JP6885987B2 - Mobile communication terminals, control methods, control programs, and billing systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to mobile communication terminals, control methods, control programs, and billing systems.

Conventionally, it may be referred to as another telecommunications carrier (“other telecommunications carrier”) that is affiliated with a telecommunications carrier (sometimes referred to as a “contracted telecommunications carrier”) to which the user has a subscription contract. ) Is known as a mobile communication terminal capable of so-called data roaming communication using the equipment. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile communication terminal capable of performing international data roaming communication when traveling overseas according to a data roaming communication permission setting set by a user.

International Publication No. 2005/029886

However, when a user uses a mobile communication terminal that performs data roaming communication such as international data roaming communication, the contracted communication carrier may charge a communication usage fee higher than the normal communication usage fee. For this reason, the user needs to make settings that do not allow data roaming communication to the mobile communication terminal in order to prevent data roaming communication by various application programs from being performed outside the communication service provision area of the contracted telecommunications carrier. was there.

In such a case, the contracted telecommunications carrier cannot provide a service by a useful application program (for example, a language translation application program) to a user (for example, a user when traveling overseas) who is outside the communication service providing area. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and makes it possible to automatically provide a specific communication service to a user even when data roaming communication is not permitted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile communication terminal, a control method, a control program, and a billing system.

The mobile communication terminal according to the present invention is a mobile communication terminal capable of executing an application program, and has a storage unit for storing information for identifying the first APN and the second APN set by the first communication carrier, and a first. (1) A communication unit that communicates with a communication network managed by a communication carrier and a communication control unit that controls the communication unit are provided, and the communication control unit is associated with at least one application program among a plurality of application programs. When the information indicating the second APN is stored in the storage unit and the data communication instruction by the running application program is acquired, the mobile communication terminal is within the communication area of the first base station operated by the first communication carrier. In some cases, by transmitting a first communication request including information indicating the first APN to the first base station, the communication unit is controlled so as to perform data communication with the communication network, and the mobile communication terminal is the first base station. Information indicating the second APN if it is outside the communication area and within the communication area of the second base station operated by the second communication carrier and the information indicating the second APN is associated with the running application program. By transmitting a second communication request including the above to the second base station, the communication unit is controlled so as to perform data roaming communication with the communication network, and the information indicating the second APN must be associated with the running application program. For example, the communication unit is controlled so as not to transmit the second communication request to the second base station.

Further, in the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention, the application program being executed is preferably an application program that translates the language information input by the user into other language information.

Further, in the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention, the application program being executed is preferably an application program that displays electronic map information and performs navigation.

Further, in the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention, the data roaming communication is preferably an international data roaming communication.

The control method according to the present invention communicates between a storage unit that stores information for identifying the first APN and the second APN set by the first communication carrier and a communication network managed by the first communication carrier. It is a control method of a mobile communication terminal provided with a communication unit and capable of executing an application program, and stores information indicating a second APN associated with at least one application program among a plurality of application programs in the storage unit. If the mobile communication terminal is within the communication area of the first base station operated by the first communication carrier when the data communication instruction by the running application program is acquired, the first communication request including the information indicating the first APN is included. Is transmitted to the first base station to control the communication unit so as to perform data communication with the communication network, and the mobile communication terminal is outside the communication range of the first base station and is operated by the second communication carrier. If the application program being executed is associated with information indicating the second APN, a second communication request including the information indicating the second APN is transmitted to the second base station in the communication range of the second base station. Therefore, the communication unit is controlled so as to perform data roaming communication with the communication network, and the second communication request is not transmitted to the second base station unless the information indicating the second APN is associated with the running application program. Including controlling the communication unit so as to.

The control program according to the present invention communicates between a storage unit that stores information for identifying the first APN and the second APN set by the first communication carrier and a communication network managed by the first communication carrier. A control program for a mobile communication terminal provided with a communication unit and capable of executing an application program, and storing information indicating a second APN associated with at least one application program among a plurality of application programs in the storage unit. If the mobile communication terminal is within the communication area of the first base station operated by the first communication carrier when the data communication instruction by the running application program is acquired, the first communication request including the information indicating the first APN is included. Is transmitted to the first base station to control the communication unit so as to perform data communication with the communication network, and the mobile communication terminal is outside the communication range of the first base station and is operated by the second communication carrier. If the application program being executed is associated with information indicating the second APN, a second communication request including the information indicating the second APN is transmitted to the second base station in the communication range of the second base station. Therefore, the communication unit is controlled so as to perform data roaming communication with the communication network, and the second communication request is not transmitted to the second base station unless the information indicating the second APN is associated with the running application program. The mobile communication terminal is made to control the communication unit in this way.

