JP2001224050A - Mobile phone communication connection system and mobile phone terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relieve a load imposed on each gateway server by realizing changeover of a gateway server in the case of movement of a mobile phone terminal between area so as to enhance a communication response and relieve a channel load. SOLUTION: An area revision recognition means 110 discriminates presence or absence of revision of an area in which its own terminal is resident and recognizes an area after the revision when the area is revised on the basis of radio communication between the means 110 and a base station 2 in each area. A communication session interruption.reconnection control means 120 interrupts a communication session of a gateway server 3 during communication session connection after awaiting the end of contents acquisition when the area revision is recognized and the contents acquisition is processed, and reconnects the communication session to the gateway server 3 in the area after the revision so as to take over communication session information before and after the changeover of the gateway server 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a public mobile data communication network (portable network) in which a gateway server connecting a portable telephone terminal capable of receiving an Internet connection service and a content server on the Internet exists for each predetermined area. The present invention relates to a mobile phone communication connection system for controlling connection of a communication session between a mobile phone terminal and a gateway server.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a portable telephone terminal applied to the above portable telephone communication connection system.

[0003] In order to receive the Internet connection service with the above-mentioned portable telephone terminal, the communication protocol most commonly adopted at present is WAP (WAP).
ireless Application Proto
col), in the present invention, also in general,
A “WAP mobile phone communication connection method” and a “WAP mobile phone terminal” (a mobile phone communication connection method and a mobile phone terminal related to a mobile phone terminal adopting the WAP method) are assumed.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable telephone terminals capable of receiving an Internet connection service are becoming popular. Here, in order to connect such a mobile phone terminal and a content server on the Internet, a gateway server is required for each area.

In this type of conventional mobile phone communication connection system, when a mobile phone terminal connected to a communication session moves from one area to another area, roaming is used.

That is, when the mobile phone terminal moves from the area A to the area B, roaming is performed, and even if the mobile phone terminal is connected to the base station in the area B,
The communication session with the gateway server in the area A was not disconnected and remained connected.

[0007] In the communication protocol of the portable telephone terminal, a solution for such a movement of the portable telephone terminal is not specified (for example, in the WAP specification, a solution to such a case is not provided). The method is not specified).

In the case of a large-scale public mobile data communication network (mobile telephone service system) in which a plurality of gateway servers exist, a mobile telephone terminal connecting a communication session with a certain gateway server is located in an area where the gateway server is located. It is possible that the user may move to another area, and in such a case, it is necessary to deal with the above-described roaming.

[0009]

In the above-described conventional cellular phone communication connection system, when a cellular phone terminal moves between different areas, a roaming measure is taken. There has been a problem that the line load increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to automatically switch a gateway server of a communication connection partner when a mobile phone terminal moves between different areas, and to transfer communication session information to the gateway server. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile phone communication connection system and a mobile phone terminal capable of improving communication response and reducing line load in a public mobile data communication network (mobile phone service system) over a wide area by taking over before and after switching. .

[0011] As a patent gazette relating to the prior art related to the present invention, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-032610,
JP-A-10-056473, JP-A-11-177
JP-A-631 and JP-A-11-252661 exist.

However, the following differences exist between the techniques described in these publications and the present invention.

(1) Regarding the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-032610 a. The purpose of this prior art (“method of configuring virtual private network in mobile data communication”) is to use “IP (Internet Pr
to solve the problem of routing) and the purpose of the present invention (switching of the gateway server).
(The communication network is not switched as the packet communication network).

B. Configuration Differences The configuration of the prior art is based on a local LAN (Local Area).
a network) and a public mobile data communication network, which is different from the configuration of the present invention (a configuration in which there are a plurality of gateway servers for the purpose of load sharing on the same public mobile data communication network). I have.

C. The effect of this prior art is that "a terminal that has moved from a private LAN to a public mobile data communication network can freely communicate with a private LAN terminal". ).

(2) Regarding the technique described in JP-A-10-056473 a. The purpose of this prior art (“virtual LAN control system and method and virtual LAN management server”) is to “automatically detect a terminal (personal computer) that has left one LAN and reconnected to another LAN. This is different from the purpose of the present invention (switching of the gateway server for realizing the connection between the mobile phone terminal and the Internet).

B. Configuration Differences The configuration of the prior art is a configuration including two or more LAN environments connected via the Internet, and the configuration of the present invention (a plurality of configurations for the purpose of load balancing on the same public mobile data communication network). Configuration with a gateway server).

