JP2014183481A - Portable terminal device, tethering terminal device, and network connection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal device that automatically switches between a communication path via a tethering terminal device capable of connecting with a plurality of wireless communication networks differing in communication system from each other and a communication path not via the tethering terminal device.SOLUTION: A portable terminal device (10) acquires a communication protocol of a handover destination from a tethering terminal device (20) and also acquires a communication protocol with which the terminal device can currently connect once the tethering terminal device (20) executes a vertical handover when the terminal device is connected to a wireless communication network (2) through the tethering terminal device (20), and then automatically switches so as to break the connection with the wireless communication network (2) via the tethering terminal device (20) and to connect directly with a wireless communication network (2) with which the device (10) can connect on condition that the priority of the communication protocol with which the device can currently connect is higher than the communication protocol of the handover destination.

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device, a tethering terminal device, and a network connection system.

  In recent years, mobile communication systems include not only the 3rd generation mobile communication system (3G: 3rd Generation) system conforming to the IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunication 2000) standard, such as the W-CDMA system and the CDMA2000 1x system, Conventional communication methods such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), which is a standard for speeding up data communication of third-generation mobile phones, and Mobile WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), which is based on IEEE 802.16e A new communication method capable of performing higher-speed communication than 3G is available. Along with this, mobile phone devices that are compatible with both the 3G system, which is a conventional communication system, and the WiMAX system or LTE system, which are new communication systems, have become widespread.

  As described above, in a mobile phone device compatible with a plurality of different communication methods, for example, a mobile phone device compatible with the 3G method and the LTE method, the location of the mobile phone device is moved from the LTE compatible area to the 3G compatible area. And a wireless base station included in the 3G wireless communication network (3G network) and a wireless base station included in the LTE wireless communication network (LTE network) by performing a vertical handover. The wireless communication network is automatically switched to the optimum one.

  As a related technique, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a communication terminal that dynamically reconfigures a connection with a different wireless communication network. Patent Document 2 discloses a communication device configured to automatically select a communication path to be used for communication according to the type of communication.

JP 2010-34738 A JP 2009-105937 A

  By the way, in recent mobile phone devices, a wireless communication network in which the device itself is connected to a communication terminal device such as a notebook PC (Personal Computer) or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) by operating the device as an external modem. Some devices have a tethering function that connects to the Internet via the Internet. Hereinafter, a mobile phone device equipped with such a tethering function is referred to as a “tethering terminal device”.

  Therefore, when a user of a mobile phone device tries to perform data communication with a communication destination device such as a video distribution server by connecting the device to the Internet, the user of the mobile phone device directly connects the device to a wireless communication network to which the device can be connected. In addition to the above method, if communication between terminals with a tethering terminal device is possible, wireless communication with which the tethering terminal device is connected via the tethering terminal device by performing inter-terminal communication with the tethering terminal device. It is also possible to perform data communication with a communication destination device by connecting to a network.

  In particular, when the tethering terminal device can be connected to a wireless communication network having a communication method capable of performing higher-speed communication than the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the own device can be connected, Rather than directly connecting the own device, it is possible to perform data communication with the communication destination device at a higher speed by connecting the own device to a wireless communication network of a communication method capable of high-speed communication via the tethering terminal device. .

  However, a communication method in which the tethering terminal device can communicate at a higher speed than a communication method of a wireless communication network to which the own device can be connected, and a communication method in which communication is performed at a lower speed than a communication method of the wireless communication network to which the own device can be connected. If the tethering terminal device is connected to a wireless communication network of a communication method capable of high-speed communication, the wireless communication network to which the device can be connected as described above Can perform data communication with a communication destination device at a higher speed than directly connecting its own device to the mobile device, but the tethering terminal device moves out of a cell of a wireless communication network of a communication method capable of high-speed communication. In a tethering terminal device, a wireless communication network with a communication method that communicates at a low speed from a wireless communication network with a high communication rate. When the vertical handover to the network is executed, it is faster to connect the device directly to the wireless communication network to which the device can connect than to the wireless communication network via the tethering terminal device. As a result, a situation occurs in which data communication can be performed.

  However, in the conventional portable terminal device, when such a situation occurs, the user switches from a communication route that passes through the tethering terminal device to a communication route that connects the device directly to the wireless communication network by a manual operation. There is a need. As described above, in order to perform data communication with the optimal communication path by the conventional method, the burden of monitoring the wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device is connected and the troublesome operation for switching the communication path are reduced. There is a problem in that the user is forced and convenience is poor.