The billing system according to the present invention is a billing system managed by a first telecommunications carrier and manages billing for data communication with a mobile communication terminal capable of data roaming communication, and is operated by the second telecommunications carrier. Via the second base station, via the first gateway corresponding to the first APN included in the first communication request received from the first mobile communication terminal for which data roaming communication permission is set, and via the second base station. When the mobile communication terminal communicates data with the second gateway corresponding to the second APN included in the second communication request received from the second mobile communication terminal for which data roaming communication is not permitted, and the mobile communication terminal by the first gateway. A billing management device that manages billing information and billing information when a mobile communication terminal performs data communication by a second gateway is provided, and a second communication request is made by an application program being executed by the second mobile communication terminal. 2 A communication request transmitted from the second mobile communication terminal when associated with APN.

The billing management device according to the present invention is included in the first communication request received from the first mobile communication terminal for which data roaming communication permission is set via the second base station operated by the second communication carrier. Corresponds to the second APN included in the second communication request received from the first gateway corresponding to the first APN and the second mobile communication terminal set to disallow data roaming communication via the second base station. A billing management device that manages billing for data communication related to the first telecommunications carrier that manages the second gateway, and billing information when the first mobile communication terminal performs data communication by the first gateway, and a second. The second communication request includes a management control unit that manages billing information when the second mobile communication terminal performs data communication by the gateway, and the application program being executed by the second mobile communication terminal is associated with the second APN. In this case, it is a communication request transmitted from the second mobile communication terminal.

The mobile communication terminal, control method, control program, and billing system according to the present invention can automatically provide a specific communication service to a user even when data roaming communication is not permitted. ..

It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the outline of a communication system. It is a figure which shows an example of the schematic structure of the communication system. It is a figure which shows an example of the schematic structure of the mobile communication terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of various screens displayed on the display part of a mobile communication terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of various screens displayed on the display part of a mobile communication terminal. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating various data stored in a terminal storage part. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of various tables. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation flow of application processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation flow of the communication request transmission processing.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, it should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to those embodiments, but extends to the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

(Outline of communication system)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an outline of the communication system according to the present embodiment. The communication system of the present embodiment includes at least a mobile communication terminal capable of data roaming communication and a service providing server capable of providing various communication services to the mobile communication terminal.

The mobile communication terminal is a multifunctional mobile phone (so-called "smartphone") or the like in which a plurality of application programs are installed (stored so as to be usable), and the installed application programs can be executed. An application program is an instruction sequence for causing a mobile communication terminal to execute specific information processing. Hereinafter, the application program installed on the mobile communication terminal may be simply referred to as an "application".

The application is, for example, a web browser application, an e-mail transmission / reception application, a language translation application, a navigation application, a shooting control application, a moving image display application, and the like. The number of applications installed on the mobile communication terminal may be one.

The mobile communication terminal can be connected to the communication network of the contracted communication carrier to which the user of the mobile communication terminal has a subscription contract, and can receive various communication services by the service providing server of the contracted communication carrier or the like. In addition, if the mobile communication terminal is located outside the communication service provision area of the contracted telecommunications carrier and can be connected to the communication network of another telecommunications carrier that has a tie-up contract with the contracted telecommunications carrier, the other telecommunications carrier Data roaming communication can be performed to connect to the communication network of the contracted telecommunications carrier via the communication network of the person. The contract telecommunications carrier is an example of the first telecommunications carrier, and the other telecommunications carriers are an example of the second telecommunications carrier. The data roaming communication is, for example, an international data roaming communication. In this case, the contract communication carrier is a mobile communication carrier in Japan, and the other communication carrier is a mobile communication carrier outside Japan.

The user can set either permission or disapproval of data roaming communication for the mobile communication terminal by operating a predetermined setting screen displayed by the mobile communication terminal. The mobile communication terminal stores information regarding the permission of data roaming communication set by the user. The information regarding the permission of data roaming communication is information indicating that the mobile communication terminal permits data roaming communication and / or information indicating that the mobile communication terminal does not permit data roaming communication.

