JP2010028680A - Mobile terminal and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile terminal and communication method in which, when switching a mobile communication system (RAT) in accordance with the class of a communication service to be offered, a connection time from start of a communication request from a user to enabling of actual communication can be shortened. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile terminal 100 comprises: a switching factor detection unit 121 for detecting an operation, that becomes a switching factor of an in-range system on the basis of the class of a communication service to be initiated by a user; a determination unit 123 for determining whether or not switching of the in-range system is required on the basis of the switching factor detected by the switching factor detection unit 121 and a mobile communication system being selected as the in-range system; and a switching unit 125 for switching the in-range system to a mobile communication system that offers communication before the communication is initiated in a case where it is determined that switching of the in-range system is required. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is connectable to a plurality of mobile communication systems provided with different types of communication services to be provided, and selects a mobile communication system as a visited system that is a visited mobile communication system, and The present invention relates to a communication method used in the mobile terminal.

  In the 3rd generation mobile communication system (3G) in accordance with the standard standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the CS domain composed of a circuit-switched communication network and a packet-switched communication network (IP network) (For example, Patent Document 1). In 3G, transmission of a specific communication service, specifically, AV content such as a voice call or a moving image is executed using the CS domain. Data communication such as e-mail transmission is executed using the PS domain.

  On the other hand, in Long Term Evolution (LTE), which is a next generation mobile communication system that is also being standardized in 3GPP, only the PS domain is used. That is, regardless of the type of communication service provided, all communication services are executed using the PS domain.

However, there are technical issues to overcome such as priority control to achieve voice communication and transmission of AV content to mobile terminals using the PS domain while ensuring the desired communication quality. Not. Therefore, at least at the beginning of LTE operation, it is planned to implement voice communication and AV content transmission using 3G CS domain, and data communication such as e-mail transmission using LTE.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-80673 (page 4, FIG. 1)

  In order to realize voice communication and AV content transmission using 3G CS domain and data communication such as e-mail transmission using LTE, a mobile communication system according to the type of communication service to be executed It is necessary to switch so-called Radio Access Technology (RAT).

  Specifically, when a mobile terminal exists in a position where it can communicate with a 3G base station and an LTE base station, the mobile terminal performs location registration in any mobile communication system via any base station. The mobile communication system is made to recognize that it is in the coverage area of the station, that is, in any mobile communication system (RAT). For example, when the user performs a voice call outgoing operation while the mobile terminal is in LTE, the mobile terminal needs to switch the RAT in the area from LTE to 3G.

  However, it is expected that it will take several seconds to switch RATs in the area. For this reason, there is a concern that the connection time from when the user starts a communication request until when the user can actually start communication becomes longer.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a connection between when a user starts a communication request and when the user can actually start communication when switching between mobile communication systems (RAT) according to the type of communication service provided. An object is to provide a mobile terminal and a communication method capable of reducing time.

  In order to solve the problems described above, the present invention has the following features. First, the first feature of the present invention is that it can be connected to a plurality of mobile communication systems (3G system 10 and LTE system 20) having different types of communication services (for example, voice call and e-mail transmission). , A mobile terminal (mobile terminal 100) that selects any mobile communication system as a visited system that is a visited mobile communication system, and an operation that causes switching of the visited system (for example, e-mail creation) Based on a switching factor detection unit (switching factor detection unit 121) that detects a screen call), the switching factor detected by the switching factor detection unit, and the mobile communication system selected as the visited system. The determination unit (determination unit 123) for determining whether or not the switching of the located system is necessary and the determination unit need to switch the visiting system. A switching unit (switching unit 125) that switches the visited system to a mobile communication system that provides the requested communication service before communication based on the requested communication service is started when determined. Is the gist.

  According to such a mobile terminal, it is determined whether or not switching of the visited system is necessary based on the switching factor detected by the switching factor detection unit and the mobile communication system selected as the visited system. The When it is determined that the visited system needs to be switched, the visited system is switched before the communication based on the requested communication service is started. For this reason, the located system can be quickly switched according to the type of communication service to be started by the user of the mobile terminal.