  The technologies disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are to automatically select one communication path from among a plurality of communication paths to which the own apparatus can be connected based on information on the own apparatus. Thus, there is no disclosure of a technique for automatically switching between a communication path that passes through the tethering terminal apparatus and a communication path that does not pass through the tethering terminal apparatus.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal device and a tethering terminal device that automatically switches between a communication route via a tethering terminal device that can be connected to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication methods and a communication route that does not pass through a tethering terminal device. And providing a network connection system.

The present invention is connectable to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication methods, and capable of performing inter-terminal communication with a tethering terminal apparatus having a function of executing vertical handover and a tethering function between the plurality of wireless communication networks, A portable terminal device connectable to a predetermined one or a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication methods,
A first network connection unit connected to the tethering terminal device so as to enable inter-terminal communication, and connected to a wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device is connected via the tethering terminal device;
A second network connection unit for connecting to a wireless communication network to which the portable terminal device can be connected;
When the first network connection unit is connected to the wireless communication network via the tethering terminal device, information indicating the communication method of the handover destination wireless communication network when vertical handover is executed in the tethering terminal device, A first information acquisition unit that acquires from the tethering terminal device;
When the first information acquisition unit acquires information indicating a communication method from the tethering terminal device, a second information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a communication method of a wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can currently be connected;
Priority information with priorities set for each communication method is included for multiple communication methods, including the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can be connected and the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device can be connected. A priority information storage unit for storing;
When each of the first and second information acquisition units acquires information indicating the communication method, the priority of the communication method of the handover destination wireless communication network is determined based on the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit. And the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable, and the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable is the handover destination A determination unit for determining whether or not the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network is higher;
When the determination unit determines that the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable is higher than the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network of the handover destination, And a connection switching unit for disconnecting the network connection unit from the wireless communication network and connecting the second network connection unit to a wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can currently be connected. It is a terminal device.

Further, the present invention is a tethering terminal device that can be connected to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication schemes and has a function of executing vertical handover between the plurality of wireless communication networks and a tethering function,
An inter-terminal connection unit that connects to an external terminal device to be tethered so that inter-terminal communication is possible,
A handover execution unit that performs vertical handover between the plurality of wireless communication networks;
When an external terminal device to which the inter-terminal connection unit is connected is connected to a wireless communication network to which the own device is connected via its own device, when the handover executing unit executes a vertical handover, a handover destination The tethering terminal device includes an information notification unit for notifying the external terminal device of information indicating a communication method of the wireless communication network.

The present invention also provides a tethering terminal device that can be connected to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication methods and has a function of executing vertical handover between the plurality of wireless communication networks and a tethering function, and the tethering terminal device and terminal. A network connection system including a portable terminal device that can be connected to a plurality of wireless communication networks that can communicate with each other and have a predetermined communication method different from each other,
The tethering terminal device
An inter-terminal connection unit for connecting to the mobile terminal device so that inter-terminal communication is possible;
A handover execution unit that performs vertical handover between a plurality of wireless communication networks to which the own tethering terminal device can be connected;
When the mobile terminal device to which the inter-terminal connection unit is connected is connected to the wireless communication network to which the self-tethering terminal device is connected via the self-tethering terminal device, the handover execution unit executes vertical handover Then, the information indicating the communication method of the wireless communication network of the handover destination includes an information notification unit that notifies the mobile terminal device,
The portable terminal device
A first network connection unit connected to the tethering terminal device so as to enable inter-terminal communication, and connected to a wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device is connected via the tethering terminal device;
A second network connection unit for connecting to a wireless communication network to which the portable terminal device can be connected;
When the first network connection unit is connected to the wireless communication network via the tethering terminal device, information indicating a communication method of the wireless communication network of the handover destination when vertical handover is executed in the tethering terminal device A first information acquisition unit that acquires from the tethering terminal device;
When the first information acquisition unit acquires information indicating the communication method from the tethering terminal device, the second information acquisition unit acquires information indicating the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can currently connect; ,
Priority information in which a priority is set for each communication method for a plurality of communication methods including a communication method of a wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can be connected and a communication method of a wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device can be connected A priority information storage unit for storing
When each of the first and second information acquisition units acquires information indicating the communication method, the priority of the communication method of the handover destination wireless communication network is determined based on the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit. And the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable, and the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable is the handover destination A determination unit for determining whether or not the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network is higher;
When the determination unit determines that the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable is higher than the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network of the handover destination, A connection switching unit that disconnects the network connection unit from the wireless communication network and connects the second network connection unit to a wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can currently be connected. It is a connection system.

