JP2001119748A - Handset, base station, and communication method for portable phone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a handset that can cope with a plurality of modes and hands in spite of its small size, lightweight and low cost. SOLUTION: The handset is provided with a means that compares a battery residual capacity with a reference to discriminate a speech consecutive time and with a means that makes a download request for a communication protocol that can be connected to a network of a base station offering a small speech current and adjacent to a network of the base station and request for a software program for revising hardware of the handset to the base station when the discrimination means discriminates a smaller speech current. The handset uses the communication protocol and the software program for revising the hardware of the handset downloaded from the base station to send/receive a radio wave to/from the adjacent base station.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an improvement of a handset having a roaming contract between different wireless communication systems. Further, the present invention relates to a base station that communicates with the handset and a communication method of a mobile phone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, portable telephones use an analog FD.
MA (Frequency Division Multiple Access) and digital TDMA (Time Division Multiple Acces)
s) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). When a single handset is used to handle such different wireless communication systems, it is necessary to make a roaming contract with a telecommunications carrier and to install circuits and software compatible with each system on the handset side. is there.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional multi-terminal, which is one of TDMA and FDMA, such as AMPS and CD.
A case corresponding to three methods of MA is shown. In TDMA, transmission and reception are switched by a transmission / reception switch T / RSW and connected to an antenna. In the receiving circuit, the received high-frequency signal is sent to the multiplier via the band-pass filter BPF and the low-noise amplifier LNA. In the multiplier, the IF signal is extracted by multiplying the received signal by the synthesizer, and the band pass filter BPF and the demodulator DEM
Baseband processing is performed via the OD. From the digital signal after the baseband processing, a digital signal compressed according to a communication protocol by a protocol processing unit is extracted, and the digital signal is decoded by a digital speech encoder-decoder CODEC.
The digital signal including the audio signal in the audible range after the A / A conversion is sent to the speaker SP via the audio circuit.

[0004] In the transmission circuit, the audio signal input to the microphone MIC is A / D-converted by the digital audio encoder-decoder CODEC via the audio circuit, and is further compressed. The compressed audio digital signal is subjected to protocol processing and then sent to a multiplier via a baseband processor and a modulator MOD. In the multiplier, a local signal from the synthesizer is multiplied by a transmission signal to generate a high-frequency signal, which is transmitted from the antenna via a transmission / reception switch T / RSW via a band-pass filter BPF, an amplifier PA, and a low-pass filter LPF. Transmit to base station.

In AMPS, the connection between the transmitting circuit / receiving circuit and the antenna is connected by a simultaneous transceiver DPX. The processing flow of the transmitting circuit and the receiving circuit is a digital TD
Similar to the case of MA, but the circuit configuration is slightly different because of the analog type. In CDMA, the radio frequency circuit R
F, a baseband processing circuit, a protocol circuit, and a digital audio encoder-decoder CODEC. The microphone MIC and the speaker SP are connected via an audio circuit.

[0006]

However, the conventional multi-terminal has a problem that the weight, size, and cost are increased because a plurality of hardware are provided to support a plurality of modes and bands. . Also, even if it is a multi-terminal, if it enters the area of the communication method that is not supported,
There was a problem that the area was cut out of the area. Also, when the remaining battery power is low, there is a problem that even if the call quality and sound quality are reduced, it is not possible to switch to a mote or a frequency in which the call current is small and the call is cut off. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a handset that is small, lightweight, and low-cost, and that can handle a plurality of modes and bands. A second object is to provide a base station and a communication system suitable for the handset.

[0007]