  That is, according to such a mobile terminal, when a mobile communication system (RAT) is switched according to the type of communication service provided, it is possible to actually start communication after the user starts a communication request. Connection time to become can be shortened.

  A second feature of the present invention relates to the first feature of the present invention, comprising a user interface (user interface 110) operated by a user of the mobile terminal to start the communication, and the switching factor detection unit The gist is to detect the switching factor based on the content of operation on the user interface.

  A third feature of the present invention relates to the first feature of the present invention, and comprises a plurality of application programs (application programs 115a) for executing predetermined processing, and the switching factor detection unit is started by the user. The gist is to detect the switching factor based on the activation of the application program.

  A fourth feature of the present invention relates to the first feature of the present invention, wherein the switching unit is configured such that the predetermined system has passed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the determination unit determined that the switching of the existing system is necessary. The gist of the invention is that the predetermined time is shorter than the time required for the user to complete the necessary operation before starting the communication.

  The fifth feature of the present invention is that it is connectable to a plurality of mobile communication systems with different types of communication services to be provided, and any one of the mobile communication systems is selected as a visited system that is a mobile communication system in the area. A communication method used in a mobile terminal that detects an operation that is a switching factor of the visited system, the detected switching factor, and the mobile communication system selected as the visited system And determining whether the visited system needs to be switched based on the above, and if it is determined that the visited system needs to be switched, before the communication based on the requested communication service is started, And gating the mobile communication system that provides the requested communication service.

  According to the features of the present invention, when a mobile communication system (RAT) is switched according to the type of communication service to be provided, after a user starts a communication request, until the user can actually start communication. Mobile terminal and communication method can be provided.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Specifically, (1) overall schematic configuration of mobile communication system, (2) functional block configuration of mobile terminal, (3) detailed configuration of in-zone RAT control unit 120, (4) operation of mobile terminal, (5) Actions and effects, and (6) other embodiments will be described.

  In the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, the drawings are schematic, and the ratio of each dimension may be different from the actual one. Accordingly, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. In addition, the dimensional relationships and ratios may differ between drawings.

(1) Overall Schematic Configuration of Mobile Communication System FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a mobile communication system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication system 1 includes a 3G system 10 and an LTE system 20. That is, the mobile communication system 1 includes a plurality of mobile communication systems, so-called Radio Access Technology (RAT).

  The 3G system 10 is a third generation mobile communication system according to a standard standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The 3G system 10 includes a CS domain configured by a circuit switched communication network and a PS domain configured by a packet switched communication network (IP network).

LTE system 20 is also Long Term Evolution (LTE) standardized in 3GPP
The mobile communication system according to FIG. The LTE system 20 is configured only by the PS domain.

  The mobile terminal 100 can be connected to the 3G system 10 and the LTE system 20. Specifically, the mobile terminal 100 connects to either the 3G system 10 or the LTE system 20 according to the operation content of the user 50, that is, the type of communication service to be used. The mobile terminal 100 performs wireless communication with the 3G base station 11 and connects to the 3G system 10. In addition, the mobile terminal 100 performs wireless communication with the LTE base station 21 and connects to the LTE system 20.

  The mobile terminal 100 may be located in a region (hatched portion in the figure) where the cover area A10 formed by the 3G base station 11 and the cover area A20 formed by the LTE base station 21 overlap. In such a case, the mobile terminal 100 selects either the 3G system 10 or the LTE system 20 as a visited system that is a mobile communication system that is located. Specifically, the mobile terminal 100 performs either location registration in the 3G system 10 via the 3G system 10 or location registration in the LTE system 20 via the LTE base station 21. Select the communication system as the visited system.

  In the present embodiment, the type of communication service provided differs between the 3G system 10 and the LTE system 20. Specifically, voice calls and transmission of AV contents are realized using the 3G system 10 (CS domain). On the other hand, data communication such as e-mail transmission is realized using the LTE system 20.

