JP2008227580A - Portable terminal, cell search method and cell search system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique of searching a cell upon activation at high speed by prespecifying the object of initial cell search for the time of next power activation before power disconnection in a portable terminal such as a cellular phone. <P>SOLUTION: The cell search system comprises: an information provision server on a network that the portable terminal can access, for providing information required for the cell search; and the portable terminal provided with a means for registering the information of the cell to be searched most preferentially when the power is activated next time, beforehand. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cell search control technique in a mobile station such as a mobile phone having a communication function and its network.

  As a function of the mobile phone, there is a function called “cell search” that searches for a base station to perform location registration. In general, a cell search is started when a mobile phone is turned on (initial cell search), and radio waves are scanned at a predetermined frequency step within a frequency band assigned to the mobile phone system, and the base station transmits it. This is done by detecting whether or not the received radio wave can be received and searching for a base station.

However, since the cell is searched with the fine frequency steps as described above, it takes a considerable time to search all the frequency bands.
This is very inconvenient for travelers who are traveling to places for the first time.

  As an existing method for shortening the cell search time, a frequency list that has been successfully registered by the previous power-off is stored in its own storage unit, and only the frequencies in the list are stored in the first cell search. There is a method of making it a target (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In this case, first, only frequencies in the list are searched, and if not found in the list, all frequencies assigned to the mobile phone system are searched at a predetermined frequency step (full frequency search) and the base station Search for. If it is found in the first list, the cell search time is shortened because the full frequency search becomes unnecessary.
JP 2001-86560 A

  However, for example, assuming a traveler who travels using an aircraft, the mobile phone must be turned off on the aircraft, but when the power is turned on at the destination airport for the first time, the initial cell of the prior art In the search, since the destination data is not registered in the frequency list, the base station is not found in the list, and it is necessary to perform a full frequency search. Therefore, it takes time for the cell search, and the user cannot access the network during the cell search, which causes the user to wait.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone and a system thereof that realizes high-speed cell search at startup when the destination is known in advance.

  A first invention is a portable terminal that performs cell search using an information providing server accessible on a network, and includes the cell information database in which cell information of a base station is stored. Before power-off, the cell information acquisition means for acquiring the cell information of the movement destination scheduled by the user, the storage means for storing the acquired cell information of the movement destination in its own memory as a pre-specified list, and next time The present invention relates to a portable terminal characterized by having cell search means for searching for cell information of the pre-specified list with the highest priority when power is turned on.

  That is, according to the first aspect of the invention, the cell information acquisition means uses the network access function of a mobile terminal represented by a mobile phone or the like to store the destination information specified by the user before the power is turned off (OFF). The cell information database of the information providing server is searched based on the destination information transmitted to the information providing server, and as a result, in the portable terminal, the returned cell information is acquired and the storage means The destination is determined in advance by storing it as a pre-designated list in the memory, and the cell search means searches the registered pre-designated list with the highest priority at the next power-on (ON). In some cases, by registering cell information in advance, even if the power is turned on at the place where you visit for the first time, the cell will be much shorter than the conventional full frequency search. Can complete the over switch, during the cell search, it is no longer to wait longer user.

  In addition, cell information can be obtained from the information providing server each time, and the latest information can always be held, so that an extra cell search can be prevented from being performed based on wrong information. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the pre-designated list includes a carrier identifier for identifying a carrier on the network, a cell frequency, and a scramble code as cell information. Related to mobile terminals.

  That is, according to the second invention, the items of the pre-designated list acquired by the user-designated destination information and registered in the memory unit include the public mobile communication network (network) in the designated destination cell. In the cell search, the search is performed in the order of the cell frequency, the scramble code, and the operator identifier. By including the operator identifier and the scramble code, a more narrow search can be performed without searching all frequencies in the list, and a high-speed cell search is realized.