A handset 10 according to a first aspect of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, has the following features.
During a call, the remaining battery level is compared with a predetermined reference value, and a remaining battery level determining unit 18 determines that the talking time is short. A download request unit 20 is provided to the base station to request the base station to download a communication protocol and a software for changing the hardware of the handset that can be connected to the network of the base station and the network of the base station adjacent thereto. Then, using a communication protocol downloaded from the base station and software for changing hardware of the handset, radio waves are transmitted and received to and from the neighboring base station. In the handset 10 configured as described above, the remaining battery charge determining unit 18 determines the remaining talk time by comparing the remaining battery charge with a predetermined reference value during a call. When the remaining battery level determination unit 18 determines that the talk time is short, the download request unit 20 downloads a communication protocol capable of connecting to the network of the base station and a network of an adjacent base station and downloads software for changing hardware of the handset. Make a request to the base station. In this way, when it is determined that the call time becomes short, a communication protocol that can connect to the network of the base station requiring less call current and software for changing the hardware of the handset are downloaded from the base station and roaming is performed. Communication between the handset and the base station can be secured. Preferably, as described in claim 3, the configuration is such that the call is continuously performed when switching from the network of the base station to the network of the neighboring base station. No need to switch to the network to interrupt calls. Preferably, the claims
As described in 4, the download requesting means 20 can provide a communication protocol and a handset hardware that can connect to the network of the adjacent base station only when the network of the neighboring base station is a target of roaming in the handset 10. With a configuration in which the software change request is issued, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the base station operator cannot collect a charge from the handset user when the call between the handset and the base station is charged. Here, as described in claim 5, when the handset has a configuration in which a roaming-capable communication method and a frequency band are registered in advance based on broadcast information from the base station, a plurality of roaming-capable neighboring base stations are provided. When there is an operator, the convenience of the handset user can be improved by registering the one that can reduce the call current and extend the call time. Preferably, when the handset 10 is configured to have a plurality of communication schemes and a plurality of frequency bands that can be connected to the network of the base station and the network of the neighboring base station, the handset 10 can roam to a neighboring base station. The likelihood of securing communications with the bureau operator increases. Here, as described in claim 7, the communication method is GS
M, PCS, PDC, PHS, IS-95, IS-13
6. The configuration including at least one of IMT2000 covers at least one of the typical mobile phone standards. Further, as set forth in claim 8, the frequency band is 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1500 MHz,
700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 21
A configuration including at least one of 00 MHz covers at least one of the typical mobile phone standards. As shown in FIG. 3, the base station according to claim 9, which solves the above problem, comprises: a position registration unit 34 for performing position registration when a power of a handset located in a communication area is turned on; Means 38 for executing a download of the handset hardware change software and a communication protocol capable of connecting to the network of the adjacent base station when the hardware change software download request is issued; Means 39 for performing handover from the network of the adjacent base station to the network of the adjacent base station. Preferably, as described in claim 10, a configuration may be adopted in which information on a communication system capable of roaming, a frequency band, and transmission output information relating to a communication current for each network is transmitted to a handset in a standby or talking state. According to a communication method for a mobile phone according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, a location registration is performed when a power of a handset located in a communication area of a base station is first turned on. Next, comparing the remaining battery power with a predetermined reference value, and when the handset determines that the talk time is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time,
The handset requests the base station to download a communication protocol and a software for changing the hardware of the handset that can be connected to the network of the base station adjacent to the network of the base station. Next, when there is a request from the handset to download the communication protocol and the software for changing the hardware of the handset, the communication protocol and the software for changing the hardware of the handset that can be connected to the network of the adjacent base station are downloaded to the base station. The station runs. Finally, the communication of the handset with the neighboring base station is continued without interruption using the communication protocol downloaded from the base station and the software for changing the hardware of the handset.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a handset according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a handset 10 includes a base station communication unit 12 that communicates with a base station 30. For example, an antenna, a transmission / reception circuit, a baseband processing unit, a communication protocol processing unit,
Memory and digital speech encoder-decoder CODEC correspond to this. The default communication method and frequency band storage unit 14 is registered as a default in the base station communication unit 12 when the power of the handset 10 is turned on. For example, for a domestic use in Japan, a PDC (Personal Digital Cellula) is used.
r) and PHS (Personal Handyphone System), and GSM (Global System for Mobil
Communications), and AMPS and CDMA for North America. The roaming target communication method and frequency band storage unit 16 stores a communication method and a frequency band other than the default selected by the handset 10 as the roaming target that can be registered in the base station communication unit 12.

The remaining battery level judging section 18 judges the remaining time of the talk time by comparing the battery voltage with a predetermined reference value or by comparing a value obtained by integrating the call and waiting current with the predetermined reference value. I do. When the remaining talk time becomes lower than a predetermined reference value, a network that requires less talk current obtained from the broadcast information of the base station 30 is selected, and a download request is made.

When the remaining battery level determining unit 18 determines that the remaining amount of talk time is lower than a predetermined reference value, the download request unit 20 communicates with a network of a base station adjacent to the network of the base station 30. A request to download software for changing the protocol and the hardware of the handset is made to the base station 30. In this case, only when the network of the neighboring base station is a target of roaming in the handset 10, the communication protocol that can connect to the network of the neighboring base station and the download request of the software for changing the hardware of the handset are made. In addition, the fee transfer between the base station operator and the handset user can be performed smoothly. The network to which the download request is made is limited to the network registered in advance in the default communication system and frequency band storage unit 14 or the roaming target communication system and frequency band storage unit 16. This registration represents a hardware limitation,
It is advisable to register at the time of production and shipment. This is because the network that the handset can handle is limited to a typical communication method.

