JP2005184629A - Mobile communication terminal and relay management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for accurately selecting a communication means by which a stable communication state is obtained for a communication terminal using a plurality of the communication means together. <P>SOLUTION: The mobile communication terminal has a first communication means for making communication by using a first radio communication network and a second communication means for making communication by using a second radio communication network. When the mobile communication terminal advances into an operating range of the second radio communication network from an operating range of the first radio communication network, the mobile communication terminal specifies a relay device of the second radio communication network, transmits a connection request to the second radio communication network to the relay device by using the first communication means, and receives a response to the connection request transmitted via the second radio communication network. A relay management device allows the connection to the second radio communication network corresponding to the connection request to the second radio communication network. The second communication means of the mobile communication terminal makes communication utilizing the second radio communication network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile communication technique using a plurality of communication networks.

  In general, as a communication means for connecting to a network (for example, the Internet) from a terminal provided in a moving body such as a vehicle, a wireless communication network having a wide communication range such as a communication network (mobile phone network) for mobile phone media. To connect to a network using a network, and to connect to a network via a wireless communication network having a narrow communication range such as a wireless local area network (LAN).

In addition, as a technology related to terminal devices that can be connected to each of a plurality of wireless communication systems adopting different conventional communication methods, depending on the content of the application, communication status, user status, surrounding environmental conditions, etc. A technique (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) that can automatically switch a connection-destination wireless communication system is disclosed.
JP 2002-112347 A

  By the way, when performing communication while switching between a portable telephone network and a wireless LAN communication network, there are the following problems, for example.

  For example, when comparing a portable telephone network and a wireless LAN communication network, which is an example of a plurality of communication means having different throughputs and communication ranges, communication performance such as throughput is wide although the portable telephone network is wide. Wireless LAN is better. Therefore, when these communication means are used together in a communication terminal, it is considered to use the wireless LAN as much as possible when entering the area of the wireless LAN communication network, and to use the portable telephone network in other areas. It is done.

  In addition, when comparing the throughput between the portable telephone network and the wireless LAN, the wireless LAN can usually obtain a higher throughput, but depending on the communication situation of the wireless LAN, the portable telephone network can obtain a higher throughput. May be. An example of such a communication situation is when the number of users using a wireless LAN has increased.

  That is, in the above case, it may be difficult to secure a predetermined throughput when the number of terminals connected to the access point of the wireless LAN increases and the number of terminals exceeds a predetermined number.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned matters, and provides a technique for accurately selecting a communication means capable of obtaining a stable communication state for a communication terminal using a plurality of communication means in combination. It should be a challenge.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.

That is, the present invention is a mobile communication terminal having first communication means for communicating using a first wireless communication network and second communication means for communicating using a second wireless communication network, A means for specifying a relay device of the second wireless communication network when entering the operational range of the second wireless communication network from the operational range of the second wireless communication network, and from the second communication means to the second A connection request transmitting means for transmitting a connection request to a wireless communication network to the relay apparatus using the first communication means; and the connection request transmitted from the relay apparatus via the second wireless communication network. Means for receiving a response to the mobile communication terminal, and the second communication means can be identified as a mobile communication terminal that performs communication using the second wireless communication network in response to the response.

  In the present invention, when a communication terminal having a plurality of communication means enters the operation range of one communication means from the other communication means, a connection request is transmitted in advance to the relay device of the other second communication means. The second communication means is used while entering the operating range of the second communication means.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for accurately selecting a communication unit that can obtain a stable communication state for a communication terminal that uses a plurality of communication units together.

  In the present invention, the connection request transmission unit may transmit the connection request to the relay device in advance before entering the second wireless communication network.

  Further, according to the present invention, the connection request may include information on the first wireless communication network and communication means specifying information capable of specifying the second communication means.