The mobile communication terminal stores a plurality of types of APNs (Access Point Names). The APN is connection destination information for identifying the gateway managed by the contract communication carrier, and is set in the mobile communication terminal by the contract communication carrier. The plurality of types of APNs include an APN (sometimes referred to as "normal APN") that is normally used when it is located within the communication service provision area of the contract carrier and a communication service of the contract carrier. Includes APNs (sometimes referred to as "specific APNs") that can be used when located outside the provision area of. The mobile communication terminal stores information for identifying an application associated with a specific APN.

Hereinafter, an example of application processing executed when a mobile communication terminal set not to allow data roaming communication acquires a data communication instruction by a running application will be described. The data communication instruction by the running application is the data communication generated by the control unit of the mobile communication terminal in response to the user operating the display screen displayed on the display unit by the screen display command of the running application. Instructions to execute. The data communication instruction by the executing application may be an instruction to execute data communication automatically generated by the control unit of the mobile communication terminal by a predetermined instruction of the executing application.

When a mobile communication terminal acquires a data communication instruction from a running application, whether or not it is located within the communication service provision area of the contract telecommunications carrier, that is, a base station managed by the contract telecommunications carrier (“contract”). It is determined whether or not it is within the communication range of (sometimes referred to as a "base station") ((1) in FIG. 1).

Next, when the mobile communication terminal determines that it is located within the communication range of the contract base station, it communicates by transmitting a normal communication request including a normal APN to the contract base station ((2) in FIG. 1). ).

When the mobile communication terminal determines that it is located within the communication range of the contracted base station, the mobile communication terminal is a base station managed by another communication carrier that has a contract with the contracted communication carrier (when referred to as "other base station"). It is determined whether or not it is located within the communication area of).

When the mobile communication terminal determines that it is located within the communication range of another base station, if a specific APN is associated with the running application, the mobile communication terminal transmits a specific communication request including the specific APN to the other base station. Then, data roaming communication is performed ((3-1) in FIG. 1). Through this data roaming communication, the mobile communication terminal connects to the communication network of another communication carrier, connects to the gateway of the contract communication carrier corresponding to the specific APN via the communication network, and performs data communication.

If the specific APN is not associated with the application being executed, the mobile communication terminal does not transmit the normal communication request and the specific communication request, and does not perform data roaming communication ((3-2) in FIG. 1).

As described above, the mobile communication terminal can automatically perform data roaming communication only for a specific application even if the data roaming communication is not permitted. In this way, even when data roaming communication is not permitted, it is possible to provide a mobile communication terminal capable of providing a specific communication service to a user.

The above description of FIG. 1 is merely an explanation for deepening the understanding of the contents of the present invention. Specifically, the present invention may be carried out in each of the embodiments described below, and may be carried out by various modifications without substantially exceeding the principles of the present invention. All such variations are included within the scope of the present invention and the present specification.

(Rough configuration of communication system 1)
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the communication system 1. The communication system 1 shown in FIG. 2 is a communication system based on the LTE (Long Term Evolution) method, and includes a mobile communication terminal 2, another base station 3, an MME (Mobility Management Entity) 4, and an SGW (Serving Gateway) 5. , PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function) 6, HSS (Home Subscriber Server) 7, multiple PGW (Packet Data Network Gateway) 8 (8a, 8b), billing management device 9, PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules) It has a Function) 10, a network 11, and a service providing server 12.

The other base station 3, MME4, SGW5 and PCRF6 are a part of the nodes constituting the communication network of the other telecommunications carrier, and the HSS7, the plurality of PGW8s, the billing management device 9 and the PCRF10 are the communication networks of the contract telecommunications carriers. It is a part of the nodes that make up.

The communication network of the contracted carrier and the communication network of another carrier are connected by IPX, which is an IP relay network managed and provided by the IPX (IP eXchange) carrier. The plurality of PGW 8s are connected to the service providing server 12 via a network 11 such as the Internet.

The other base station 3 is an eNodeB managed by another telecommunications carrier. Each other base station 3 communicates with the mobile communication terminal 2 within the reach (cell) of the radio wave transmitted from itself. When the mobile communication terminal 2 is located outside the cell boundary (cell edge) of the other base station 3, it is in a so-called "out of service area" state in which it cannot be connected to the communication network of another communication carrier.

The MME 4 has a sequence control function, a position management function when the mobile communication terminal 2 is in the standby state, and a paging function for another base station 3 when an incoming call is received from another mobile communication terminal 2 or a telephone (not shown). , Has an authentication management function of the mobile communication terminal 2. In the sequence control function, for example, the communication path of user data is set for another base station 3 or SGW 5.