  A third invention is a cell search system comprising an information providing server accessible on a network and a mobile terminal, the information providing server comprising a cell information database storing cell information of a base station, In response to a request from the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal has cell information transmitting means for transmitting cell information necessary for cell search, and the mobile terminal receives a destination planned by the user before power off from the information providing server. Cell information acquisition means for acquiring the cell information of the destination, storage means for storing the acquired cell information of the destination as a pre-specified list in its own memory, and cell information of the pre-specified list at the next power-up. The present invention relates to a cell search system having cell search means for searching with priority.

  That is, according to the third invention, an information providing server accessible from a mobile terminal on the network is interposed, and the information providing server stores the cell information of the base station at the destination planned by the user. A cell information database is provided, and by accessing the information providing server before turning off the power of the mobile terminal, the cell information of the destination is registered in advance in its own memory as a pre-specified list, and the next power on In this time cell search, the registered pre-designated list is searched with the highest priority, so that an extremely fast cell search system is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cell search system comprising an automatic check-in device for checking the boarding of a user connected by a network through an information providing server and a portable terminal having a non-contact IC (Integrated Circuit). The check-in device includes a reader / writer that reads / writes data of the non-contact IC of the portable terminal, and information that includes a cell information database based on check-in information from the portable terminal that is read via the reader / writer. Access means for accessing a providing server; and cell information transmitting means for acquiring corresponding cell information from the information providing server and transmitting the cell information to the portable terminal via the reader / writer, wherein the portable terminal includes the contactless IC Through the automatic check-in device, the cell information of the moving destination scheduled by the user before the power is turned off. Cell information acquisition means, storage means for storing the acquired cell information in its own memory as a pre-designated list, and cell search means for searching the cell information of the pre-designated list with the highest priority at the next power activation. The present invention relates to a cell search system.

  That is, according to the fourth invention, for example, a cell search mechanism that acquires information on a pre-specified list in cooperation with an automatic check-in device that checks the boarding of a user provided by an airline, a railway company, or the like. Thus, when an automatic check-in device having a reader / writer for a non-contact IC is connected to an information providing server via a network and performs a check-in using a non-contact IC built in a mobile terminal, the automatic check-in system In addition to the normal check-in process, based on the check-in information of the mobile terminal, the information providing server is inquired about the pre-designated list registration information. As a result, the pre-designated list acquired from the information providing server is transmitted via the contactless IC. The mobile terminal is notified, and the mobile terminal stores the pre-specified list in its own memory.

  According to the present invention, the user does not need to perform any other user operation only by performing check-in, and can automatically register cell information of a desired destination.

  As described above, a mobile communication system that interposes an information providing server that stores cell information in a database that can be accessed by a mobile terminal on a network when the destination of a user who has the mobile terminal is known in advance. In the case where the mobile terminal is turned on at a place where it is visited for the first time by acquiring the cell information of the planned destination from the information providing server and registering it in its own memory unit before turning off the power of the portable terminal. In the cell search at the time of starting, cell search time can be greatly shortened as compared with the case of performing full frequency search, and it is not necessary to make the user wait for a long time during the cell search.

  In addition, since the cell information is acquired from the server each time, it is possible to always hold the latest information, and an effect of preventing an extra cell search from being performed based on wrong information is produced.

  In addition, an automatic check-in system that is linked to an automatic check-in system using a non-contact IC mounted on a mobile terminal provided by an airline company, a railway company, etc., and that has a reader / writer for a non-contact IC provides information via the network By configuring the system to be connected to the server, the user can check-in and acquire and register the cell information of the destination automatically without any other user operation, making it cumbersome. Is resolved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a mobile phone will be described as a typical example of a mobile terminal.

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a cellular phone network according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone network of the present invention has a mobile communication network 5 (5a, 5b) for each mobile phone operator, which are connected to each other and also connected to the Internet 4. The mobile phone 1 is connected through the base station 3.

  In the embodiment, the information providing server 2 having the cell information DB 21 (database) storing the cell information of each mobile phone carrier is installed in the Internet 4 and is carried through the base stations 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d). Access from the telephone 1 (1a, 1b, 1c) is made possible. The installation location of the information providing server 2 that provides the cell information may be installed not in the Internet but in the mobile communication network 5 of each mobile phone operator.

