches, the left one being for the events in the mo- bile terminal 2 and the right one for events in the network. At block 40 the first part of the first message, which is stored in the memory 12 in the mobile terminal 2 is replayed to the user. During the time of this replaying the mobile terminal 2 sets up a connection to the voice mail system 28 at block 42. At block 44 a signal is sent to the node downloading means 29b in purpose to tell that it is time for the remaining part of the messages to link on to the first part. This signal is sent just before the replaying of the first part has finished. At block 46 the downloading of the remaining parts from the voice mail system 28 to the mobile terminal is performed. Before the replaying of the remaining part at block 48, the remaining part is buffered if needed in the buffer memory 20 to fit correctly with the first part in the replaying.

Preferably the remaining part of the message is played to the subscriber in real time: i.e. as it is being downloaded from the network. The synchronisation, to get the first part of the message to fit with the rest, without overlapping or silent parts, can be achieved in different ways. One method is to send a start signal when the first part is over as described above. This could be realised by providing a flag at the end or near the end of the first part of the message. When the flag is recognised in the replaying of the message a signal is sent to catch the rest of the message/messages from the voice mail system 28 and link it in. To make sure that the message part^• coming from the voice mail system 28 does not overlap the first part of the message in the replaying a buffer memory 20 is provided preferably in connection to the receiver 6. This memory 20 should be able to buffer approximately 100-200 ms of the message part coming from the voice mail system 28.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the process for storing and listening to messages in the second embodiment of the invention, wherein the first part from all messages^• will be downloaded to the memory 12. The process starts at block 50 with the recording of a message in the voice mail system 28. Then the user switches on his mobile terminal 2 at block 51. At block 52 the first part, a few seconds, of this mes- sage and all the other messages which are not yet replayed to the user are downloaded to the memory 12 in the mobile terminal 2. Also some information about the messages, such as the calling number, is downloaded. An automatic data connection as described above is set up for the downloading. The silent notification method can be used even in this embodiment. When the downloading of the first parts is finished the user is notified at block 54 with for example a beep from the terminal 2 and a message on the display 21 telling that the he has got new messages. The information about the messages is also shown on the display and the user decides, block 56, which message he wants to listen to.

After this decision two events take place at the same time like in the first embodi- ment. This is illustrated in fig. 4 by two parallel branches, the left one being for the events in the mobile terminal 2 and the right one for events in the network. At block 58 the first part of the message, which is stored in the memory 12 in the mobile terminal 2 is replayed to the user. During the time of this replaying the mobile terminal 2 sets up a connection to the voice mail system 28 at block 60. At block 62 a signal is sent to the node downloading means 29b in purpose to tell that it is time for the remaining part of the message to link on to the first part. This signal is sent just before the replaying of the first part has finished. At block 64 the downloading of the remaining part from the voice mail system 28 to the mobile terminal is performed. Before the replaying of the remaining part at block 66, the remaining part is buff- ered if needed in the buffer memory 20 to fit correctly with the first part in the replaying.

A decision block 68 placed after block 66, shows that the user has to decide if he wants to listen to any more messages or not. If not the flow is ended and if yes the flow is returned to block 56 where the user decides which message he wants to listen to. The procedure is then repeated until the user does not want to listen to anymore messages or there is no more messages to listen to.

Methods for the synchronisation of the message parts in the replaying are the same as described in the first embodiment.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal (2) connectable to a cellular network (23), comprising receiv- ing means (4,6) for receiving messages from a node (28) in the network, a memory (12) adapted to store messages received from the node (28) in the network, a speaker (8) adapted to replay the messages to the user and a processor (14) controlling at least the receiving means (4,6) and the memory (12), characterised in that the memory (12) is adapted to store a first part of at least one message, and in that the mobile terminal (2) comprises:

- downloading means (4,6,10,14) for downloading of the first part of at least one message to the memory (12) in the mobile terminal (2);

- means (14) for setting up a connection to the network while replaying the first part of the message; and - downloading means (4,6, 10,14) for downloading the remaining part of the message from the network to the mobile terminal (2).

2. A mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterised in that the downloading means (4,6,10,14) for downloading of the first part is adapted to perform the downloading through a data connection automatically set up when the user is switching on his mobile terminal (2).