The SGW 5 is a packet gateway that accommodates another base station 3. The SGW 5 has a function of transmitting user data and the like. The SGW 5 is a connection node that switches a user data transfer path with a wireless network of another communication standard (3G or the like).

PCRF6 determines policy control and billing control rules such as QoS (Quality of Service), and instructs SGW5 of policy control and billing control. In the policy control, for example, a control in which a packet having a high priority (voice packet or the like) is prioritized over browsing the Internet is performed.

HSS7 manages the subscriber information of the communication network of the contracted telecommunications carrier. The HSS 7 stores profile information, an identifier, a service profile, and the like of the user who owns the mobile communication terminal 2.

The PGW 8 is a packet gateway that connects to a network 11 or an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) or the like. The PGW 8 serves as a connection point with a packet data network (PDN) such as IMS, and has a function of assigning an IP address to the mobile communication terminal 2, the mobile communication terminal 2 has LTE wireless access, and a non-3GPP (Third) such as CDMA2000. It has a user data transfer function when moving to and from the Generation Partnership Project). The PGW 8 included in the communication system 1 shown in FIG. 2 is not limited to the two PGW 8a and PGW 8b. For example, communication system 1 may have three or more PGW 8.

The billing management device 9 includes OCS (Online Charging System), OFCS (Offline Charging System), etc., captures the communication volume of the mobile communication terminal 2 in real time, and after the user's mobile communication terminal 2 uses the communication network, It has a management control unit that collects the amount of communication for each user every month.

The PCRF10 determines the policy control and the billing control rule in the same manner as the PCRF6, and instructs each PGW 8 of the policy control and the billing control. For example, the PCRF 10 uses the PGW 8 to slow down the communication speed of the mobile communication terminal 2 of the user when the communication capacity of the user's mobile communication terminal 2 for a predetermined period (1 month) exceeds the predetermined communication capacity (for example, 1 GB). Perform policy control, etc. to instruct.

The service providing server 12 is a server device managed and / or operated by a contract communication carrier, a service provider, or the like. The service providing server 12 may be composed of a plurality of server devices, and in this case, the operating entities of the plurality of server devices may be different operators. The service providing server 12 receives various information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 2 by the application being executed in the mobile communication terminal 2, and executes information processing according to the received information, so that the mobile communication terminal 2 Provide specific communication services to.

An example of data roaming communication will be described with reference to the communication system 1 shown in FIG.

The mobile communication terminal 2 receives a broadcast signal including a PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) periodically transmitted from another base station 3. The PLMN is identification information for identifying a telecommunications carrier that operates a base station. The mobile communication terminal 2 refers to the OPLMN (Operator controlled PLMN) stored in the SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module Card) stored in the mobile communication terminal 2, and the other communication carrier of the other base station 3 is in charge of the contract communication business. It is determined whether or not the mobile communication terminal 2 is a telecommunications carrier that has a tie-up contract with the telecommunications carrier (a telecommunications carrier that can receive the data roaming service). When the mobile communication terminal 2 determines that the other telecommunications carrier of the other base station 3 is a telecommunications carrier that has a tie-up contract with the contracted telecommunications carrier, the mobile communication terminal 2 makes an RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection request to the other base station 3. And establish an RRC.

Next, the mobile communication terminal 2 transmits a connection request to the communication network of the contract communication carrier to the other base station 3. When the MME 4 acquires the connection request from the other base station 3, the MME 4 requests the subscriber information of the user of the mobile communication terminal 2 from the HSS 7 via the IPX, and acquires the subscriber information from the HSS 7. When the MME 4 requests the mobile communication terminal 2 for the information indicating the APN via the other base station 3, the mobile communication terminal 2 transmits the communication request including the information indicating the APN.

When the MME 4 receives the communication request from the mobile communication terminal 2, the MME 4 refers to DNS (not shown) and identifies the PGW 8 corresponding to the APN included in the communication request. The MME 4 transmits the IP address of the PGW 8 to the mobile communication terminal 2 and gives an instruction to the SGW 5 to establish a user data transfer route.

When the communication request from the mobile communication terminal 2 is a specific communication request, the PGW 8a corresponding to the specific APN is specified. Further, when the communication request from the other mobile communication terminal 2 is a communication request different from the specific communication request (including another APN different from the specific APN), the PGW 8b corresponding to the other APN is specified.

