Communication device, server device, and communication control method

The present invention relates to a communication device that performs group communication such as PTT (push to talk), a communication control method thereof, and a server device that manages group communication. It relates to a communication device having a function of notifying that there was a problem.

Generally, a mobile phone has a function of notifying a user that there is an unanswered incoming call (missed incoming call) when the ringing signal is received but not answered. For example, a message such as "Missed call" may be displayed near the center of the standby screen, or a figure called a pictogram may be used in the dedicated area at the top or bottom of the screen to indicate that there was a missed call. Alternatively, a missed call is notified by turning on a light emitting element such as an LED.

Further, when there is an incoming e-mail (reception of a new e-mail) as well as an incoming call, the user is notified of the incoming e-mail by the same method as in the case of a telephone.

The display of missed calls as described above is usually deleted when the user performs a predetermined confirmation operation. For example, in the case of a telephone, it is deleted by displaying the incoming call history screen, and in the case of e-mail, it is deleted by receiving a new mail from the server and displaying the received mail on the screen. Even if the user performs another operation, the missed call display is not cleared.

In addition, many mobile phones display a button for directly transitioning to the incoming call history or mail reception screen as a soft key along with a missed call message. When the user presses the button corresponding to this display to move to these screens, the missed call message is deleted from the standby screen.

By the way, in recent years, the communication modes of telephones have been diversified, and in addition to conventional voice calls by circuit switching, telephones capable of performing packet communication using an IP (internet protocol) network are widely used. For example, there is a "chat mail" in which mobile phones exchange characters in real time to have a conversation (see Patent Document 1). Chat mail is one of communication modes called "group communication" in which a group is formed by members registered in advance and data such as characters are exchanged in real time within this group.

In addition, one of the group communications that has been attracting attention these days is called PTT (push to talk) or PoC (push to talk over cellular). In PTT, a plurality of communication devices forming a group make a real-time voice call by VoIP (voice over internet protocol) (see Patent Document 2).

In PTT group communication, when a user who wants to speak presses a predetermined button (PTT button) provided on the communication device, the user's request for speech is transmitted to the server device. The server device receives a speech request from each communication device and gives a speech right to one communication device. The communication device given the right to speak transmits the voice data of the user to the server device, and the server device simultaneously transmits the voice data to other communication devices. As a result, real-time voice calls are made by a plurality of communication devices forming a group.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-174520</text></patcit><patcit num="2"><text>Special Table 2005-522067</text></patcit>

<p> Generally, a mobile phone that performs PTT communication executes processing related to PTT communication by an application program for PTT communication. This application program is started manually according to the user's instruction, and is automatically started when there is an incoming PTT (reception of notification of PTT communication by e-mail etc.).</p><p> When the application program for PTT communication is automatically started in response to an incoming call, the user is notified of the incoming PTT by a notification sound or the like. At this time, when the user's instruction to participate in PTT communication is input by operating the call button or the like, the application program sends a response to the server device to participate in PTT communication and starts PTT communication. .. On the other hand, if the user's instruction is not input for a certain period of time, the application program spontaneously terminates without sending the participation response.</p><p> As described above, normally, the participation response to PTT communication is not transmitted unless the user's instruction is input, but for example, when it is necessary to perform PTT communication at all times, the participation is automatically performed without the user's instruction. It may be preferable to send a response to initiate PTT communication. However, if PTT communication is automatically started, it is unknown whether or not this PTT communication is recognized by the user, so there is an inconvenience that an appropriate missed call display cannot be performed after the end of PTT communication. .. That is, if the missed call display is not always displayed when the PTT communication is automatically started, the user may not notice that the PTT has arrived at all, and conversely, the missed call display is always executed. If so, there is a problem that an unnecessary missed call display is performed for known PTT communication.</p><p> The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to appropriately notify that the start notification has been received when the group communication such as PTT started in response to the start notification ends. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device and a communication control method thereof, and to provide a server device for managing group communication performed by such a communication device.</p>