[0011] Communication protocol buffer 22 for neighboring base stations
Temporarily stores the communication protocol downloaded from the base station 30 and the software for changing the hardware of the handset. The neighboring base station communication protocol buffer 22 transfers the stored contents to the base station communication unit 12 after the download completion report and the disconnection.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a handset corresponding to the apparatus shown in FIG. Components having the same functions as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. A plurality of reception band-pass filters BPF provided between the transmission / reception changeover switch T / RSW and the low-noise amplifier LNA are provided in accordance with the frequency band handled by the base station communication unit 12, and a plurality of reception band-pass filters BPF are provided. A reception band-pass filter BPF suitable for communication is selected. The frequency band includes at least one of 800 MHz and 1500 MHz for PDC, for example, but may be a frequency band assigned to another communication method.

A baseband processing circuit, a protocol circuit,
The digital speech encoder-decoder CODEC often employs a standard unique to each communication system. Therefore,
GSM, PCS, PDC, PHS, IS-95, IS-
136, at least one communication protocol of IMT2000 and software for changing hardware of the handset can be downloaded. The software for changing the hardware of the handset includes selection of the reception band-pass filter BPF.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a base station for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. Handset communication unit 3
Reference numeral 2 denotes a base station 30 for communicating with the handset 10 in the communication area handled by the base station 30. For example, a base station antenna, a base station control device, an inter-base station communication function for securing a communication path with a call destination of the handset Is included. The position registration unit 34 performs position registration when the power of the handset 10 located in the communication area is turned on. Preferably, at the time of location registration, a roaming-enabled communication method and a frequency band may be transmitted to the handset 10 in a standby or talking state. The intra-network base station handover unit 36 is in charge of handover when the handset 10 is at a boundary with an adjacent base station configuring a network of the same communication scheme and frequency band as the base station 30.

The roaming target network communication protocol download unit 38, when receiving a request to download the communication protocol and the software for changing the hardware of the handset from the handset 10, provides a communication protocol and a hardware of the handset that can be connected to the network of the adjacent base station. Execute the software change software download. The roaming target network neighboring base station handover unit 39 hands over the call of the handset 10 from the network of the base station 30 to the network of the adjacent base station, and prevents the call from being disconnected at the time of network switching.

The operation of the apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the handset. First, the power of the handset 10 is turned on (S0
1) and perform location registration of the base station in the default mode and band, and obtain nearby roamable mode, band and network information. The mode refers to a different communication method, for example, a PHS or PDC. The band refers to a frequency band, for example, 800 MHz, 90 MHz.
0 MHz, 1500 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1800
MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz, and the like. The network information is, for example, information of a network to be roamed. For example, in Japan, there are NTT Docomo, two-car phone, J horn, IDO, and the like.

As the caller enters the call using the handset 10 and moves, the remaining battery power falls below a predetermined reference value. Then, it is determined whether or not a call is in progress (S02). If a call is in progress, it is determined whether or not the remaining battery power has dropped below a predetermined value (S03), and the handset 10 determines whether a mode or band change is necessary. If the call has ended, the control cycle is ended (S07), and the same control is repeated thereafter.

If it is determined that the handset 10 needs to change the mode or the band, it is determined whether the handset 10 has received information that can be switched to another mode or band from the base station 30 (S04). If there is no switchable information, the process returns (S07) to end the current control cycle. If the handset 10 has not made a roaming contract, if the user goes out of the network of the base station 30, the call is disconnected as in the case of the handset dedicated to the network of the base station 30.

If there is switchable information, the handset issues a request for mode or band switching to the base station (S
05). The base station receives the request from the handset,
Download a new communication protocol and hardware change software to the handset. The handset executes the downloaded software, requests connection to a network with a new mode and a different band (S06), and ends the current control cycle (S0).
7). In this way, continuation of the call by another network of the neighboring base station is ensured.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating handset network switching. Here, the network of the base station 30 is A, and the network of the neighboring base station is B. First, it is assumed that the handset 10 is in a call using the network A (S11). The other party is talking over the network A (S30). Handset 1
0 makes it difficult to continue the call due to approaching the limit of the communication time of the network A, and inquires the network A of another network that can talk (S1).
2). The base station 30 of the network A communicates with the handset 1
The information for the inquiry of 0 is transmitted (S13). The handset 10 determines the network B to be connected next based on the transmitted information, and requests the network A to download a new communication protocol and software for changing hardware (S14). Then, in the network A, the communication protocol for the network B and the software for changing the hardware are downloaded (S15). On the other hand, the handset 10 sends a download completion report to the network A and disconnects the connection (S16. At this time, the other party is the network A).
Holds the connected call (S31).

