JP2001189975A - Mobile unit capable of selecting wireless network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile unit that can properly select a wireless network. SOLUTION: The mobile unit 100 is configured with a transceiver 150, signal processing circuit 152, processor 162, storage medium 166 and GPS receiver 168 or the like. The processor 162 acquires the current position of the mobile unit 100 from the GPS receiver 168 at startup and selects available wireless network, on the basis of the acquired information and information stored in a startup table 122 to start communication. When the processor 162 discriminates, that another wireless network is to be selected during a speech, the processor 162 reconfigures the transceiver 150 and the signal processing circuit 152, so as to select communication with another wireless network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a mobile station, a method of using the mobile station, a program to be executed by a processor of the mobile station, a radio communication system, and a radio communication method.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Wireless, private communication systems use RF communication links to facilitate communication between mobile stations and fixed base stations. In general, each of these RF links follows one of many existing wireless communication protocols. The wireless communication protocol uses analog communication technology (for example, Advanced M
obile Phone System (AMPS) standard, and protocols based on digital communication technologies (eg, code division multiple access (CDMA)).

[0003] Some mobile cell phones are known as multi-mode mobiles and are designed to operate in one or more types of wireless systems. For example, some mobile stations can operate in private wireless networks of 900 MHz and public wireless networks based on CDMA.

[0004] However, these mobile devices are usually limited to one system type once communication begins. This is because the mobile station's RF transceiver and signal processing circuitry are not configured to switch frequencies and communication protocols during communication. Also, typical wireless network fixed stations are not designed to support a variety of communication protocols. In addition, multi-mode mobile phones have certain features at start-up (power-up), even if other types of wireless systems could provide more reliable services in certain geographical areas. Is configured to select the type of wireless system.

An object of the present invention is to enable a mobile station to appropriately select a wireless network.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention shows a communication means operable to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols, and indicates which wireless network is available for communication upon start-up of a mobile station. Processing means for receiving information and selecting one of the wireless networks based on the information to start communication.

According to the present invention, an appropriate wireless network can be selected at startup.

[0008] In this case, the processing means can be configured to select one of the wireless networks based on the geographical location of the mobile device, thereby indicating the geographical location of the mobile device. Preferably, it has a receiving means configured to receive the information. This receiving means may receive a GPS signal.

[0009] The processing means may be configured to acquire the information from a table indicating which wireless network is to be selected. In this case, the processing means can be configured to obtain the table from a communication server via one of the wireless networks. Further, the table may include information indicating which wireless network to select at one or more geographical locations.

The present invention also relates to a method of using a mobile station operative to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols,
At the time of start-up of a mobile device, information indicating which wireless network can be used for communication is received, and one of the wireless networks is selected based on the information to start communication.

[0011] The present invention also provides a processor provided in a mobile station that operates to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols. A program for executing a step of receiving information indicating whether or not the wireless network can be used and a step of selecting one of the wireless networks based on the information and starting communication is characterized.

The present invention also comprises a communication means operable to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols, and the communication means configured to communicate with one of the wireless networks. A processing unit configured to reconfigure the communication unit to perform communication with another wireless network when the communication unit is performing communication using the communication unit.

According to the present invention, the wireless network can be switched so as to communicate with another wireless network during communication.

In this case, the processing means can reconfigure the communication means based on a geographical position of the mobile device. The processing means may be configured to receive information indicating which wireless network is available at one or more geographical locations. The information may indicate a usage pattern of the wireless network by the mobile device at one or more geographic locations. Also, the information may specify a geographical area covered by each of the wireless networks. Further, the processing means may be configured to obtain the table from a communication server via one of wireless networks.

The present invention is also a method of using a mobile station operative to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols,
Configuring the communication means to communicate with one of the wireless networks, and reconfiguring the communication means to communicate with another wireless network when performing communication using the communication means. Features.

The present invention also relates to a processor provided in a mobile station operable to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols, the processor comprising a mobile station for communicating with one of the wireless networks. And a step of, when the mobile device is communicating, reconfiguring the mobile device to communicate with another wireless network.