(2) Functional Block Configuration of Mobile Terminal FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the mobile terminal 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 100 includes a user interface 110, a program execution unit 115, a visited RAT control unit 120, a 3G communication control unit 130, and an LTE communication control unit 140. Hereinafter, portions related to the present invention will be mainly described. Therefore, it should be noted that the mobile terminal 100 includes a functional block (such as a power supply unit) that is not shown in the drawing or that is not illustrated in order to realize the function as the mobile terminal 100.

  The user interface 110 provides an interface for realizing operation input from the user 50 to the mobile terminal 100 and output from the mobile terminal 100 to the user 50. Specifically, the user interface 110 includes operation keys, a microphone, a liquid crystal display, a speaker, and the like. The user 50 requests desired communication by operating the user interface 110.

  The program execution unit 115 executes an application program 115a that is installed in the mobile terminal 100 or downloaded. The application program 115a includes, for example, voice calls, videophone calls, moving image playback, and e-mail transmission / reception as related to communication. The application program 115a includes a camera (photographing and moving image shooting), a game, and the like.

  The visited RAT control unit 120 controls the visited system (located RAT) of the mobile terminal 100. The located RAT control unit 120 selects either the 3G system 10 or the LTE system 20 as a visited system based on the states of the 3G communication control unit 130 and the LTE communication control unit 140. Specifically, the in-zone RAT control unit 120 sets the state of the radio signal received by the 3G communication control unit 130 from the 3G base station 11 and the state of the radio signal received by the LTE communication control unit 140 from the LTE base station 21. Based on the selected system.

  In addition, the located RAT control unit 120 detects an operation (for example, a mail creation screen call) that becomes a switching factor of the located system based on the type of the communication service that is to be started by the user 50, and the located system Switch. A specific function of the visited RAT control unit 120 regarding switching of the visited system will be described later.

  The 3G communication control unit 130 performs wireless communication with the 3G base station 11. Specifically, the 3G communication control unit 130 executes voice call and AV content reception via the 3G base station 11. Further, the 3G communication control unit 130 performs location registration of the mobile terminal 100 with respect to the 3G system 10 based on the control by the located RAT control unit 120.

  The LTE communication control unit 140 performs wireless communication with the LTE base station 21. Specifically, the LTE communication control unit 140 performs data communication such as e-mail transmission via the LTE base station 21. In addition, the LTE communication control unit 140 performs location registration of the mobile terminal 100 with respect to the LTE system 20 based on the control by the in-zone RAT control unit 120.

(3) Detailed Configuration of Visited RAT Control Unit 120 FIG. 3 is a detailed functional block diagram of the visited RAT control unit 120. As shown in FIG. 3, the located RAT control unit 120 includes a switching factor detection unit 121, a determination unit 123, and a switching unit 125.

  The switching factor detection unit 121 detects an operation that is a switching factor of the visited system. Specifically, the switching factor detection unit 121 detects an operation that becomes a switching factor of the visited system based on the type of the communication service that is about to be started by the user 50.

  For example, when the user 50 performs an e-mail creation screen call operation using the user interface 110, the switching factor detection unit 121 detects the e-mail creation screen call as an operation that becomes a switching factor of the visited system. That is, the switching factor detection unit 121 detects the switching factor based on the operation content for the user interface 110. The switching factor detection unit 121 can also detect a switching factor based on the activation of an application program 115a (for example, transmission / reception of e-mail) that is about to be started by the user 50.

  Based on the switching factor detected by the switching factor detection unit 121 and the mobile communication system selected as the visited system, the determining unit 123 determines whether the visited system needs to be switched.

  6 and 7 show examples of determination tables used by the determination unit 123 to determine whether or not switching of the located system is necessary. The determination table TB1 shown in FIG. 6 is used when the 3G system 10 is located. The determination table TB2 illustrated in FIG. 7 is used when the LTE system 20 is located.

