JP2006246409A - Portable terminal, communication system, communication network selecting method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal, communication system, communication network selecting method and program in which an optimal communication network (communication business dealer) can be selected out of a plurality of W-CDMA communication networks (communication business dealers) at a spot where a terminal is present. <P>SOLUTION: The portable terminal includes a W-CDMA communication function and a hand-over function, and the portable terminal comprises a selection means for selecting an optimal communication network based on notification information received from a plurality of communication networks and preset conditions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, a communication system, a communication network selection method, and a program for selecting an optimal communication network from a plurality of communication networks in a W-CDMA communication service.

  Conventionally, in a W-CDMA mobile terminal, a communication network to which a service is provided is fixed, or a method in which a user manually selects a communication network when the terminal is turned on has become mainstream. Also, in the case of a terminal that can switch the communication network while the power is on or during communication, the switching method is based on the determination at the received electric field level.

  On the other hand, roaming support has been promoted for such W-CDMA mobile terminals, and it has become possible to provide services among multiple operators to the same terminal. However, in the communication network provided by each operator, if the respective fee structure and service coverage area range are different, the options that satisfy the optimum communication environment desired by the user are different in each area. However, it is very difficult to select an optimal communication network (communication service provider).

As an example of a conventional technique related to selection of a communication service, information (ISP information) of an Internet service provider corresponding to a condition based on a condition specified by a user in an ISP (Internet Service Provider) information providing apparatus Is extracted and transmitted to the user terminal (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-297916 A

  The invention described in Patent Document 1 needs to include an ISP information providing apparatus for transmitting each ISP information to a terminal. However, even if each ISP information can be obtained from this ISP information providing apparatus, whether or not it is actually connectable to the communication network of the ISP is present separately from the actual base station arrangement. It depends on the radio wave condition at the point. Therefore, the ISP information providing apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 cannot collect only ISP information that can be connected at a point where the terminal is currently present. Further, the ISP information providing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 cannot determine whether a terminal that has received ISP information can connect at a local point based on the ISP information. The reason is that in order to determine whether or not the connection is possible, each ISP information needs to be transmitted to the terminal for each communication network. However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the ISP information providing apparatus transmits the ISP information. This is because they are held together and cannot be transmitted directly from each communication network to the terminal.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and makes a determination on communication conditions designated by a user. From a plurality of W-CDMA communication networks (communication providers) at a point where a terminal exists. An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal, a communication system, a communication network selection method, and a program that can select an optimal communication network (communication service provider).

  In order to achieve such an object, the invention according to claim 1 selects a communication network suitable for the use environment and the user orientation from among a group of communication networks that dynamically change depending on the location where the user is located. It has the selection means to do, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a mobile terminal having a W-CDMA communication function and a handover function, and is optimal based on broadcast information received from a plurality of communication networks and preset conditions. It has a selection means for selecting an appropriate communication network.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the selection means is based on USIM (User Subscriber Identity Module) that stores information that is a criterion for determining whether or not the mobile terminal is a connectable communication network. Read out the PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) of the connectable communication network, measure the received electric field level sequentially for the read PLMN, measure the received electric field level for all PLMNs stored in the USIM, Regarding a PLMN whose received electric field level is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, a receiving unit that receives broadcast information from a predetermined communication network, and a determination unit that determines whether a preset condition is satisfied for the PLMN from which the broadcast information can be acquired And a determination unit that determines a PLMN that satisfies the condition after the determination.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the broadcast information includes unit charge information relating to a unit charge for each of a plurality of communication networks, and radio resource information relating to a radio resource status for each of the plurality of communication networks. It contains at least 1 of these, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4, wherein the unit charge information and the radio resource information are transmitted from each base station arranged in a plurality of communication networks using independent channels, or It is added to a MIB (Master Information Block) and transmitted, or is transmitted with fixed scheduling.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein any of charge, communication rate, and quality is given as a condition to be prioritized when selecting an optimum communication network. Is preset in advance.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the selection means is configured such that when a condition to be prioritized when selecting an optimal communication network is not set, The home network is selected.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein when a fee is set as a priority condition, the determination unit acquires unit amount information from the notification information. Then, based on the acquired unit price information and the plan table linked with the PLMN stored in the USIM, calculate the unit price of the call type of the plan contracted by each communication network, The determining unit determines a PLMN that satisfies a set condition based on the calculated unit amount.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the reception electric field level measured by the measurement unit in the invention according to claim 8, when the result of calculation by the determination unit is the same unit price in a plurality of communication networks. The PLMN having the highest value is selected.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the eighth or ninth aspect, the determining unit excludes a communication network that is not supported from a selection target.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein when the communication rate is set as a condition to be prioritized, the determination unit obtains the radio resource information from the broadcast information. Based on the current available line status and the maximum capacity of each bearer included in the radio resource information, the resources in the bearers that make and receive calls are compared for each communication network, and the determination unit is based on the comparison result A PLMN having a communication rate that satisfies a set condition is determined.