As a result, the mobile communication terminal 2 can exchange information with the service providing server 12 via the PGW 8 (PGW 8a or PGW 8b) and the network 11 by being connected to the PGW 8 (PGW 8a or PGW 8b). .. For example, even when the mobile communication terminal 2 is located outside the country, the mobile communication terminal 2 can receive the communication service from the service providing server 12 if the specific communication request is possible.

For example, if the mobile communication terminal 2 executing the language translation application can transmit the language information of a specific language to the service providing server 12 via the PGW 8 and the network 11, the service providing server 12 will perform mobile communication. The language information of a specific language transmitted from the terminal 2 is translated into another language information of another language, the translated other language information is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 2, and the mobile communication terminal 2 receives the other language. Information can be displayed.

Further, if the mobile communication terminal 2 executing the navigation application can transmit the current location information to the service providing server 12 via the PGW 8 and the network 11, the service providing server 12 transmits from the mobile communication terminal 2. Based on the current position information of the mobile communication terminal 2, the electronic map information around the mobile communication terminal 2 is extracted, and the extracted electronic map information is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 2, and the mobile communication terminal 2 receives the information. Electronic map information can be displayed. In this way, applications that are useful even outside the scope of the contract carrier's communication services, such as language translation applications and visualization applications, are automatically installed even when data roaming communication is not permitted. It becomes possible to provide to the user.

When the mobile communication terminal 2 performs data communication with the service providing server 12 via the PGW 8a, the management control unit of the billing management device 9 refers to the PCRF6 and the PCRF10 to refer to the billing information of the user of the mobile communication terminal 2 ( It may be referred to as "specific roaming billing information"). Similarly, when the other mobile communication terminal 2 performs data communication with the service providing server 12 via the PGW 8b, the management control unit of the billing management device 9 refers to the PCRF6 and the PCRF10 and refers to the other mobile communication terminal. It manages the billing information of 2 users (usually referred to as roaming billing information). The PGW 8 (PGW8a or PGW8b) and the billing management device 9 are examples of a billing system.

Comparing the amount shown in the specific roaming billing information with the amount shown in the normal roaming billing information, the amount shown in the specific roaming billing information is larger than the amount shown in the normal roaming billing information even if the communication volume is the same. It is set to be low. As a result, for example, when the data roaming communication is an international data roaming communication and the application (language translation application, navigation application, etc.) useful during overseas travel is an application corresponding to a specific APN, the user is expensive. You can use these useful applications without worrying about being charged a communication fee.

The communication system 1 is not limited to the LTE communication system, and may be a fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system.

(Mobile communication terminal 2)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the mobile communication terminal 2.

The mobile communication terminal 2 executes an application program installed in the mobile communication terminal 2 and realizes a communication service corresponding to the executed application program in response to a user's instruction. Therefore, the mobile communication terminal 2 includes a terminal communication unit 21, a terminal storage unit 22, an operation unit 23, a display unit 24, and a terminal control unit 25.

In the present embodiment, a multifunctional mobile phone is assumed as the mobile communication terminal 2, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The mobile communication terminal 2 may be any application as long as the present invention can be applied, for example, a mobile phone (so-called "feature phone"), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet terminal, a tablet PC (Personal Computer), or the like. But it may be.

The terminal communication unit 21 includes a communication interface circuit including an antenna having a predetermined frequency band as a sensitive band, and connects the mobile communication terminal 2 to a communication network managed by a contract communication carrier. The terminal communication unit 21 establishes an LTE wireless signal line with the base station via a channel assigned by the base station (contract base station, other base station 3), and the base station (contract base station, etc.) Communicate with the base station 3). The wireless communication with the base station (contracted base station, other base station 3) may be wireless communication by a fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system or the like. The terminal communication unit 21 transmits the data supplied from the terminal control unit 25 to an external device such as the service providing server 12 via the communication network managed by the contract communication carrier. Further, the terminal communication unit 21 supplies the data received from the external device to the terminal control unit 25.

The terminal storage unit 22 includes, for example, a semiconductor memory device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory). The terminal storage unit 22 stores an operating system program, a driver program, an application program, data, and the like used for processing by the terminal control unit 25. The driver program stored in the terminal storage unit 22 is a wireless communication device driver program that controls the terminal communication unit 21, an input device driver program that controls the operation unit 23, an output device driver program that controls the display unit 24, and the like. is there. Various programs stored in the terminal storage unit 22 may be installed in the terminal storage unit 22 from, for example, an external device using a known setup program or the like. In addition, the terminal storage unit 22 may temporarily store data related to a predetermined process.

