Method for controlling cordless telephone device, handset of cordless telephone device, and cordless telephone device

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for controlling a cordless telephone device for use in a system that allows remote control of a home electric appliance. The method includes a first generation step of causing a first generation unit in a handset to encode audio input via a sound receiving unit in the handset to generate a first stream, and a first transmission step of transmitting the first stream to a base unit. The first generation step includes causing the first generation unit to generate instruction bit information and a first instruction stream when a first trigger indicating a request to start the remote control is given to the first generation unit. The first transmission step includes transmitting the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream to the base unit through a multiplexing scheme that is common to transmission of a first stream generated when the first trigger is not given.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for controlling a cordless telephone device including a base unit and a handset, for use in a system that allows remote control of a home electric appliance by using voice instructions of a user, the method comprising:
 the system including a first device and a second device, 
 the method comprising:  
 a first generation step of causing a first generation unit included in the handset first device to generate a first stream by encoding audio input via a sound receiving unit included in the handset the first device; and  
 a first transmission step of transmitting the first stream to the base unit second device, 
 the first generation step including causing the first generation unit device to generate instruction bit information indicating that the audio represents the voice instructions and to generate, as the first stream, a first instruction stream indicative of the voice instructions in a case where a first trigger indicating a request to start the remote control of the home electric appliance is given to the first generation unit, device, and  
 the first transmission step including transmitting the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream to the base unit through a common multiplexing scheme that is common to transmission of the first stream generated in a case where the first trigger is not given to the first generation unit second device, 
 wherein the first trigger is given to the first device by predetermined movement given to the first device or a predetermined operation given to the first device, 
 the first transmission step includes transmitting the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream to the second device through a common multiplexing scheme that is common to transmission of the first stream generated in a case where the first trigger is not given to the first device, 
 the common multiplexing scheme is a Time Division Duplex/Time Division Multiple Access scheme complying with a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications standard, 
 in a case where the first trigger is not given to the first device, the first generation step includes causing the first device to generate call bit information indicating that the audio represents a voice call and to generate, as the first stream, a first call stream indicative of the audio, and 
 the first generation step includes, in a case where the first device receives the first trigger during generation of the first call stream, causing the first device to generate the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream, and causing the first device to switch an operation mode of the system from a call mode in which the audio is transferred to an intended party with which the user is engaged in the voice call to a mute mode in which transfer of the audio to the intended party is interrupted. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the common multiplexing scheme is a Time Division Duplex/Time Division Multiple Access scheme complying with a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications standard.   
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein
 in a case where the first trigger is not given to the first generation unit, the first generation step includes causing the first generation unit to generate call bit information indicating that the audio represents a voice call and to generate, as the first stream, a first call stream indicative of the audio.   
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the first generation step includes, in a case where the first generation unit receives the first trigger during generation of the first call stream, causing the first generation unit to generate the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream, and causing the first generation unit to switch an operation mode of the cordless telephone device from a call mode in which the audio is transferred to an intended party with which the user is engaged in the voice call to a mute mode in which transfer of the audio to the intended party is interrupted.   
     
     
       5. The method according to claim  4  1, wherein
 the first generation step includes causing the first generation unit device to generate, during the mute mode, an alternative stream representing an alternative sound that replaces the audio, and 
 the first transmission step includes transmitting the alternative stream to the base unit through the common multiplexing scheme second device. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the first generation step includes, in a case where the first generation unit device receives a second trigger indicating a request to return to the call mode, (i) causing the first generation unit device to terminate the mute mode, and (ii) causing the first generation unit device to generate the call bit information and the first call stream. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the first generation step includes, after a certain period has elapsed since the mute mode began, (i) causing the first generation unit device to terminate the mute mode, and (ii) causing the first generation unit device to generate the call bit information and the first call stream. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to claim  3  1, wherein
 the first generation step includes causing the first generation unit device to generate, as the call bit information, information specifying an audio encoding scheme for the first call stream. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the first generation step includes causing the first generation unit device to generate, as the call bit information, information specifying a bit rate for the first call stream. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first generation step includes causing the first generation unit device to generate, as the instruction bit information, information specifying an audio encoding scheme for the first instruction stream. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first generation step includes causing the first generation unit device to generate, as the instruction bit information, information specifying a bit rate for the first instruction stream. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the first generation step includes causing the first generation unit to encode the first instruction stream and the first call stream at a bit rate complying with the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications standard using an audio encoding scheme complying with the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications standard.   
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first trigger is given to the first generation unit by predetermined movement given to the handset, predetermined audio given to the handset, or a predetermined operation given to the handset.   
     