<p> The first aspect of the present invention is a communication unit that performs group communication, an input unit that inputs an instruction, a notification unit, and a predetermined server based on the start notification when the communication unit receives a start notification of group communication. The present invention relates to a communication device including a control unit that performs group communication by the communication unit via the device. In this communication device, when the group communication started based on the received start notification ends, the control unit transmits information from its own device by the communication unit or inputs an instruction in the input unit during the started group communication. If there is no such information, the notification unit notifies the user.</p><p> Preferably, the control unit notifies the notification unit that the start notification has been received but the response instruction to the start notification has not been input in the input unit.</p><p> Preferably, when the communication unit receives the start notification, the control unit can automatically start the group communication by the communication unit even if there is no input of an instruction in the input unit.</p><p> Preferably, the communication device according to the first aspect includes a storage unit, and the control unit stores communication information transmitted / received in the communication unit during the group communication in the storage unit, and the group communication. Is completed, it is determined whether or not information is transmitted from the own device based on the communication information stored in the storage unit. When the communication information stored in the storage unit does not include the information transmitted from the own device, the control unit may determine that the information has not been transmitted from the own device. Further, the communication information may include a sender name indicating a sender of the information during group communication, the storage unit may store the user name of the own device, and the control unit may store the communication information. If the sender name in the above does not include the user name, it may be determined that the information has not been transmitted from the own device.</p><p> The data length of the data representing the sender name in the communication information may be limited to a predetermined value or less, and in the control unit, the data length of the user name stored in the storage unit is the predetermined value. If it is longer, it may be determined whether or not the user name is included in the communication information based on whether or not the sender name whose prefix matches the user name is included in the communication information.</p><p> Preferably, the communication device according to the first aspect includes a storage unit, and the control unit stores information regarding an instruction input in the input unit regarding the group communication being executed in the storage unit. When the group communication is completed, it is determined whether or not an instruction has been input to the input unit regarding the group communication based on the information stored in the storage unit. When the information stored in the storage unit includes a response instruction to a notification of the start of group communication or information related to an instruction input during group communication, the control unit may use the input unit for the group communication. It may be determined that the instruction has been input to.</p><p> The control unit automatically terminates the group communication when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the group communication, the terminated group communication is automatically started, and the communication unit is related to the group communication. If there is no information transmission from the own device or input of an instruction in the input unit, the notification unit may perform the notification. The predetermined condition may be at least one of the case where the communication unit receives the end notification of the group communication and the case where the communication unit does not send and receive information related to the group communication for a predetermined time or more.</p><p> When the plurality of group communications automatically started in response to the start notification are completed, the control unit transmits information from its own device in the communication unit or the input unit for at least one of the plurality of group communications. If the instruction in is not input, the notification may be performed by the notification unit.</p><p> The communication device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a communication unit that performs group communication, an input unit that inputs an instruction, a storage unit that stores information, a notification unit, and a notification of the start of group communication in the communication unit. Is received, the group communication control unit automatically starts group communication by the communication unit, and when the group communication control unit automatically starts group communication, data transmitted / received during the group communication is transmitted. Information about a person and / or information about an instruction input from the input unit during the group communication is stored in the storage unit, and when the automatically started group communication ends, participation in the group communication is performed. When the indicated information is not stored in the storage unit, the notification control unit is provided to notify the reception of the start notification by the notification unit.</p><p> A third aspect of the present invention relates to a server device that communicates with a plurality of communication devices including the communication device according to the first or second aspect described above and manages group communication. When one of the communication devices requests the start of group communication by designating the other party, this server device sends a notification of the start of the group communication to the communication device of the designated other party, and the server device causes the group communication. If there is a response from any communication device to the start notification, the group communication is started, and if the group communication being held is terminated, the end notification is sent to the communication device of the specified destination. To send.</p><p> A fourth aspect of the present invention includes a communication unit and an instruction input unit, and when the communication unit receives a start notification of group communication, the communication unit communicates with the group via a predetermined server device based on the start notification. The present invention relates to a communication control method in a communication device for performing the above. In this communication control method, when the group communication started based on the start notification is completed without the information transmission from the own device in the communication unit or the input of the instruction in the instruction input unit, the start notification is sent. Notify reception.</p>

<p> According to the present invention, when group communication such as PTT started in response to the start notification is terminated, the start notification is received based on the presence or absence of information transmission from the own device or input of an instruction in the input unit. It is possible to appropriately notify that.</p>

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication system according to the present embodiment includes, for example, communication devices 100-1 to 100-5 and a communication management device 200, as shown in FIG.