  The present invention also provides a communication means for operating a wireless communication network and communicating using another wireless communication network different from the operated wireless communication network, and a connection request from the mobile communication terminal to the operated wireless communication network. When a connection from the mobile communication terminal to the operated wireless communication network is permitted in response to the connection request, a response to the connection request is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal. And a relay management device comprising the means for

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for accurately selecting a communication unit that can obtain a stable communication state in a communication terminal that uses a plurality of communication units together.

  The present invention further includes means for comparing the communication speed of the other wireless communication network with the communication speed of the operated wireless communication network, and as a result of the comparison, the communication speed of the operated wireless communication network is high. In this case, the means for comparing may transmit a comparison result to the mobile communication terminal.

  Further, the present invention provides means for managing the number of mobile communication terminals connected to the operated wireless communication network, and a connection request to the operated wireless communication network from the mobile communication terminal connected via the communication means. Means for determining whether or not the number of terminals at the time of connection of the mobile communication terminal exceeds a predetermined number of permitted connections, and if the number of terminals does not exceed the number of permitted connections, The mobile communication terminal may further comprise means for reserving use of a wireless communication network, and means for performing a connection permission response to a connection request from the mobile communication terminal that has made the reservation.

  The present invention may further comprise means for deleting information related to the reservation and the connection permission when the mobile communication terminal leaves the operating range of the wireless communication network.

  Note that the present invention may be a program for realizing any of the above functions. In the present invention, such a program may be recorded on a computer-readable storage medium. Further, the present invention may be a system that realizes any one of the functions described above. Furthermore, the present invention may be a method for realizing any of the above functions.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect of accurately selecting a communication unit that can obtain a stable communication state for a communication terminal that uses a plurality of communication units together.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system configuration of the present embodiment. In this system, wireless LAN communication provided by a communication terminal 100 mounted on a vehicle (an example of a mobile object) 1, a base station 200 of a portable telephone network 300 to which the communication terminal 100 is connected, and an access point 500 of a wireless LAN. A network 400, a wireless LAN resource management control server (corresponding to the relay management apparatus of the present invention) 600, and the Internet (an example of a network) 700 to which both the portable telephone network and the wireless LAN communication network are connected.

  Communication terminal 100 is mounted on vehicle 1 and can be connected to a network even while the vehicle is running. The communication terminal 100 includes a mobile phone medium and a wireless LAN medium as data communication means. The communication terminal 100 can perform communication by switching between the portable telephone network 300 and the wireless LAN communication network 400.

<Communication terminal functions>
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating functions of the communication terminal 100. The communication terminal 100 includes a mobile router 101, a wireless LAN medium 102, a mobile phone medium 103, a navigation device 104, and a computer 105.

  The mobile router 101 includes, as hardware (not shown), a control device (including a CPU, a main memory (RAM, etc.), an input / output unit, an OS, a device driver, etc.), a secondary storage (hard disk, etc.), and a communication control device. (Network interface device etc.). The mobile router 101 functions as a device that implements the following functional blocks when the CPU loads a program stored in the secondary storage into the main memory and executes it.

  The mobile router 101 has a data communication function for transmitting and receiving data between the computer 105 and an external network such as the Internet. The mobile router 101 also has a switching function between connection to the wireless LAN communication network 400 by the wireless LAN medium 102 and connection to the portable telephone network 300 by the mobile phone medium 103.

  When the mobile router 101 uses the wireless LAN communication network 400 during movement, the mobile router 101 refers to the route information of the navigation device 104 and the position information of the access point 500, and can be used to reserve the use of the communication network. A reservation access point (AP) search function for searching for the access point 500 of the LAN communication network 400 is provided. The mobile router 101 also includes an access point correspondence database that stores data used when the reserved access point search function is executed. This access point correspondence database stores the location information of the access point at the destination and the correspondence relationship with the IP address of the access point.

  The mobile router 101 also has a portable telephone network throughput holding function for storing throughput (theoretical value, effective value) when connecting to the network using the portable telephone network. This portable telephone network throughput holding function includes a throughput effective value measurement function. The mobile router 101 uses the effective value when comparing the throughput with the portable telephone network when connecting to the wireless LAN communication network.