  According to the present invention, when a portable terminal device is connected to a wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device is connected via a tethering terminal device that can be connected to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication methods. When vertical handover is executed in the tethering terminal device, the mobile terminal device acquires information indicating the communication method of the wireless communication network of the handover destination from the tethering terminal device, and the wireless device to which the own device can currently connect Information indicating the communication method of the communication network is acquired, and the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can currently be connected is determined based on the priority information in which the priority is set for each communication method. If it is higher than the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network, it passes through the tethering terminal device. Disconnect from the wireless communication network, automatically switched to the own apparatus is connected directly to the current connectable wireless communication network.

  In this way, the user can automatically switch to the optimum connection destination wireless communication network without monitoring the wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device is connected and making a determination for switching. Convenience can be improved.

It is a figure showing roughly an example of composition of network connection system 1 concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of a functional structure of the portable terminal device 10 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and the tethering terminal device 20 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main hardware constitutions of the portable terminal device 10 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and the tethering terminal device 20 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of operation | movement of the network connection system 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of operation | movement of the network connection system 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of a network connection system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The network connection system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a mobile terminal device 10 and a mobile terminal device 20 having a tethering function (hereinafter referred to as “tethering terminal device 20”).

  The mobile terminal device 10 is realized by a mobile phone device such as a smartphone, and can be connected to a wireless communication network 2 of a wireless communication service provided by a mobile communication operator with which the device 10 is contracted.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal device 10 can be connected to a 3G network 2a whose communication method is the W-CDMA method and a WiMAX network 2b whose communication method is the mobile WiMAX method. That is, the mobile terminal device 10 can be connected to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication protocols.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal device 10 can be connected to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication protocols, but may be connected to only one wireless communication network.

  The tethering terminal device 20 is realized by a mobile phone device such as a smartphone, and can be connected to a wireless communication network 2 of a wireless communication service provided by a mobile communication operator with which the device 20 is contracted.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the tethering terminal device 20 can be connected to the 3G network 2c whose communication method is the CDMA2000 1x method and the LTE network 2d whose communication method is the LTE method. That is, the tethering terminal device 20 can be connected to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication protocols.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the portable terminal device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20 are comprised so that communication between terminals can be performed among them. The inter-terminal communication between the portable terminal device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20 may be either wired communication or wireless communication. However, the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device 20 can be connected (example shown in FIG. 1) Then, it is assumed that inter-terminal communication can be performed at a speed higher than the communication speed of 3G and LTE.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the mobile terminal device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention and the tethering terminal device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal device 10 according to the present embodiment includes an inter-terminal communication unit 11, one or a plurality of (three in the example illustrated in FIG. 2) protocol operation units 12, a protocol switching unit 13, and the like. The own communication / other communication switching determination unit 14, the priority information storage unit 15, and the application unit 16 are configured.

  Further, the tethering terminal device 20 according to the present embodiment includes an inter-terminal communication unit 21, a plurality (three in the example shown in FIG. 2) of protocol operation units 22, a protocol switching unit 23, and a protocol switching detection / notification unit. 24.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating main hardware configurations of the mobile terminal device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention and the tethering terminal device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the mobile terminal device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20 are provided with the same hardware components.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile terminal device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20 according to the present embodiment include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 32 that is a main storage device, and a ROM (Read Only Memory). ) 33, an input / output device 34 realized by a touch panel and various operation keys, an inter-terminal communication module 35 for performing inter-terminal communication, and a wireless base included in the wireless communication network 2 to which the own apparatus can be connected And a wireless communication network communication module 36 for performing wireless communication with the station 3.

  The inter-terminal communication module 35 is realized by a wireless local area network (LAN) communication device that performs wireless communication conforming to at least one of the IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n standards, for example.

  The function of each functional block of the mobile terminal device 10 shown in FIG. 2 is the input / output device under the control of the CPU 31 by reading predetermined computer software on hardware such as the CPU 31 and the RAM 32 in the mobile terminal device 10. 34, the inter-terminal communication module 35 and the wireless communication network communication module 36 are operated, and data is read and written in the RAM 32.

  Similarly, the functions of the functional blocks of the tethering terminal device 20 shown in FIG. 2 are controlled under the control of the CPU 31 by loading predetermined computer software on hardware such as the CPU 31 and the RAM 32 in the tethering terminal device 20. It is realized by operating the input / output device 34, the inter-terminal communication module 35, and the wireless communication network communication module 36, and reading and writing data in the RAM 32.