  For example, when the 3G system 10 is selected as the visited system and the e-mail creation screen call is detected as an operation that causes the switching, the determination unit 123 determines the LTE system 20 based on the determination table TB1. It is determined that switching to the system in the area is necessary. In the determination table TB1, the operation content of the user 50 determined to be the start of e-mail transmission / reception is defined.

  Further, for example, when the LTE system 20 is selected as the visited system and the call of the telephone book is detected as an operation that causes switching, the determination unit 123 determines that the 3G system 10 is based on the determination table TB2. It is determined that switching to the system in the area is necessary. In the determination table TB2, the operation content of the user 50 determined to be the start of the voice call is defined.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, voice calls and transmission of AV content to the mobile terminal 100 are realized using the 3G system 10 (CS domain). On the other hand, data communication such as e-mail transmission is realized using the LTE system 20.

  For this reason, when the switching factor detection unit 121 detects that data communication such as transmission of e-mail is about to start when the 3G system 10 is selected as a visited system, the determination unit 123 It is determined that switching to the system in the LTE system 20 is necessary. On the other hand, when the switching factor detection unit 121 detects that the voice call or reception of AV content is about to start when the LTE system 20 is selected as the visited system, the determination unit 123 determines that the LTE system 20 It is determined that switching to the system located in 20 is necessary.

  When the determination unit 123 determines that the visited system needs to be switched, the switching unit 125 provides mobile communication that provides the requested communication service before communication based on the communication service requested by the user 50 is started. Switch the visited system to the system. For example, when a voice call is requested by the user 50, the switching unit 125 switches the located system before the voice call is started. In addition, when the user 50 requests transmission of an e-mail, the switching unit 125 switches the located system before a packet including the content of the e-mail is transmitted to the LTE system 20.

  In addition, the switching unit 125 can switch the visited system after a predetermined time (for example, several seconds) has elapsed since the determining unit 123 determines that the visited system needs to be switched. Note that the predetermined time is set to be shorter than the time required for the user 50 to complete an operation required before starting the communication (for example, transmission of e-mail).

(4) Operation of Mobile Terminal Next, the operation of the mobile terminal 100 will be described. Specifically, (4.1) switching the visited system from the 3G system 10 to the LTE system 20 and (4.2) switching the visited system from the LTE system 20 to the 3G system 10 will be described.

(4.1) Switching of Visited System from 3G System 10 to LTE System 20 FIG. 4 shows a switching sequence of a visited system from the 3G system 10 to the LTE system 20. Here, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 100 has selected the 3G system 10 as a visited system.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in step S <b> 10, the user 50 calls an email creation screen using the user interface 110 in order to create an email.

  In step S20, the user interface 110 notifies the in-zone RAT control unit 120 that the e-mail creation screen has been called.

  In step S <b> 30, the located RAT control unit 120 determines whether or not switching of the located system (visited RAT) is necessary. Specifically, the located RAT control unit 120 determines whether it is necessary to switch the located system based on the determination table TB1 (see FIG. 6) used when the 3G system 10 is located. To do.

  When the visited system needs to be switched (YES in step S30), in step S40, the visited RAT control unit 120 transmits a mobile communication system (RAT) switching request to the 3G communication control unit 130. In step S50, the located RAT control unit 120 transmits a mobile communication system (RAT) switching request to the LTE communication control unit 140. The located RAT control unit 120 may execute the processes of steps S40 and S50 at the same time.

  On the other hand, when there is no need to switch the visited system (NO in step S30), the visited RAT control unit 120 ends the process without switching the visited system.

  In step S <b> 55, the user 50 creates an e-mail using the user interface 110. The process of step S55 is executed subsequent to the process of step S10 (calling an e-mail creation screen). Moreover, the process of step S20-S60 is performed in parallel with the process of step S55.

  In step S60, the 3G communication control unit 130 and the LTE communication control unit 140 execute switching of the mobile communication system (RAT). Specifically, the 3G communication control unit 130 cancels the location registration of the mobile terminal 100 in the 3G system 10. On the other hand, the LTE communication control unit 140 performs location registration of the mobile terminal 100 to the LTE system 20. When the 3G communication control unit 130 and the LTE communication control unit 140 execute such processing, the switching of the located system is completed. That is, the mobile terminal 100 selects the LTE system 20 as a visited system and is located in the LTE system 20.