The communication device 100-i (i indicates an integer from 1 to 5) is a wireless communication terminal such as a mobile phone, and is connected to the communication network 300 via a base station (300-1,300-2,300-3). To. Further, the communication device 100-i performs data communication under the control of the communication management device 200 connected to the communication network 300. In the present embodiment, as an example, group communication by PTT (push to talk) (hereinafter, may be referred to as PTT communication) is performed. The data transmitted in the PTT communication includes, for example, call voice and data such as images, characters, and music.

When performing PTT communication, the communication device 100-i becomes the device of the organizer that starts PTT communication (hereinafter, may be referred to as the organizer terminal), or PTT communication is received upon notification of the opening of PTT communication. It becomes a device that participates in (hereinafter, may be referred to as a participant terminal).

When oneself becomes the organizer terminal and starts PTT communication, the communication device 100-i first accesses the communication management device 200, and selects a plurality of destinations selected from the address book stored in its own storage unit. Specifies to request the start of PTT communication. When the communication management device 200 that receives this request installs a site for PTT communication management, which will be described later, the communication device 100-i acquires information such as the network address and login ID of the installed site from the communication management device 200. To do.

On the other hand, when the communication device 100-i receives the start notification of PTT communication sent from the communication management device 200, the communication device 100-i indicates that the start notification has been received by the notification unit that generates, for example, an image, light, sound, or vibration. Notify the user. At the time of this notification, when an instruction to participate in PTT communication is input by, for example, a user's key operation, the communication device 100-i sends a response to participate in PTT communication to the communication management device 200 and also notifies the start. Access the communication management site based on the information contained in, and start PTT communication as a participant terminal.

The communication management device 200 manages PTT group communication performed by the communication devices (100-1 to 100-5). When the communication management device 200 receives the PTT communication start request issued from the organizer terminal, the communication management device 200 provides a site for PTT communication management on the communication management device 200 (or another server device on the network). This site requests management of information (telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) of each communication device participating in PTT communication, participation and exit of each communication device in PTT communication, data transmission / reception between communication devices, and remarks. Performs various management and control related to PTT communication, such as granting the right to speak to the communication device.

When the communication management device 200 sets up a site for PTT communication management in response to the PTT communication start request, the communication management device 200 transmits the information of the site to the organizer terminal and each of the participant terminals specified in the PTT communication start request. Send a notification of the start of PTT communication to. To participate in PTT communication, for example, the information of the PTT communication organizer terminal (telephone number, e-mail address, etc.), the network address of the PTT communication management site mentioned above, the login ID, etc. Contains various information required for.

When the communication management device 200 sends a PTT communication start notification to the participant terminal, the communication management device 200 monitors the response from the participant terminal to the start notification, and responds that at least one participant terminal participates in the PTT communication. Is received, PTT communication between the participant terminal and the organizer terminal is started.

When a speech request (data transmission request) is issued by pressing the PTT button, for example, in one communication device participating in PTT communication, the communication management device 200 must have another communication device that is speaking (data transmission). , Grant the right to speak (right to transmit data) to the communication device of 1. That is, it receives data (call voice, characters, etc.) sent from the communication device of 1 and transmits it to other participating communication devices. If there is another communication device that is speaking, a rejection response is returned to the communication device of that one. When the request for speech of several communication devices overlaps, the priority of each communication device is determined according to a predetermined rule (for example, the terminal with a smaller number of speeches has a higher order), and each communication device is based on this. Grant the right to speak in order.

When the communication management device 200 receives the PTT communication termination request issued by the organizer terminal, it transmits the PTT communication termination notification to the participant terminals, respectively, and terminates the PTT communication. In this case, the communication management device 200 may transmit the end notification not only to the communication device participating in PTT communication but also to the non-participating communication device that did not return the participation response to the start notification of PTT communication.