  Hereinafter, each functional block of the mobile terminal device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The terminal-to-terminal communication unit 11 (first network connection unit) and the terminal-to-terminal communication unit 21 (terminal-to-terminal connection unit) are connected between the mobile terminal device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20 by a user input operation via the input / output device 34. When a connection command for performing inter-terminal communication is given, the inter-terminal communication module 35 is operated to establish a connection between the mobile terminal device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20.

  In addition, the inter-terminal communication unit 11 performs protocol switching in a state where the own device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20 are connected to be able to communicate with each other and the tethering terminal device 20 is executing processing for realizing the tethering function. When an operation command is given from the unit 13, the wireless communication network 2 to which the tethering terminal device 20 is connected is connected via the tethering terminal device 20. Further, when a disconnection command is given from the protocol switching unit 13, the connection to the wireless communication network 2 via the tethering terminal device 20 is disconnected.

  The protocol operation unit 12 (second network connection unit) is provided for each wireless communication network 2 to which the own device 10 can be connected. When an operation command is given from the protocol switching unit 13, the protocol operation unit 12 (second network connection unit) is assigned to itself. The communication protocol of the communication system of the wireless communication network 2 is operated to connect to the one wireless communication network 2, and when a disconnection command is given from the protocol switching unit 13, the connection to the one wireless communication network 2 is disconnected. To do.

  In addition, each protocol operation unit 12 includes, for example, the reception status (reception level) of the signal transmitted from the radio base station 3 included in the radio communication network 2 assigned to itself in the radio communication network communication module 36. Information used to determine whether or not the connection to the wireless communication network 2 is appropriate (hereinafter referred to as “connection appropriateness information”) is notified to the protocol switching unit 13.

  In the case of the example shown in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal device 10 operates the W-CDMA communication protocol to connect to the 3G network 2a and the WiMAX communication protocol to operate WiMAX. And a protocol operation unit 12 connected to the network 2b.

  Similarly, the protocol operation unit 22 is provided for each wireless communication network 2 to which the own device 20 can be connected. When an operation command is given from the protocol switching unit 23, the protocol operation unit 22 is connected to the one wireless communication network 2 assigned to itself. The communication protocol of the communication system is operated to connect to the one wireless communication network 2. When a disconnect command is given from the protocol switching unit 23, the connection to the one wireless communication network 2 is disconnected. Each protocol operation unit 22 notifies the protocol switching unit 23 of the connection suitability information.

  In the case of the example shown in FIG. 1, the tethering terminal device 20 operates the CDMA2000 1x communication protocol to connect to the 3G network 2c and operates the LTE communication protocol to operate the LTE network 2d. And a protocol operation unit 22 connected to the network.

  The protocol switching unit 13 (connection switching unit) is a communication destination provided on the Internet based on the command given from the own communication / other communication switching determination unit 14 and the connection suitability information notified from each protocol operation unit 12. The wireless communication network 2 that forms a communication path for performing data communication with the device 4 is switched.

  Specifically, the protocol switching unit 13 determines whether or not a command to connect to the network via the tethering terminal device 20 is received when the one protocol operation unit 12 is connected to the wireless communication network 2. When given from the unit 14, the disconnection command is given to the one protocol operation unit 12, and the operation command is given to the inter-terminal communication unit 11.

  Thereby, the wireless communication network 2 to which the portable terminal device 10 is connected is switched from the wireless communication network 2 to which the one protocol operation unit 12 is connected to the wireless communication network 2 to which the tethering terminal device 20 is connected.

  Further, the protocol switching unit 13 receives a command for directly connecting the own device 10 to the network when the own device 10 is connected to the wireless communication network 2 via the tethering terminal device 20. 14, the disconnection command is given to the inter-terminal communication unit 11, and the operation command is given to one protocol operation unit 12 selected based on the connection suitability information notified from each protocol operation unit 12.

  Thereby, the wireless communication network 2 to which the mobile terminal device 10 is connected is assigned to the one protocol operation unit 12 selected by the protocol switching unit 13 from the wireless communication network 2 to which the tethering terminal device 20 is connected. Switch to the wireless communication network 2.

  Note that the protocol switching unit 13 is based on the connection suitability information notified from each protocol operation unit 12 and is optimally considered in terms of communication speed and communication quality from among the wireless communication networks 2 to which the device 10 can be connected. One protocol operation unit 12 is selected so as to be connected to the wireless communication network 2.