C. The effect of this prior art is that the detection of terminal disconnection can be realized without setting a special system or procedure in the terminal. The effect of the present invention (the gateway server connecting the mobile phone and the Internet). Load distribution).

(3) Technology described in JP-A-11-177632 a. The purpose of this prior art (“gateway device”) is to connect to a circuit-switched network and receive an Internet telephone call (voice call using the Internet) to a data terminal (personal computer) during data communication. This is different from the object of the present invention (switching of a gateway server for realizing connection (data communication) between a mobile phone terminal and the Internet (content server)).

B. Configuration Differences The configuration of the prior art is a gateway configuration over different communication networks, and differs from the configuration of the present invention (a configuration in which there are a plurality of gateway servers for the purpose of load sharing on the same public mobile data communication network). Is different.

C. The effect of this prior art is that, when connected to a circuit-switched network and a data terminal (personal computer) during data communication receives an Internet telephone call, it can select which one has priority. This is different from the effect of the invention (load distribution of a gateway server connecting the mobile phone and the Internet).

(4) Regarding the technique described in JP-A-11-252661 a. The purpose of this prior art (“mobile phone communication switching method”) is
This is "to switch from a packet communication network to a non-packet communication network", which is different from the purpose of the present invention (switching of a gateway server (the communication network is not switched as a packet communication network)).

B. Configuration Differences The configuration of the prior art is a configuration across different communication networks, and differs from the configuration of the present invention (a configuration in which there are a plurality of gateway servers for the purpose of load balancing on the same public mobile data communication network). Are different.

C. The effect of this prior art is that "even if it is out of the packet communication network area, data communication can be continued within the non-packet communication network area". Etc.).

[0025]

According to the portable telephone communication connection method of the present invention, a gateway server connecting a portable telephone terminal capable of receiving an Internet connection service and a content server on the Internet exists for each predetermined area. In a public mobile data communication network, a mobile phone terminal that determines whether or not an area in which the own terminal exists is changed and recognizes the changed area when the area is changed based on the wireless communication status with the base station in each area When the area change is recognized by the area change recognizing means in the wireless unit, and when the area change is recognized by the area change recognizing means, awaiting the completion of the content acquisition during the content acquisition processing, the communication session Disconnect the communication session with the connected gateway server, and change the gateway server in the changed area. To reattach the communication session to server, and a communication session disconnection-reconnection control means in communication protocol control part of the mobile phone terminal that takes over the communication session information before and after the switching of the gateway server,
A gateway server in each area for disconnecting / connecting a communication session with the mobile phone terminal in accordance with the communication session disconnection / reconnection processing in the communication session disconnection / reconnection control means.

In this case, W is used as a communication protocol for receiving the Internet connection service at the portable telephone terminal.
Configuring to employ an AP is considered to be one desirable form.

The mobile phone communication connection method of the present invention is as follows.
More generally, in a public mobile data communication network in which a gateway server that connects a mobile phone terminal capable of receiving an Internet connection service and a content server on the Internet exists for each predetermined area, an area where the self exists. The mobile phone that disconnects the communication session with the gateway server that is currently connected to the communication server when it recognizes the change, reconnects the communication session to the gateway server in the changed area, and takes over the communication session information before and after the gateway server switch. It can be expressed as a configuration having a terminal and a gateway server in each area that disconnects / connects a communication session with the mobile phone terminal in accordance with a communication session disconnection / reconnection process in the mobile phone terminal. it can.

Further, the portable telephone terminal of the present invention can be used in a public mobile data communication network in which a gateway server connected to a content server on the Internet exists for each predetermined area, and can receive an Internet connection service. Area change recognizing means in a radio unit for judging whether or not an area in which the terminal is located is changed based on a radio communication condition with a base station in each area and recognizing an area after the change at the time of the change. When the area change is recognized by the area change recognizing means, when the content acquisition processing is being performed, the completion of the content acquisition is waited for, and the communication session with the gateway server connected to the communication session is established. Disconnect and communicate with the gateway server in the area after the change Reconnection to perform, and a communication session disconnection-reconnection control unit in the communication protocol control unit to take over the communication session information before and after the switching of the gateway server.