  In step S70, the user 50 executes the e-mail transmission operation created in step S55.

  In order to prevent the located system from being switched when the e-mail creation screen is called by mistake due to an operation error of the user 50, the located RAT control unit 120 sets a timer and performs the process of step S30. Steps S40 and S50 may be executed after a predetermined time (for example, several seconds) has elapsed. The timer is set so that the process of step S60 is completed before the process of step S70 is executed.

  In step S80, the user interface 110 notifies the serving RAT control unit 120 that the transmission of the e-mail has been requested.

  In step S90, the located RAT control unit 120 instructs the LTE communication control unit 140 to send an e-mail.

  In step S <b> 100, the LTE communication control unit 140 transmits a packet including the content of the e-mail to the LTE system 20 based on an instruction from the located RAT control unit 120.

(4.2) Switching of Visiting System from LTE System 20 to 3G System 10 FIG. 5 shows a switching sequence of a visiting system from the LTE system 20 to the 3G system 10. Here, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 100 has selected the LTE system 20 as a visited system. The sequence of switching the visited system from the LTE system 20 to the 3G system 10 is substantially the same as the switching sequence of the visited system from the 3G system 10 to the LTE system 20 (see FIG. 4). The differences from the switching system of the visited system will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in step S <b> 210, the user 50 calls a telephone directory using the user interface 110 in order to start a voice call.

  The operations in steps S220 to S250 are substantially the same as the operations in steps S20 to S50 described above. In step S230, the located RAT control unit 120 determines whether it is necessary to switch the visited system based on the determination table TB2 (see FIG. 7) used when the user is present in the LTE system 20. .

  In step S <b> 255, the user 50 selects a call destination using the user interface 110.

  In step S260, the 3G communication control unit 130 and the LTE communication control unit 140 execute switching of the mobile communication system (RAT). Specifically, the LTE communication control unit 140 cancels the location registration of the mobile terminal 100 in the LTE system 20. On the other hand, the 3G communication control unit 130 executes location registration of the mobile terminal 100 in the 3G system 10. When the 3G communication control unit 130 and the LTE communication control unit 140 execute such processing, the switching of the located system is completed.

  In step S270, the user 50 executes a call origination operation to the call destination selected in step S255.

  In step S280, the user interface 110 notifies the in-zone RAT control unit 120 that a call for a voice call has been requested.

  In step S290, the located RAT control unit 120 instructs the 3G communication control unit 130 to perform connection processing necessary for the voice call.

  In step S300, the 3G communication control unit 130 executes a connection process necessary for a voice call based on an instruction from the located RAT control unit 120.

(5) Operation / Effect According to the mobile terminal 100, based on the switching factor detected by the switching factor detector 121 (for example, e-mail creation screen call) and the mobile communication system selected as the visited system, It is determined whether or not the visited system needs to be switched. If it is determined that the visited system needs to be switched, the visited system is switched before communication based on the requested communication service (e-mail transmission) is started. For this reason, the located system can be quickly switched according to the type of the communication service to be started by the user 50.

  That is, according to the mobile terminal 100, when switching the mobile communication system (RAT) according to the type of communication service to be provided, the user 50 can actually start communication after starting the communication request. Connection time to become can be shortened.

  In the present embodiment, the switching factor detection unit 121 determines the switching factor of the visited system based on the operation details of the user interface 110 by the user 50 or based on the activation of the application program 115a that is about to be started by the user 50. To detect. For this reason, it is possible to reliably detect the switching factor corresponding to the communication that the user 50 is about to start, that is, whether or not the located system needs to be switched.

  In the present embodiment, the visited system is switched after a predetermined time has elapsed since the determination unit 123 determines that the visited system needs to be switched. For this reason, when a switching factor corresponding to communication that the user 50 does not intend to start due to an operation error of the user 50 or the like is detected, it is possible to prevent unnecessary switching of the located system.