  The invention according to claim 12 is the invention according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the determining unit determines the maximum if the current idle line status is equivalent between the communication networks to be compared. A PLMN having a large capacity is selected, and if the maximum capacity is the same, a PLMN having the highest received electric field level is selected.

  The invention according to claim 13 is the invention according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein when the mobile terminal is powered on or in standby, the determination unit compares the sum of all call types. It is characterized by that.

  The invention according to claim 14 is the invention according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein when the quality is set as a condition to be prioritized, the determination unit determines the received electric field level of each communication network. And the determination unit selects a communication network having a good reception electric field regardless of the communication fee or the communication rate.

  The invention according to claim 15 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the selection of the optimum communication network by the selection means is performed when the mobile terminal is turned on, in standby, at outgoing / incoming, It is performed in any state during communication.

  The invention according to claim 16 is characterized in that the mobile terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 15 is used.

  According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the mobile terminal selects a communication network suitable for the use environment and the user orientation from a group of communication networks that dynamically change depending on the location where the mobile terminal is located. Features.

  The invention according to claim 18 is a communication network selection method performed by a mobile terminal having a W-CDMA communication function and a handover function, and broadcast information received from a plurality of communication networks and preset. It is characterized in that an optimum communication network is selected based on the determined conditions.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, the optimum communication network is selected by a USIM (User Subscriber Identity) that stores information used as a criterion for determining whether or not the mobile terminal is a connectable communication network. Module) reads the PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) of the connectable communication network, measures the received electric field level sequentially for the read PLMN, and measures the received electric field level for all the PLMNs stored in the USIM The PLMN having a received electric field level equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value receives broadcast information from a predetermined communication network, and determines whether or not a preset condition is satisfied for the PLMN from which the broadcast information has been acquired. It is characterized by determining a PLMN that satisfies a condition.

  The invention according to claim 20 is the invention according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the broadcast information includes unit charge information relating to a unit charge for each of a plurality of communication networks, and radio resource information relating to a radio resource status for each of the plurality of communication networks. It contains at least 1 of these, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The invention according to claim 21 is the invention according to claim 20, wherein the unit charge information and the radio resource information are transmitted from each base station arranged in a plurality of communication networks using independent channels, or It is added to a MIB (Master Information Block) and transmitted, or is transmitted with fixed scheduling.

  The invention according to claim 22 is the invention according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein as a condition to be prioritized when an optimum communication network is selected, any of charge, communication rate, and quality is selected. Is preset in advance.

  In the invention described in claim 23, in the invention described in any one of claims 18 to 22, when a condition to be prioritized when selecting an optimum communication network is not set, the home network is selected. It is characterized by doing.

  In the invention described in claim 24, in the invention described in any one of claims 19 to 23, when a charge is set as a condition to be prioritized, the unit amount information is acquired from the notification information and acquired. Based on the unit price information and the plan table linked by PLMN stored in USIM, calculate the unit price of the call type of the plan that you have contracted with in each communication network, and calculate the unit It is characterized in that a PLMN that satisfies a set condition is determined based on the amount of money.

  The invention according to claim 25 is the invention according to claim 24, wherein, as a result of calculating the unit price, if the same unit price is obtained in a plurality of communication networks, the PLMN having the highest measured received electric field level is selected. It is characterized by.

  A twenty-sixth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth aspect of the invention, an unsupported communication network is excluded from selection targets.

  In the invention of claim 27, in the invention of any one of claims 24 to 26, when a communication rate is set as a condition to be prioritized, radio resource information is acquired from broadcast information, and radio Based on the current available line status and maximum capacity of each bearer included in the resource information, the communication rate of the bearer that makes and receives calls is compared for each communication network, and the communication rate that satisfies the conditions set based on the comparison result The PLMN is determined.

  The invention according to claim 28 is the invention according to any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the maximum capacity is large when the current idle line status is equivalent between the communication networks to be compared. If a PLMN is selected and the maximum capacity is the same, the PLMN having the highest received electric field level is selected.

  The invention according to claim 29 is characterized in that, in the invention according to any one of claims 24 to 28, when the portable terminal is powered on or in standby, a comparison is made with the sum of all call types. To do.

  A thirty-third aspect of the invention is the invention according to any one of the twenty-fourth to twenty-ninth aspects, wherein when quality is set as a priority condition, a comparison is made at the received electric field level of each communication network. A communication network with a good reception electric field is selected regardless of the communication fee and communication rate.