Further, the present invention provides a portable telephone terminal which can receive an Internet connection service when a gateway server connected to a content server on the Internet is used in a public mobile data communication network in each predetermined area. Area change recognizing means for judging whether or not there is a change in the area where the terminal is located based on the radio communication status with the base station in each area, and recognizing the area after the change at the time of change, and the area change recognizing means When the change of the area is recognized by, if the content acquisition process is in progress, the completion of the content acquisition is waited for, and the communication session with the gateway server connected to the communication session is disconnected. Reconnects the communication session to the gateway server at It is also possible to realize a recording medium recording a program for functioning as the communication session disconnection-reconnection control unit to take over the communication session information before and after the switching of the way servers.

[0030]

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone communication connection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portable telephone communication connection system according to the present embodiment includes a portable telephone terminal 1 capable of receiving an Internet connection service and a portable telephone terminal 1.
A base station 2 in each area for wireless communication with the Internet, a gateway server 3 in each area for passing a content acquisition request from the mobile phone terminal 1 to a content server 5 on the Internet 4, the Internet 4, and character / image data. And the like, and a content server 5 that stores the content.

The portable telephone terminal 1 controls a wireless connection (wireless) with the base station 2.
r) 11, the communication protocol control unit 12, and the browser 1
3 is included.

Note that WAP is the most common communication protocol of the portable telephone terminal 1 adopted to receive the Internet connection service. In this case, the communication protocol control unit 12 is referred to as a “WAP control unit”.

The radio unit 11 includes an area change recognizing unit 110
It is comprised including. This area change recognition means 11
0 is based on the status of wireless communication with the base station 2 in each area, based on the own terminal (self (the area change recognition means 11).
A determination is made as to whether or not the area in which the mobile phone terminal 1) having 0) exists is changed, and an area after the change is recognized at the time of the change (determination of the area after the change). .

The communication protocol control section 12 includes communication session disconnection / reconnection control means 120. This communication session disconnection / reconnection control means 120
When the area change is recognized by the area change recognizing means 110, when the content acquisition processing is being performed, the completion of the content acquisition is waited for, and the communication session with the gateway server 3 being connected to the communication session is performed. Is disconnected, the communication session to the gateway server 3 in the area after the change is reconnected, and the communication session information is taken over before and after the switching of the gateway server 3.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the mobile telephone communication connection system according to the present embodiment. This processing includes an area change presence / absence determination step 201, a changed area recognition step 202, a changed area notification step 203,
It comprises a content acquisition processing determination step 204, a content acquisition completion waiting step 205, a communication session disconnection step 206, and a communication session reconnection step 207.

FIG. 3 shows a specific operation of the mobile phone communication connection system according to the present embodiment (operation when mobile phone terminal 1 moves from one area (area A) to another area (area B)). It is a block diagram for explaining.

Next, the operation of the portable telephone communication connection system according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, “Area A (for example, Kanto area) to Area B (for example, Tokai area)
Movement of the mobile phone terminal 1 to "is performed.

Before the movement shown in FIG.
In the area A, a communication session is connected to the gateway server 3-A (the gateway server 3 in the area A) in order to acquire contents from the content server 5 on the Internet 4.

Here, the area change recognizing means 110 in the radio section 11 of the portable telephone terminal 1 determines the area where the own terminal is located based on the wireless communication status with the base station 2 in the area where the own terminal is located. It is determined whether or not there is a change (step 201 in FIG. 2), and when the area is changed, it is recognized which area has been changed (to which area it has been moved) (step 202).

At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the portable telephone terminal 1 has moved from the area A to the area B.

In this case, the area change recognition means 110
Recognizes that "the mobile phone terminal 1 has moved from the area A to the area B" in steps 201 and 202, and communicates with the communication protocol controller 12 (in the case where WAP is adopted as the communication protocol, the WSP of WAP is used). layer)
To that effect (step 203).

Next, the communication session disconnection / reconnection control means 120 in the communication protocol control unit 12 determines whether or not the content acquisition process is being performed at that time (step 204).

Communication session disconnection / reconnection control means 12
In the case of 0, if it is determined in step 204 that "content acquisition processing is being performed at that time", the following process (switching of the gateway server 3) is waited until the content acquisition is completed (step 205).

On the other hand, if the communication session disconnection / reconnection control means 120 determines in step 204 that “the content acquisition process is not being performed at that time” or if the waiting in step 205 is completed, the area A
The communication session with the gateway server 3-A in the (area before change) is disconnected (step 206).
Gateway server 3 in area B (area after change)
A connection (reconnection) of a communication session with B (gateway server 3 in area B) is performed (step 207).

In this case, each gateway server 3 (gateway server 3-A and gateway server 3-A)
B) is a normal processing content that has been conventionally used, and performs a disconnection process or a connection process of a communication session with the mobile phone terminal 1 according to a disconnection process or a reconnection process of the communication session in the mobile phone terminal 1. .

