JP2000287245A - Route controller, route control method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a route controller which utilizes a different network and can perform communication services to a radio terminal by using a first transmission means and controlling communication so that information is transmitted to the radio terminal when it is impossible to transmit information to the radio terminal by using a second transmission means. SOLUTION: A first communication network 2005 and a second communication network 2004 are connected with a path controller 2003, plural radio base stations 2007 are connected to the first communication network 2005, and plural second radio base stations 2006 are connected to the second communication network 2004. A radio terminal 2008 is capable of communicating with the first base station 2007 and the second radio base station 2006. It is possible to establish a first radio transmission line which can perform bidirectional communication with the first radio base station 2007 and it is possible to establish a second radio transmission line which can only receive information at least and can perform faster communication than the first radio transmission line with the second radio base station 2006. Thus, low power consumption becomes possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a route control device for a mobile communication system, and more particularly to a route control device for a vertically asymmetric mobile communication system in which an upstream communication path is low and a downstream communication path is high.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A system combining an existing mobile communication system and a new mobile communication system has been proposed as a next-generation multimedia mobile communication system.

Of these, attention has been paid to a vertically asymmetric system in which the upstream transmission speed is low and the downstream transmission speed is high. For example, PHS (Personal Handy phone
A system for providing an information providing service by newly adding a high-speed downlink to the System has been proposed.

A configuration example of a conventional system will be described with reference to FIG. A server 1001 in which information to be provided to a user is stored, a communication network 1002 to which the server 1001 is connected and transmitting information, and a communication with the server 1001 to download information from the server 1001 Wireless terminal 1004 and a wireless base station 1003 connected to the communication network 1002 and capable of communicating with the wireless terminal 1004 wirelessly.

[0005] Here, the radio base station 1003 can transmit and receive information using the existing mobile communication system PHS, and further includes another high-speed transmitter.
With this high-speed transmitter, information can be transmitted to a wireless terminal at a higher speed than PHS.

[0006] The radio terminal 1004 can transmit information to the radio base station 1003 using PHS, and further has a high-speed receiver, and the high-speed transmitter of the radio base station 1004 transmits information transmitted at high speed. It is possible to receive.

[0007] In the mobile communication system having such a configuration, an example of a procedure in which the wireless terminal 1004 requests and receives information from the server 1001 will be described. The wireless terminal 1004 issues a connection request
It transmits to the wireless base station 1003 using PHS. The connection request is sent from the wireless base station 1003 to the communication network 1002.
To the server 1001 via

[0008] Upon receiving the connection request, the server 1001 transmits information to the wireless terminal 1004 based on the connection request. This information is transmitted via the communication network 1002 to the wireless base station 1003 communicating with the wireless terminal 1004 by PHS.
Delivered to The wireless base station 1003 transmits this information to the wireless terminal 1004 using a high-speed transmitter.

With such an operation, a large amount of information including image information and audio information can be transmitted to the wireless terminal 1004 in a short time.
Multimedia services in a mobile environment that can be transmitted to mobile terminals are considered to be centered on receiving large amounts of information at terminals, and as described above, new high-speed transmission to existing mobile communication systems such as PHS etc. By adding a possible mobile communication system, most multimedia services can be provided to wireless terminals in a mobile environment.

Also, a multimedia radio terminal receiving such a service transmits using an existing mobile communication system and eliminates the need for a high-speed transmitter of a new system, thereby reducing the cost and consumption of the terminal. Power consumption and size reduction can be achieved.

Further, it is considered that the service area becomes local at the initial stage of introducing a new mobile communication system. However, by using the existing mobile communication system together, it is possible to provide a low-speed but wide-range service. Provision is possible.

Here, in the system configuration shown in FIG.
A base station of an existing mobile communication system such as PHS and a new high-speed transmitter are configured as one base station.

However, in practice, in a system using upper and lower asymmetric bands, it is considered that the base station and the high-speed transmitter of the existing mobile communication system are connected via a network. In this case, coordination between the existing mobile communication network and the new mobile communication network is required, but there has been a problem that this has not been considered in the past.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and enables a cooperative operation between an existing mobile communication system network and a new mobile communication system network. An object of the present invention is to provide a route control device capable of providing a communication service to a wireless terminal using these different networks.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a route control device according to the present invention comprises: a first transmitting means for transmitting information to a wireless terminal; a receiving means for receiving information from the wireless terminal; A second transmitting unit capable of transmitting information to the wireless terminal at a higher speed than the first transmitting unit, and a control indicating whether the information can be transmitted by the receiving unit using the second transmitting unit. Information is received from the wireless terminal, based on the received control information, if it is possible to transmit information to the wireless terminal using the second transmitting means, using the second transmitting means, When the information is transmitted to the wireless terminal and it is not possible to transmit the information to the wireless terminal using the second transmitting means, control is performed to transmit the information to the wireless terminal using the first transmitting means. And transmission / reception control means for performing the transmission and reception.

The route control device of the present invention according to the present invention
First transmitting means for transmitting information to the wireless terminal, receiving means for receiving information from the wireless terminal, and second transmitting means capable of transmitting information to the wireless terminal faster than the first transmitting means And receiving means for receiving, from the wireless terminal, control information indicating whether information can be transmitted using the second transmitting means, based on the received control information, Changing means for changing the route control information indicating the priority of the second transmitting means, wherein the changing means is capable of transmitting information to the wireless terminal using the second transmitting means, If the priority of the second transmitting means is set higher than that of the first transmitting means, and it is not possible to transmit information to the wireless terminal using the second transmitting means, Control to set the priority order higher than that of the second sending means. To.

Also, the route control device of the present invention has a first transmitting means for transmitting information to the wireless terminal, a receiving means for receiving information from the wireless terminal, and a faster transmitting means for the wireless terminal than the first transmitting means. A second transmitting unit capable of transmitting information, and a detecting unit for detecting a quality of a first wireless communication channel used by the first transmitting unit and a quality of a second wireless communication channel used by the second transmitting unit. Means for adding, when information addressed to the wireless terminal is received from another terminal, an identifier indicating that the information is transmitted by the first transmitting means and / or the second transmitting means to a header portion of the information; Wherein the adding means transmits the data by the first transmitting means and / or the second transmitting means based on the quality of the first wireless communication path and the second wireless communication path detected by the detecting means. Is provided.

Further, the route control device of the present invention has a first transmitting means for transmitting information to the wireless terminal, a receiving means for receiving information from the wireless terminal, and a faster transmitting method for the wireless terminal than the first transmitting means. A second transmitting unit capable of transmitting information, and a detecting unit for detecting a quality of a first wireless communication channel used by the first transmitting unit and a quality of a second wireless communication channel used by the second transmitting unit. Means for adding, when information addressed to the wireless terminal is received from another terminal, an identifier indicating that the information is transmitted by the first transmitting means and / or the second transmitting means to a header portion of the information; When the detecting means detects that the first wireless communication path is connected and the second wireless communication path is disconnected, an identifier to be transmitted by the first transmitting means is added. Then, when the connection of the second wireless communication path is detected, the second Characterized by comprising a control means for saving controls for adding an identifier, such as transmitted in signal means.