  The invention according to claim 31 is the invention according to any one of claims 17 to 30, wherein the optimum communication network is selected when the portable terminal is turned on, waiting, calling / receiving, or communicating. It is performed in any state.

  In the invention according to claim 32, a selection process for selecting a communication network suitable for a use environment and a user orientation from among a communication network group that dynamically changes depending on a location where the mobile terminal is located is applied to the mobile terminal. Let it run.

  The invention according to claim 33 is a program to be executed by a mobile terminal having a W-CDMA communication function and a handover function, in accordance with broadcast information received from a plurality of communication networks and preset conditions. Based on this, the portable terminal is caused to execute a selection process for selecting an optimum communication network.

  The invention as set forth in claim 34 is based on the USIM (User Subscriber Identity Module) for storing information used as a criterion for determining whether or not the mobile terminal is a connectable communication network in the selection process in the invention according to claim 32 or 33. Readout process for reading out the PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) of the connectable communication network, measurement process for measuring the received electric field level sequentially for the read PLMN, and the received electric field level for all the PLMNs stored in the USIM For a PLMN whose received electric field level is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, a reception process for receiving broadcast information from a predetermined communication network, and a determination as to whether a preset condition is satisfied for the PLMN from which the broadcast information has been acquired And a determination process for determining a PLMN that satisfies a condition after the determination process.

  According to a thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the thirty-third or thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the unit charge information related to the unit charge for each of the plurality of communication networks and the radio related to the radio resource status for each of the plurality of communication networks, By using at least one of the resource information, the portable terminal is caused to execute the determination process.

  The invention of claim 36 is the invention of claim 35, wherein each base station arranged in a plurality of communication networks is transmitted using an independent channel or added to a MIB (Master Information Block). By using the unit charge information and the radio resource information transmitted by either of the above-described method or the fixed-scheduling method, the mobile terminal is caused to execute the determination process.

  The invention according to claim 37 is the invention according to any one of claims 33 to 36, wherein as a condition to be prioritized when selecting an optimum communication network, any of charge, communication rate, and quality is selected. The portable terminal is caused to execute a process for setting the above in advance.

  In the invention described in claim 38, in the invention described in any one of claims 33 to 37, when the condition to be prioritized when selecting the optimum communication network is not set, The mobile terminal is caused to execute processing for selecting a home network.

  In the invention of claim 39, in the invention of any one of claims 33 to 38, when a fee is set as a condition to be prioritized, the unit amount information is obtained from the notification information in the determination process. Based on the acquired unit price information and the plan table linked with the PLMN stored in USIM, calculate the unit price for the call type of the plan that you have contracted with in each communication network. In the determination process, the mobile terminal is caused to determine a PLMN that satisfies a set condition based on the calculated unit amount.

  In the invention of claim 40, in the invention of claim 39, when the unit amount is calculated in the determination process and the same unit amount is obtained in a plurality of communication networks, the received electric field measured in the determination process is measured. 40. The program according to claim 39, which causes the mobile terminal to select the PLMN having the highest level.

  According to a 41st aspect of the present invention, in the aspect of the 39th or 40th aspect, in the determination process, the portable terminal is caused to exclude the unsupported communication network from the selection target.

  The invention according to claim 42 is the invention according to any one of claims 39 to 41, wherein, when a communication rate is set as a priority condition, in the determination process, from the broadcast information to the radio resource information Based on the current free line status and the maximum capacity of each bearer included in the radio resource information, the resources of the bearers that make and receive calls are compared for each communication network, and the comparison processing results in the comparison process. The mobile terminal is caused to determine a PLMN having a communication rate that satisfies the conditions set based on the mobile terminal.

  In the invention according to claim 43, in the invention according to any one of claims 39 to 42, when the current idle line status is equivalent between the communication networks to be compared, A PLMN having a large maximum capacity is selected, and if the maximum capacity is the same, the mobile terminal is caused to select a PLMN having the highest received electric field level.

  The invention according to claim 44 is the invention according to any one of claims 39 to 43, wherein the portable terminal is compared with the sum of all call types in the determination process when the power is on or in standby. This is executed by the mobile terminal.

  According to a 45th aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the 39th to 44th aspects, when the quality is set as a priority condition, the received electric field level of each communication network is determined in the determination process. In the determination process, the portable terminal is caused to select a communication network with a good reception electric field regardless of the communication charge or communication rate.

  The invention according to claim 46 is the invention according to any one of claims 39 to 45, wherein the portable terminal is in a state of being in a power-on state, a standby state, an outgoing / incoming call state, or in a communication state. Is executed on the mobile terminal.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to select the communication network suitable for the use environment and user orientation of a terminal.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Overview of Examples>
In the communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the broadcast channel (Broad Cast Channel) broadcast information used in the W-CDMA communication network provided by each provider is included in the unit of each provider. Information on a charge (for example, CS call: per unit time, PS call: per packet) and radio resource status information are added and transmitted to the mobile terminal.

  Further, the mobile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention determines a communication network to be selected from the received broadcast information based on a selection mode (charge priority, rate priority, quality priority, etc.) set by the user. This makes it possible to select an optimal communication network in each area so as to satisfy the conditions specified by the user, and even in the case of movement during communication, the optimal communication network can be selected based on a preset selection mode. And switching is possible.

<Configuration of Example>
The configuration of the communication system of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
The communication system of the present embodiment is configured by connecting a plurality of communication networks and mobile stations via a network. In FIG. 1, three communication networks A, B, and C are shown as communication networks provided by different operators, but the basic configurations of the communication networks A, B, and C are the same.

  Each of the core networks 1A, 1B, and 1C is a network that has a circuit switching function, a packet switching function, and the like, and includes a location registration function and a charging function. Each core network 1A, 1B, 1C is connected to a wired network or a mobile communication network which is an external network. The core networks 1A, 1B, and 1C are connected to a plurality of radio call control stations 2A, 2B, and 2C in the own communication network, respectively. The radio call control stations 2A, 2B, and 2C are connected to the radio communication control stations 2A, 2B, and 2C in the own communication network. Send unit charge information.

  The radio call control stations 2A, 2B, and 2C are connected to a plurality of base stations 3A, 3B, and 3C, respectively, and control of each connection between the base stations 3A, 3B, and 3C and the mobile station 4 such as a portable communication terminal. (Call control) and management. Further, the radio call control stations 2A, 2B, 2C calculate radio resource information from the current call control state and periodically transmit them to the base stations 3A, 3B, 3C.

  The base stations 3A, 3B, and 3C actually perform wireless communication with the mobile station 4 and perform transmission power control and the like in wireless communication. Base stations 3A, 3B, and 3C transmit pilot information for detecting a radio wave level, broadcast information communicated to all mobile stations, and the like. Each service area (cell) is formed as shown in FIG. 2 with a range in which these radio wave levels reach as one unit.

  The mobile station 4 is a portable terminal that can be similarly connected (utilized) to each of the communication networks A, B, and C, and can be handed over between the communication networks A, B, and C. The mobile station 4 has a W-CDMA communication function (connection function to a WEB server, mail transmission / reception function) such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a personal computer, etc., and the configuration thereof is generally used conventionally. Is. For example, in the case of a cellular phone, a radio unit that transmits and receives radio signals to and from a radio communication base station via an antenna, a display unit that outputs display information such as text and images, and a numeric keypad unit that inputs various information , An operation unit composed of a scroll / decision key, a microphone (sending unit) and a speaker (receiving unit) for inputting / outputting to / from a voice processing unit for performing voice signal processing, and a speaker for outputting musical sounds and notification sounds ( The sound report section), phonebook information, sent / received mail information, incoming / outgoing call information, various settings of mobile phone terminals, memory for storing program information, etc., terminals for phone functions, WEB connection functions, mail transmission / reception by reading programs It has a control part etc. which control each part and perform processing based on a program. The control unit of this embodiment includes a measurement function for measuring the received electric field level, a reception function for receiving broadcast information, a determination function for performing determination based on broadcast information / reception level / setting conditions, and a communication network based on the determination result. And a function for selecting an optimum communication network by executing these functions under program control.

Here, a communication network in which a mobile station can receive a service at the point depending on the positional relationship between the service area of each communication network and the mobile station will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile station 241 can be connected to both the base station 3A and the base station 3C, and can receive services of the communication network A and the communication network C. The mobile station 242 can be connected to each of the base stations 3A, 3B, and 3C, and can receive services from the communication networks A, B, and C. In the mobile station 243, the base station that can be connected is only the base station 3B, and only the service of the communication network B is provided in that area. In this embodiment, the mobile station selects a communication network suitable for the use environment and user orientation from among these serviceable communication network groups that dynamically change depending on the location (area) in which the mobile station is located. It is possible.

  In general, in FIG. 1, a W-CDMA communication network includes system information and information necessary for connection from a base station 3 to all mobile stations 4 in a service area, such as broadcast information (BCH: Broadcast Channel). Data). In the present embodiment, unit charge information for each communication call type (voice, videophone, packet, etc.) in the local communication network notified from each core network 1 via each radio call control station 2 and each radio call control. Radio resource information calculated and notified by the station 2 is added to the broadcast information and broadcast from each base station 3 to all mobile stations 4 in the area.

  The unit charge information notified from each core network 1 is the unit time of charge (for example, 1 minute) specified by the call type (voice communication, videophone), communication rate (64k, 32k), etc. for CS calls. The amount of money is notified. Further, in the PS call, data such as a unit amount per packet is notified.

  Each radio call control station 2 periodically checks the connection status of the mobile station 4, calculates the usage amount of the radio resource from the call information at the time of confirmation, and determines the available radio resource and the maximum value of the radio resource (maximum (Capacity) is notified to each base station as radio resource information.

  Since the unit charge information and the radio resource information added to the broadcast information are used to determine the communication network to which the mobile station is connected, the broadcast information (including the unit charge information and the radio resource information) is moved. As a means for capturing at the station, the processing needs to be completed in as short a time as possible. Therefore, the broadcast information in the present embodiment is transmitted using a channel (Channel) that is different (independent) from the BCH used for transmission of the conventional broadcast information, or transmitted using the conventional BCH. The information is added to the MIB (Master Information Block: an information element in which a transmission schedule of basic information and other information such as a PLMN of a communication network is stored) first acquired by the mobile station and transmitted. Or when not adding to MIB, it transmits by the method of transmitting by fixed scheduling. By either of the above, the mobile station quickly takes in the broadcast information and realizes the communication network selection determination. As described above, the communication system of the present embodiment is configured between W-CDMA communication networks, and includes providing a notification method for notification information in the W-CDMA method.

The mobile station 4 has an optimization function for selecting and switching the optimum communication network. When the optimization function is set to ON, a mode (condition / orientation) that should be prioritized for communication can be set. For example, the following modes can be selected by the user.
(1) Charge priority (2) Communication rate priority (3) Quality priority

  The mobile station 4 makes a determination corresponding to the set mode based on the broadcast information and the reception level transmitted from the base station 3 of each of the connectable communication networks A, B, and C, and the currently connectable communication Select the optimal communication network from the network. When the optimization function is off, the home network (HPLMN: Home Public Land Mobile Network) is preferentially connected.

<Operation of Example>
An example of the determination operation of the mobile station 4 when the optimization function is on is shown in FIG. Note that the mobile station 4 (portable terminal) of the present embodiment executes processing described below under program control. The control program for performing this processing may be stored in the terminal itself at the time of manufacture at the factory, downloaded via a network, read from a recording medium, or the like.

  Since information used as a reference for whether or not the mobile station 4 is a connectable communication network is stored in a USIM (User Subscriber Identity Module) in the mobile station 4, the mobile station 4 can first connect itself from this USIM. A public land mobile network (PLMN) of a simple communication network is read (step S1), and the received electric field level is sequentially measured for the read PLMN. The PLMN is composed of a country code and a carrier number, and serves as an identifier for each carrier (communication network).

  As for the reception electric field level measurement, for example, RSCP (Received Signal Code Power: signal power in the common pilot channel (CPICH)) is measured. After measuring the received electric field level, broadcast information is received for the PLMN whose received electric field level is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold (step S2 / YES to step S3). The broadcast information here means acquisition of only information (unit charge information and radio resource information) related to determination for selecting a PLMN.

  The above operation is performed for all the PLMNs stored in the USIM (step S4 / YES), and the PLMN for which notification information has been acquired is determined in a mode preset by the user (step S5). After the mode determination, the mobile station 4 determines one PLMN, that is, a communication network (step S6).

This communication network selection is executed, for example, when the mobile station is in the following state.
・ When the power is turned on ・ Standby (Periodical execution)
・ When making / receiving calls (before connection)
・ During communication (regular execution)

Next, a determination example in each mode is shown.
(1) Charge priority In the charge priority mode, the mobile station 4 acquires unit amount information from the broadcast information transmitted by the base station 3 of each communication network. Based on the acquired unit amount information and the plan table linked with the PLMN stored in the USIM, the unit amount of the call type of the plan contracted by each communication network is calculated (FIG. 4). reference). The execution of the charge priority mode is mainly performed at the time of outgoing / incoming call (before connection) and during communication, and the unit price of each communication network is compared by the communication call type to determine the communication network to be connected. For example, when the outgoing (communication) call type is voice communication (rate 1), as shown in FIG. 4, the unit amount per minute in each communication network is 10 for communication networks A and B, and for communication network C. Therefore, the communication network A or B becomes a candidate.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the communication network B is a fixed charge or fixed rate service regardless of the voice communication rate. When the same unit price is obtained in a plurality of communication networks, the mobile station 4 selects the one having the highest received electric field level of each communication network measured before mode determination. Also, communication networks that are not supported, such as TV phone communication of the communication network C, are excluded from comparison targets. By performing such a comparison, it is possible to select an optimal communication network for each call type for communication.

  In addition, when the charge priority mode is applied when the power is turned on or in standby, the total calculation of all call types, for example, the packet charge in one minute is converted from the data amount in one minute (rate x 1 minute), and all A calculation for calculating the total amount of call types is performed, and the communication networks are compared with the total calculation values (A, B, C), and a communication network to be a standby destination (registration destination) is determined.

(2) Communication rate priority In the communication rate priority mode, the mobile station 4 acquires radio resource information from broadcast information transmitted by the base station 3 of each communication network. The information provided as the radio resource information is the current free line status and the maximum capacity for each bearer (or rate). The mobile station 4 compares the resources in the bearer to be transmitted (incoming) for each communication network, and selects a communication network that can use a higher rate. Further, if the current idle line status is the same between the communication networks being compared, the possibility of using a higher rate is increased by selecting a communication network with a large maximum capacity. If the maximum capacity is the same, the one with the highest received electric field level is selected.

  When the communication rate priority mode is applied when the power is turned on or in standby, the total of all call types is compared, and the standby (registration destination) communication network is determined.

(3) Quality priority In the quality priority mode, the communication electric field level (CPICH RSCP, etc.) of each communication network is compared, and a communication network with a better reception electric field is selected regardless of the communication fee and communication rate (communication performance). To do. Thereby, stable communication is possible.

  With the above operation, the mobile station 4 realizes automatic selection of the optimum communication network according to the use environment for each area.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, in a communication system and a mobile terminal that can be connected between a plurality of carriers, data transmitted as broadcast information includes unit charges (for example, CS call: unit) for each carrier. By adding information on the time, PS call: per packet) and radio resource status, it becomes possible to select the optimum communication network corresponding to the user's wishes for each area and in real time.

  More specifically, a W-CDMA portable terminal capable of selecting a low-cost communication network by determination based on unit charge information can be realized.

  In addition, a W-CDMA portable terminal capable of selecting a communication network capable of high-rate communication by determination based on radio resource information can be realized.

  In addition, it is possible to realize a W-CDMA communication system that can transmit a unit amount for each bearer as broadcast information.

  In addition, it is possible to realize a W-CDMA communication system that can calculate radio resources from the current call connection status and can transmit the calculated radio resources for each bearer as broadcast information.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, it is not limited to the said Example, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

  The present invention can be applied to a W-CDMA information processing communication terminal and a communication network.

It is a figure which shows typically the whole structure of the communication system which is one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the relationship between each service area and each mobile station regarding the communication system which is one Example of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a PLMN selection operation of the mobile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a table | surface which shows an example of determination of a charge priority mode in connection with operation | movement of the portable terminal which is one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

A, B, C Communication network (network)
1A, 1B, 1C Core network 2A, 2B, 2C Radio call control station 3A, 3B, 3C Base station 4, 241, 242, 243 Mobile station (portable terminal)

Claims (46)

  A portable terminal comprising selection means for selecting a communication network suitable for a use environment and a user orientation from a group of communication networks that dynamically change depending on a location where the user is located. A mobile terminal having a W-CDMA communication function and a handover function,
A portable terminal comprising selection means for selecting an optimal communication network based on broadcast information received from a plurality of communication networks and preset conditions. The selection means includes
A PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) of a connectable communication network is read out from a USIM (User Subscriber Identity Module) that stores information used as a criterion for determining whether or not the mobile terminal is a connectable communication network. A measurement unit that sequentially measures the received electric field level;
A reception unit that measures reception electric field levels for all PLMNs stored in the USIM, and receives broadcast information from a predetermined communication network for PLMNs with the reception electric field level equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold;
A determination unit that determines whether or not a preset condition is satisfied for the PLMN for which the notification information has been acquired,
After the determination, a determination unit that determines a PLMN that satisfies the condition;
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:   The broadcast information includes at least one of unit charge information related to a unit charge for each of the plurality of communication networks and radio resource information related to a radio resource status for each of the plurality of communication networks. Or the portable terminal of 3.   The unit charge information and the radio resource information are transmitted from each base station arranged in the plurality of communication networks using an independent channel or added to a MIB (Master Information Block) and transmitted. The mobile terminal according to claim 4, wherein the mobile terminal is transmitted with fixed scheduling.   6. The device according to claim 2, wherein any one of a charge, a communication rate, and a quality is set in advance as a condition to be prioritized when selecting the optimum communication network. Mobile devices.   The said selection means selects a home network, when the conditions which should be prioritized when selecting the said optimal communication network are not set, The home network is any one of Claim 2 to 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Mobile devices.   When a charge is set as the condition to be prioritized, the determination unit acquires unit amount information from the broadcast information, and associates the acquired unit amount information with the PLMN stored in the USIM. Based on the prepared plan table, the unit price of the call type of the plan contracted by itself in each communication network is calculated, and the determining unit sets the set condition based on the calculated unit price The mobile terminal according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein a PLMN that satisfies the following conditions is determined.   The determination unit selects a PLMN having the highest received electric field level measured by the measurement unit when the same unit price is obtained in a plurality of communication networks as a result of calculation by the determination unit. Item 9. A portable terminal according to Item 8.   The portable terminal according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the determination unit excludes a communication network that is not supported from selection targets.   When a communication rate is set as the condition to be prioritized, the determination unit obtains radio resource information from the broadcast information, and includes the current free line status and the maximum of each bearer included in the radio resource information. Based on the capacity, the resources in the bearers that make and receive calls are compared for each communication network, and the determination unit determines a PLMN having a communication rate that satisfies the set condition based on the comparison result. The portable terminal according to any one of claims 8 to 10.   The determination unit selects a PLMN having a large maximum capacity when current idle line conditions are equal between the communication networks to be compared, and the received electric field when the maximum capacity is also equal. The mobile terminal according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the PLMN having the highest level is selected.   The mobile terminal according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein when the mobile terminal is powered on or in standby, the determination unit compares the totals of all call types.   When quality is set as the condition to be prioritized, the determination unit performs a comparison at a reception electric field level of each communication network, and the determination unit determines the reception electric field regardless of a communication fee or a communication rate. The mobile terminal according to claim 8, wherein a good communication network is selected.   15. The selection of the optimum communication network by the selection unit is performed in any state in which the portable terminal is in a power-on state, a standby state, an outgoing / incoming state, or a communication state. The portable terminal of any one of Claims.   A communication system using the mobile terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 15.   A communication network selection method comprising: selecting a communication network suitable for a use environment and a user orientation from a group of communication networks that dynamically change depending on a location where the mobile terminal is located. . A communication network selection method performed by a mobile terminal having a W-CDMA communication function and a handover function,
A communication network selection method, comprising: selecting an optimal communication network based on broadcast information received from a plurality of communication networks and preset conditions. The selection of the optimal communication network is as follows:
A PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) of a connectable communication network is read out from a USIM (User Subscriber Identity Module) that stores information used as a criterion for determining whether or not the mobile terminal is a connectable communication network. Measure the received electric field level in sequence,
Measure the received electric field level for all PLMNs stored in the USIM, and receive broadcast information from a predetermined communication network for PLMNs with the received electric field level equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold,
For the PLMN for which the broadcast information has been acquired, it is determined whether a preset condition is satisfied,
19. The communication network selection method according to claim 17, wherein a PLMN that satisfies the condition is determined after the determination.   19. The broadcast information includes at least one of unit charge information related to a unit charge for each of the plurality of communication networks and radio resource information related to a radio resource status for each of the plurality of communication networks. Or the communication network selection method of 19.   The unit charge information and the radio resource information are transmitted from each base station arranged in the plurality of communication networks using an independent channel or added to a MIB (Master Information Block) and transmitted. 21. The communication network selection method according to claim 20, wherein the transmission network is transmitted at a fixed scheduling.   The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein any one of a charge, a communication rate, and quality is preset as a condition to be prioritized when selecting the optimum communication network. Communication network selection method.   The communication network selection method according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein a home network is selected when a condition to be prioritized when the optimum communication network is selected is not set. .   When a charge is set as the condition to be prioritized, the unit amount information is acquired from the broadcast information, the acquired unit amount information, and a plan table associated with the PLMN stored in the USIM Based on the above, the unit price of the call type of the plan contracted by itself in each communication network is calculated, and the PLMN satisfying the set condition is determined based on the calculated unit price. The communication network selection method according to any one of claims 19 to 23.   