  Further, the mobile router 101 stores the communication method of the wireless LAN medium 102 (for example, storing a standard that can specify a communication method such as IEEE802.11b) or the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the wireless LAN medium 102. It has a function for storing wireless LAN media information.

  The wireless LAN medium 102 is a wireless communication terminal having a connection function to a normal wireless LAN communication network. The wireless LAN medium 102 is a terminal that satisfies an existing wireless LAN communication standard (for example, IEEE802.11b). The wireless LAN medium 102 corresponds to the second communication means of the present invention.

  The mobile phone medium 103 is a wireless communication terminal that can be connected to a normal mobile phone network 300. With the mobile phone medium 103, the mobile router 101 and the computer 105 can be connected to the resource management control server 600 or the Internet 700. The mobile phone medium 103 corresponds to the first communication means of the present invention.

  When the navigation apparatus 104 performs the use reservation process for the access point 500, the navigation apparatus 104 checks the position information of the access point 500 on the route on which the vehicle 1 travels.

  The computer 105 is configured using a personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a dedicated in-vehicle computer. The computer 105 includes, as hardware (not shown), a control device (including a CPU, a main memory (RAM, etc.), an input / output unit, an OS, a device driver, etc.), a secondary storage (hard disk, etc.), and a communication control device ( Network interface device). The computer 105 performs data communication using the communication method assigned by the mobile router 101.

<Functions of resource management control server>
The resource management control server 600 is configured using a computer such as a personal computer (PC), a workstation (WS), or a dedicated server machine. The resource management control server 600 includes, as hardware (not shown), a control device (consisting of a CPU, a main memory (RAM, etc.), an input / output unit, an OS, a device driver, etc.), a secondary storage (hard disk, etc.), communication A control device (such as a network interface device) is provided. Then, the resource management control server 600 functions as a device that implements the following functional blocks when the CPU loads a program stored in the secondary storage into the main memory and executes it.

  The resource management control server 600 performs use reservation processing for reserving the use of the access point 500 by the communication terminal 100 based on the information acquired from the mobile router 101.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing functions of the resource management control server 600. The resource management control server 600 includes a transmission / reception function 601, a band allocation determination function 602, a band allocation database 603, an AP specification database 604, and a MAC address restriction function 605.

  The transmission / reception function 601 is connected to the communication terminal 100 via the portable telephone network 300 and the Internet 700. The transmission / reception function 601 receives information necessary for the use reservation process of the access point 500 transmitted from the communication terminal 100.

Based on the information received from the communication terminal 100 and the information acquired from the AP specification database 604 and the bandwidth allocation database 603 described below, the bandwidth allocation determination function 602 determines the wireless LAN communication network provided by the access point 500 as the communication terminal 100. It is determined whether or not can be used. The determination criteria of the bandwidth allocation determination function 602 at this time include the following. First, as a determination criterion, comparison information between the throughput of the access point 500 acquired from the AP specification database 604 and the throughput of the portable telephone network 300 acquired from the mobile router 101 can be cited. Further, as a determination criterion, wireless LAN determined from reference data of the number of terminals and effective throughput acquired from the AP specification database 604, the maximum number of users per channel, and the number of registered MAC addresses acquired from the bandwidth allocation database 603. Information on effective throughput of the communication network 400 can be given.

  When the wireless LAN communication network can be used, the resource management control server 600 registers the MAC address of the communication terminal 100 in the band allocation database 603 in order to secure the band allocated to the communication terminal 100. Then, the resource management control server 600 transmits the response information shown in FIG. The response information includes information on whether or not the communication terminal 100 can use the access point 500 and, if available, the access point 500 such as the communication method, channel, and ESSID (Extended Service Set Identifier) of the access point 500. Send the information necessary for using.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bandwidth allocation database 603 stores MAC address information and status information related to a terminal connected to the access point 500 or a terminal reserved for connection. The status information stores information such as reservation, access, or reservation release waiting for each MAC address.