Next, a configuration example of the communication device will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the communication device (100-1 to 100-5) according to the embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the communication devices having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 may be collectively referred to as communication device 100. The communication device 100 shown in FIG. 2 includes an antenna 101, a communication unit 102, a key input unit 103, a voice processing unit 104, a speaker 105, a microphone 106, a display unit 107, a storage unit 108, and a control unit. Has 110 and.

The communication unit 102 performs wireless communication with a base station (300-1,300-2,300-3) connected to the communication network 300. For example, the communication unit 102 performs a predetermined modulation process on the transmission data supplied from the control unit 110, converts it into a wireless signal, and transmits it from the antenna 101. Further, the radio signal from the base station received by the antenna 101 is subjected to a predetermined demodulation process, converted into received data, and output to the control unit 110.

The key input unit 103 has keys to which various functions are assigned, such as a power key, a call key, a number key, a character key, a direction key, an enter key, and a PTT button, and these keys are operated by the user. When this is done, a signal corresponding to the operation content is generated, and this is input to the control unit 110 as a user's instruction.

The voice processing unit 104 processes the voice signal output from the speaker 105 and the voice signal input from the microphone 106. That is, the audio signal input from the microphone 106 is subjected to signal processing such as amplification, analog-digital conversion, and coding, converted into digital audio data, and output to the control unit 110. Further, the audio data supplied from the control unit 110 is subjected to signal processing such as decoding, digital-analog conversion, and amplification, converted into an analog audio signal, and output to the speaker 105.

The display unit 107 is configured by using a display device such as a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL panel, and displays an image corresponding to a video signal supplied from the control unit 110. For example, various information and images such as the telephone number of the destination at the time of making a call, the telephone number of the other party at the time of receiving a call, the contents of the received mail and the sent mail, the date, the time, the remaining battery level, and the standby screen are displayed.

The storage unit 108 stores various data used for processing in the control unit 110. For example, a computer program provided in the control unit 110, an address book for managing personal information such as the telephone number and e-mail address of a communication partner, a voice file for playing a ringtone or an alarm sound, various setting data, and a program. Holds temporary data used in the processing process.

The storage unit 108 has an external data storage area AR1 to which access of an arbitrary program is permitted, and an application area AR2 to which access of a specific application program is permitted. For example, an application program (hereinafter referred to as a PTT application) that executes processing related to PTT communication stores data such as an incoming call history that needs to be saved even after the program ends in a dedicated area in the application area AR2.

The storage unit 108 is composed of, for example, a non-volatile storage device (non-volatile semiconductor memory, hard disk device, optical disk device, etc.), a randomly accessible storage device (for example, SRAM, DRAM), and the like.

The control unit 110 comprehensively controls the overall operation of the communication device 100. That is, various processes of the communication device 100 (voice call performed via the circuit switching network, PTT group communication, creation and transmission / reception of e-mail, browsing of the Internet website, etc.) respond to the operation of the key input unit 103. The operation of each unit described above (signal transmission / reception in the communication unit 102, voice input / output in the voice processing unit 104, image display in the display unit 107, etc.) is controlled so as to be executed in an appropriate procedure. For example, the control unit 110 includes a computer that executes processing based on a program (operating system, application, etc.) stored in the storage unit 108, and executes the above-described processing according to a procedure instructed by the program.

Further, when the communication unit 102 receives the PTT communication start notification, the control unit 110 automatically starts the PTT application, and according to the preset operation mode (manual response mode, automatic response mode), the following Perform processing.

&lt;Manual response mode&gt; When the manual response mode is set, the control unit 110 waits for an instruction to start PTT communication to be input from the key input unit 103 in the activated PTT application. When this instruction is input, the control unit 110 executes the PTT communication start process by the communication unit 102. That is, a response to participate in PTT communication is transmitted from the communication unit 102 to the communication management device 200, and the site installed by the communication management device 200 is accessed based on the information included in the start notification to start PTT communication. ..

On the other hand, if the input of this start instruction is not made within the predetermined time, the control unit 110 terminates the started PTT application and does not respond to the start notification of PTT communication (that is, there is a missed call of PTT). The flag data (fg = '1') indicating that) is saved in the external data storage area AR1 of the storage unit 108.