  Thereafter, the protocol switching unit 13 is based on the connection suitability information notified from each protocol operation unit 12 until a command to connect to the network via the tethering terminal device 20 is given from the own communication / other communication switching determination unit 14. Then, an operation command or disconnection command is sent to the protocol operation unit 12 so that the wireless communication network 2 to which the device 10 can be connected is connected to the optimal wireless communication network 2 in consideration of the communication speed and communication quality. As a result, the wireless communication network 2 to be connected is dynamically switched. That is, the protocol switching unit 13 executes vertical handover between a plurality of wireless communication networks 2 to which the own device 10 can be connected.

  The protocol switching unit 23 (handover execution unit) considers the communication speed, communication quality, and the like from among the wireless communication networks 2 to which the device 20 can be connected based on the connection suitability information notified from each protocol operation unit 22. The wireless communication network 2 to be connected is dynamically switched by giving an operation command or a disconnection command to the protocol operation unit 22 so as to be connected to the optimal wireless communication network 2. That is, the protocol switching unit 23 performs vertical handover between a plurality of wireless communication networks 2 to which the own device 20 can be connected.

  The protocol switching detection / notification unit 24 (information notification unit) performs protocol switching when the mobile terminal device 10 performing inter-terminal communication with the own device 20 is connected to the wireless communication network 2 via the own device 20. When the protocol switching unit 23 performs vertical handover, the communication protocol of the communication method of the handover destination wireless communication network 2 (hereinafter referred to as “handover destination communication protocol”) is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 10. To notify.

  In addition, the protocol switching detection / notification unit 24 enables all wireless communication networks 2 to which the own device 20 can be connected from the portable terminal device 10 when the own device 20 and the portable terminal device 10 are performing inter-terminal communication. In response to the notification request for the communication protocol of the communication method and the notification request for the communication protocol of the communication method of the wireless communication network 2 to which the device 20 is currently connected, the requested information is received in response to each notification request. Is notified to the mobile terminal device 10. The protocol switching unit 23 notifies the mobile terminal device 10 of the communication protocol of the communication method supported by the one protocol operation unit 22 currently selected.

  When the own device 10 is connected to the wireless communication network 2 via the tethering terminal device 20, the own communication / other communication switching judgment unit 14 (first information acquisition unit, second information acquisition unit, judgment unit) The handover destination communication protocol is acquired from the tethering terminal apparatus 20.

  In addition, when the own communication / other communication switching determination unit 14 acquires the handover destination communication protocol, the protocol switching unit 13 of the wireless communication network 2 to which the own device 10 is currently connectable notifies the respective protocol operation units 12. Wireless communication network 2 assigned to one protocol operation unit 12 to be selected based on the connection suitability information to be selected, that is, the communication protocol of the communication method of the optimal wireless communication network 2 (hereinafter, “own device connection destination communication protocol”) Called).

  In this way, when the handover destination communication protocol and the own apparatus connection destination communication protocol are acquired, the priority of the handover destination communication protocol and the self communication are determined based on the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit 15. Compare with the priority of the device connection destination communication protocol.

  Then, if the priority of the own device connection destination communication protocol is higher than the priority of the handover destination communication protocol, a command to directly connect the own device 10 to the network is given to the protocol switching unit 13. The protocol switching unit 13 to which the command is given gives an operation command to the protocol operation unit 12 that operates the local apparatus connection destination communication protocol, and also gives a disconnect command to the inter-terminal communication unit 11.

  As a result, the wireless communication network 2 to which the mobile terminal device 10 is connected is switched from the wireless communication network 2 to which the tethering terminal device 20 is connected to the wireless communication network 2 assigned to the protocol operation unit 12.

  On the other hand, if the priority of the handover destination communication protocol is higher than the priority of the local apparatus connection destination communication protocol, the apparatus waits without issuing a command. Thereby, the state connected to the wireless communication network 2 via the tethering terminal device 20 is maintained.

  In addition, the own communication / other communication switching determination unit 14 is connected to the own device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20 so as to be capable of inter-terminal communication, and the tethering terminal device 20 is executing a process for realizing a tethering function. The communication request for the communication protocol of all the wireless communication networks 2 to which the tethering terminal device 20 can be connected to the tethering terminal device 20 and the wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device 20 is currently connected A notification request for a communication protocol of the second communication method (hereinafter referred to as “communication protocol while connected to the other party”) is transmitted.

  When receiving the information in response to each notification request from the tethering terminal device 20, the communication protocols of all the wireless communication networks 2 that can be connected to the tethering terminal device 20 are stored in a predetermined storage unit (not shown). The communication protocol of the wireless communication network 2 to which the own device 10 is currently connected (hereinafter referred to as “the own device connected communication protocol”) is acquired.

  In this way, when the communication protocol being connected to the other party and the communication protocol being connected to the own apparatus are acquired, the priority of the communication protocol being connected to the other party is based on the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit 15. And the priority of the communication protocol during connection to the own device.