  In the status information, “reserved” indicates a state in which the MAC address is registered in advance so that the moving communication terminal 100 can use the wireless LAN communication network when it becomes available. In the status information, “accessing” indicates that the communication terminal 100 is currently connected (communication) to the access point 500. That is, the status information “accessing” indicates a state in which a session between the communication terminal 100 and the access point 500 is established. In the status information, waiting for reservation release indicates a stage in which the registration of the MAC address is canceled when the moving communication terminal 100 enters a state where the wireless LAN communication network is not used. According to the bandwidth allocation database 603, the resource management control server 600 can grasp the connection status of the terminal corresponding to the MAC address to the access point 500. Note that the bandwidth allocation database 603 may be provided for each communication method or channel.

  The AP specification database 604 stores information indicating the capability of the access point 500. Information stored in the AP spec database 604 includes a wireless communication scheme of the access point 500, usable frequencies (channels), reference data (reference information) of the number of terminals available per access point 500 and effective throughput, Stores information on the maximum number of connected users per channel.

  The MAC address restriction function 605 looks at the MAC address of the terminal connected to the access point 500 and sets the MAC address restriction so that terminals other than the registered MAC address are not connected to the wireless LAN communication network. To the access point 500.

<Processing by this system>
Next, processing in a communication system including the communication terminal 100 and the resource management control server 600 will be described with reference to FIG.

The mobile router 101 searches for the access point 500 using the reserved access point search function, and searches for information on the access point 500 from the access point correspondence database. After searching for the access point 500, the mobile router 101 searches the mobile phone network throughput holding function for information on the mobile phone network throughput and the wireless LAN media information holding function for information related to the wireless LAN communication network.

  After the above processing, the mobile router 101 connects the wireless LAN medium 102 including the communication method and MAC address, the mobile phone network throughput (theoretical value, effective value), and the estimated arrival time to the access point 500 to be reserved. The request information is transmitted to the resource management control server 600 via the portable telephone network 300 and the Internet 700 as shown in FIG. 1 (S101).

  The resource management control server 600 refers to the connection request information, and compares the effective throughput between the portable telephone network 300 and the wireless LAN communication network 400 based on the above function, and selects the one with the higher communication speed. Process. At this time, when the effective throughput of the portable telephone network 300 is fast, or when the reservation status of the bandwidth allocation database 603 of the access point 500 is not available, the communication terminal 100 is notified that the access point 500 cannot be used. To do.

  When the access point 500 is usable, the resource management control server 600 performs a use reservation process for the communication terminal 100, a MAC address restriction process for the access point 500, and the like for the access point 500. When the registration of the MAC address of the communication terminal 100 is completed, the resource management control server 600 transmits response information to the communication terminal 100 via the portable telephone network 300.

  When receiving the response information from the resource management control server 600, the communication terminal 100 becomes ready to use the wireless LAN communication network in the wireless LAN communication network 400 based on the information of the access point 500 included in the response information. Then, after entering the reception range of the wireless LAN communication network 400, the communication terminal 100 performs data communication by connecting to the Internet 700 via the access point 500.

  When the vehicle 1 moves and goes out of the reception range of the wireless LAN communication network 400, or when the vehicle 1 changes the route and does not pass the originally planned route, the reserved access point 500 is not used. Become. In this case, the mobile router 101 determines that the vehicle 1 is out of the reception range of the access point 500 or the reserved access point 500 is based on the current position information acquired from the navigation device 104 and the route information after the route change. It can be determined that a route is not taken. Based on the determination result, the mobile router 101 connects to the resource management control server 600 that manages the reserved access point 500. Then, the mobile router 101 transmits a resource release request for canceling registration of the reserved MAC address. Upon receiving the resource release request, the resource management control server 600 cancels the registration of the MAC address of the communication terminal 100 stored in the bandwidth allocation database 603 in response to this request. After the resource release process, the resource management control server 600 notifies the communication terminal 100 of the completion of resource release. After the resource is released, the mobile router 101 of the communication terminal 100 searches for a new access point on the route from the route information of the navigation device 104, and performs an access point use reservation process for this new access point.