3. A mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterised in that the downloading means (4,6,10,14) for downloading of the first part is adapted to perform the downloading by silent notification.

4. A mobile terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is adapted to replay the remaining part of the message/messages almost in real time and in that it comprises means (14) for linking the different message parts together, while replaying the messages, substantially without overlapping or silent parts.

5. A mobile terminal according to claim 4, characterised in that the means (14) for linking the different message parts together is adapted to provide a signal while replaying the first part, this signal enabling the rest of the message to link in.

6. A mobile terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a buffer memory (20) adapted to buffer the first part of the remaining part of the message, during the downloading of the remaining part, to ensure that the linking of the different message parts is done substantially without overlapping or silent parts .

7. A mobile terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the memory (12) is adapted to store only the first part of the first message.

8. A mobile terminal according to any one of the claims 1-6, characterised in that the memory (12) is adapted to store the first part of every message.

9. A mobile terminal according to claim 8, characterised in that it comprises a display (21) adapted to display information about the messages.

10. A mobile terminal according to claim 9, characterised in that it comprises means (14) for enabling the user to choose from the display (21) which message he wants to listen to.

11. A mobile terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a speaker (8) adapted to replay the messages.

12. A method in a mobile communication network of providing a subscriber with at least one message, characterised by the following steps: - recording one or more messages in a node (28) in the network; - downloading the first part of at least the first message from the node (28) in the network to the memory (12) in the mobile terminal (2);

- setting up a connection to the network while replaying the first part of the mes-^' sage from the memory (12) to the subscriber; - starting to download the remaining part of the message while replaying the first part; and

- replaying the remaining part of the message to the subscriber after the first part has been replayed.

13. A method according to claim .12, characterised by performing the downloading of the first part from the network to the memory (12) in the mobile terminal (2) through a data connection, automatically set up when the user switches on his mobile terminal (2).

14. A method according to claim 12, characterised by performing the downloading of the first part from the network to the memory (12) in the mobile terminal (2) by silent notification.

15. A method according to any one of the claims 12-14, characterised by providing a signal while replaying the first part in order to link in the rest of the message.

16. A method according to any one of the claims 12-15, characterised by buffering the first part of the remaining part of the message in a buffer memory (20) to ensure that the linking of the different message parts is done substantially without overlapping or silent parts.

17. A method according to any one of the claims 12-16, characterised by storing only the first part of the first message in the memory (12) in the mobile terminal

(2).

18. A method according to any one of the claims 12-16, characterised by storing the first part of every message in the memory (12) in the mobile terminal (2).

19. A method according to any one of the claims 12-16, characterised by dividing the messages recorded in the network into groups (30a,30b,30c) and storing the first part of the first message in each group (30a,30b,30c) in the memory (12) in the mobile terminal (2).

20. A method according to any one of the claims 12-19, characterised by display- ing information about the messages on a display (21).

21. A method according to claim 20, characterised by enabling the user to choose from the display (21) which message he wants to listen to.

22. A node for use in a cellular telecommunication network, characterised in that it comprises a voice mail system (28) for saving messages and node downloading means (29a) for downloading of the first part of at least one message to the mobile terminal (2) and node downloading means (29b) for downloading of the remaining part/parts to the mobile terminal (2).

23. A node according to claim 22, characterised in that the node downloading means (29a) is adapted to download the first part of at least the first message through a data connection automatically set up when the user is switching on his mobile terminal (2).

24. A node according to claim 22, characterised in that the node downloading means (29a) is adapted to download the first part of at least the first message by silent notification.

25. A node according to any one of the claims 22-24, characterised in that the node is adapted to download the remaining part of the message as a response to a signal from the mobile terminal (2).

26. A node according to any one of the claims 22-25, characterised in that the node downloading means (29a) is adapted to download only the first part of the first message.

27. A node according to any one of the claims 22-25, characterised in that the node downloading means (29a) is adapted to download the first part of every message.

28. A node according to any one of the claims 22-25, characterised in that the . node is adapted to store the messages in groups (30a,30b,30c) in dependence of the originator of the message.

29. A node according to claim 28, characterised in that the node downloading means (29a) is adapted to download the first part of the first message in every group (30a,30b,30c).