  The cell search search operation in the cellular phone network of the present invention will be described below.

  First, the user performs an operation for registering information on a destination in advance as a pre-designated list before moving. In order to acquire the pre-specified list from the cell information DB 21, the user inputs necessary items on the browser screen of the display of the mobile phone 1 that he possesses, and transmits the input data to the information providing server 2 via the Internet 4. At this time, if the user designates, for example, a case of using an aircraft, the user's mobile phone is usually determined by simple information that the user can know, such as the name of the destination airport and the flight number of the flight to be used. The information is designated through one user interface.

  The information providing server 2 searches the cell information DB 21 based on the destination information specified from the user's mobile phone 1 and finds the network operator, frequency, scramble code, etc. corresponding to the destination cell specified by the user. The search result is returned to the mobile phone 1.

  The user's mobile phone 1 registers the search result as a pre-specified list in its own memory. Note that information of a plurality of cells can be registered in the prior designation list.

  FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cellular phone 1 includes a wireless unit 15 that performs wireless communication with the mobile communication network 5 via an antenna 14, a cell detection unit 16 that detects a cell for wireless communication, a control unit 12 that controls them, and user operations. A user IF (interface) unit 13 that receives and displays on a screen and a memory unit 17 that stores various data in the mobile phone 1 are configured. Moreover, it has the non-contact IC (Integrated Circuit) 11 which implement | achieves the wireless communication at the time of proximity | contact.

Further, the control unit 12 includes a pre-list acquisition unit that acquires a pre-specified list from the information providing server 2 and a list storage unit that registers the acquired pre-specified list in the memory unit 17. The cell search operation in the mobile phone of the present invention will be described below.
(1) In order to speed up the cell search, the previous used frequency list is held, and in the initial cell search, first, the frequency search is first added to the conventional technique for searching the frequency from the previous used list stored in the memory unit 17. Thus, the “prior designation list” having a higher priority than the previous use list is held in the memory unit 17, and when information is registered here, the prior designation list is searched before the previous use frequency list. It will be.
(2) The pre-designation list designates in advance the location where the power supply is next activated (ON) before the user turns off the power supply (OFF). The contents are set so that cell information for limiting the destination can be registered, such as a scramble code in the case of a network operator, frequency, and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access).
(3) When registering, cell information (frequency, scramble code) is hidden from the user. The user designates only specific information of the destination such as the airport name, and automatically registers in the mobile phone system by acquiring the information of the destination cell as needed through the wireless network based on the information. Is done.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram for acquiring a pre-specified list from the information providing server in the mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shows a method of accessing the information providing server 2 and acquiring the pre-specified list by the network access function provided in the mobile phone 1.

  The control unit 12 of the mobile phone 1 transmits user-specified destination information input from the browser screen to the information providing server 2. On the other hand, the information providing server 2 searches the cell information DB 21 in the information providing server 2 based on the received destination information. And the control part 12 of the mobile telephone 1 acquires applicable list information from a search result, and preserve | saves it in the prior designation | designated list preservation | save area | region in the memory part 17 of the mobile telephone 1. FIG.

  If there are a plurality of network operators at the specified destination as a search result, it is possible to allow the user to specify which operator to select in advance.

  When a domestic user moves overseas, the service of the contracted telecommunications carrier is roamed by using the facilities of other affiliated carriers even outside the service range of the operator. Can be used overseas. In this case, there are cases where a plurality of businesses are in service at the same location, and the business operator to access is selected.

  The location of the carrier detected by the cell search is specified by the PLMN ID (see FIGS. 4 and 5) in the information included in the broadcast signal of the cell. In the conventional technology, the user selects a business operator from the business operators that are found as a result of the cell search (or is automatically selected according to the internal priority), whereas in the present invention, the business operator is included in the pre-specified list. by placing the information, if the said list has more than one carrier, it is possible to decide whether to access in advance either operators. Therefore, it is possible to perform a more narrow search without searching all the frequencies in the list.