  In addition, when the communication terminal 100 that has performed the use reservation process does not connect to the wireless LAN communication network 400 within the expected arrival time included in the connection request information, the resource management control server 600 automatically performs the communication terminal 100. Delete the MAC address registration. After deleting the MAC address, the resource management control server 600 notifies the communication terminal 100 that the use reservation has been deleted (S102).

<Effect of the embodiment>
By realizing the processing according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the present embodiment, the user can use the communication means that is excellent in the communication state including the communication speed at that time, so that high-quality communication can be used at low cost. Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively use high-speed wireless communication in a narrow operational range on a moving route.

<Modification>
Although an example of processing has been described in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this and can be widely implemented.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the communication related to the use reservation process of the access point 500 between the resource management control server 600 and the communication terminal 100 can be performed even when the wireless LAN communication network 400 is available. However, if it is determined that the wireless LAN communication network 400 can be used, subsequent communication between the two may be performed using the wireless LAN communication network 400.

  The present invention can be applied to industries that provide various communication services for mobile objects such as vehicles.

It is the schematic which shows the system configuration | structure of the radio | wireless communications system of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function of a communication terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the function of a resource management control server. It is a figure which shows an example of the item of a bandwidth allocation database.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 100 Communication terminal 101 Mobile router 102 Wireless LAN medium 103 Mobile phone medium 104 Navigation device 105 Computer 200 Base station 300 Portable telephone network 400 Wireless LAN communication network 500 Access point 600 Resource management control server 601 Transmission / reception function 602 Band assignment Judgment Function 603 Bandwidth Allocation Database 604 AP Specification Database 605 Address Restriction Function 700 Internet

Claims (16)