When the control unit 110 saves the flag data (fg = '1') indicating that it did not respond to the PTT start notification in the external data storage area AR1, the information related to this PTT communication is set as the "missed call history". Save to application area AR2. The missed call history includes, for example, information on the organizer terminal and the participant terminal (name, telephone number, etc.) and information on the transmission date and time of the start notification.

&lt;Automatic response mode&gt; When the automatic response mode is set, the control unit 110 executes PTT communication start processing by the communication unit 102 regardless of whether or not an instruction is input from the key input unit 103. That is, a response to participate in PTT communication is transmitted from the communication unit 102 to the communication management device 200, and the site installed by the communication management device 200 is accessed based on the information included in the start notification to start PTT communication. ..

When the control unit 110 starts PTT communication in the automatic response mode, the control unit 110 saves the information transmitted / received in the communication unit 102 as a communication log in the application area AR2 of the storage unit 108. The information stored as the communication log is mainly communication information with the communication management device 200 and communication information with other communication devices that perform PTT communication via the communication management device 200, for example, the sender name of PTT communication and the information. Includes the transmission data (character data, etc.). Further, in this case, the control unit 110 saves the information regarding the instruction input to the key input unit 103 in relation to the PTT communication being executed in the application area AR2 of the storage unit 108 as a key operation log. This key operation log includes, for example, information indicating which key of the key input unit 103 was operated during PTT communication.

If a predetermined condition is satisfied during the PTT communication automatically started in the automatic response mode, the control unit 110 automatically ends the PTT communication. For example, PTT communication is performed when the communication unit 102 receives the end notification of PTT communication sent from the communication management device 200, or when the communication unit 102 does not send or receive information related to PTT communication for a predetermined time or longer. It will end automatically.

When the automatically started PTT communication is automatically terminated, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the information transmission from the own device regarding the PTT communication has been performed based on the communication log stored in the application area AR2.

For example, the control unit 110 selects a sender name from the communication log that matches the user name of the own device (such as the common name of the user of the own device notified to other communication devices) stored in the storage unit 108. If the search is performed and no match is found, it is determined that the information has not been transmitted from the own device.

Taking a text chat as an example, in the communication log in this case, for example, as shown in screen L2 of FIG. 5, "sender name", "&gt; (delimiter)", "statement content", and "line feed code" The data is recorded in the order of ". The control unit 110 extracts the character string between "&gt; (delimiter)" and "line feed code" in the communication log in the above format as the transmission name, and this and the user name of the own device are used. Determine if they match.

When the data length of the sender name is longer than a predetermined value, for example, only the first part of the sender name is recorded in the communication log. In this way, when the data length of the "sender name" in the communication log is limited to a predetermined value or less and the data length of the user name of the own device is longer than this predetermined value, the control unit 110 controls itself. Determine if the communication log contains a sender name that matches the prefix of the device user name. For example, if the number of characters in the "sender name" is limited to 8 characters or less in the communication log and the user name of the own device is 10 characters, the control unit 110 will perform the first 8 characters of the user name of the own device. It is determined whether the communication log contains the "sender name" that matches the character string of.

Further, the control unit 110 determines whether or not an instruction has been input to the key input unit 103 regarding PTT communication based on the key operation log saved in the application area AR2 when the automatically started PTT communication ends. judge. For example, an operation of scrolling the screen of the display unit 107 to read the posted content of the sender of the PTT communication, an operation of enlarging the image posted in the PTT communication on the display unit 107, and the like are recorded in the key operation log. If so, the control unit 110 determines that an instruction regarding PTT communication has been input.

As a result of making the above determination, if no information was transmitted from the own device and no instruction was input to the key operation unit 103, the control unit 110 did not respond to the PTT communication start notification (that is, the PTT The flag data (fg = '1') indicating that there was a missed call) is saved in the external data storage area AR1 of the storage unit 108.