(6) Other Embodiments As described above, the content of the present invention has been disclosed through one embodiment of the present invention. However, it should be understood that the description and drawings that form part of this disclosure limit the present invention. is not. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  For example, in the embodiment of the present invention described above, the located RAT control unit 120 (determination unit 123) uses the determination table TB1 and the determination table TB2 to determine whether it is necessary to switch the visited system. The located RAT control unit 120 may determine whether or not the visited system needs to be switched using the flag information F1 illustrated in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the flag information F1, “communication flag”, “3G flag”, and “LTE flag” are associated with each application program.

  The “communication flag” indicates whether or not the application program requires communication with the 3G system 10 or the LTE system 20, that is, whether or not it is a determination target for switching the visited system. The “3G flag” indicates that the communication executed by the application program uses the 3G system 10. The “LTE flag” indicates that communication executed by the application program uses the LTE system 20.

  The in-zone RAT control unit 120 does not use the “communication flag”, but uses only the “3G flag” and “LTE flag” associated with each application program to determine whether it is necessary to switch the located system. You may judge. In other words, the serving RAT control unit 120 uses only the “3G flag” and “LTE flag”, and if both the “3G flag” and “LTE flag” are not “true” (YES), the application program It is determined that communication with the 3G system 10 or the LTE system 20 is not required.

  As described above, the present invention naturally includes various embodiments that are not described herein. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention specifying matters according to the scope of claims reasonable from the above description.

1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a mobile communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of the mobile terminal 100 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a detailed functional block diagram of the located RAT control part 120 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the switching sequence of the located system from the 3G system 10 to the LTE system 20 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the switching sequence of the located system from the LTE system 20 which concerns on embodiment of this invention to the 3G system 10. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the determination table used when located in the 3G system 10 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the determination table used when located in the LTE system 20 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the determination table which concerns on the example of a change of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile communication system, 10 ... 3G system, 11 ... 3G base station, 20 ... LTE system, 21 ... LTE base station, 50 ... User, 100 ... Mobile terminal, 110 ... User interface, 115 ... Program execution part, 115a ... Application Program 120, RAT control unit 121, switching factor detection unit 123, determination unit 125, switching unit 130, 3G communication control unit 140, LTE communication control unit A10, A20 cover area, TB1, TB2 ... determination table, F1 ... flag information

Claims (5)

A mobile terminal that can be connected to a plurality of mobile communication systems having different types of communication services to be provided, and selects any one of the mobile communication systems as a visited system that is a visited mobile communication system.
A switching factor detection unit that detects an operation that is a switching factor of the visited system;
A determination unit that determines whether switching of the visited system is necessary based on the switching factor detected by the switching factor detection unit and the mobile communication system selected as the visited system;
If the determination unit determines that the switching of the visited system is necessary, before the communication based on the requested communication service is started, the visited system is provided to the mobile communication system that provides the requested communication service. A mobile terminal comprising a switching unit for switching between. Comprising a user interface operated by a user of the mobile terminal to initiate the communication;
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the switching factor detection unit detects the switching factor based on an operation content on the user interface. A plurality of application programs that execute predetermined processing are provided.
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the switching factor detection unit detects the switching factor based on activation of the application program that is about to be started by the user. The switching unit switches the visited system after a predetermined time has elapsed since the determining unit determines that the switching of the visited system is necessary,
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is shorter than a time until the user completes an operation necessary for starting the communication. A communication method used in a mobile terminal that can be connected to a plurality of mobile communication systems with different types of communication services to be provided and selects any one of the mobile communication systems as a visited system that is a visited mobile communication system. There,
Detecting an operation that is a switching factor of the visited system;
Determining whether or not switching of the visited system is necessary based on the detected switching factor and the mobile communication system selected as the visited system;
Switching to the mobile communication system that provides the requested communication service before communication based on the requested communication service is started when it is determined that switching of the located system is necessary; A communication method comprising:

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