Here, after the “switch of the gateway server 3” as described above, the communication protocol control unit 12
(For example, the WSP layer in the WAP), the gateway server 3 uses the same communication connection conditions as those of the gateway server 3-A with respect to the communication connection conditions (maximum data length, data compression method, etc.) with the gateway server 3.
-Negotiate with B.

That is, the communication session disconnection / reconnection control means 120 in the communication protocol control unit 12 performs communication session information (address of the content server 5, communication capability (maximum transmission data size, maximum simultaneous request number,
And the type of table used for encoding / decoding, etc.) before and after the switching of the gateway 3.

Generally, connection / disconnection of a communication session is performed by an application (a browser 13 or a mailer in FIG. 1) in accordance with an operation of a user of the portable telephone terminal 1. Communication protocol (TCP (Transmiss
ion Control Protocol) / IP and WAP) connect / disconnect a communication session in accordance with a request from the application. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, and eventually, in the mobile phone communication connection system of the present invention, the communication protocol control unit 12 (for example, W
The WSP layer of the AP) controls connection / disconnection of a communication session with the gateway server 3 only under certain conditions. Here, the above-mentioned "certain condition" is "when the mobile telephone terminal 1 connected to the communication session with the gateway server 3 in a certain area moves to another area where another gateway server 3 exists". .

(2) Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone terminal (mobile phone terminal 1) according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The mobile phone terminal 1 according to the present embodiment is used in a public mobile data communication network (see FIG. 1) in which a gateway server connected to a content server on the Internet exists for each fixed area. And can receive an Internet connection service.

The portable telephone terminal 1 includes a radio unit 11 having an area change recognizing unit 110, a communication protocol control unit 12 having a communication session disconnection / reconnection control unit 120, and a browser 13. It is comprised including.

Area change recognition means 110 in radio section 11
Is based on the wireless communication status with the base station in each area, determines whether or not the area where the terminal is located is changed, and recognizes the changed area at the time of the change (which area is the changed area Judgment).

The communication session disconnection / reconnection control means 120 in the communication protocol control unit 12 is configured to execute the content acquisition processing when the area change is recognized by the area change recognizing means 110 during the content acquisition processing. After waiting for completion, disconnect the communication session with the gateway server that is connected to the communication session, reconnect the communication session to the gateway server in the area after the change, and take over the communication session information before and after switching the gateway server .

Note that WAP is the most common communication protocol of the mobile telephone terminal 1 adopted to receive the Internet connection service. In this case, the communication protocol control unit 12 is referred to as a “WAP control unit”.

The operation of the portable telephone terminal 1 configured as described above is exactly the same as the operation of the portable telephone terminal 1 in the portable telephone communication connection system according to the first embodiment.
I omit the detailed explanation.

(3) Third Embodiment FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the mobile phone terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention is different from the mobile phone terminal (mobile phone terminal 1) according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. ,
The difference is that a storage medium 100 storing a gateway server switching processing program is provided. The recording medium 100 may be a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, or another recording medium.

The gateway server switching processing program reads the portable telephone terminal 1 (wireless unit 1) from the recording medium 100.
1, the mobile phone terminal including the communication protocol control unit 12 and the browser 13) and disconnects the operation of the mobile phone terminal 1 from the area change recognition unit 110 in the wireless unit 11 and the communication session in the communication protocol control unit 12. Control as reconnection control means 120 The operations of the area change recognition means 110 and the communication session disconnection / reconnection control means 120 under the control of the gateway server switching processing program are the same as those of the area change recognition means 110 and the second embodiment (that is, the first embodiment). Since the operation is exactly the same as the operation of the communication session disconnection / reconnection control means 120, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0061]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects.

The first effect is that when a mobile phone terminal moves from one area to another area, the mobile phone terminal automatically switches the gateway server of the communication connection partner and changes the communication session information before and after the switching. By taking over, compared to the conventional roaming measures,
An object is to improve communication response and reduce line load in a wide area public mobile data communication network (mobile phone service system).

At this time, the reconnection of the communication session with the gateway server is performed by the communication protocol control unit (for example,
Since it is performed in the WSP layer of the WAP), it goes without saying that the user of the mobile phone terminal does not need to perform a reconnection operation in order to obtain the above-described effects.