  Then, if the priority of the communication protocol being connected to the other party is higher than the priority of the communication protocol being connected to the own device, the protocol switching unit 13 is instructed to connect to the network via the tethering terminal device 20. The protocol switching unit 13 to which the command is given gives an operation command to the inter-terminal communication unit 11 and gives a disconnect command to the protocol operation unit 12 that operates the communication protocol during connection to the own device.

  Thereby, the wireless communication network 2 to which the mobile terminal device 10 is connected switches from the wireless communication network 2 assigned to the protocol operation unit 12 to the wireless communication network 2 to which the tethering terminal device 20 is connected.

  On the other hand, if the priority of the communication protocol being connected to the own apparatus is higher than the priority of the communication protocol being connected to the other party, the apparatus waits without issuing a command. Thereby, the state connected to the wireless communication network 2 assigned to the protocol operation unit 12 is maintained.

  The priority information storage unit 15 includes a plurality of communication types including a communication protocol of a communication method of the wireless communication network 2 to which the own device 10 can be connected and a communication protocol of a communication method of the wireless communication network 2 to which the tethering terminal device 20 can be connected. For the communication protocol of the method, priority information in which a priority is set for each communication method is stored.

  For example, the priority is set in advance based on the communication speed in each communication method so that the higher the communication speed, the higher the priority. The priority is not limited to the communication speed, and may be set based on other communication parameters in each communication method, or may be set in consideration of a plurality of parameters including the communication speed.

  The application unit 16 is application software that is assumed to use network communication among application software stored in a storage device (not shown) such as a semiconductor memory mounted on the mobile terminal device 10, for example, the Internet. When the CPU 31 executes moving image playback software for reproducing moving image data acquired from the communication destination device 4 via the Internet or a web browser displaying the web page acquired from the communication destination device 4 via the Internet, the own device 10 Performs data communication with the communication destination device 4 via the wireless communication network 2 that is currently connected directly or indirectly.

  4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation flow of the network connection system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and correspond to the example illustrated in FIG. 4A and 4B, the alternate long and short dash line indicates a communication path between the mobile terminal device 10 and the communication destination device 4 to which the application unit 16 of the mobile terminal device 10 is going to perform data communication.

  The priority information stored in the priority information storage unit 15 of the mobile terminal device 10 includes an LTE communication protocol, a WiMAX communication protocol, a W-CDMA communication protocol, and a CDMA2000 1x communication protocol. It is assumed that priorities are set in advance for each communication protocol so that the priorities become lower in this order.

  First, in the state shown in FIG. 4A (a), the mobile terminal device 10 exists in the connectable area of the WiMAX network 2b, and the protocol operating unit 12 operates the WiMAX communication protocol to connect to the WiMAX network 2b. Thus, the application unit 16 performs data communication with the communication destination device 4 via the WiMAX network 2b. On the other hand, the tethering terminal device 20 exists in the connectable area of the LTE network 2d.

  In this state, when a connection command for performing communication between terminals is given by the user's operation in the mobile terminal device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20, the inter-terminal communication unit 11 and the inter-terminal communication unit 21 perform inter-terminal communication. The module 35 is operated to establish a connection between the mobile terminal device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20. Thereby, the portable terminal device 10 and the tethering terminal device 20 are connected so that communication between terminals is possible. Further, in the tethering terminal device 20, an instruction for executing the tethering function is given by the user.

  When the portable terminal device 10 is connected to the tethering terminal device 20 so that communication between terminals is possible, and the tethering terminal device 20 executes processing for realizing the tethering function, the self-communication / other communication switching determination unit 14 performs tethering. The terminal device 20 is notified of the communication protocol of the communication system of all the wireless communication networks 2 to which the tethering terminal device 20 can be connected and the notification request of the communication protocol being connected to the other side.

  In the tethering terminal device 20, when the notification request is received from the mobile terminal device 10, the protocol switching detection / notification unit 24 notifies the mobile terminal device 10 of the requested information in response to each notification request. Specifically, the communication protocol of the CDMA2000 1x system and the LTE communication protocol are notified as the communication protocol of the connectable wireless communication network 2, and the LTE communication protocol is used as the communication protocol for the other party's connection. Notice.

  When the mobile terminal device 10 receives these pieces of information from the tethering terminal device 20, the self-communication / other communication switching determination unit 14 determines communication protocols of communication methods of all the wireless communication networks 2 to which the tethering terminal device 20 can be connected. In addition to being stored in a predetermined storage unit (not shown), the communication protocol during connection to the own apparatus is acquired. Specifically, a WiMAX communication protocol is acquired as the communication protocol during connection to the own apparatus.