25. The communication network selection method according to claim 24, wherein, as a result of the calculation of the unit price, when the same unit price is obtained in a plurality of communication networks, the PLMN having the highest measured received electric field level is selected.   26. The communication network selection method according to claim 24, wherein unsupported communication networks are excluded from selection targets.   When a communication rate is set as the condition to be prioritized, radio resource information is acquired from the broadcast information, and based on the current free line status and maximum capacity of each bearer included in the radio resource information 27. The resource of a bearer that makes and receives calls is compared for each communication network, and a PLMN having a communication rate that satisfies the set condition is determined based on the comparison result. The communication network selection method according to the item.   If the current idle line status is the same between the communication networks to be compared, a PLMN with a large maximum capacity is selected, and if the maximum capacity is also the same, the PLMN with the highest received electric field level is selected. The communication network selection method according to any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein:   29. The communication network selection method according to any one of claims 24 to 28, wherein when the mobile terminal is powered on or in standby, a comparison is made with the sum of all call types.   When quality is set as the priority condition, a comparison is made at the reception electric field level of each communication network, and a communication network with a good reception electric field is selected regardless of a communication fee or a communication rate. The communication network selection method according to any one of claims 24 to 29.   31. The selection of the optimum communication network is performed when the mobile terminal is in a power-on state, a standby state, an outgoing / incoming state, or a communication state. The communication network selection method described in 1.   A program for causing a portable terminal to execute a selection process for selecting a communication network suitable for a use environment and a user orientation from a group of communication networks that dynamically change depending on a location where the portable terminal is located. A program to be executed by a mobile terminal having a W-CDMA communication function and a handover function,
A program for causing a portable terminal to perform selection processing for selecting an optimal communication network based on broadcast information received from a plurality of communication networks and preset conditions. In the selection process,
Read processing for reading out a PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) of a connectable communication network from USIM (User Subscriber Identity Module) that stores information that is a criterion for determining whether the mobile terminal is a connectable communication network;
A measurement process for measuring the received electric field level sequentially for the read PLMN,
A reception process for measuring the received electric field level for all the PLMNs stored in the USIM, and receiving broadcast information from a predetermined communication network for a PLMN having the received electric field level equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold;
A determination process for determining whether or not a preset condition is satisfied for the PLMN for which the notification information has been acquired,
After the determination process, a determination process for determining a PLMN that satisfies the condition;
34. The program according to claim 32 or 33, which causes a portable terminal to execute.   The determination process by using at least one of unit charge information related to a unit charge for each of the plurality of communication networks and radio resource information related to a radio resource status for each of the plurality of communication networks included in the broadcast information. 35. The program according to claim 33 or 34, which causes a portable terminal to execute.   From each base station arranged in the plurality of communication networks, it is transmitted using an independent channel, added to a MIB (Master Information Block), or transmitted with fixed scheduling. 36. The program according to claim 35, wherein the determination processing is executed by a portable terminal by using the unit charge information and the radio resource information transmitted by any one of the methods.   37. The process according to any one of claims 33 to 36, wherein the mobile terminal is caused to execute a process for presetting any one of a charge, a communication rate, and quality as a condition to be prioritized when selecting the optimum communication network. The listed program.   38. Any one of claims 33 to 37, when a condition to be prioritized when selecting the optimum communication network is not set, causes the portable terminal to execute a process of selecting a home network in the determination process. The program described in.   When a charge is set as the condition to be prioritized, in the determination process, unit amount information is acquired from the notification information, and the acquired unit amount information is linked to the PLMN stored in the USIM. Based on the attached plan table, the unit amount of the call type of the plan contracted by itself in each communication network is calculated, and the setting is performed based on the calculated unit amount in the determination process. The program according to any one of claims 33 to 38, which causes a mobile terminal to execute a PLMN that satisfies a specified condition.   As a result of the calculation of the unit price in the determination process, if the same unit price is obtained in a plurality of communication networks, the mobile terminal determines that the PLMN having the highest measured received electric field level is selected in the determination process 40. The program according to claim 39, wherein the program is executed.   41. The program according to claim 39 or 40, which causes the portable terminal to execute to exclude a non-supported communication network from a selection target in the determination process.   When a communication rate is set as the condition to be prioritized, in the determination process, radio resource information is acquired from the broadcast information, and the current free line status of each bearer included in the radio resource information Based on the maximum capacity, the resources in the bearers that make and receive calls are compared for each communication network, and in the determination process, the PLMN having the communication rate that satisfies the set condition is determined based on the comparison result. The program according to any one of claims 39 to 41, which is executed by a mobile terminal.   When the current idle line status is the same between the communication networks to be compared, a PLMN having a large maximum capacity is selected in the determination process, and the reception is performed when the maximum capacity is also equal. 43. The program according to any one of claims 39 to 42, which causes the mobile terminal to select a PLMN having the highest electric field level.   44. The program according to any one of claims 39 to 43, wherein when the mobile terminal is powered on or in a standby state, the mobile terminal is caused to execute a comparison of all call types in the determination process.   When quality is set as the condition to be prioritized, the determination process performs a comparison at the reception electric field level of each communication network, and the determination process receives the signal regardless of the communication fee or communication rate. 45. The program according to any one of claims 39 to 44, which causes a mobile terminal to select a communication network with a good electric field.   46. The program according to any one of claims 33 to 45, which causes the portable terminal to execute the selection process in a state where the portable terminal is in a power-on state, a standby state, an incoming / outgoing call state, or a communication state.

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