The second effect is that, based on the first effect described above, a gateway server can be installed for each fixed area, and the load on each gateway server in a cellular phone service system over a wide area can be distributed. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the mobile phone communication connection system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a specific operation of the mobile phone communication connection system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile phone terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile telephone terminal 2, 2-A, 2-B base station 3, 3-A, 3-B Gateway server 4 Internet 5 Content server 11 Radio unit 12 Communication protocol control unit 13 Browser 100 Recording medium 110 Area change recognition means 120 Communication session disconnection / reconnection control means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 11/00 303 H04B 7/26 109M F-term (Reference) 5B089 GA11 GA25 GA31 GB04 HA10 HA13 HB10 JA40 KA05 KA07 KA07 KC21 KC27 5K051 AA03 CC02 CC07 GG06 5K067 AA22 BB04 BB21 DD13 DD19 DD20 DD27 DD36 EE02 EE10 EE16 FF02 FF03 FF23 HH05 HH23 HH24 JJ32 JJ35 JJ39 JJ52 JJ54 5K101 LL12 QQ08 QQ11 TT02

Claims (7)

[Claims] In a public mobile data communication network in which a gateway server connecting a mobile phone terminal capable of receiving an Internet connection service and a content server on the Internet exists for each predetermined area, an area where the self exists is located. When the change is recognized, the communication session with the gateway server connected to the communication session is disconnected,
According to the mobile phone terminal that reconnects the communication session to the gateway server in the area after the change and takes over the communication session information before and after the switching of the gateway server, and the disconnection / reconnection process of the communication session in the mobile phone terminal A mobile phone communication connection system comprising a gateway server in each area for disconnecting / connecting a communication session with the mobile phone terminal. 2. A public mobile data communication network in which a gateway server connecting a mobile phone terminal capable of receiving an Internet connection service and a content server on the Internet exists for each predetermined area, and a base station in each area. Area change recognizing means in a radio unit in a mobile phone terminal for determining whether or not the area where the own terminal is changed and recognizing the area after the change at the time of the change, based on the wireless communication status during the area, If the change in the area is recognized by the change recognition means, and if the content acquisition process is in progress, wait for the completion of the content acquisition, disconnect the communication session with the gateway server that is connected to the communication session, and change the content. Reconnect the communication session to the gateway server in the later area, and Communication session disconnection / reconnection control means in a communication protocol control unit in the mobile phone terminal, which takes over communication session information before and after the way server switching, and communication session disconnection processing / communication processing in the communication session disconnection / reconnection control means / A mobile phone communication connection system, comprising: a gateway server in each area that disconnects / connects a communication session with the mobile phone terminal in response to a reconnection process. 3. The mobile phone communication connection system according to claim 1, wherein WAP is adopted as a communication protocol for receiving an Internet connection service at the mobile phone terminal. 4. A mobile telephone terminal which can receive an Internet connection service when a gateway server connected to a content server on the Internet is used in a public mobile data communication network which exists in each predetermined area. Area change recognizing means in the radio unit for determining the presence or absence of a change in the area where the own terminal is present based on the radio communication status between the base station and recognizing the area after the change at the time of the change, and the area change recognizing means When the change of the area is recognized, when the content acquisition processing is being performed, the completion of the content acquisition is awaited, and then the communication session with the gateway server connected to the communication session is disconnected, and the change in the area after the change is performed. Reconnect the communication session to the gateway server, and A mobile phone terminal comprising: a communication session disconnection / reconnection control unit in a communication protocol control unit that takes over communication session information before and after server switching. 5. The mobile phone terminal according to claim 4, wherein WAP is adopted as a communication protocol for receiving an Internet connection service. 6. A mobile phone terminal capable of receiving an Internet connection service, wherein a gateway server connected to a content server on the Internet is used in a public mobile data communication network that exists in each predetermined area.
Area change recognizing means for judging the presence or absence of a change in the area where the own terminal is located based on the wireless communication status with the base station in each area and recognizing the area after the change at the time of the change, and the area change recognizing means When the change of the area is recognized, if the content acquisition process is in progress, wait for the completion of the content acquisition,
Communication session disconnection / reconnection control that disconnects the communication session with the gateway server currently connected to the communication session, reconnects the communication session to the gateway server in the area after the change, and takes over the communication session information before and after switching the gateway server. A recording medium on which a program for functioning as means is recorded. 7. A program for causing a portable telephone terminal adopting WAP as a communication protocol for receiving an Internet connection service to function as area change recognition means and communication session disconnection / reconnection control means. The recording medium according to the above.