  FIG. 4 shows a data configuration example of the cell information DB according to the embodiment of the present invention. The cell information DB 21 includes “item number”, “country name”, “city name”, “location” composed of classification and name, “operator PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network)”, “frequency”, and It consists of scrambled “code” items.

  The “location” is a location where the user may move by turning off the power and turn on the power, and the “classification” of the “location” allows the database to be constructed to some extent. “Railway station”, “airport”, etc.

  The “operator PLMN” is an operator number specified in the public mobile communication network, and includes a country code and the operator's network number.

  Further, the “code” is a scramble code unique to each cell of the base station, and the mobile phone searches for a frequency first and then searches for a scramble code of a wave of that frequency to perform a cell search. In the CDMA type mobile phone, the pre-designated list is expected to further speed up by including not only the frequency but also this scramble code.

  FIG. 5 shows a data configuration example of a pre-specified list registered in the mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention. The pre-specified list is data in which the search result in the cell information DB 21 of the information providing server 2 is registered in the memory unit 17 of the mobile phone 1, and includes items “item number”, “operator PLMN”, and “code”. It consists of multiple records. For example, “item number” 1 is registered as “operator PLMN” 123 · 11 (country code: 123, operator network number: 11), and “code” is registered as 100.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the browser screen of the mobile phone when acquiring the pre-specified list according to the embodiment of the present invention. The browser screen is a data input screen for narrowing down information to be acquired from the cell information DB 21 in the information providing server 2, and includes a setting menu area 100, a data input area 101, and an approval button area 102. In the following embodiment, an example in which a user moves using an aircraft is shown.

  In the setting menu area 200, “move destination information acquisition” is selected from the pull-down menu as the setting menu of the mobile phone. In the data input area 201, there are input fields for destination, area, means of transportation, and airport name. For example, "Domestic", "Hokkaido", "Airmail", and "New Chitose Airport" are respectively input. ing. In the approval button area 202, “cancel” and “OK” buttons are provided.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a method for acquiring a pre-designated list using a non-contact IC according to an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment shows a method of acquiring a pre-specified list by a mobile phone equipped with a non-contact IC in conjunction with an automatic check-in system provided by each airline. As described above, In this example, data is not directly transferred between information providing servers, but an automatic check-in system compatible with a non-contact IC is interposed between the two servers. In the embodiment, the case where an aircraft is used is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be linked to a ticket gate system that checks a vehicle ticket such as a railway.

  An automatic check-in device 100 incorporating a non-contact IC reader 101 that reads non-contact IC data is connected to the information providing server 2 via a network. When performing the check-in using the non-contact IC 11 of the mobile phone 1, the automatic check-in system 100 adds the pre-specified list registration information to the information providing server 2 based on the check-in information in addition to the normal check-in process. Inquire. The pre-specified list registration information acquired from the information providing server 2 is notified to the mobile phone 1 through the non-contact IC 11, and the control unit 12 of the mobile phone 1 stores it in a pre-specified list storage area in the memory unit 17.

  As described above, it is possible to automatically register a list by performing a boarding procedure (check-in) without performing any other user operation.

  After the pre-designated list is registered, the user turns off the power and moves by aircraft. Then, when the user turns on the power to turn on the mobile phone 1 when arriving at the destination, the control unit 12 instructs the cell detection unit 16 to perform an initial cell search in order to perform location registration. Instruct. The processing flow at this time is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows a processing flow of cell search at the time of activation according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, in step S11, the memory unit 17 in the mobile phone 1 is referred to and it is determined whether or not a pre-specified list is registered. If the pre-specified list is registered, only the frequency of the cell in the pre-specified list is searched in step S12, and it is determined in step S13 whether or not there is a valid cell. If there is a valid cell, in step S14, location registration for specifying the self location in the network is performed. By performing location registration when the power is turned on in this way, a general service of a subsequent cellular phone can be used. In step S15, the cell information is deleted from the pre-specified list and registered in the previous use list.

  If not found in the pre-specified list, the previous use list and full-frequency search, and the subsequent search process are performed by gradually expanding the range.