When PTT communication is automatically executed in the automatic response mode, another PTT communication start notification may be received by the communication unit 102. In such a case, the control unit 110 may continue the previous PTT communication without responding to the later PTT communication, or interrupt the previous PTT communication and automatically start the later PTT communication. You may. When the subsequent PTT communication is automatically started, the control unit 110 makes the above-mentioned determination for the PTT communication at the end of the later PTT communication, and also makes the same determination for the interrupted PTT communication. Then, when it is determined that there is no information transmission from the own device and no instruction input to the key input unit 103 in any one of the two PTT communications, flag data (fg ='indicating that there was a missed call of PTT). 1') is saved in the external data storage area AR1 of the storage unit 108. The same applies when three or more PTT communications are executed in duplicate in the automatic response mode, and it is determined that there was no information transmission from the own device or instruction input to the key input unit 103 in any one of the PTT communications. If so, the control unit 110 saves the flag data (fg = '1') indicating that there was a missed call of PTT in the external data storage area AR1 of the storage unit 108.

When the control unit 110 saves the flag data (fg = '1') indicating that it did not respond to the PTT start notification in the external data storage area AR1, the control unit 110 is absent regarding this source as in the case of the manual response mode. Save the incoming call history in the application area AR2.

After performing the above determination, saving the flag data, and saving the missed call history, the control unit 110 terminates the PTT application, for example, an application program for displaying the standby screen (hereinafter, may be referred to as a standby application), etc. Run another application program.

The above is the description of the processing of the control unit 110 in the manual response mode and the automatic response mode.

When the PTT application is not started (for example, when the standby application is running), the control unit 110 does not respond to the PTT start notification based on the flag data fg stored in the external data storage area AR1. The indicated information (hereinafter referred to as missed call notification) is displayed on the display unit 107. For example, when the flag data fg having a value of "1" is stored in the external data storage area AR1, the control unit 110 displays a message such as "PTT incoming call" on the standby screen.

When an operation for confirming the missed call history is performed on the key input unit 103 in response to the missed call notification, the control unit 110 stops the display of the missed call notification on the display unit 107. There are two methods for checking the missed call history, for example, as described below.

In the first method, a predetermined instruction (first activation instruction) is input from the key input unit 103 to activate the PTT application, and the activated PTT application automatically executes the display processing of the missed call history. That is, when the PTT application is started in response to the first start instruction, the control unit 110 automatically reads the missed call history from the application area AR2 in the started PTT application and displays it on the display unit 107. For example, when the control unit 110 displays a missed call notification such as "PTT incoming call" on the screen of the display unit 107, the control unit 110 displays a button representing a specific key of the key input unit 103 on the same screen (for example, FIG. 5). "OK" button on screen L3). When this specific key is pressed by the user while this screen is displayed, the control unit 110 activates the PTT application and automatically displays the missed call history screen in the activated PTT application.

On the other hand, in the second method, after starting the PTT application by inputting a predetermined activation instruction (second activation instruction) from the key input unit 103, the activated PTT application further gives a predetermined instruction to the key input unit. By inputting from 103, the missed call history display process is executed. That is, when the control unit 110 starts the PTT application in response to the second activation instruction input to the key input unit and then a predetermined instruction is further input to the key input unit 103, the missed call history is displayed from the application area AR2. It is read out and displayed on the display unit 107. For example, when a predetermined key (menu key) of the key input unit 103 is pressed while the standby screen is displayed, the control unit 110 displays a menu screen for selecting various functions on the display unit 107. When the key input unit 103 is operated so as to select the PTT application from this menu screen, the control unit 110 determines this as the second activation instruction described above and activates the PTT application. When the control unit 110 starts the PTT application in response to the second start instruction, the control unit 110 displays a menu screen for selecting a more detailed function related to PTT communication on the display unit 107. When the key input unit 103 is operated so as to display the missed call history from this menu screen, the control unit 110 reads the missed call history from the application area AR2 and displays it on the display unit 107.

When the PTT application is started by the above method and the missed call history is displayed, the control unit 110 changes the value of the flag data fg stored in the application area AR2 from "1" to "0". If the value of the flag data fg is not "1" when the PTT application ends and returns to the standby application, the control unit 110 determines that there is no missed call of PTT, and the display unit 107 is absent. Stop displaying incoming call notifications.

The control unit 110 described above includes, for example, a group communication control unit 111 and a notification control unit 112 as blocks related to PTT communication.