The operation unit 23 is, for example, a pointing device such as a touch panel. The operation unit 23 may be any device as long as the mobile communication terminal 2 can be operated, and may be a keypad, for example. The user can use the operation unit 23 to input characters, numbers and symbols, or the position of the display unit 24 on the display screen. When the operation unit 23 is operated by the user, the operation unit 23 generates a signal corresponding to the operation. Then, the generated signal is supplied to the terminal control unit 25 as a user's instruction.

The display unit 24 is a liquid crystal display. The display unit 24 may be an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display or the like. The display unit 24 displays a video corresponding to the video data supplied from the terminal control unit 25, a moving image according to the moving image data, a still image corresponding to the still image data, and the like.

The terminal control unit 25 includes one or more processors and peripheral circuits thereof. The terminal control unit 25 controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal 2 in an integrated manner, and is, for example, a CPU. The terminal control unit 25 displays the terminal communication unit 21 and displays so that various processes of the mobile communication terminal 2 are executed in an appropriate procedure based on a program stored in the terminal storage unit 22 or an operation of the operation unit 23. Controls the operation of the unit 24 and the like. The terminal control unit 25 executes processing based on a program (operating system program, driver program, application program, etc.) stored in the terminal storage unit 22. Further, the terminal control unit 25 can execute a plurality of programs (application programs and the like) in parallel.

The terminal control unit 25 includes an application control unit 251 that controls the application and a communication control unit 252 that controls the terminal communication unit 21. Each of these units included in the terminal control unit 25 is a functional module realized by a program executed by the processor included in the terminal control unit 25. Alternatively, each of these units included in the terminal control unit 25 may be mounted on the mobile communication terminal 2 as firmware.

Hereinafter, an example of various screens displayed on the display unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

(Home screen 400)
FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of a home screen 400 displayed on the display unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal 2. The home screen 400 is a screen displayed when the mobile communication terminal 2 is activated or a screen displayed in response to a home screen display instruction by the user.

The icon image 401 and the icon image 402 are displayed on the home screen 400. The icon image 401 and the icon image 402 are icon images corresponding to applications that can be executed by the mobile communication terminal 2, respectively. The number of icon images 401 displayed on the home screen 400 may be two or more.

The application corresponding to the icon image 401 shown in FIG. 4A is an application associated with the specific APN, and the application corresponding to the icon image 402 shown in FIG. 4A is an application not associated with the specific APN. Is.

When either the displayed icon image 401 or the icon image 402 is specified in response to the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user, the application control unit 251 gives an execution instruction to execute the application corresponding to the specified icon image. To get. When the application control unit 251 acquires the execution instruction, the application control unit 251 reads the application corresponding to the execution instruction from the terminal storage unit 22. Then, the application control unit 251 executes the read application.

(Execution screen 410)
FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an example of the execution screen 410 of the application corresponding to the icon image 401. The application shown in FIG. 4B is an execution screen of a language translation application. The application corresponding to the icon image 401 is not limited to the language translation application, and may be a navigation application that displays electronic map information and performs navigation.

On the execution screen 410 shown in FIG. 4B, the operation target object 411, the first character string display area 412, the second character string display area 413, and the like are displayed.

The operation target object 411 is an object to be operated by the user using the operation unit 23. For example, when the user performs an operation to specify the operation target object 411, the "character, symbol, or number" or the like (hereinafter, may be referred to as "character or the like") corresponding to the operation target object 411 is selected. The application control unit 251 acquires the selected character or the like.

The first character string display area 412 is a first character string composed of characters or the like arranged according to the acquisition order each time the application control unit 251 acquires a character or the like in response to an operation of the operation target object 411 by the user. Is a display area for displaying. The information indicating the first character string is an example of linguistic information in a specific language.

When the user operates the operation target object 411 and the first character string is displayed in the first character string display area 412, the application control unit 251 outputs a data communication instruction to the communication control unit 252. When the communication control unit 252 acquires the data communication instruction, the communication control unit 252 transmits the communication request to the base station (contract base station, other base station 3). When the mobile communication terminal 2 becomes able to communicate with the service providing server 12 via the communication network of the contracted communication carrier due to the communication request, the translation process by the mobile communication terminal 2 and the service providing server 12 is executed. In the translation process, for example, the communication control unit 252 transmits the translation instruction information including the first character string to the service providing server 12, and the service providing server 12 translates the first character string included in the translation instruction information into a predetermined language. This is a process of generating a second character string and transmitting information indicating the translated result (second character string) to the mobile communication terminal 2. The information indicating the second character string is an example of information in another language in another language different from the specific language.