Further, the present invention uses a first base station that uses a first communication protocol for wireless communication, and uses a second communication protocol for wireless communication that is different from the first communication protocol. A second base station, and the first and second base stations
Starting communication with the support network via the first base station and continuing the communication via the second base station while moving. And a configured mobile device.

In this case, the mobile station can be configured to store information indicating which base station should be used at one or more geographical locations. Also, the mobile station can be configured to access the information at startup and select one of the base stations based on its geographic location. Further, a communication server connected to the support network and configured to provide the information to the mobile device may be provided. Also, the information may indicate, for each of the base stations, a geographic area covered by a service provider associated with the base station. The information may also indicate a usage pattern of each service provider by the mobile device at one or more geographic locations. The mobile station may be configured to transmit a signal requesting switching of a communication channel to the second base station to the first base station while moving. Also, the first base station can be configured to establish communication with the second base station in response to the signal. Further, the first base station may be configured to start communication with the second base station after the first base station establishes communication with the second base station.

Also, the present invention comprises a mobile station configured to start communication with a first base station using a first wireless communication protocol, wherein the first communication protocol is used while the mobile station is moving. A wireless communication method for reconfiguring the mobile device so as to continue communication via a second base station using a second wireless communication protocol different from the first embodiment.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a mobile device (eg, a multi-mode wireless cellular phone) 100 designed to be able to switch between one or more types of wireless systems during communication.
Is shown.

[0021] The mobile station 100 can communicate with one private wireless system (eg, 900 in a building) during a call.
MHz network (System X)) 102 to other private wireless systems (eg, 9 in another building).
00 MHz network (system Y)) 104. When moving between such systems, the mobile device 100 uses a public wireless system (public wirele).
ss system) (system Z) 106.

In this example, the private wireless system 10
2 and 104 have base stations 108 and 110 and wireless servers 112 and 114, respectively. Wireless server 11
2, 114 are support networks (eg, a public switched telephone network (PSTN)).
lephone network) or the World Wide Web
116. The public wireless system 106 also
Base station 11 connected to support network 116
Eight. Wireless systems 102, 104, 106
Can communicate with each other or the support network 116
Communicate with other systems via.

The wireless systems 102, 104, 10
Wireless support to support interaction between 6
Server 120 is connected to support network 116. The wireless support server 120 collects information that assists the multi-mode mobile device 100 to select one of the wireless systems 102, 104, 106 at startup and when switching between wireless systems during a call. , Distribute. Wireless support server 12
0 indicates that the information is stored in a map or table (startup table 122, provider map 12).
4 and usage table 126).

The start-up table 122 has a list 128 of wireless systems with which the mobile station 100 can communicate, as shown in FIG. Also, the table 122 has a list 130 of geographical regions for each wireless system that the mobile device 100 should establish communication with the wireless system at startup. In this example, the start-up table 122 defines each geographic region at block 132 with the geographic grid forming the region.

The provider map 124 and the usage table 126 are used by the wireless systems 102, 1
It is used to assist the mobile station 100 when switching the communication channel from one of the telephones 04 and 106 to another. The provider map 124 indicates that the wireless system 1
02, 104, and 106 are described. Mobile station 100 uses provider map 124 to determine when it enters or leaves the coverage area of a particular wireless system.

The usage table 126 has a list 134 of blocks of a geographic grid, as shown in FIG. The usage table 126 shows, for each of the blocks,
The usage frequency of each of the wireless systems 102, 104, and 106 when the mobile device 100 is located in that block is shown. Therefore, the wireless systems 102, 104, 106
Columns 136, 138, and 140 indicating the usage time ratios of. For example, in the usage table 126 shown in FIG.
When the mobile device 100 is located in the grid block “xx1”, it indicates that the system X has been used for 97% of the time and the system Z has been used for 3% of the time. Similarly,
When the mobile device 100 is located in the grid block “xx4”, it indicates that the system Y has been used for 100% of the time. The usage table 126 helps determine whether a call channel switch is likely to occur when the mobile station 100 crosses the boundary.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed configuration of the multi-mode mobile device 100. The mobile station 100 sends signals to and receives signals from base stations of the wireless network.
It has a transceiver 150. The transceiver 150
The input signal and the output signal are down-converted and up-converted between the RF carrier frequency and the baseband, respectively.