The group communication control unit 111 is a block for performing processing related to group communication, and for example, performs processing related to the start and end of PTT communication in the above-mentioned automatic response mode. That is, when the communication unit 102 receives the PTT communication start notification in the automatic response mode, the communication unit 102 automatically starts the PTT communication.

The notification control unit 112 performs processing related to notification of a missed call of PTT. That is, when the group communication control unit 111 automatically starts the PTT communication in the automatic response mode, the information (communication log) regarding the sender of the data transmitted / received during the PTT communication and the key input unit 103 during the PTT communication. Information (key operation log) related to the instruction input from is saved in the storage unit 108. Then, when the group communication is completed and the information indicating participation in the group communication is not stored in the storage unit 108, the missed call notification is displayed on the display unit 107.

Here, the operation of the communication device having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of starting the PTT application from the standby state.

When the power of the communication device is turned on, the control unit 110 starts the standby application (step ST100). The control unit 110 checks the value of the flag data fg stored in the external data storage area AR1 in the started standby application (step ST101). When the value of the flag data fg is "1", the control unit 110 determines that the unanswered PTT start notification has been received, and displays the missed call notification on the screen of the display unit 107 (step ST103). On the other hand, when the value of the flag data fg is "0", the missed call notification is deleted from the screen of the display unit 107 (step ST104).

When the communication unit 102 receives the PTT communication start notification during the execution of the standby application (step ST105), the control unit 110 sets the standby application to the suspend state and starts the PTT application (step ST200). Further, when an operation for displaying the PTT incoming call history is performed on the key input unit 102 (step ST106) while the standby application is being executed, the control unit 110 activates the PTT application and displays the PTT incoming call history. It is displayed on the screen of the display unit 107 (step ST300). When the missed call history is displayed on this screen, the control unit 110 sets the value of the flag data fg stored in the external data storage area AR1 to "0". When the display of the incoming call history of PTT is finished, the control unit 110 ends the PTT application and restarts the standby application set in the suspend state.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the communication device when the PTT application is automatically started in response to the reception of the start notification of PTT communication.

When the communication unit 102 receives the PTT communication start notification, the control unit 110 automatically starts the PTT application and executes the PTT incoming notification operation (step ST201). For example, by displaying a message notifying the arrival of PTT on the screen of the display unit 107 or generating a sound on the speaker 105, the notification of the start of PTT communication is notified.

Next, the control unit 110 determines whether the operation mode is the automatic response mode or the manual response mode (step ST202). In the manual response mode, the control unit 110 monitors whether or not a predetermined key (PTT communication start button) provided on the key input unit 103 is pressed (step ST203). If the start button is not pressed within the specified time, the control unit 110 determines that the participation instruction for PTT communication has not been input (step ST204), sets the flag data fg of the external data storage area AR1 to "1" (step). ST211), quit the PTT app.

On the other hand, in the automatic response mode, the control unit 110 executes the PTT communication start process regardless of whether or not there is an operation on the key input unit 103 (step ST205). That is, a response to participate in PTT communication is sent to the communication management device 200, and the PTT communication management site is logged in based on the information included in the received PTT communication start notification to perform PTT communication. Start.

During execution of the PTT communication process (step ST206), the control unit 110 monitors the transmission / reception of information related to PTT communication and the operation to the key input unit 103, and stores the log (communication log, key operation log). Remember in 108.

Further, the control unit 110 monitors whether the operation for the key input unit 103 or the transmission / reception of information in the communication unit 102 is performed within a predetermined time (step ST207), and the key operation or information transmission / reception is not performed for a predetermined time or longer. If it is determined, PTT communication termination processing is executed (step ST208). The PTT communication process is also terminated when the PTT communication end notification is received from the communication management device 200 or when the PTT communication end instruction is input by the key input unit 103.

When the communication process is completed, the control unit 110 determines whether the communication log of the storage unit 108 contains information indicating that the information transmission from the own device has been performed (step ST209). If the information for transmitting information from the own device is not included, the control unit 110 determines whether the key operation log of the storage unit 108 contains information indicating that a key operation related to PTT communication has been performed. (Step ST210). If the key operation information related to PTT communication is not included, the control unit 110 sets the flag data fg of the external data storage area AR1 to "1" (step ST211), and terminates the PTT application. If the communication log contains information for transmitting information from the own device, or if the key operation information related to PTT communication is included in the key operation log, the control unit 110 changes the value of the flag data fg. Quit the PTT app without doing anything.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of screen transition of the display unit 107 in the automatic response mode. When the communication unit 102 receives the PTT start notification during standby (screen L1), the PTT application automatically starts and starts PTT communication. In PTT communication, for example, as shown on the screen L2, the sender name and the posted content are displayed on the screen of the display unit 107.

When the PTT communication is completed, the control unit 110 determines whether the communication log or the key operation log of the storage unit 108 contains information indicating participation in the PTT communication. As a result of this determination, if the information indicating participation is not included, a missed call notification (PTT communication available) is displayed on the standby screen L3 after the PTT application ends. The missed call notification is not deleted even if interrupt processing by another application program other than the PTT application occurs, and continues to be displayed on the standby screen. On the other hand, when a predetermined key of the key input unit 203 corresponding to the display of "OK" on the screen L3 is pressed, the PTT application is activated and the missed call history is displayed. After this display, when the standby screen is returned again, the missed call notification (PTT communication available) is deleted from the screen of the display unit 107.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the PTT communication automatically started in response to the start notification ends, the communication unit 102 transmits information from the own device and the key input unit 103 inputs an instruction. Based on the presence or absence of, it is possible to appropriately notify the user that an unanswered PTT communication start notification has been received (there is a missed call of PTT). That is, if the communication log does not include a record indicating information transmission from the own device, or if the key operation log does not include a record indicating input of an instruction in the key input unit 103, the user is completely involved in PTT communication. Since it can be determined that the user is not involved and the user does not recognize that the PTT communication has been started, it is notified that there is a missed call of PTT in such a case (for example, it is displayed on the display unit 107, etc.). ) Can effectively prevent the user from noticing the existence of the missed call of PTT at all. If the communication log contains a record indicating information transmission from the own device, or if the key operation log contains a record indicating input of an instruction in the key input unit 103, the user performs PTT communication. Since it can be determined that the user is involved and knows that the PTT communication has been started, it is possible to avoid unnecessary notification by not notifying the missed call in such a case. ..

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described so far, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

In the above-described embodiment, an example of displaying a message such as "PTT incoming call" on the screen of the display unit 107 is given when notifying a missed call, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a missed call may be notified by a sound generated by the speaker 105, a vibration generated by a vibrating unit (not shown), a light generated by a light emitting unit (not shown), or the like.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the determination process (steps ST209, ST210) based on the communication log and the key operation log is performed after the PTT communication process (step ST206) is completed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the PTT communication is terminated by the user's operation in the key input unit 103, it can be clearly determined that the user is aware of the PTT communication, so that the control unit 110 does not perform the determination process (steps ST209, ST210). You may exit the PTT app.

The communication log and the key operation log may be recorded only in the automatic response mode, or may be recorded in another operation mode.

In the above-described embodiment, PTT is mentioned as an example of group communication, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various other group communications.

All the functions of the components of the communication device described above may be realized by software, or at least a part thereof may be realized by hardware. For example, the processing in the control unit 110 and the data processing in the communication unit 102 and the voice processing unit 104 may be realized on a computer by one or a plurality of programs, or at least a part thereof may be realized by hardware. good.

<figref num="1">It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the communication system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the communication device which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation which starts a PTT application from a standby state.</figref><figref num="4">It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the communication device when the PTT application is automatically started in response to the reception of the start notification of PTT communication.</figref><figref num="5">It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition of the display part in an automatic response mode.</figref>

Code description

101 ... antenna, 102 ... communication unit, 103 ... key input unit, 104 ... voice processing unit, 105 ... speaker, 106 ... microphone, 107 ... display unit, 108. .. Storage unit, 110 ... Control unit, 111 ... Group communication control unit, 112 ... Notification control unit, 100,100-1 ~ 100-5 ... Communication terminal, 200 ... Communication management device, 300 ... communication network