The second character string display area 413 is a display area in which the application control unit 251 displays the received second character string. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of a case where the second character string is displayed in the second character string display area 413 while the execution screen 410 of the application corresponding to the icon image 401 is being displayed.

FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of an application execution screen 410 when the mobile communication terminal 2 cannot communicate with the service providing server 12 via the communication network of the contracted communication carrier due to a communication request. is there. On the execution screen 410 shown in FIG. 5B, notification information 414 indicating that the mobile communication terminal 2 could not communicate with the service providing server 12 is displayed.

(Terminal storage unit 22)
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining various data stored in the terminal storage unit 22. The terminal storage unit 22 stores the application 221 (221a, 221b), the communication setting table 222, and the APN setting table 223 as data. The type of the application 221 stored in the terminal storage unit 22 may be one type or three or more types.

(Communication setting table 222)
FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the communication setting table 222. In the communication setting table 222 shown in FIG. 7A, mobile network information input by the user operating a predetermined setting screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 24 is stored. The mobile network information includes information on mobile data communication, information on data roaming communication, information indicating a normal APN, information indicating a specific APN, and the like.

For setting either that the mobile communication terminal 2 is permitted to perform mobile data communication and that the mobile communication terminal 2 is not permitted to perform mobile data communication on the predetermined setting screen. The data communication setting object is displayed. When the user operates the data communication setting object using the operation unit 23 to select the permission for mobile data communication, the information indicating "permission" is displayed in association with the "mobile data communication" in the communication setting table 222. It will be remembered. When the user operates the data communication setting object using the operation unit 23 to select disapproval of mobile data communication, "disapproval" is indicated in association with "mobile data communication" in the communication setting table 222. Information is stored.

When the information indicating "permission" is stored in association with the "mobile data communication" in the communication setting table 222, the communication control unit 252 of the mobile communication terminal 2 executes data communication in response to the acquisition of the data communication instruction. .. When the information indicating "not permitted" is stored in association with the "mobile data communication" in the communication setting table 222, the communication control unit 252 of the mobile communication terminal 2 performs data communication even if the data communication instruction is acquired. Do not execute.

For setting either that the mobile communication terminal 2 is permitted to perform data roaming communication and that the mobile communication terminal 2 is not permitted to perform data roaming communication on the predetermined setting screen. The roaming settings object is displayed. When the user operates the roaming setting object using the operation unit 23 to select the permission for data roaming communication, the information indicating "permission" is stored in association with the "data roaming communication" in the communication setting table 222. Will be done. When the user operates the roaming setting object using the operation unit 23 and the disapproval of data roaming communication is selected, the information indicating "disapproval" is associated with the "data roaming communication" in the communication setting table 222. Is remembered.

When information indicating "permission" is stored in association with "data roaming communication" in the communication setting table 222, a mobile communication terminal located outside the communication range of the contracted base station and within the communication range of another base station. The communication control unit 252 of 2 executes data roaming communication in response to the acquisition of the data communication instruction. When information indicating "not permitted" is stored in association with "mobile data communication" in the communication setting table 222, mobile communication is located outside the communication range of the contracted base station and within the communication range of another base station. In principle, the communication control unit 252 of the terminal 2 does not execute data roaming communication even if the data communication instruction is acquired.

Normally, the APN stores information indicating the APN that is normally used when it is located within the communication service providing area of the contracted telecommunications carrier. In the specific APN, information indicating an APN that can be used when located outside the communication service providing area of the contracted telecommunications carrier is stored. Normally, the APN and the specific APN are set by the contracted telecommunications carrier. The normal APN and the specific APN may be the same.

(APN setting table 223)
FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the APN setting table 223. The APN setting table 223 is preset by the contract communication carrier and stored in the terminal storage unit 22.

In the APN setting table 223, the application name and the APN information are stored in association with the application identification information. The application identification information is information for uniquely identifying the application 221.

The APN information is information indicating a specific APN. When the specific APN is not set in the application 221, information indicating that the specific APN is not associated is stored as the APN information, and when the specific APN is set in the application 221, the specific APN is stored as the APN information. The information to be shown is stored.