     
       14. The method according to claim  4  1, further comprising:
 a second generation step of generating a second stream corresponding to the first stream transmitted from the handset first device to the base unit second device; and 
 a second transmission step of transmitting the second stream,
 wherein the second generation step includes
 (i) in a case where the base unit second device receives the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream, causing the base unit second device to generate a second instruction stream corresponding to the first instruction stream, and 
 (ii) in a case where the base unit second device receives the call bit information and the first call stream, causing the base unit second device to generate a second call stream corresponding to the first call stream, and 
 
 the second transmission step includes
 (iii) in a case where the base unit second device generates the second instruction stream, causing the base unit second device to transmit the second instruction stream to a server that generates a control command using the second instruction stream for controlling the home electric appliance, and 
 (iv) in a case where the base unit second device generates the second call stream, transmitting the second call stream to a telephone third device of the intended party. 
 
 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the second transmission step includes causing the base unit second device to selectively transmit the second instruction stream or the second call stream via a public communication line that is common to transmission of the second instruction stream and the second call stream. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the second transmission step includes
 (i) in a case where the base unit second device generates the second instruction stream, causing the base unit second device to transmit the second instruction stream via a first public communication line, and 
 (ii) in a case where the base unit second device generates the second call stream, causing the base unit second device to transmit the second call stream via a second public communication line different from the first public communication line. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the second generation step includes causing the base unit second device to generate, during the mute mode, an alternative stream representing an alternative sound that replaces the audio, and 
 the second transmission step includes, in a case where the base unit second device generates the alternative stream, transmitting the alternative stream to the telephone third device of the intended party. 
 
     
     
       18. A handset of a cordless telephone device first device for use in a system that allows remote control of a home electric appliance by using voice instructions of a user, the handset first device comprising:
 a sound receiving unit receiver configured to receive audio of the user; 
 one or more memories; and 
 an integrated circuit configured to perform operations including:  
 a first generation unit configured to generategenerating a first stream by encoding the audio input via the sound receiving unitreceiver; and 
 a first transmission unit configured to transmit transmitting the first stream to a base unit of the cordless telephone device, second device;  
 the first generation unit being configured to generategenerating instruction bit information indicating that the audio represents the voice instructions and to generategenerating, as the first stream, a first instruction stream indicative of the voice instructions in accordance with a first trigger indicating a request to start the remote control of the home electric appliance,; and  
 the first transmission unit being configured to transmittransmitting the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream to the base unit through a common multiplexing scheme that is common to transmission of a first stream generated in a case where the first trigger is not given to the first generation unitsecond device, 
 wherein the first trigger is given to the first device by predetermined movement given to the first device or a predetermined operation given to the first device, 
 the integrated circuit transmits the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream to the second device through a common multiplexing scheme that is common to transmission of the first stream generated in a case where the first trigger is not given to the first device, 
 the common multiplexing scheme is a Time Division Duplex/Time Division Multiple Access scheme complying with a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications standard, 
 in a case where the first trigger is not given to the first device, the integrated circuit generates call bit information indicating that the audio represents a voice call and generates, as the first stream, a first call stream indicative of the audio, and 
 in a case where the first device receives the first trigger during generation of the first call stream, the integrated circuit generates the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream, and switches an operation mode of the system from a call mode in which the audio is transferred to an intended party with which the user is engaged in the voice call to a mute mode in which transfer of the audio to the intended party is interrupted. 
 