The signal processing circuit 152 includes the transceiver 15
0 to generate an audio and data signal for output to speaker 154 and display screen 156. The signal processing circuit 152 has the function of digitally sampling the signal, adjusting the gain of the signal to an appropriate level, and, in some cases, decoding the signal to generate separated voice and data signals. Including. In the case of a network using a wideband spectrum modulation scheme (eg, code division multiple access (CDMA)), the signal processing circuit 152 despreads the input signal. The signal processing circuit 152
The same process is performed in a different procedure from the above for the audio signal and the data signal received from the microphone 158 of 0 and the keypad 160.

In the mobile station 100, the transceiver 150 and the signal processing circuit 152 constituting the communication means are designed to be compatible with a multiple communication protocol. For example, transceiver 150 may be tuned to various frequencies at which the wireless network transmits signals. Similarly, signal processing circuit 152 is configured to decode various modulation schemes used in wireless networks. The processor 162 constituting the processing means includes an operating frequency of the transceiver 150 and a signal processing circuit 152.
To generate a signal for changing the modulation method. This allows the processor 162 to configure the transceiver 150 and the signal processing circuit 152 at startup.
e) the transceiver 150 is switched when the communication channel is switched.
And the signal processing circuit 152 can be reconfigured.
The processor 162 is a storage medium (for example, a read-only memory (ROM) device) 1 of the mobile device 100.
It operates in accordance with the program code 164 stored in 66.

The processor 162 accesses the information stored in the startup table 122, the provider map 124, and the usage table 126 to configure the transceiver 150 and the signal processing circuit 152. The mobile device 100 is controlled by the processor 162.
Wireless support server 1 via base station of wireless system
From 20 (FIG. 1), the startup table 122, the provider map 124, and the usage table 126 are periodically downloaded. The table and the map are stored in a storage medium 166 storing the program code 164.
Is stored.

The mobile station 100 has a GPS receiver 168 for specifying its geographical position. Processor 1
62, when deciding which wireless system to use and whether a call channel switch is required,
The information from the GPS receiver 168 is used.

FIG. 5 shows a process in which the mobile station 100 selects a wireless service provider at startup.

The mobile station 100 acquires the current geographical coordinates from the GPS receiver 168 (step 200).
The mobile station 100 reads a list of the geographic grid blocks that form the first geographic region defined in the startup table 122 (step 202), and then determines whether the current position is in any of the grid blocks. It is determined whether or not it has been performed (step 204). If the current location is located on any grid block, mobile station 100 accesses startup table 122 again to identify the wireless system assigned to that geographic area (step 206). The mobile station 100 then establishes communication with the base station of the wireless system (step 208).

If the mobile station 100 determines that the current position is not located in the first geographical area, it determines whether or not another area is defined in the startup table 122 (step 210). If there are other areas, the mobile station 100 may use a grid to form the next geographic area.
A list of blocks is searched (step 202), and it is determined whether the current position is located on any of the grid blocks (step 204). If the current position is located in any of the grid blocks, the mobile station 10
0 uses the startup table 122 to identify its associated wireless system (step 20).
6) Establish communication with the base station of the wireless system (step 208). The mobile station 100 continues the above process until it identifies the geographical area in which it is located or tests all of the geographical areas defined in the startup table 122.

If the mobile station 100 determines that it is not located in any of the geographic regions defined in the startup table 122, the mobile station 100 searches the startup table 122 for data identifying the default service provider. Is accessed (step 212).
The mobile station 100 then establishes communication with the default system base station (step 214).

FIG. 6 shows a process of the mobile station 100 for switching from one wireless system to another wireless system during communication.

The mobile station 100 periodically acquires the current geographical position from the GPS receiver 168. Mobile device 10
0 calculates the traveling direction based on the currently acquired position information and the change in the previously acquired position information (step 22).
0). The mobile device 100 determines whether the mobile device 100 is approaching the boundary of the provider's coverage area using the information on the current position and the traveling direction and the provider map 124 (step 222).

If the mobile device 100 is approaching the boundary, the mobile device 100 accesses the use table 126 to obtain information on the past use of the wireless system on the other side of the boundary (step 224). . Mobile device 100
Determines whether the past use of the currently connected wireless system (the "host" system) in the past use of the wireless system on the other side of the boundary is greater than a predetermined threshold (step 226). If the past use of the host system exceeds the threshold, the mobile device 100 determines that the switching of the communication channel is not necessary. If the past use of the host system does not exceed the threshold, the mobile device 100 determines that the speech channel needs to be switched,
A "channel switching request" signal is transmitted to the host system (step 228). This traffic channel switching request signal is transmitted to another wireless system (“visitor” system).
Includes information that identifies

After transmitting the traffic channel switching request signal, mobile station 100 waits for a response signal from the base station of the host system (step 230). Upon receiving the response signal, mobile device 100 determines whether or not the response signal is a “preparation for speech channel switching” signal (step 232). The traffic channel switching ready signal indicates that the visitor system is ready to accept a traffic channel switch. When the host system returns a communication channel switching preparation signal, the mobile station 100
Starts preparations for switching the communication channel. Communication that occurs between the host system and the visitor system in response to the call channel switching request will be described later.

When mobile station 100 receives the communication channel switching preparation signal, it sets a timer for limiting the time for switching the communication channel (step 234). The initial value of the timer is set to a time sufficient for the mobile device 100 to pass the boundary. The mobile device 100 waits until the timer time elapses (step 236) or the mobile device 1
The timer is monitored until 00 crosses the boundary. If the timer expires before the mobile station 100 crosses the boundary, the mobile station 100 transmits a "channel switching failure" signal (step 240). The speech channel switching failure signal is for notifying the host system and the visitor system that the speech channel cannot be switched. If the mobile device 100 has passed the boundary before the timer time has elapsed, the mobile device 100 establishes communication with the base station of the visitor system (step 24).
2) A "channel switching completion" signal is transmitted to the host system (step 244).

FIG. 7 shows the processing of the base station (host base station) of the host system in response to the call channel switching request.

Upon receiving the call channel switching request signal, the host base station obtains the telephone number or Internet Protocol (IP) address of the nearest base station in the visitor system from the wireless support server 120 (FIG. 1) (step). 250). The host base station
A call is made to the base station of the visitor system (the visitor base station), and the mobile station 100 that has made the communication channel switching request is specified and a communication channel switching request signal is transmitted (step 252). If the visitor base station is preparing to accept a call channel switch, the visitor base station holds the call from the host base station and waits for a call from the mobile station 100. When contacted by the mobile station 100, the visitor base station connects the mobile station 100 with the call previously established and held by the host base station.

When the host base station transmits the call channel switching request signal to the visitor base station, the host base station waits for the visitor base station to hold the call (step 254), and then transmits a call channel switching preparation signal to the mobile station 100. (Step 256). The host base station sets a timer for limiting the time until a traffic channel switching completion signal or a traffic channel switching failure signal is generated (step 258). The host base station monitors the timer until the timer time elapses (step 260) or until the host base station receives a control signal from the mobile device 100.

Upon receiving the control signal from mobile station 100, the host base station determines whether the control signal is a communication channel switching failure signal (step 264). If the control signal is a traffic channel switching failure signal, or if the timer time elapses before the host base station receives the control signal, the host base station disconnects the call held by the visitor base station. An instruction is given (step 266). When the host base station receives the communication channel switching completion signal, the communication channel switching is successful, and the host base station ends communication with the mobile device 100 (step 26).
8).

While one embodiment of the present invention has been described, other embodiments are possible. For example, the mobile device 10
0 may maintain information indicating service costs for each provider in the geographical area. With this information, mobile station 100 can select a service provider based on the pricing.
This is because the two overlapping wireless systems are mobile units 100
Is particularly effective when both wireless systems are difficult to compete with for the mobile station 100.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a startup table.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a use table.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process of a mobile station for selecting a wireless service provider at startup.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of a mobile station switching from one wireless system to another wireless system during communication.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process of the host base station in response to a traffic channel switching request.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: mobile station, 102, 104, 106 ... wireless system, 108, 110, 118 ... base station, 112, 114
... Wireless server, 116 ... Support network, 12
0: Wireless support server, 122: Startup table, 124: Provider map, 126: Usage table, 150: RF transceiver, 152: Signal processing circuit, 162: Processor, 166: Storage medium, 168
... GPS receiver.

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. Communication means operable to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols, and upon mobile start-up, receiving information indicating which wireless network is available for communication, Processing means for selecting one of the wireless networks based on the information and starting communication. 2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein said processing means is configured to select one of the wireless networks based on a geographical location of the mobile device. 3. The mobile device according to claim 2, further comprising a receiving unit configured to receive information indicating a geographical position of the mobile device. 4. The mobile device according to claim 3, wherein said receiving means is configured to receive a GPS signal. 5. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to acquire the information from a table indicating which wireless network is to be selected. 6. The mobile device according to claim 5, wherein the processing unit is configured to acquire the table from a communication server via one of wireless networks. 7. The mobile device according to claim 5, wherein the table has information indicating which wireless network to select at one or more geographical locations. 8. A method of using a mobile station operative to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols, comprising: determining which wireless network is available for communication when the mobile station starts up. Receiving the indicated information, and starting communication by selecting one of the wireless networks based on the information. 9. A processor provided in a mobile station operative to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols, comprising: determining which wireless network is available for communication upon startup of the mobile station; A program for executing a step of receiving the indicated information and a step of starting communication by selecting one of the wireless networks based on the information. 10. Communication means operable to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols, and said communication means configured to communicate with one of the wireless networks, wherein said communication means is used. Processing means for reconfiguring the communication means so as to perform communication with another wireless network when performing communication. 11. The mobile device according to claim 10, wherein
The processing unit reconfigures the communication unit based on a geographical location of the mobile device. 12. The mobile device according to claim 11,
The processing means is configured to receive information indicating which wireless network is available at one or more geographic locations. 13. The mobile device according to claim 12, wherein
The information is indicative of a wireless network usage pattern by the mobile device at one or more geographic locations. 14. The mobile device according to claim 12, wherein
The information identifies a geographic area covered by each of the wireless networks. 15. The mobile device according to claim 12, wherein
The processing means is configured to obtain the table from a communication server via one of the wireless networks. 16. A method of using a mobile station operative to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols, the communication means configured to communicate with one of the wireless networks, When communication is being performed using the communication means, the communication means is reconfigured to communicate with another wireless network. 17. A processor provided in a mobile station operable to transmit and receive signals in multiple wireless networks using different communication protocols, comprising the steps of configuring the mobile station to communicate with one of the wireless networks. And reconfiguring the mobile device to perform communication with another wireless network when the mobile device is performing communication. 18. A first base station using a first communication protocol for wireless communication, and a second base station using a second communication protocol for wireless communication different from the first communication protocol. A base station; a support network connected to the first and second base stations; and a second base station that starts communication with the support network via the first base station and moves while moving. And a mobile station configured to continue the communication via the mobile terminal. 19. The wireless communication system according to claim 18, wherein the mobile station is configured to store information indicating which base station to use at one or more geographic locations. . 20. The wireless communication system according to claim 19, wherein the mobile station is configured to access the information at startup and select one of the base stations based on its geographical location. ing. 21. The wireless communication system according to claim 19, further comprising a communication server connected to said support network and configured to provide said information to said mobile station. 22. The wireless communication system of claim 19, wherein the information is indicative for each of the base stations of a geographic area covered by a service provider associated with the base station. . 23. The wireless communication system of claim 22, wherein the information is indicative of a usage pattern of each service provider by the mobile at one or more geographic locations. 24. The wireless communication system according to claim 18, wherein the mobile station transmits a signal requesting the first base station to switch a communication channel to a second base station while moving. It is configured to be. 25. The wireless communication system according to claim 24, wherein said first base station is configured to establish communication with said second base station in response to said signal. 26. The wireless communication system according to claim 25, wherein after the first base station establishes communication with the second base station, the first base station communicates with the second base station. It is configured to start communication with. 27. A mobile device configured to start communication with a first base station using a first wireless communication protocol, wherein a second device different from the first communication protocol during movement of the mobile device. Reconfiguring the mobile station so as to continue communication via a second base station using the wireless communication protocol of (1).