  Further, the own communication / other communication switching determination unit 14 determines the other party based on the acquired other party connected communication protocol, the own apparatus connected communication protocol, and the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit 15. The priority of the communication protocol during side connection is compared with the priority of the communication protocol during connection to the own device.

  Here, as described above, the LTE communication protocol, which is the communication protocol during the other party's connection, has a higher priority than the WiMAX communication protocol, which is the communication protocol during connection to the own device. The communication switching determination unit 14 gives an instruction to the protocol switching unit 13 to connect to the network via the tethering terminal device 20.

  The protocol switching unit 13 to which the command is given gives an operation command to the inter-terminal communication unit 11 and gives a disconnect command to the protocol operation unit 12 operating the WiMAX communication protocol.

  Thereby, the wireless communication network 2 to which the mobile terminal device 10 is connected is switched from the WiMAX network 2b to which the own device 10 is connected to the LTE network 2d to which the tethering terminal device 20 is currently connected, as shown in FIG. 4A (b). As illustrated, the application unit 16 performs data communication with the communication destination device 4 via the LTE network 2d.

  In this state, when the tethering terminal device 20 moves out of the connectable area of the LTE network 2d and moves to the connectable area of the 3G network 2c, in the tethering terminal device 20, the protocol switching unit 23 changes the LTE communication protocol. A vertical handover is executed by giving a disconnect command to the operating protocol operating unit 22 and giving an operation command to the protocol operating unit 22 operating the CDMA2000 1x communication protocol.

  As a result, the wireless communication network 2 to which the tethering terminal device 20 is connected is switched from the LTE network 2d to the 3G network 2c, so that the application unit 16 is connected via the 3G network 2c as shown in FIG. 4A (c). Data communication is performed with the communication destination device 4.

  When the vertical handover is executed in this way, as shown in FIG. 4B (d), in the tethering terminal device 20, the protocol switching detection / notification unit 24 notifies the mobile terminal device 10 of the handover destination communication protocol. Specifically, a CDMA2000 1x communication protocol is notified as the handover destination communication protocol.

  In the portable terminal device 10, when the handover destination communication protocol is received from the tethering terminal device 20, the own communication / other communication switching determination unit 14 acquires the own device connection destination communication protocol. Here, it is assumed that the mobile terminal device 10 still exists in the connectable area of the WiMAX network 2b, and a WiMAX communication protocol is acquired as the local device connection destination communication protocol.

  Further, the own communication / other communication switching determination unit 14 performs the handover destination communication based on the acquired handover destination communication protocol and the own apparatus connection destination communication protocol, and the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit 15. The protocol priority is compared with the priority of the local device communication protocol.

  Here, as described above, the communication protocol of the WiMAX system that is the own device connection destination communication protocol has a higher priority than the communication protocol of the CDMA2000 1x method that is the handover destination communication protocol. The switching determination unit 14 gives a command to the protocol switching unit 13 to directly connect the own device 10 to the network.

  The protocol switching unit 13 to which the command is given gives an operation command to the protocol operation unit 12 that operates the local apparatus connection destination communication protocol, and also gives a disconnect command to the inter-terminal communication unit 11.

  As a result, the wireless communication network 2 to which the mobile terminal device 10 is connected is switched from the 3G network 2c to which the tethering terminal device 20 is currently connected to the WiMAX network 2b to which the device 10 can be currently connected, as shown in FIG. 4B (e). As shown in FIG. 4, the application unit 16 performs data communication with the communication destination device 4 via the WiMAX network 2b.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a vertical handover is executed in the tethering terminal device 20 when the mobile terminal device 10 is connected to the wireless communication network via the tethering terminal device 20, the mobile terminal device 10 acquires the handover destination communication protocol from the tethering terminal apparatus and also acquires the own apparatus connection destination communication protocol. Then, based on the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit 15, if the priority of the own device connection destination communication protocol is higher than the priority of the handover destination communication protocol, wireless communication via the tethering terminal device 20 is performed. The connection to the communication network 2 is cut off, and the apparatus 10 is automatically switched so as to directly connect to the wireless communication network 2 to which the device 10 can be currently connected.