The network A transfers the connection call to the network B via the network (S20).
On the other hand, the handset 10 makes a search request to the network B, and the handset 10 in the network B
Is registered (S21). And handset 1
0 makes a connection request to the network B (S2
2). In response, the neighboring base station of the network B issues a connection permission to the handset 10 (S23).
Thus, the call can be continued without interrupting the call while performing the network switching from the network A to the network B (S24). The other party continues the call via the network B (S32).

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which network switching for roaming is performed by a handset. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and network switching for a handset is performed on the base station side. It may be configured.

[0023]

As described above, according to the handset of the present invention, when the talk time is shortened due to a decrease in the remaining battery power, communication that can be connected to a network of an adjacent base station that requires a short talk time. The protocol and the software for changing the hardware of the handset are downloaded from the base station, and the communication between the handset and the base station can be ensured by roaming.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a handset according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram showing a specific example of the handset of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a base station explaining one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the handset of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating network switching of the handset of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration block diagram of a conventional multi-terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Handset 12 Base station communication part 14 Default communication method and frequency band storage part 16 Roaming object communication method and frequency band storage part 18 Battery remaining amount determination part 20 Download request part 22 Neighbor base station communication protocol buffer 30 Base station 32 Handset communication Unit 34 location registration unit 36 base station handover unit in network 38 roaming target network communication protocol download unit 39 roaming target network neighboring base station handover unit

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A handset communicating with a base station, a battery remaining amount detecting means for detecting a battery remaining amount, and a base station adjacent to a network of the base station when the battery remaining amount is determined to be less than a predetermined value. Download request means for requesting the base station to download a communication protocol and a handset hardware change software that can be connected to the network. The communication protocol and the handset hardware change software downloaded from the base station are provided. A handset for transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from the neighboring base station. 2. The battery remaining amount determination means makes a determination using a battery voltage during a call or an integration of a call current, and a communication current can be reduced by notification information from the base station, thereby extending a talk time. The handset according to claim 1, wherein a network can be selected. 3. The handset according to claim 1, wherein the call is continued when switching from the network of the base station to the network of the neighboring base station. 4. A communication protocol and a hardware change of a handset that can connect to the network of the adjacent base station only when the network of the neighboring base station is a target of roaming in the handset. 2. The handset according to claim 1, wherein a request for downloading software is issued. 5. The handset according to claim 4, wherein the handset pre-registers a roaming-capable communication system and a frequency band based on broadcast information from the base station. 6. The handset according to claim 1, wherein the handset has a plurality of communication systems and a plurality of frequency bands connectable to the network of the base station and the network of the neighboring base station. 7. The communication method is GSM, PCS, PD
C, PHS, IS-95, IS-136, IMT200
7. The handset according to claim 6, comprising at least one of zero. 8. The frequency band is 800 MHz, 90
0 MHz, 1500 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1800
7. The handset according to claim 6, wherein the handset includes at least one of MHz, 1900 MHz, and 2100 MHz. 9. A means for performing position registration when a power source of a handset located in a communication area is turned on, and when a request for download of a communication protocol and a software for changing hardware of the handset is issued from the handset, the adjacent base station receives the request. A communication protocol that can be connected to a network and means for executing download of software for changing the hardware of the handset; and means for handing over the call of the handset from the network of the own station to the network of the adjacent base station. A base station characterized by the above-mentioned. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: means for transmitting information on a roaming-capable communication system, a frequency band, and a transmission output relating to a communication current for each network to a handset in a standby state or in a communication state. base station. 11. A step of performing location registration at the time of turning on a power of a handset located in a communication area of a base station, and comparing an integrated value of a battery voltage or a communication current with a predetermined reference value to determine whether continuation of the communication is a predetermined. If the handset determines that the time is equal to or less than the time, the handset issues a download request for a communication protocol and a software for changing the hardware of the handset that can connect to the network of the base station that requires less call current adjacent to the network of the base station. A communication protocol and a handset hardware change software that can be connected to the network of the adjacent base station when the handset requests a download of a communication protocol and a hardware change software of the handset; The base station downloads the And communicating the handset with the neighboring base station without interruption using a communication protocol downloaded from the base station and software for changing the hardware of the handset. A communication method for a mobile phone, comprising: