JP2013229710A - Communication terminal device, terminal communication method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control a base station search performed as out-of-zone restoration operation in a state of moving out of a communication service zone, according to the use state of a communication terminal.SOLUTION: A terminal communication method includes: acquiring an input reflection amount at an antenna feeding unit (step S2); discriminating whether or not the input reflection amount exceeds a threshold (step S5); suspending wasteful search operation for a base station, if the input reflection amount exceeds the threshold (Yes in step S5), in other words, if antenna performance is deteriorated because of the input reflection amount becoming large to a level difficult to establish radio communication (step S6); and if the antenna performance is shifted to a good use state due to the input reflection amount of the threshold or smaller (No in step S5), starting the base station search (step S7).

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication terminal device, a terminal communication method, and a program for performing a base station search as an out-of-service return operation in a state where the communication service is out of service.

  In general, in a communication terminal device such as a mobile phone, the communication terminal device is synchronized with the nearest base station when the reception level is significantly reduced due to the usage state of the terminal or when the terminal is out of the service area. If it becomes impossible to obtain a communication service area (out of service area), the user must immediately move to a service area of another base station and maintain a communicable state. And, in order to establish synchronization with the base station in the service area, for example, a base station search is performed by a method called all channel search, etc. As such, the high-frequency base station search is continued. If the base station search is continued as described above, the reception detection circuit and the control unit in the radio unit frequently operate during this period, resulting in power consumption. Therefore, conventionally, when the synchronization signal from the base station cannot be received, the power consumption is reduced by changing the period of performing the base station search according to the elapsed time outside the service area. The technique etc. which were made are proposed (refer patent document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-190761

  However, in the technique of the above-mentioned patent document, even when the probability of successful communication establishment by the base station search is low, the base station search is performed, so that useless power is consumed in the base station search. There is no change, and there is also a problem that the base station search period remains long even when moving from outside the service area to within the service area.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to control a base station search to be performed as an out-of-service return operation in a state where the communication service has been moved out of the communication service area in accordance with the use status of the communication terminal.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the communication terminal device of the present invention
A communication terminal device that performs a base station search as an out-of-service return operation in a state where the communication service is out of service area,
Detecting means for detecting a fluctuation amount of an input impedance in an antenna unit that receives a high-frequency signal from the base station;
Determining means for determining whether or not the fluctuation amount of the input impedance detected by the detecting means exceeds a predetermined threshold;
Control means for controlling the operation of the base station search based on the determination result of the determination means;
It is a communication terminal device characterized by comprising.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the terminal communication method of the present invention provides:
When performing a base station search as an out-of-service return operation in a state of transitioning out of the communication service area, detecting a variation in input impedance at an antenna unit that receives a high-frequency signal from the base station;
Determining whether the detected fluctuation amount of the input impedance exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
Controlling the operation of the base station search based on the determination result;
It is a terminal communication method characterized by including.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the program of the present invention
Against the computer,
When performing a base station search as an out-of-service return operation in a state where the communication service is out of service area, a function of detecting the amount of fluctuation in input impedance at the antenna unit that receives the high-frequency signal from the base station;
A function of determining whether or not the detected fluctuation amount of the input impedance exceeds a predetermined threshold;
A function of controlling the operation of the base station search based on the determination result;
It is a program for realizing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to control the base station search that is performed as an out-of-service return operation in a state of moving out of the communication service area according to the usage status of the communication terminal, and in a usage status where the possibility of establishing communication is low. It is possible to suppress useless base station searches.

The block diagram which showed the basic component of the mobile telephone applied as a communication terminal device. The figure for demonstrating the threshold-value information table 3b. The figure which illustrated the present area outside a service area, and its peripheral area. The flowchart which is started to be executed when it is detected that the state has shifted to the outside of the service area. The figure which showed a mode that a base station search was controlled according to transition of the amount of input reflections (antenna performance) of the antenna feeding point calculated from the antenna input impedance. The block diagram explaining the additional remark 1. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing basic components of a mobile phone applied as a communication terminal device.
A cellular phone (communication terminal device) has a configuration having a central control unit 1 as a core. The central control unit 1 includes a power supply unit 2, a storage unit 3, a display unit 4, an operation unit 5, a radio communication unit 6, an antenna. An impedance detection circuit 7, a base station search determination unit 8, a base station search execution unit 9, a position acquisition unit 10, and the like are connected. The central control unit 1 operates by supplying power from a power supply unit 2 having a secondary battery (not shown), and controls the overall operation of the mobile phone according to various programs in the storage unit 3 A device, a memory (not shown), and the like are included.

  The storage unit 3 includes a program memory 3a in which a program for realizing the present embodiment is stored according to the operation procedure shown in FIG. 4, a threshold information table 3b to be described later, and the mobile phone operates. Therefore, it has a work memory (not shown) that temporarily stores various information necessary for the purpose (for example, flag information). The storage unit 3 may include a removable portable memory (recording medium) such as an SD card or an IC card, or may include a storage area on a predetermined external server (not shown). Good. The display unit 4 displays, for example, a standby image, an icon, text data, mail, and the like. The operation unit 5 inputs dial input, character input, command input, and the like, and the central control unit 1 executes processing according to the input operation signal from the operation unit 5 and the like.

  The wireless communication unit 6 includes an RF circuit, a modulation / demodulation circuit, a baseband processing circuit, and the like. The wireless communication unit 6 modulates voice and data, transmits radio waves from the antenna unit 6a, and receives radio waves via the antenna 6a. And by demodulating it into data, telephone calls and data communications are performed. In this case, the reception frequency of the high frequency signal (RF signal) received by the antenna unit 6a is sequentially tuned to a plurality of communication channels, and the channel with the best reception state is selected from the received electric field strength at that time. The standby reception state is entered, but if the reception state of all channels is poor and the standby reception state is not reached, the communication service is out of the area (out of the service area). When performing a base station search performed as an out-of-service return operation in the state of moving out of the service area, the central control unit 1 determines that based on the detection result (variation amount of input impedance) detected by the antenna impedance detection circuit 7. The base station search operation is controlled.

  The antenna impedance detection circuit 7 is connected to the antenna unit 6a constituting the wireless communication unit 6, and detects the fluctuation amount of the input impedance, that is, the input reflection amount in the antenna power supply unit calculated from the input impedance of the antenna unit 6a. The circuit includes a resistor, a capacitor, a diode, etc., and the amount of reflection of the input impedance of the antenna unit 6a (for example, the amount of input reflection of the S parameter S11, etc.) The detected input impedance reflection amount (input reflection amount) is temporarily stored in the storage unit 3.

  The base station search determination unit 8 determines the level at which it is difficult to establish wireless communication based on whether or not the detection result (input reflection amount) of the antenna impedance detection circuit 7 exceeds a predetermined threshold in a state of moving out of the service area. The base station search execution unit 9 determines whether the antenna 6a is in a state where the input reflection amount of the antenna 6a is large and the antenna performance is degraded, based on the determination result of the base station search determination unit 8 The base station search operation is controlled. Note that the base station search determination unit 8 and the base station search execution unit 9 are specified as functions unique to the present embodiment among various functions executed by the central control unit 1. The position acquisition unit 10 receives and acquires the current position information (longitude / latitude information) of itself (mobile phone) using, for example, GPS (Global Positioning System). The central control unit 1 acquires the position. By referring to the threshold information table 3b based on the current position of the mobile phone received and acquired by the unit 10, the above-described threshold used by the base station search determination unit 8 is read from the threshold information table 3b and acquired. .

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the threshold information table 3b.
The threshold information table 3b is configured to store the threshold used by the base station search determination unit 8 for each out-of-service area, and has items of “area” and “determination threshold”. The contents of the threshold information table 3b are received and acquired in advance via a communication network (not shown) before entering the outside of the service area, and the “determination threshold” is set for each “area”. is there. “Area” is an item that stores area position information for specifying an area outside the service area of the current position and each of the surrounding areas.

  For example, in the “area”, as shown in FIG. 3, when the current position acquired by the position acquisition unit 10 is in the area G outside the service area, the area G exists at the current position and its surroundings. The area position information is stored in association with each area A, B, C, D, E, F. The “determination threshold value” indicates a determination threshold value for determining whether or not the antenna 6a is in a state where the input reflection amount becomes large and the antenna performance is degraded to a level where it is difficult to establish wireless communication. The value varies from area to area depending on the situation of the area. In the illustrated example, thresholds a to g are stored corresponding to areas A to G.

Next, the operation concept of the mobile phone in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, each function described in this flowchart is stored in the form of a readable program code, and operations according to the program code are sequentially executed.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart that starts execution when it is detected that the state has shifted to the outside of the service area. When the flow of FIG. 4 is exited, the flow returns to the main flow (not shown) of the overall operation. .

  First, the central control unit 1 checks whether or not the base station search execution timing that is periodically (periodically) executed as the out-of-service return operation has been reached in the state of transitioning to the out-of-service area (step S1). If it is not the execution timing (NO in step S1), the flow of FIG. 4 is exited. If it is the execution timing of the base station search (YES in step S1), the detection result (input reflection amount in the antenna power feeding unit) is acquired from the antenna impedance detection circuit 7 in response to the detection of transition to the outside of the service area (step S1). S2), current position information is acquired from the position acquisition unit 10 (step S3). Note that the present invention is not limited to acquiring the input reflection amount of the antenna input impedance, and for example, a numerical value representing the antenna performance calculated based on the reflection amount of the antenna input impedance may be acquired.

  Then, referring to the threshold information table 3b based on the position information acquired as described above, the “determination threshold” of the “area” corresponding to the position information is read (step S4). For example, if the current position is the area G shown in FIG. 3, the threshold value g for the area G is read from the threshold information table 3b and acquired. Then, by comparing the detection result (input reflection amount) of the antenna impedance detection circuit 7 with the threshold value read from the threshold information table 3b, it is determined whether or not the input reflection amount exceeds the threshold value (step S5). ).

  As a result, when the input reflection amount exceeds the threshold (YES in step S5), that is, when the input reflection amount increases to a level where it is difficult to establish wireless communication, and the antenna performance is degraded. After stopping the base station search operation (step S6), the process returns to the first step S1 described above. In addition, when a transition is made to a use situation in which good antenna performance is obtained with an input reflection amount equal to or less than a threshold value (NO in step S5), a base station search is started (step S7), and then the base operation is performed by this search operation. It is checked whether or not synchronization with the station has been established (step S8). When synchronization with the base station is established (YES in step S8), the flow of FIG. 4 is exited, but if not established (NO in step S8). The process returns to the first step S1 described above.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the base station search is controlled in accordance with the transition of the input reflection amount (antenna performance) at the antenna feeding point calculated from the antenna input impedance.
In the example shown in the figure, until the time T1 is reached, since the input reflection amount calculated from the antenna input impedance exceeds the threshold value and the antenna performance is poor, the base station search operation remains stopped. It has become. Thereafter, when the time T1 is reached, the input reflection amount is equal to or less than the threshold value and the antenna performance is good, so the base station search operation is started. In this case, the base station search is continued from time T1 to time T2. After time T2, the input reflection amount exceeds the threshold value, so that the base station search operation is stopped again. Accordingly, in the illustrated example, the base station search is executed between the times T1 and T2.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the fluctuation amount (input reflection amount) of the input impedance at the antenna unit 6a is detected, and it is determined whether or not this fluctuation amount exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Since the base station search operation is controlled based on the result, the base station search performed as the out-of-service return operation in the state of moving out of the communication service area is controlled according to the antenna performance that changes depending on the usage status of the communication terminal. It is possible to suppress a useless base station search in a usage situation where the possibility of establishing communication is low, and power consumption outside the service area can be suppressed.

  If the input reflection amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, the base station search is stopped. If the input reflection amount is less than the predetermined threshold, the base station search is started. It becomes possible to suppress.

  Based on the current position information acquired by the position acquisition unit 10, the threshold information table 3 b is referred to, the “determination threshold” of the “area” corresponding to the position information is read, and the input reflection amount exceeds the threshold Therefore, it is possible to make a determination using an appropriate threshold depending on where the mobile phone (communication terminal) is used.

  Since the threshold value in the area outside the service area is received and acquired and set in the threshold information table 3b, it is not necessary to perform a special operation, and an appropriate threshold value suitable for the current position (area) can be set. it can.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the mobile phone is moved out of the service area is illustrated, but the same applies to the case where the reception level is significantly lowered depending on the usage state. For example, when entering an area where radio wave transmission is prohibited, such as in a hospital or train, in a falder case covered with metal that shields the radio wave so that the input reflection amount of the antenna input impedance is large. If the mobile phone is stored, the base station search operation outside the service area is stopped, so that the radio wave output can be turned off without performing the power off operation or the radio wave output stop operation.

  In the above-described embodiment, the current position information of the self (mobile phone) is received and acquired by using GPS (Global Positioning System). The current position information may be received and acquired using the means.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a mobile phone as a communication terminal device has been described. However, a tablet terminal device with a wireless communication function, a digital camera, a PDA (personal portable information communication device), a personal computer, It may be a music player.

  In addition, the “apparatus” and “unit” shown in the above-described embodiments may be separated into a plurality of cases by function, and are not limited to a single case. In addition, each step described in the above-described flowchart is not limited to time-series processing, and a plurality of steps may be processed in parallel or separately.

  A part or all of each of the above embodiments can be described as the following supplementary notes, but is not limited thereto. Hereinafter, various aspects of the present invention will be collectively described as supplementary notes.

(Appendix 1)
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram for explaining Supplementary Note 1. As shown in this figure, the invention described in Appendix 1 is
A communication terminal device that performs a base station search as an out-of-service return operation in a state where the communication service is out of service area,
Detection means 102 (central control unit 1, antenna impedance detection circuit 7 in FIG. 1) for detecting the fluctuation amount of the input impedance in the antenna unit 101 (antenna unit 6a in FIG. 1) that receives the high-frequency signal from the base station; ,
A discriminating unit 103 (in FIG. 1, the central control unit 1 and the base station search determining unit 8) for discriminating whether or not the fluctuation amount of the input impedance detected by the detecting unit 102 exceeds a predetermined threshold;
A control unit 104 (in FIG. 1, the central control unit 1 and the base station search execution unit 9) that controls the operation of the base station search based on the determination result of the determination unit 103;
A communication terminal device comprising:

(Appendix 2)
The control means performs control so as to suppress the base station search when the fluctuation amount of the input impedance detected by the detection means exceeds a predetermined threshold as a result of the discrimination by the discrimination means, If the fluctuation amount of is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold, control to perform the base station search,
The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal device is configured as described above.

(Appendix 3)
Threshold storage means for storing the threshold for each area where the terminal device is used;
Position acquisition means for acquiring current position information;
The determination means refers to the threshold storage means based on the position information acquired by the position acquisition means, and acquires a threshold value of the area corresponding to the position information;
Further comprising
The determining means determines whether or not the fluctuation amount of the input impedance detected by the detecting means exceeds the threshold acquired by the threshold acquiring means.
The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal apparatus is configured as described above.

(Appendix 4)
It further comprises setting means for receiving and acquiring the threshold value for each area in advance and setting it in the storage means.
The communication terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the communication terminal device is configured as described above.

(Appendix 5)
The detection means detects a reflection amount of the input impedance as a fluctuation amount of the input impedance of the antenna unit.
The communication terminal device according to any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein the communication terminal device is configured as described above.

(Appendix 6)
When performing a base station search as an out-of-service return operation in a state of transitioning out of the communication service area, detecting a variation in input impedance at an antenna unit that receives a high-frequency signal from the base station;
Determining whether the detected fluctuation amount of the input impedance exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
Controlling the operation of the base station search based on the determination result;
The terminal communication method characterized by including.

(Appendix 7)
Against the computer,
When performing a base station search as an out-of-service return operation in a state where the communication service is out of service area, a function of detecting the amount of fluctuation in input impedance at the antenna unit that receives the high-frequency signal from the base station;
A function of determining whether or not the detected fluctuation amount of the input impedance exceeds a predetermined threshold;
A function of controlling the operation of the base station search based on the determination result;
A program to realize

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Central control part 3 Memory | storage part 6 Wireless communication part 6a Antenna part 7 Antenna impedance detection circuit 8 Base station search determination part 9 Base station search execution part 10 Position acquisition part

Claims (7)

A communication terminal device that performs a base station search as an out-of-service return operation in a state where the communication service is out of service area,
Detecting means for detecting a fluctuation amount of an input impedance in an antenna unit that receives a high-frequency signal from the base station;
Determining means for determining whether or not the fluctuation amount of the input impedance detected by the detecting means exceeds a predetermined threshold;
Control means for controlling the operation of the base station search based on the determination result of the determination means;
A communication terminal device comprising: The control means performs control so as to suppress the base station search when the fluctuation amount of the input impedance detected by the detection means exceeds a predetermined threshold as a result of the discrimination by the discrimination means, If the fluctuation amount of is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold, control to perform the base station search,
The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal device is configured as described above. Threshold storage means for storing the threshold for each area where the terminal device is used;
Position acquisition means for acquiring current position information;
The determination means refers to the threshold storage means based on the position information acquired by the position acquisition means, and acquires a threshold value of the area corresponding to the position information;
Further comprising
The determining means determines whether or not the fluctuation amount of the input impedance detected by the detecting means exceeds the threshold acquired by the threshold acquiring means.
The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal apparatus is configured as described above. It further comprises setting means for receiving and acquiring the threshold value for each area in advance and setting it in the storage means.
The communication terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the communication terminal device is configured as described above. The detection means detects a reflection amount of the input impedance as a fluctuation amount of the input impedance of the antenna unit.
The communication terminal device according to any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein the communication terminal device is configured as described above. When performing a base station search as an out-of-service return operation in a state of transitioning out of the communication service area, detecting a variation in input impedance at an antenna unit that receives a high-frequency signal from the base station;
Determining whether the detected fluctuation amount of the input impedance exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
Controlling the operation of the base station search based on the determination result;
The terminal communication method characterized by including. Against the computer,
When performing a base station search as an out-of-service return operation in a state where the communication service is out of service area, a function of detecting the amount of fluctuation in input impedance at the antenna unit that receives the high-frequency signal from the base station;
A function of determining whether or not the detected fluctuation amount of the input impedance exceeds a predetermined threshold;
A function of controlling the operation of the base station search based on the determination result;
A program to realize

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