A mobile communication terminal having a first communication means for communicating using a first wireless communication network and a second communication means for communicating using a second wireless communication network;
When entering the operating range of the second wireless communication network from the operating range of the first wireless communication network,
Means for identifying a relay device of the second wireless communication network;
A connection request transmitting means for transmitting a connection request from the second communication means to the second wireless communication network to the relay device using the first communication means;
Means for receiving a response to the connection request transmitted from the relay device via the second wireless communication network,
A mobile communication terminal in which the second communication means performs communication using the second wireless communication network in response to the response. The connection request transmitting means
The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the connection request is transmitted to the relay device in advance before entering the second wireless communication network.   3. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the connection request includes information relating to the first wireless communication network and communication means specifying information capable of specifying the second communication means. It is a relay management device that operates a wireless communication network,
A communication means for communicating using another wireless communication network different from the operated wireless communication network;
Means for accepting a connection request from the mobile communication terminal to the operated wireless communication network via the communication means;
A relay management apparatus comprising: means for transmitting a response to the connection request to the mobile communication terminal when permitting connection from the mobile communication terminal to the operated wireless communication network in response to the connection request. Means for comparing the communication speed of the other wireless communication network with the communication speed of the operating wireless communication network;
5. The relay management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the communication speed of the operated wireless communication network is high as a result of the comparison, the means for comparing transmits the comparison result to the mobile communication terminal. Means for managing the number of mobile communication terminals connected to the operating wireless communication network;
Whether or not the number of terminals at the time of connection of the mobile communication terminal exceeds a predetermined number of permitted connections when receiving a connection request to the operated wireless communication network from a mobile communication terminal connected via the communication means A means of determining whether or not
If the number of terminals does not exceed the number of permitted connections, means for reserving to use a wireless communication network by the mobile communication terminal;
The relay management apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a unit that makes a connection permission response to a connection request from the mobile communication terminal that has made the reservation.   The relay management apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for deleting information related to the reservation and the connection permission when the mobile communication terminal leaves the operating range of the wireless communication network. A program executable on a mobile communication terminal having a first communication means for communicating using a first wireless communication network and a second communication means for communicating using a second wireless communication network;
When entering the operating range of the second wireless communication network from the operating range of the first wireless communication network,
Identifying a relay device of the second wireless communication network;
A connection request transmission step of transmitting a connection request from the second communication means to the second wireless communication network to the relay device using the first communication means;
Receiving a response to the connection request transmitted from the relay device via the second wireless communication network; and
A mobile communication program for causing the second communication means to perform communication using the second wireless communication network in response to the response.   The mobile communication program according to claim 8, further causing a step of transmitting the connection request to the relay device in advance before entering the second wireless communication network.   The mobile communication program according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the connection request includes information relating to the first wireless communication network and communication means specifying information capable of specifying the second communication means. A program to be executed by a relay management device that operates a wireless communication network,
Communicating with another wireless communication network different from the operating wireless communication network;
Receiving a connection request from the mobile communication terminal to the operated wireless communication network via the communication means;
A relay management program for executing a step of transmitting a response to the connection request to the mobile communication terminal when permitting connection from the mobile communication terminal to the operated wireless communication network in response to the connection request. Comparing the communication speed of the other wireless communication network with the communication speed of the operating wireless communication network;
The relay management program according to claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting a comparison result to the mobile communication terminal when the communication speed of the operated wireless communication network is high as a result of the comparison. A program for managing the number of mobile communication terminals connected to the operating wireless communication network;
Determining whether or not the number of terminals at the time of connection of the mobile communication terminal exceeds a predetermined number of permitted connections when receiving a connection request from the connected mobile communication terminal to the operating wireless communication network; ,
If the number of terminals does not exceed the number of allowed connections, reserving to use a wireless communication network by the mobile communication terminal;
The relay management program according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising: executing a connection permission response to a connection request from the mobile communication terminal that has made the reservation.   The relay management program according to claim 13, further comprising the step of deleting information relating to the reservation and the connection permission when the mobile communication terminal leaves the operating range of the wireless communication network. A method of switching communication means of a mobile communication terminal having first communication means for communicating using a first wireless communication network and second communication means for communicating using a second wireless communication network,
The mobile communication terminal specifying a relay device of the second radio communication network when entering the operation range of the second radio communication network from the operation range of the first radio communication network;
Transmitting a connection request from the second communication means to the second wireless communication network to the relay apparatus using the first communication means, and
A relay management device that operates the wireless communication network of the second communication means;
Receiving a connection request from the mobile communication terminal to the second wireless communication network via the communication means;
Transmitting a response to the connection request to the mobile communication terminal when permitting a connection from the mobile communication terminal to the second wireless communication network in response to the connection request;
The mobile communication terminal is
Receiving a response to the connection request transmitted from the relay device via the second wireless communication network;
Performing communication using the second wireless communication network to the second communication unit in response to the response. A mobile communication terminal having a first communication means for communicating using a first wireless communication network and a second communication means for communicating using a second wireless communication network, and a relay management apparatus for operating the wireless communication network And a system having
The mobile communication terminal is
Means for specifying a relay device of the second wireless communication network when entering the operating range of the second wireless communication network from the operating range of the first wireless communication network;
A connection request transmitting means for transmitting a connection request from the second communication means to the second wireless communication network to the relay device using the first communication means;
Means for receiving a response to the connection request transmitted from the relay device via the second wireless communication network,
The relay management device is
Communication means for communicating using a first wireless communication network;
Means for accepting a connection request from the mobile communication terminal to the second wireless communication network via the communication means;
Means for transmitting a response to the connection request to the mobile communication terminal when permitting connection from the mobile communication terminal to the second wireless communication network in response to the connection request;
A communication system in which the second communication means performs communication using the second wireless communication network in response to the response of the mobile communication terminal.

Images