     
     
       19. The handset first device according to  claim 18 , wherein
 in a case where the first trigger is not given to the first generation unit device, the first generation unit is configured to generate operations include: generating call bit information indicating that the audio represents a voice call and to generate, as the first stream, a first call stream indicative of the audio. 
 
     
     
       20. The handset first device according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a trigger generation unit configured to give the first trigger to the first generation unitthe integrated circuit is configured to perform an operation of generating the first trigger. 
 
     
     
       21. A cordless telephone device communication system comprising:
 the handset first device according to  claim 19 ; and 
 a base unit second device, 
 the base unit second device including: 
 one or more memories; and 
 an integrated circuit configured to perform operations including: 
 (i) a second generation unit configured to generate generating a second instruction stream corresponding to the first instruction stream in accordance with receipt of the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream, and configured to generate generating a second call stream corresponding to the first call stream in accordance with receipt of the call bit information and the first call stream, and 
 (ii) a second transmission unit configured to transmit transmitting the second instruction stream to a server that generates a control command using the second instruction stream for controlling the home electric appliance, and configured to transmit transmitting the second call stream to a telephone third device of an intended party with which the user is engaged in the voice call. 
 
 
     
     
       22. A method for controlling a first device for use in a system that allows remote control of a home electric appliance by using voice instructions of a user, the method comprising:
 a sound receiving step of receiving audio of the user;   a first generation step of generating a first stream by encoding the audio input via the sound receiving step; and   a first transmission step of transmitting the first stream to a second device included in the system,   the first generation step including generating instruction bit information indicating that the audio represents the voice instructions and to generate, as the first stream, a first instruction stream indicative of the voice instructions in accordance with a first trigger indicating a request to start the remote control of the home electric appliance,   wherein the first trigger is given to the first device by predetermined movement given to the first device or a predetermined operation given to the first device,   the first transmission step includes transmitting the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream to the second device through a common multiplexing scheme that is common to transmission of the first stream generated in a case where the first trigger is not given to the first device,   the common multiplexing scheme is a Time Division Duplex/Time Division Multiple Access scheme complying with a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications standard,   in a case where the first trigger is not given to the first device, the first generation step includes generating call bit information indicating that the audio represents a voice call and to generate, as the first stream, a first call stream indicative of the audio, and   the first generation step includes, in a case where the first device receives the first trigger during generation of the first call stream, generating the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream, and switching an operation mode of the system from a call mode in which the audio is transferred to an intended party with which the user is engaged in the voice call to a mute mode in which transfer of the audio to the intended party is interrupted.    
     
     
       23. A method for controlling a system that allows remote control of a home electric appliance by using voice instructions of a user,
 the system including a first device and a second device,   the method comprising:   a first generation step of causing the first device to generate a first stream by encoding audio input via the first device; and   a first transmission step of transmitting the first stream to the second device,   the first generation step including causing the first device to generate instruction bit information indicating that the audio represents the voice instructions and to generate, as the first stream, a first instruction stream indicative of the voice instructions in a case where a first trigger indicating a request to start the remote control of the home electric appliance is given to the first device, and   the first transmission step including transmitting the instruction bit information and the first instruction stream to the second device, wherein   in a case where the first trigger is not given to the first device, the first generation step includes causing the first device to generate call bit information indicating that the audio represents a voice call and to generate, as the first stream, a first call stream indicative of the audio, and   the first generation step includes, in a case where the first device receives the first trigger during generation of the first call stream, causing the first device to switch an operation mode of the system from a call mode in which the audio is transferred to an intended party with which the user is engaged in the voice call to a mute mode in which transfer of the audio to the intended party is interrupted.