  That is, the user of the mobile terminal device 10 automatically monitors the wireless communication network 2 to which the tethering terminal device 20 is connected, and automatically determines the wireless communication at the connection destination without determining whether to switch the communication path. Since the network 2 can be switched to an optimal one, the convenience for the user can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network connection system 2 Wireless communication network 4 Destination apparatus 10 Portable terminal device 11 Inter-terminal communication part 12 Protocol operation part 13 Protocol switching part 14 Self-communication / other communication switching judgment part 15 Priority information storage part 16 Application part 20 Tethering terminal Device 21 Inter-terminal communication unit 22 Protocol operation unit 23 Protocol switching unit 24 Protocol switching detection / notification unit

Claims (3)

It is connectable to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication methods, and is capable of performing inter-terminal communication with a tethering terminal apparatus having a function of executing vertical handover and a tethering function between the plurality of wireless communication networks. A portable terminal device connectable to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication methods,
A first network connection unit connected to the tethering terminal device so as to enable inter-terminal communication, and connected to a wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device is connected via the tethering terminal device;
A second network connection unit for connecting to a wireless communication network to which the portable terminal device can be connected;
When the first network connection unit is connected to the wireless communication network via the tethering terminal device, information indicating the communication method of the handover destination wireless communication network when vertical handover is executed in the tethering terminal device, A first information acquisition unit that acquires from the tethering terminal device;
When the first information acquisition unit acquires information indicating a communication method from the tethering terminal device, a second information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a communication method of a wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can currently be connected;
Priority information with priorities set for each communication method is included for multiple communication methods, including the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can be connected and the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device can be connected. A priority information storage unit for storing;
When each of the first and second information acquisition units acquires information indicating the communication method, the priority of the communication method of the handover destination wireless communication network is determined based on the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit. And the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable, and the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable is the handover destination A determination unit for determining whether or not the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network is higher;
When the determination unit determines that the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable is higher than the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network of the handover destination, And a connection switching unit for disconnecting the network connection unit from the wireless communication network and connecting the second network connection unit to a wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can currently be connected. Terminal device. A tethering terminal device that can be connected to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication methods and has a function of executing vertical handover between the plurality of wireless communication networks and a tethering function,
An inter-terminal connection unit that connects to an external terminal device to be tethered so that inter-terminal communication is possible,
A handover execution unit that performs vertical handover between the plurality of wireless communication networks;
When an external terminal device to which the inter-terminal connection unit is connected is connected to a wireless communication network to which the own device is connected via its own device, when the handover executing unit executes a vertical handover, a handover destination A tethering terminal device, comprising: an information notification unit that notifies the external terminal device of information indicating a communication method of the wireless communication network. A tethering terminal device that can be connected to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication methods, has a function of executing vertical handover between the plurality of wireless communication networks, and a tethering function, and can communicate with the tethering terminal device between terminals. In addition, a network connection system including a predetermined one or a mobile terminal device connectable to a plurality of wireless communication networks having different communication methods,
The tethering terminal device
An inter-terminal connection unit for connecting to the mobile terminal device so that inter-terminal communication is possible;
A handover execution unit that performs vertical handover between a plurality of wireless communication networks to which the own tethering terminal device can be connected;
When the mobile terminal device to which the inter-terminal connection unit is connected is connected to the wireless communication network to which the self-tethering terminal device is connected via the self-tethering terminal device, the handover execution unit executes vertical handover Then, the information indicating the communication method of the wireless communication network of the handover destination includes an information notification unit that notifies the mobile terminal device,
The portable terminal device
A first network connection unit connected to the tethering terminal device so as to enable inter-terminal communication, and connected to a wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device is connected via the tethering terminal device;
A second network connection unit for connecting to a wireless communication network to which the portable terminal device can be connected;
When the first network connection unit is connected to the wireless communication network via the tethering terminal device, information indicating a communication method of the wireless communication network of the handover destination when vertical handover is executed in the tethering terminal device A first information acquisition unit that acquires from the tethering terminal device;
When the first information acquisition unit acquires information indicating the communication method from the tethering terminal device, the second information acquisition unit acquires information indicating the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can currently connect; ,
Priority information in which a priority is set for each communication method for a plurality of communication methods including a communication method of a wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can be connected and a communication method of a wireless communication network to which the tethering terminal device can be connected A priority information storage unit for storing
When each of the first and second information acquisition units acquires information indicating the communication method, the priority of the communication method of the handover destination wireless communication network is determined based on the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit. And the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable, and the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable is the handover destination A determination unit for determining whether or not the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network is higher;
When the determination unit determines that the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device is currently connectable is higher than the priority of the communication method of the wireless communication network of the handover destination, A connection switching unit that disconnects the network connection unit from the wireless communication network and connects the second network connection unit to a wireless communication network to which the mobile terminal device can currently be connected. Connection system.

Images