Further, the route control device of the present invention has a first transmitting means for transmitting information to the wireless terminal, a receiving means for receiving information from the wireless terminal, and a high speed transmission to the wireless terminal than the first transmitting means. A second transmitting unit capable of transmitting information, and a detecting unit for detecting a quality of a first wireless communication channel used by the first transmitting unit and a quality of a second wireless communication channel used by the second transmitting unit. Means for adding an identifier indicating a destination of a route control device to be relayed to a header portion of the information when information addressed to the wireless terminal is received from another terminal; Is connected, and when it is detected that the second wireless communication path has been disconnected, the first transmitting means sends the second wireless communication path to another path control device on the path toward the first wireless communication path. And the connection of the second wireless communication path is detected. And control means for controlling the second transmission means to add an identifier addressed to another path control device on a path toward the second wireless communication path to a path designation portion of information to be transmitted. It is characterized by.

Further, the route control method of the present invention includes a first transmitting means for transmitting information to a wireless terminal, a receiving means for receiving information from the wireless terminal, and a first transmitting means for transmitting information to the wireless terminal. In a path control method of a path control device including a second transmission unit capable of transmitting information at high speed, control information indicating whether information can be transmitted using the second transmission unit is transmitted by radio. A first step of receiving from the terminal, and a second transmitting step when the information can be transmitted to the wireless terminal using the second transmitting means based on the control information received in the first step. Means for transmitting information to the wireless terminal using the second transmitting means, and when it is impossible to transmit the information to the wireless terminal using the second transmitting means, using the first transmitting means to transmit the information to the wireless terminal. A second step of controlling to send It is characterized by consisting of.

[0021] The recording medium of the present invention is a recording medium storing a computer readable program, the program comprising: first transmitting means for transmitting information to a wireless terminal; and receiving information from the wireless terminal. In order to control a path control device including a first receiving unit and a second transmitting unit capable of transmitting information to the wireless terminal at a higher speed than the first transmitting unit, a second transmission is performed. A first step of receiving, from a wireless terminal, control information indicating whether or not information can be transmitted using the means, and a wireless terminal using a second transmitting means based on the control information received in the first step. If it is possible to transmit information to the wireless terminal, the information is transmitted to the wireless terminal using the second transmitting means,
A second step of controlling to transmit information to the wireless terminal using the first transmitting means when it is not possible to transmit information to the wireless terminal using the transmitting means. It is characterized by.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless communication system including a route control device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the radio communication system provides a radio service to a plurality of radio terminals 2008 by radio, and includes a first communication network 2005 and a second communication network 2004. ing.

The first communication network 2005 and the second communication network 20
04 is connected by the route control device 2003,
The first communication network 2005 includes a plurality of first wireless base stations 200.
7 are connected, and the second communication network 2004 is connected to a plurality of second wireless base stations 2006.

Here, an example of the first wireless base station 2007 is a base station such as a PHS or PDC, and an example of the second wireless base station 2006 is an MMAC (Multimedia Mobile Acce
ss Communication: Multimedia Mobile Access Promotion Council) standardized base stations capable of high-speed transmission, such as a high-speed wireless access network.

The radio terminal 2008 is connected to the first radio base station 20
07 and the second wireless base station 2006, and a first wireless transmission path capable of performing bidirectional communication with the first wireless base station 2007 can be established.
With the second wireless base station 2006, it is possible to establish at least a second wireless transmission path capable of only receiving information and performing higher-speed communication than the first wireless transmission path.

The first communication network 2005 and the second communication network 2004 include a route control device 2 for managing and controlling a route.
003 is connected, and the path control device 2003 is also connected to the third communication network 2002.

A plurality of servers 2001 are connected to the third communication network 2002. In the present embodiment, an example is described in which the route control device 2003 communicates with the server 2001 via the third communication network 2002, but the route control device 2003 is not connected to the third communication network 2002, Second communication network 2004 or first communication network 20
05 may communicate with the server 2001.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a more detailed configuration example of the route control device 2003. The route control device 2003 of this embodiment includes a first receiving unit 2012 connected to the first communication network 2005, a first transmitting unit 2013 connected to the first communication network 2005, Second receiving means 2014 connected to the communication network 2004 of
A second transmitting means 2015 connected to the second communication network 2004, a third receiving means 2016 connected to the third communication network 2002, and a second transmitting means 2015 connected to the third communication network 2002. And three transmitting means 2017.

Further, it is configured to include transmission / reception control means 2011 for controlling at least a transmission path to the wireless terminal.

Next, an operation example of the route control device 2003 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a procedure for connecting to a server via a communication path in which a wireless terminal transmits information via a first wireless base station and receives information via a second wireless base station. It is a flowchart which shows an example.

First, the radio terminal is first radio base station 2007
The connection request 2021 is transmitted via the. The connection request 20
21 is a first wireless base station 2007, a first communication network 200
5 to the first receiving means 2012 of the route control device 2003.

In communication with the wireless terminal, the transmission / reception control means 2011 uses the first receiving means 2012 for reception from the wireless terminal, and uses the first reception means 2012 for transmission to the wireless terminal as in the case of reception. Is set so as to use the first transmission means 2013 connected to the communication network 2005.

When this setting is completed, the connection request 202
1 is transmitted to the first transmitting unit 201.
3 to the first communication network 2005, the first wireless base station 200
7 to the wireless terminal.

The path control device 2003 receives the connection response 2
By transmitting 022 to the wireless terminal, the wireless terminal can be notified by assigning an IP address.

When the path control device 2003 holds the correspondence information between the identifier of the second wireless base station and the IP address, the wireless terminal can receive the second wireless base station 20.
06 in the connection request 2021 in the route control device 200
3 and the path control device 2003 transmits the connection response 202
It is also possible to notify the IP address of the second wireless base station 2006 by 2.

Next, the radio terminal transmits to the second radio base station 2006
, A downlink connection request 2023 is transmitted to request the allocation of downlink resources. The downlink connection request 2023 is transmitted via the first wireless base station 2007 and the first communication network 2005 to the path control device 2003.
To the first receiving means.

Since the destination of the downlink connection request 2023 is the second radio base station 2006, the transmission / reception control means 2011 sends the downlink connection request via the second transmission means 2015 and the second communication network 2004. Connection request 2023
To the second wireless base station 2006.

The second radio base station 2006 allocates a downlink resource to the radio terminal, and transmits a downlink connection response 2024 indicating this to the radio terminal. Although this message can be directly transmitted from the second radio base station 2006 to the radio terminal, a case where the message is transmitted to the radio terminal via the first radio base station will be described here.

When transmitting from the second wireless base station 2006 directly to the wireless terminal, the second wireless base station 2006
Also reports to the path control device 2003 that resources have been allocated to the downlink to the wireless terminal.

In the case of the example shown in FIG. 3, the downlink connection response 2024 is delivered to the second receiving means 2014 of the route control device 2003 via the second communication network 2004.
Since the destination of the downlink connection response 2024 is the wireless terminal, the transmission / reception control means 2011 transmits the downlink connection response 2024 from the first transmission means 2013,
It is delivered to the wireless terminal via the first communication network 2005 and the first wireless base station 2007.

Here, the transmission / reception control means 2011 is:
The transmission to the wireless terminal was performed from the first transmitting means 2013. The transmission to the wireless terminal was performed from the second transmitting means 20.
15 to be transmitted. That is, the reception from the wireless terminal is set to be performed via the first reception unit 2012. However, this reception setting is not changed and only the setting of the transmission unit is changed. .

By controlling the route in this manner, the transmission and reception of the wireless terminal can be performed by the first communication network 2 until now.
005, but thereafter, transmission of the wireless terminal is performed via the first communication network 2005, and reception of the wireless terminal can be performed via the second communication network 2004. Information can be received.

When such a route setting is completed, the wireless terminal transmits an information request 2025 to the server 2001. The information request 2025 is transmitted to the first radio base station 200.
7. The path control device 2 via the first communication network 2005
003 to the first receiving means 2012.

When the transmission / reception control means recognizes that the information request 2025 is addressed to the server 2001, the transmission / reception control means transmits the information request 2025 from the third transmission means and the third communication network 2
002 to the server 2001.

The server transmits the requested information to the wireless terminal based on the information request 2025 (202
6). This information is delivered to the third receiving means 2016 of the route control device 2003 via the third communication network 2002. When recognizing that the information is addressed to the wireless terminal, the transmission / reception control means 2011 transmits the information from the second transmitting means 2015 and delivers the information to the wireless terminal via the second communication network and the second wireless base station 2006. Can be

According to the operation described above, when information cannot be transmitted from the path control device to the wireless terminal by the high-speed downlink, the information is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the low-speed transmission path. Then, when information can be transmitted by a high-speed downlink, it becomes possible to switch communication paths so as to transmit information to a wireless terminal via the high-speed downlink.

Next, another operation example of the route control device 2003 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an example of a procedure in a case where a communication path is switched so that only reception is performed via the second wireless base station while a wireless terminal is transmitting and receiving information via the first wireless base station. FIG.

That is, for example, a high-speed wireless access network (hereinafter, referred to as MMAC) such as MMAC cannot be used,
Wireless terminals that use PHS for transmission and reception in areas where PHS is available can use MMAC, etc., and use PHS for transmission and use MMAC etc. for reception. Is applied to this operation example.

It is assumed that the wireless terminal cannot receive from the second wireless base station 2006, but can receive from the first wireless base station 2007.

In such a state, when the wireless terminal communicates with the server 2001, as shown in FIG. 4, information transmitted from the wireless terminal to the server 2001 includes:
From the wireless terminal, a first wireless base station 2007, a first communication network 2005, a route control device 2003, a third communication network 2
002 to the server 2001.

Here, in the route control device 2003, the information transmitted by the wireless terminal to the server 2001 is received by the first receiving means 2012 via the first communication network 2005, and the transmission / reception control device 2011 Is the third transmission means 20
17 to the third communication network 2002.

On the other hand, information transmitted from the server 2001 to the wireless terminal is transmitted from the server 2001 to the third communication network 2002, the route control device 2003, and the first communication network 200.
5. Delivered to the wireless terminal via the first wireless base station 2007.

Here, in the path control device 2003, the information transmitted by the server 2001 to the wireless terminal is received by the third receiving means 2016 via the third communication network 2002, and the transmission / reception control device 2011 Is the first transmitting means 20
13 to the first communication network 2005.

As described above, while the wireless terminal is transmitting and receiving via the first wireless base station 2007, the second wireless base station capable of receiving information at a higher speed. When reception from 2006 becomes possible, the wireless terminal transmits a downlink connection request 2033 to the second wireless base station 2006, and requests allocation of downlink resources. Here, as an opportunity for the wireless terminal to recognize that reception from the second wireless base station 2006 becomes possible, receiving the notification signal 2032 from the second wireless base station 2006 is considered as an example. Can be

The downlink connection request 2033 is delivered to the first receiving means of the path control device 2003 via the first radio base station 2007 and the first communication network 2005. Since the destination of the downlink connection request 2033 is the second radio base station 2006, the transmission / reception control unit 2
011 is the second transmission means 2015, the second communication network 200
4, the downlink connection request 2033 is delivered to the second radio base station 2006.

The second radio base station 2006 allocates a downlink resource to the radio terminal, and transmits a downlink connection response 2034 indicating this to the radio terminal. Although this message can be directly transmitted from the second radio base station 2006 to the radio terminal, a case where the message is transmitted to the radio terminal via the first radio base station will be described here.

When transmitting from the second wireless base station 2006 directly to the wireless terminal, the second wireless base station 2006
Also reports to the path control device 2003 that resources have been allocated to the downlink to the wireless terminal.

In the case of the example of FIG. 4, the downlink connection response 2034 is delivered to the second receiving means 2014 of the route control device 2003 via the second communication network 2004.
Since the destination of the downlink connection response 2034 is the wireless terminal, the transmission / reception control unit 2011 transmits the downlink connection response 2034 from the first transmission unit 2013,
It is delivered to the wireless terminal via the first communication network 2005 and the first wireless base station 2007.

Here, the transmission / reception control means 2011 is:
The transmission to the wireless terminal was performed from the first transmitting means 2013. The transmission to the wireless terminal was performed from the second transmitting means 20.
15 to be transmitted.

That is, the reception from the wireless terminal is set to be performed via the first reception means 2012. However, this reception setting is left unchanged without any change, and only the setting of the transmission means is performed. To change. By controlling the route in this manner, all of the transmission and reception of the wireless terminal have been performed via the first communication network 2005, but thereafter, the transmission of the wireless terminal is performed on the first communication network 2005. , And the reception of the wireless terminal can be performed via the second communication network 2004, so that higher-speed information can be received.

When the route setting is completed, the information transmitted from the wireless terminal to the server 2001 is transmitted on the same route as before the wireless terminal can receive from the second wireless base station 2006. Is performed (2035). That is, from the wireless terminal, the first wireless base station 2007, the first communication network 2005, the route control device 2003, the third communication network 200
2 to the server 2001.

Here, in the path control device 2003, the information transmitted by the wireless terminal to the server 2001 is received by the first receiving means 2012 via the first communication network 2005, and the transmission / reception control device 2011 Is the third transmission means 20
17 to the third communication network 2002.

On the other hand, the information transmitted from the server 2001 to the wireless terminal includes information that the wireless terminal transmits to the second wireless base station 20.
Before receiving from the first communication network 2005
Via the second communication network 2004
It is transmitted via the route via (2035).

That is, the data is delivered from the server 2001 to the wireless terminal via the third communication network 2002, the route control device 2003, the second communication network 2004, and the second wireless base station 2006. Here, in the route control device 2003, the information transmitted by the server 2001 to the wireless terminal is:
A third receiving unit 201 via a third communication network 2002
6 and the transmission / reception control device 2011 transmits the second communication means 2015 to the second communication network 2004.

According to the above-described operation, when information cannot be transmitted from the path control device to the wireless terminal by the high-speed downlink, the information is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the low-speed transmission path. Then, when information can be transmitted by a high-speed downlink, it becomes possible to switch communication paths so as to transmit information to a wireless terminal via the high-speed downlink.

Next, another operation example of the route control device 2003 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows that the wireless terminal transmits information via the first wireless base station,
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure in a case where a communication path is cut so as to perform transmission and reception via a first wireless base station while reception is being performed via a second wireless base station.

That is, in an area where both PHS and MMAC can be used, a wireless terminal communicating using PHS for transmission and MMAC for reception becomes unable to use MMAC.
The case where the communication path is changed so that transmission and reception are performed using only S applies to this operation example.

Consider a state in which the radio terminal can receive both from the first radio base station 2007 and the second radio base station 2006. In such a state, when the wireless terminal communicates with the server 2001, as shown in FIG. 5, information transmitted from the wireless terminal to the server 2001 includes:
From the wireless terminal, a first wireless base station 2007, a first communication network 2005, a route control device 2003, a third communication network 2
002 to the server 2001.

Here, in the route control device 2003, the information transmitted by the wireless terminal to the server 2001 is received by the first receiving means 2012 via the first communication network 2005, and the transmission / reception control device 2011 Is the third transmission means 20
17 to the third communication network 2002.

On the other hand, information transmitted from the server 2001 to the wireless terminal is transmitted from the server 2001 to the third communication network 2002, the route control device 2003, and the second communication network 200.
4. Delivered to the wireless terminal via the second wireless base station 2006.

Here, in the route control device 2003, the information transmitted by the server 2001 to the wireless terminal is received by the third receiving means 2016 via the third communication network 2002, and the transmission / reception control device 2011 Is the second transmitting means 20
15 to the second communication network 2004.

As described above, while the wireless terminal is transmitting via the first wireless base station 2007 (2041) and receiving via the second wireless base station 2006 (2041), When it becomes impossible for the wireless terminal to receive information from the second wireless base station 2006 that can receive information at high speed,
The wireless terminal transmits a downlink disconnection notification 2043 to the second wireless base station 2006 to notify that the downlink cannot be received.

Here, the radio terminal is the second radio base station 2
An example of a trigger for recognizing that the reception from the second wireless base station 2006 becomes impossible is that the information 2042 transmitted from the second wireless base station 2006 cannot be normally received.

The downlink disconnection notification 2043 is delivered to the first receiving means of the route control device 2003 via the first radio base station 2007 and the first communication network 2005. Since the destination of the downlink disconnection notification 2043 is the second wireless base station 2006, the transmission / reception control unit 2
011 is the second transmission means 2015, the second communication network 200
4 and sends the downlink disconnection notification 2043 to the second radio base station 2006.

The second radio base station 2006 releases downlink resources for the radio terminal. Although not shown in the figure, a message indicating this may be transmitted to the wireless terminal, and this message is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the first wireless base station.

Here, the transmission / reception control means 2011
When it is confirmed that the downlink from the second radio base station 2006 to the radio terminal has been disconnected, the transmission to the radio terminal from the second transmission means 2015 is changed to the transmission to the radio terminal. Is set to be transmitted from the first transmitting means 2013.

That is, the reception from the wireless terminal is set to be performed via the first reception means 2012. However, this reception setting is left unchanged without any change, and only the setting of the transmission means is performed. To change. By controlling the route in this manner, transmission from the wireless terminal has been performed via the first communication network 2005 and reception from the wireless terminal has been performed via the second communication network 2004. Thereafter, both transmission and reception of the wireless terminal can be performed via the first communication network 2005, and even when high-speed reception is not possible, information can be continuously received at a low speed.

When the route setting is completed, the information transmitted from the wireless terminal to the server 2001 is transmitted through the same route as before the wireless terminal cannot receive from the second wireless base station 2006. It is transmitted (2044).

That is, from the wireless terminal, the first wireless base station 2007, the first communication network 2005, the route control device 20
03, via the third communication network 2002, the server 2001
Delivered to Here, in the route control device 2003,
The information transmitted by the wireless terminal to the server 2001 is received by the first receiving means 2012 via the first communication network 2005, and the transmission / reception control device 2011
017 to the third communication network 2002.

On the other hand, the information transmitted from the server 2001 to the wireless terminal includes information that the wireless terminal transmits to the second wireless base station 20.
Before receiving from the second communication network 200 becomes impossible.
4, the first communication network 200
5 is transmitted (2044).

That is, it is delivered from the server 2001 to the wireless terminal via the third communication network 2002, the route control device 2003, the first communication network 2005, and the first wireless base station 2007. Here, in the route control device 2003, the information transmitted by the server 2001 to the wireless terminal is:
A third receiving unit 201 via a third communication network 2002
6 and the transmission / reception control device 2011 transmits the data from the first transmission means 2013 to the first communication network 2005.

According to the above-described operation, when information can be transmitted from the route control device to the wireless terminal via the high-speed downlink, the information is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the high-speed downlink. However, when information transmission becomes impossible due to a high-speed downlink, it is possible to switch communication paths so as to transmit information to a wireless terminal via a low-speed transmission path.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a system configuration for implementing this embodiment. When connecting to the Internet, the PS (A101) uses CS (A102) and PCS network (A1
03), transmitted via HIWU (A104) and hybrid router (A105). The data for PS from the Internet,
It is transmitted to the PS via the hybrid router (A105), ATM network (A106), and AP (A107). Also, the hybrid router
It has a switching function for ATM cells and performs routing by IP address.

It is assumed that an IP address is assigned to each of the PS, hybrid interworking unit, hybrid router, and AP.

FIG. 7 shows a connection sequence until the PS connects to the Internet. The PS first establishes a PHS wireless line with the CS (A201), and then calls the hybrid interworking unit (A202). When the call is connected, next, PPP is activated between the hybrid interworking units (A203) so that IP packets can be transmitted.

When the hybrid interworking unit recognizes that the connection between the PS and the PPP has been established, it notifies the hybrid router of the establishment of the PPP (A204). Then, the hybrid router sets the ATM cell switch to transmit the IP packet addressed to the PS to the VC established between the hybrid interworking units (A205).

When the PPP is set, the PS makes a wireless channel resource request to the AP on an IP packet to establish an AWL line (A206). This radio line resource request is based on CS, HIWU,
Transferred to AP via hybrid router. The AWL line means two-way establishment of a downstream wireless line between the AP and the PS and an upstream wireless line between the PS and the CS.

Upon receiving a request for a wireless channel from the PS, the AP allocates a wireless channel resource using an IP packet addressed to the PS (A207). In the hybrid router, the AP-received IP packet for the radio channel resource allocation to the PS is transferred to the VC set between the hybrid interworking units by the already set route control (A208).

[0092] The IP packet transferred to the hybrid interworking unit is transmitted to the PS via the CS over the PPP. That is, the wireless channel resource assignment is transferred to the PS by following the reverse of the route on which the wireless channel resource assignment was transferred.

As a result, an AWL wireless line is established (A2
09). When the AP recognizes the establishment of the AWL wireless line, it notifies the hybrid router of an AWL wireless line establishment notification (A210). Thereby, the hybrid router changes the path control so that the IP packet for the PS is transferred on the VC between the hybrid interworking units on the VC between the hybrid interworking units. (A211).

In this manner, the IP packet from the PS to the Internet is transferred to the Internet via the CS / hybrid interworking unit / hybrid router. Also, IP packets for the PS from the Internet are transferred to the PS via the hybrid router / AP.

In this way, after the AWL wireless circuit is established, P
Change the route of IP packets originating from S and the route of IP packets addressed to PS.

As described above, an asymmetric wireless communication system can be realized by introducing a hybrid router and changing the route control of the hybrid router according to the connection form of the wireless line. Further, when the network is specifically configured by an ATM network and an Internet Protocol packet is transferred thereon, the route control in the hybrid router depends on the VC that forwards the IP packet depending on the connection form of the wireless line. By switching (virtual channels), an asymmetric wireless communication system can be realized.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a radio communication system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 8, the wireless communication system provides a wireless communication service to a plurality of wireless terminals D107, and a first communication network D107.
103 and a second communication network D105.

The first communication network D103 and the second communication network D10
5, the first communication network D103 is connected to a plurality of first wireless base stations D104, and the second communication network D104 is connected to a plurality of second wireless base stations D102. D106 is connected.

Here, examples of the second wireless base station D104 include base stations such as PHS and PDC. Wireless terminal D1
07 is a first wireless transmission path capable of communicating with the first wireless base station D104 and the second wireless base station D106, and capable of performing bidirectional communication with the first wireless base station D104. Can be established, and the second radio base station D106 can be established.
Means that at least only information can be received and a second wireless transmission path capable of performing higher-speed communication than the first wireless transmission path can be established.

A route control device D101 for managing and controlling a route is connected to the second communication network D105, and a terminal D108 is connected to the route control device D101. The communication between the terminal D108 and the route control device D101 may be via a communication network.

In FIG. 9, the route control device D10
1 shows a configuration example of a wireless communication system in a case where the wireless communication system 1 includes the function of the interconnecting apparatus D102 in FIG.

The route control device D101 is connected to the radio terminal D107.
Controls the communication route when communicating with the terminal D108 of the communication partner. That is, the route control device D101 sets the cost of each communication route, reads out the cost of each communication route when selecting a route, and sends information to the wireless terminal using the communication route with the lowest cost. Send

Next, an operation example of the radio communication system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. Here, an operation example in the configuration example of the wireless communication system illustrated in FIG. 9 will be described. Similar operations are possible in the case of the configuration example of the wireless communication system shown in FIG.

The radio terminal D107 is connected to the first radio base station D10.
In a state where communication is possible via the communication terminal 4, the communication partner terminal D
108, the connection request is sent to the route control device D1.
01 via the first radio base station D104.

When the communication control means D101 receives the connection request, the route control device D101 sets the cost of the communication route to the wireless terminal D107 via the first communication network D103 to the value X.

Examples of the setting of the value X include a method of setting the value by increasing the normal cost by a predetermined value and a method of setting a value that is a predetermined multiple of the normal cost. In addition, wireless terminal
The cost of other communication paths to D107 is a sufficiently large value (>
X) is set. Once this cost is set,
The path control device D101 transmits a connection response to the wireless terminal D107.

Here, the communication route to the radio terminal D107 via the first communication network D103 is selected. This is because the route control device D101 selects the communication route with the lowest cost. Note that the wireless terminal D107 can also communicate with the terminal D108, but in this case, the wireless terminal performs both transmission and reception via the first communication network.

When the radio terminal D107 is in a state where it can communicate with the second radio base station D106 capable of higher-speed reception, a downlink connection request is sent to the route control device D101 via the first radio base station D104. Send.

When the path control device D101 receives the downlink connection request, it transmits a downlink connection request to the second radio base station D106. When the second radio base station D106 receives the downlink connection request, it allocates a radio channel to the radio terminal D107 and transmits a downlink connection response to the radio terminal D107 and the path control device D101.

When the route control device D101 receives the downlink connection response, it transmits the downlink connection response to the wireless terminal D107 via the first communication network. This is because the cost of this communication path is the smallest at this time. Here, the route control device D101 sets the cost of the communication route to the wireless terminal D107 via the second communication network D105 to the value Y. This value Y is set so that Y <X.

After this setting, the route control device D
101 transmits the information to be transmitted to the wireless terminal D107 via the second communication network D105 with lower cost. Therefore, when the terminal D108 and the wireless terminal D107 communicate, information transmitted by the wireless terminal D107 is transmitted to the terminal D108 via the first wireless base station D104, and information transmitted by the terminal D108 to the wireless terminal D107 is ,
It is transmitted to the wireless terminal D107 via the higher speed downlink of the second wireless base station D106.

By setting the communication path cost as described above, the second radio base station D106 and the radio terminal D10
When the terminal 6 is in a communication disabled state, the terminal D108
Is transmitted to the wireless terminal D107 via the first communication network D103.

When the second radio base station D106 and the radio terminal D106 can communicate with each other, the terminal D1
08 transmits to the wireless terminal D107 at a higher speed via the second communication network D105.

As described above, the cost of the communication path for transmitting information to the wireless terminal via the existing low-speed mobile communication network is reduced by the communication that can transmit information to the wireless terminal via the high-speed mobile communication network. By setting it larger than the cost of the route, if the wireless terminal cannot communicate via the high-speed mobile communication network, the information is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the existing low-speed mobile communication network, When the wireless terminal is connected to a high-speed mobile communication network, it becomes possible to switch a communication path for transmitting information to the wireless terminal via a high-speed mobile communication network.

As a result, it is possible to provide the user with an asymmetric communication service using both the existing low-speed mobile communication system and the high-speed mobile communication system.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 11, the communication system according to the present embodiment includes a first communication network 1 composed of an ISDN network and an AT.
The path control device 4 is connected to both of the second communication networks 2 configured by the M network.

The first communication network 1 is connectable to the information terminal 8 via the first radio base station 5, and the second communication network 2 is connected to the information terminal 8 via the second radio base station 6. Connectable. Here, between the first wireless base station 5 and the information terminal 8 (first
The transmission speed between the second radio base station 6 and the information terminal 8 (the second radio communication channel 11) is higher than the transmission speed of the second radio communication channel 10). The route control device 4 is connected to a server 7 that provides various information services via the third communication network 3. However, in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 11, the route control device 4 includes the conversion device 9 for converting the ATM network to the ISDN network, but the present invention does not necessarily include the conversion device 9 in the route control device 4. It is not limited to this case. Further, a server function for providing various services to the route control device 4 may be provided.

FIG. 12 shows a configuration in the case where the conversion device 9 is separated from the route control device 4. Path control device 4 and conversion device 9
They are connected by ATM. Functionally, both have almost the same configuration, and therefore, for the sake of simplicity, FIG. 12 will be described below as an example.

The route control device 4 sends information from the server 7 to the information terminal 8
When a packet addressed to is received, the packet is duplicated,
A header is attached so that packets can be transmitted through both the first communication network 1 and the second communication network 2.

In this way, transmission can be made to the same terminal (one address) via two or more routes. When transmitting a packet to the conversion device 9 and the second communication network 2, the path control device 4 transmits the packet using an ATM cell. A
In the TM, a maximum ATM cell transmission rate called a peak cell rate can be defined.

Therefore, the route control device 4 can perform communication between the first wireless base station 5 and the information terminal 8 and when the communication between the second wireless base station 6 and the information terminal 8 is disconnected,
The peak cell rate to the converter 9 is set to a predetermined value (> 0), and the peak cell rate to the second communication network 2 is set to 0.

As a result, since the information from the route control device 4 is sent only to the conversion device 9, it is transmitted to the information terminal via the first communication network. At this time, the second
The packet to be transmitted via the communication network 2 is discarded by the route control device 4.

However, since the information terminal 8 can receive the desired information via the first communication network 1 and the delivery confirmation for the server 7 and the information is correctly performed, the information terminal 8 discards the information between the route control device 4 and the server 7. Unnecessary retransmission control for the transmitted information does not occur.

Then, the second radio base station 6 and the information terminal 8
After the above communication becomes possible, the peak cell rate to the converter 9 is set to 0, and the peak cell rate to the second communication network 2 is changed to a predetermined value (> 0).

Thus, since the information from the route control device 4 is sent to the second communication network, communication between the information terminal 8 and the route control device 3 is realized via the second communication network. Also here, the packet to be transmitted via the conversion device 9 is discarded by the route control device 4, but for the same reason as described above, unnecessary retransmission control for the discarded information does not occur.

If the communication quality between the second wireless base station 2 and the information terminal 8 is very poor and the transmission speed is improved by performing communication via the first wireless base station 1, the conversion is performed. The peak cell rate to the device 9 is set to a predetermined value (> 0), and the peak cell rate to the second communication network 2 is changed to zero. Thereby, communication via the first wireless base station is realized,
As a result, the maximum communication service in that situation can be provided.

It should be noted that several methods are conceivable as to whether or not the first wireless communication path 10 and the second wireless communication path 11 are communicable and how to notify the path control device 4 of their communication quality. .

For example, if both the first wireless communication path 10 and the second wireless communication path 11 are capable of bidirectional communication, the first
Wireless base station 5 and the second wireless base station 6 respectively receive information transmitted from the information terminal 8, judge the communication quality, and notify the route control device 4.

Further, there is a method in which the information terminal 8 judges the reception quality of its own station and notifies the route control device 3 via the first radio base station 5 or the second radio base station 6. The former is TD
This is effective for a system such as D (Time Division Duplex) that can be regarded as having equivalent two-way communication quality. The latter can be applied to systems other than TDD, but slightly increases the load on the information terminal 8.

The first wireless communication path 10 is capable of two-way communication, while the second wireless communication path 11 is a wireless communication system with only a downlink from the second wireless base station 5 to the information terminal 8. In the case of the information terminal 8, the quality of the second wireless communication path and information on whether or not the connection with the downlink of the second wireless communication path has been established can be obtained by the information terminal 8 via the first wireless communication path 10. Notify 4. This system eliminates the need for a high-speed transmitter for the second wireless communication path in the terminal, and thus has an effect that the terminal can be reduced in size and power consumption can be reduced.

FIG. 13 shows a signal flow diagram in the case where the second wireless communication path 11 is a wireless communication system with only a downlink from the second wireless base station 5 to the information terminal 8.

[0133] The information terminal 8 sends a connection request to the converter 9 via the first wireless base station 5, and the converter 9 which has received the request returns a connection response via the first wireless base station 5. The information terminal 8 makes a PPP connection with the conversion device 9 using a protocol such as PPP (Point to Point Protocol). The conversion device 9 returns a PPP connection response to the information terminal 8 and notifies the path control device 4 of the PPP connection. Thereby, the information terminal 8 can be connected to the third communication network via the conversion device 9 and can communicate with the server 7.

Next, the information terminal 8 sends a wireless channel assignment request to the second wireless base station 6 via the first wireless base station 5. The second wireless base station allocates a wireless channel, and returns a wireless channel allocation response to the information terminal 8 via the first wireless base station.

Thus, the information terminal 8 can communicate with the third communication network 3 via the second wireless communication path 11. After establishing the wireless channel, the route control device 4 sets the transmission rate to the first communication network to 0 and the transmission rate to the second communication network to a predetermined value.
(> 0).

Thus, the packet from the information terminal 8 to the server 7 is transmitted through the first wireless communication path 10,
The packet transmitted from the server 7 to the information terminal 8 is the second
Is transmitted via the wireless communication path.

As described above, the method of changing the peak cell rate and switching between the communication via the first communication network and the communication via the second communication network is to change the header or the routing table. The load of the route conversion process is smaller than that of the route switching method, and the route can be changed in a short time.

Also, since packets can be transmitted simultaneously from a plurality of routes, it is possible to realize soft handoff without packet loss at the time of route switching.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 14, B1 is a server, B
2 is the Internet, B3 is the route control device of the present invention, B4
Is a high-speed communication network such as ATM, B5 is a conventional mobile communication network such as PHS, B6 is a high-speed transmission radio base station for multimedia mobile communication, B7 is a radio base station of a conventional mobile communication network, and B8 is high-speed radio reception. The device, B9, is a conventional wireless transmission / reception device of a mobile communication network, and B10 is a terminal device having or connected to B8, B9.

B11 is a high-speed wireless transmission path, which performs communication only from the base station to the terminal, and B12 is B1.
Two-way communication is possible with a conventional wireless transmission path slower than 1.

The same reference numerals in FIG. 15 as those in FIG. 14 denote the same components. Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that communication is performed between the server B1 and the terminal B10, and large-capacity information is transferred from the server B1 to the terminal B10.

It is considered that the communication area of the base station B6 for high-speed wireless transmission is initially smaller than the communication area of the base station B7 for low-speed wireless transmission. Therefore, when the terminal device B10 is within the communication area of the base station B7 but outside the communication area of the base station B6, the wireless line B12 is configured,
11 is not configured. In this case, the communication path is wired in both directions from the Internet B2 to the base station B7 via the route control device B3 and the network B5, and is configured from the wireless line B12 to the terminal B10. In the packet from the server B1 to the terminal B10, the Internet address (IP address) of the B10 is described at the destination, and the router device B3 connects the packet to the network B5 according to a routing table as shown in FIG. In the network B5, a line is provided from the network interface of the route control device B3 to the base station B7, and the packet flows on the line and the radio line B
12 to the terminal B10. In addition, the same processing is performed for packets in the opposite direction.

Next, when the terminal B10 enters the high-speed wireless transmission area due to movement or the like, as shown in FIG. 15B, the high-speed wireless communication is performed between the wireless base station B6 and the receiving device B8 of the terminal B10. The transmission path is established.

In this case, when the receiving device B8 detects the connection with the radio base station B6, it transmits a switching control signal including the IP address of the base station B6 from the transmitting device B9 to the route control device B3 via the radio base station B7. Send. Upon receiving this switching control signal, the path control device B3 further converts the packet addressed to the terminal B10 to the base station B6 as shown in FIG.
Generate a header containing the IP address and add it to the beginning of the original packet. This is commonly called encapsulation.

Further, the path control device 3 sends the encapsulated packet addressed to the base station B6 to the interface of the network B4 according to the routing table of FIG. Although the received packet is addressed to itself at the base station B6, it is an encapsulated packet, so the header added by the path control device 3 is removed, and the packet addressed to the original terminal B10 is transmitted to the wireless line B11.

Next, when the receiving device B8 senses that the high-speed wireless transmission path B11 has been disconnected again, another switching control signal is transmitted from the transmitting device B9 to the route control device B3 via the wireless base station B7. I do. Upon receiving this another switching control signal, the path control device stops encapsulation of the packet addressed to B10, and sends out the packet again as a packet addressed to B10 based on the routing table of FIG.
The packet is sent to the terminal B1 via the low-speed wireless line as before.
It is transferred to 0.

As described above, in this embodiment, while the high-speed wireless transmission path is established, it is possible to flow the packet through the high-speed wireless transmission path in only one direction, and it is possible to easily carry out the packet. it can.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 18, B13 is a path control device of the present embodiment, and B14 is an interworking unit (hereinafter, referred to as a connection device) for connecting a high-speed transmission network B4 such as ATM to a mobile communication network B5. Here, those having the same numbers as those in FIG. 14 show the same configurations and operations. In FIG. 19, those having the same numbers as FIGS. 15 and 18 have the same configuration.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. As in the fifth embodiment, it is assumed that the terminal can be connected to the base station B7 but is initially in an area where it cannot be connected to the base station B6.

In this case, the communication path is bidirectional in both directions from the Internet B2 to the route control device B13 and the connection device B.
14. Wired communication is performed through the network B5 to the base station B7, and the wireless communication system is configured from the wireless line B12 to the terminal B10. The packet from the server B1 to the terminal B10 is sent to the destination B1.
0 is described, and the path control device B3 transfers the packet to the connection device B14 according to the routing table shown in FIG.

In the connection device B14, the terminal is connected via the base station B7.
Since the communication line up to B10 is configured, the packet flows on the line and is transferred to the terminal B10 by the wireless line B12.

For packets in the opposite direction, terminal B
A line is established from 10 to the connection device B14, and the packet addressed to the server B1 is transmitted to the network at the connection device B14.
Send to B4, server B according to normal IP protocol
1 is transferred.

Next, when the terminal B10 enters the high-speed wireless transmission area due to movement or the like, as shown in FIG. 19B, the high-speed wireless communication is performed between the wireless base station B6 and the receiving device B8 of the terminal B10. The transmission path is established.

In this case, when the receiving device B8 detects the connection with the radio base station B6, the switching control signal packet including the IP address of the base station B6 is transmitted from the transmitting device B9 to the route control device B3 via the radio base station B7. Send Route control device B
When the switching control signal is received, as in the above-described embodiment, the packet is encapsulated in the packet addressed to B10, as in FIG.

Further, the path control device 3 sends the encapsulated packet addressed to the base station B6 to the interface of the network B4 according to the routing table of FIG. Thereafter, the base station B6 sends out the packet addressed to the original terminal B10 to the wireless line B11 by the same processing as in the embodiment B1.

Next, when the receiving device B8 senses that the high-speed wireless transmission path B11 has been disconnected again, another switching control signal is transmitted from the transmitting device B9 to the route control device B3 via the wireless base station B7. I do.

Upon receiving this another switching control signal, the path control device stops encapsulation of the packet addressed to B10, and sends out the packet again as it is to B10 based on the routing table of FIG. The packet is transferred to the terminal B10 via the low-speed wireless line as before.

As described above, in this embodiment, while the high-speed wireless transmission path is established, it is possible to flow the packet via the high-speed wireless transmission path in only one direction, and it is possible to easily carry out the packet. it can.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 14, the route control device B3 knows the network configuration of the networks B4 and B5, and writes transmission route designation information called source routing in an optional part of the destination header of the received IP datagram. Has functions.

This option, as shown in FIG.
The packet can be transmitted by designating the address of the path control device that transfers the packet.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. As in the embodiment, the terminal can connect to the base station B7,
Assume that you are initially in an area where connection to 6 is not possible.

In this case, the communication path is from the Internet B2 to the path control device B3,
It communicates by wire through B5 to base station B7, and wireless line B12
To terminal B10.

[0164] In the packet from the server B1 to the terminal B10, the Internet address (IP address) of the B10 is described in the destination. The route control device B3 is a terminal B
When receiving the packet addressed to 10, the packet is transmitted to the interface to the network B5.

Since a communication line to the terminal B10 is formed via the base station B7, the packet flows on the line and is transferred to the terminal B10 by the radio line B12.

For the packet in the opposite direction, terminal B
A line is provided from 10 to the route control device B3,
The data is transferred from the path control device B3 to the server B1 according to the normal IP protocol.

Next, when the terminal B10 enters the high-speed wireless transmission area due to movement or the like, as shown in FIG. 15B, the high-speed wireless communication is performed between the wireless base station B6 and the receiving device B8 of the terminal B10. The transmission path is established.

In this case, when the receiving device B8 detects the connection with the radio base station B6, the switching control signal packet including the IP address of the base station B6 is transmitted from the transmitting device B9 to the route control device B3 via the radio base station B7. Send

Upon receiving this switching control signal, the route control device B3 writes an IP address specifying a route via the base station B6 as a source routing option in an option field of a packet addressed to the terminal B10.

Next, the route control device B3 sends the packet to the interface of the network B4. In the network B4, the packet is transferred to the terminal B10 via the base station B6 based on the designated route.

Next, when the receiving device B8 senses that the high-speed wireless transmission path B11 has been disconnected again, another switching control signal is transmitted from the transmitting device B9 to the route control device B3 via the wireless base station B7. I do. Upon receiving this another switching control signal, the path control device stops writing the packet addressed to B10 in the source routing option, and sends the packet to the network B5 up to the terminal B10. As a result, the packet is transferred to the terminal B10 via the low-speed wireless line as in the first place.

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 13, the route control device B3 can specify and transmit the address of the route control device to which the packet is transferred, as shown in FIG. 20, as in the sixth embodiment.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. As in the sixth embodiment, it is assumed that the terminal is initially in an area where it can connect to the base station B7 but cannot connect to the base station B6. (FIG. 19 (a)) In this case, the communication path in both directions is wired communication from the Internet B2 to the base station B7 from the Internet B2 to the route control device B13, the connection device B14, and the network B5.
The terminal B10 is configured by B12.

When the route control device B3 receives a packet addressed to the terminal B10, the route control device B3 receives the packet as shown in FIG.
Connection device B using 5 source routing options
Network B4 by specifying the route to 14
To send to.

When the connection apparatus B14 receives this packet, a communication line is formed up to the terminal B10 via the base station B7. Therefore, the packet flows on the line and is transferred to the terminal B10 by the radio line B12.

[0177] For the packet in the opposite direction, terminal B
A line is provided from 10 to the route control device B3,
The data is transferred from the connection device B14 to the server B1 according to a normal IP protocol.

Next, when the terminal B10 enters the high-speed wireless transmission area due to movement or the like, as shown in FIG. 19B, the high-speed wireless communication is performed between the wireless base station B6 and the receiving device B8 of the terminal B10. The transmission path is established.

In the subsequent operation, the control signal packet from the receiving device B8 is received by the route control device B3, and the option field of the packet addressed to the terminal B10 is transmitted via the base station B6, as in the fourth embodiment. Write the IP address that specifies the route as a source routing option.

Similarly, the path control device B3 sends out the packet to the interface of the network B4. In the network B4, the packet is transferred to the terminal B10 via the base station B6 based on the designated route.

Next, when the receiving device B8 senses that the high-speed radio transmission path B11 has been disconnected again, the route control device is transmitted from the transmitting device B9 via the radio base station B7 as in the fourth embodiment. Another switching control signal is transmitted to B3.

Upon receiving this another switching control signal, the route control device B3 changes the route designation of the source routing option of the packet addressed to B10 to the connection device B14 again. As a result, the packet passes through the connection device B14 again, and the packet is transferred to the terminal B10 via the low-speed wireless line as before.

[0183]

According to the present invention, when connecting to data communication or the Internet via radio, the transmission speed of the downlink channel radio channel (from the base station to the terminal) is changed from the uplink radio channel (from the terminal to the base station). By increasing the transmission speed, it is possible to reduce the transmission power of the wireless terminal at the same transmission speed in both directions. As a result, the power consumption of the wireless terminal can be reduced, and the size of the wireless terminal can be reduced.

Further, an asymmetric wireless communication system can be realized by introducing the route control device of the present invention and changing the route control of the route control device according to the connection form of the wireless line. Handoff can be realized in such an asymmetric wireless communication system, and soft handoff without packet loss at the time of route switching can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a route control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the route control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the route control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the route control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the route control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the route control device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the route control device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a routing table according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a packet according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a part of a packet according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional wireless communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 D101: route control device D102: interconnecting device D103: first communication network D104: first wireless base station D105: second communication network D106: second wireless Base station D107 ・ ・ ・ Wireless terminal D108 ・ ・ ・ Terminal

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Katsuya Farmer 1 Koga Toshiba-cho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Inside Toshiba R & D Center (72) Inventor Osamu Moriya 1-chome Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. 1 F-term in Toshiba Corporation Head Office (Reference)

Claims (7)

[Claims] A first transmitting unit for transmitting information to a wireless terminal; a receiving unit for receiving information from the wireless terminal; and transmitting the information to the wireless terminal at a higher speed than the first transmitting unit. A second transmitting unit capable of transmitting the control information indicating whether or not the information can be transmitted using the second transmitting unit from the wireless terminal. If the information can be transmitted to the wireless terminal using the second transmitting means based on the control information, the information is transmitted to the wireless terminal using the second transmitting means. Transmitting and receiving the information to the wireless terminal using the first transmitting means when it is not possible to transmit the information to the wireless terminal using the second transmitting means. Path characterized by comprising control means Control device. 2. A first transmitting means for transmitting information to a wireless terminal, a receiving means for receiving information from the wireless terminal, and transmitting the information to the wireless terminal at a higher speed than the first transmitting means. A second transmitting unit capable of transmitting the control information indicating whether or not the information can be transmitted using the second transmitting unit from the wireless terminal. The control unit includes, based on control information, the first transmission unit and a change unit that changes path control information indicating a priority order of the second transmission unit, wherein the change unit transmits the second transmission unit to the first transmission unit. When it is possible to transmit the information to the wireless terminal by using, the priority of the second transmitting means is set higher than that of the first transmitting means, and the second transmitting means is used by using the second transmitting means. Unable to send the information to wireless terminal In such a case, the route control device controls to set the priority of the first transmitting means higher than that of the second transmitting means. 3. A first transmitting unit for transmitting information to a wireless terminal, a receiving unit for receiving information from the wireless terminal, and transmitting the information to the wireless terminal at a higher speed than the first transmitting unit. A second transmission unit capable of detecting the quality of a first wireless communication channel used by the first transmission unit and a quality of a second wireless communication channel used by the second transmission unit; When information addressed to the wireless terminal is received from another terminal,
An adding unit for adding an identifier indicating transmission by the first transmitting unit and / or the second transmitting unit to a header portion of the information, wherein the adding unit is detected by the detecting unit. A path for providing an identifier indicating transmission by the first transmission unit and / or the second transmission unit based on the quality of the first wireless communication path and the quality of the second wireless communication path. Control device. 4. A first transmitting unit for transmitting information to a wireless terminal, a receiving unit for receiving information from the wireless terminal, and transmitting the information to the wireless terminal at a higher speed than the first transmitting unit. A second transmission unit capable of detecting the quality of a first wireless communication channel used by the first transmission unit and a quality of a second wireless communication channel used by the second transmission unit; When information addressed to the wireless terminal is received from another terminal,
The first wireless communication path is connected by the adding means for adding an identifier indicating transmission by the first transmitting means and / or the second transmitting means to a header portion of the information, and the detecting means. And when it is detected that the second wireless communication path is disconnected, the identifier added as transmitted by the first transmitting means is added, and the connection of the second wireless communication path is established. Control means for controlling the addition of the identifier to be transmitted by the second transmitting means when detected. 5. A first transmitting means for transmitting information to a wireless terminal, a receiving means for receiving information from the wireless terminal, and transmitting the information to the wireless terminal at a higher speed than the first transmitting means. A second transmission unit capable of detecting the quality of a first wireless communication channel used by the first transmission unit and a quality of a second wireless communication channel used by the second transmission unit; When information addressed to the wireless terminal is received from another terminal,
An adding unit that adds an identifier indicating a destination of the route control device to be relayed to a header portion of the information; and the detecting unit connects the first wireless communication path and disconnects the second wireless communication path. When the first wireless communication path is detected, the first transmission means adds the identifier addressed to another path control device on the path toward the first wireless communication path, and adds the identifier to the second wireless communication path. When the connection is detected, the second transmission means adds the identifier addressed to another path control device on the path toward the second wireless communication path to a path designation portion of the information to be transmitted. A route control device, comprising: a control unit for controlling. 6. A first transmitting means for transmitting information to a wireless terminal, a receiving means for receiving information from the wireless terminal, and transmitting the information to the wireless terminal at a higher speed than the first transmitting means. A second transmission unit capable of transmitting the control information indicating whether the information can be transmitted from the wireless terminal using the second transmission unit. A first step of performing, based on the control information received in the first step, if the information can be transmitted to the wireless terminal using the second transmission means, the second Transmitting the information to the wireless terminal using a transmitting unit;
If it is not possible to transmit the information to the wireless terminal using the transmitting means, using the first transmitting means,
A second step of controlling transmission of said information to said wireless terminal. 7. A recording medium storing a computer readable program, the program comprising: a first transmitting unit for transmitting information to a wireless terminal; a first receiving unit for receiving information from the wireless terminal. Using the second transmitting means to control a path control device having a second transmitting means capable of transmitting the information to the wireless terminal at a higher speed than the first transmitting means. A first step of receiving control information indicating whether or not the information can be transmitted from the wireless terminal, based on the control information received in the first step, using the second transmitting means, When the information can be transmitted to the wireless terminal, the information is transmitted to the wireless terminal by using a second transmitting unit, and the second information is transmitted to the wireless terminal.
If it is not possible to transmit the information to the wireless terminal using the transmitting means, using the first transmitting means,
A second step of controlling transmission of the information to the wireless terminal.