  If there is no registration in the prior designation list in step S11, or if no valid cell is found in the frequency search in the prior designation list in step S13, is there a registration as the previous use list in step S16? Determine. If registered, in step S19, only the frequency of the cell in the previous use list is searched. In step S18, it is determined whether or not there is a corresponding valid cell. If there is a valid cell, the location registration process in step S14 and the registration process in the previous use list in step S15 are performed, and the process ends.

  Further, if the cell is not registered in the previous use list in step S16, or if a corresponding valid cell is not found in the frequency search in the previous use list in step S18, the cell search over all frequencies is performed in step S19. I do.

  In step S20, the existence of corresponding effective cells is determined for all frequencies, and if there are corresponding effective cells, the processes of steps S14 and S15 are similarly performed. If there is no valid cell, the process returns to step S11 and the subsequent processing is repeated.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the mobile telephone network which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the basic composition of the mobile telephone which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which acquires a prior designation | designated list from the information provision server in the mobile telephone which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data structural example of cell information DB which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data structural example of the prior designation | designated list registered in the mobile telephone which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a browser screen of a mobile telephone at the time of acquiring the prior designation | designated list which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the acquisition method of the prior designation | designated list using the non-contact IC which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the cell search at the time of starting which becomes embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mobile phone (1a, 1b, 1c)
2 Information providing server 3 Base station (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d)
4 Internet 5 Mobile communication networks (5a, 5b)
11 Non-contact IC
12 Control unit 13 User IF (interface)
14 (portable) antenna 14 '(for non-contact IC) antenna 15 radio unit 16 cell detection unit 17 memory unit 21 cell information DB (database)
100 automatic check-in device 101 (non-contact IC) reader / writer

Claims (5)

A mobile terminal that performs cell search using an information providing server accessible on a network,
Cell information acquisition means for acquiring cell information of a destination planned by the user before power off from the information providing server including a cell information database in which cell information of the base station is stored;
Storage means for storing the acquired cell information of the destination as a pre-specified list in its own memory;
A portable terminal comprising cell search means for searching for cell information in the pre-specified list with the highest priority when the power is turned on next time.   The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the pre-designated list includes a carrier identifier for identifying a carrier on the network, a cell frequency, and a scramble code as cell information. A cell search method of a mobile terminal using an information providing server accessible on a network,
A cell information acquisition step of acquiring cell information of a destination planned by the user before power off from the information providing server including a cell information database in which cell information of the base station is stored;
Storing the acquired cell information of the destination as a pre-specified list in its own memory;
A cell search method for a portable terminal, comprising a cell search step for searching for cell information in the pre-specified list with the highest priority when power is turned on next time. A cell search system composed of an information providing server accessible on a network and a mobile terminal,
The information providing server includes:
A cell information database in which cell information of a base station is stored, and cell information transmission means for transmitting cell information necessary for cell search in response to a request from the mobile terminal;
The portable terminal is
Cell information acquisition means for acquiring cell information of a movement destination scheduled by the user before power off from the information providing server, and storing the acquired cell information of the movement destination in a self-specified list as a pre-specified list And a cell search means for searching the cell information of the pre-designated list with the highest priority when the power is turned on next time. A cell search system comprising an automatic check-in device for checking the boarding of a user connected via a network by an information providing server and a portable terminal with a non-contact IC,
The automatic check-in device is
A reader / writer that reads / writes data of the non-contact IC of the portable terminal, and an information providing server that includes a cell information database is accessed based on check-in information from the portable terminal that is read via the reader / writer. Access means, and cell information transmission means for acquiring the corresponding cell information from the information providing server and transmitting the cell information to the portable terminal via the reader / writer,
The portable terminal is
Via the non-contact IC, cell information acquisition means for acquiring cell information of a moving destination scheduled by a user from the automatic check-in device before power-off, and the acquired cell information as a pre-specified list A cell search system comprising: storage means for storing in the memory; and cell search means for searching for cell information in the pre-specified list with the highest priority when the power is turned on next time.

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