Part or all of the data in the APN setting table 223 may be automatically stored when the application 221 is stored in the terminal storage unit 22. For example, when the communication control unit 252 of the mobile communication terminal 2 receives an executable file for installing the application 221 from an external device via the terminal communication unit 21, the application 221 is stored in the terminal by activating the executable file. Along with storing (installing) in the unit 22, it is determined based on a known authentication technique whether or not the certificate information contained in the executable file is genuine. When the communication control unit 252 determines that the certificate information included in the executable file is genuine, it associates it with the application identification information for identifying the application 221 stored in the terminal storage unit 22 in the APN setting table 223. The information indicating the specific APN is stored. The execution file may include information indicating a specific APN. In this case, the communication control unit 252 stores the information indicating the specific APN included in the execution file in association with the application identification information.

(Application processing)
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an operation flow of application processing executed by the application control unit 251 and the communication control unit 252 of the mobile communication terminal 2 set so as not to allow data roaming communication.

First, the application control unit 251 acquires an execution instruction to execute the application 221 corresponding to the icon image 401 when the icon image 401 displayed on the display unit 24 is specified in response to the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user. (Step S101), the application 221 corresponding to the execution instruction is read from the terminal storage unit 22, and the read application 221 is executed.

Next, the communication control unit 252 acquires a data communication instruction by the running application 221 (step S102). For example, the application control unit 251 generates a data communication instruction according to a predetermined operation by the user on the display screen displayed on the display unit by the screen display command of the application 221 being executed, or the application 221 being executed. A data communication instruction is automatically generated by the predetermined command of. Next, the application control unit 251 outputs the generated data communication instruction to the communication control unit 252. Then, the communication control unit 252 acquires the data communication instruction from the application control unit 251.

Next, the communication control unit 252 executes the communication request transmission process (step S103). Details of the communication request transmission process will be described later.

The application control unit 251 determines whether or not a communication request has been transmitted in the communication request transmission process (step S103) (step S104).

When the application control unit 251 determines that the communication request has not been transmitted (step S104-No), the application control unit 251 ends the application process.

When the application control unit 251 determines that the communication request has been transmitted (step S104-Yes), the application control unit 251 determines whether or not the mobile communication terminal 2 can communicate with the service providing server 12 via the communication network of the contracted communication carrier. Determine (step S105).

When the mobile communication terminal 2 determines that the mobile communication terminal 2 cannot communicate with the service providing server 12 (step S105-No), the application control unit 251 ends the application process.

When the application control unit 251 determines that the mobile communication terminal 2 can communicate with the service providing server 12 (step S105-Yes), the application control unit 251 performs various processes related to the application 221 by the mobile communication terminal 2 and the service providing server 12. Execute (step S106). For example, when the application 221 is a language translation application, translation processing is executed as various processes. The various processes related to the application 221 may be any process as long as it is executed by exchanging information between the mobile communication terminal 2 and the service providing server 12 via the communication network of the contracted communication carrier.

When the various processes related to the application 221 by the mobile communication terminal 2 and the service providing server 12 are completed, the application process is completed.

(Communication request transmission processing)
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an operation flow of the communication request transmission process executed by the communication control unit 252.

First, the communication control unit 252 determines whether or not the mobile communication terminal 2 is within the communication range of the contracted base station (not shown) (step S201). For example, the communication control unit 252 measures the reception strength of the radio signal transmitted from the base station and receives the broadcast signal including the PLMN periodically transmitted from the base station. The mobile communication terminal 2 has a PLMN included in the broadcast information of the base station that has transmitted a radio signal having a reception strength higher than a predetermined value and an RPLMN (Registered PLMN) stored in the SIM card stored in the mobile communication terminal 2. Refer to it and determine whether the telecommunications carrier of the base station is a contract telecommunications carrier. Then, when the communication operator of the base station determines that it is a contract communication operator, the communication control unit 252 determines that the mobile communication terminal 2 is within the communication area of the contract base station.

When the mobile communication terminal 2 determines that the mobile communication terminal 2 is within the communication range of the contracted base station (step S201-Yes), the communication control unit 252 reads information indicating the normal APN from the communication setting table 222, and causes the contracted base station to use the normal APN. The terminal communication unit 21 is instructed to transmit the normal communication request including the information indicating the above, the terminal communication unit 21 transmits the normal communication request (step S202), and the communication request transmission process is terminated.

When the communication control unit 252 determines that the mobile communication terminal 2 is out of the communication range of the contracted base station (step S201-No), the communication control unit 252 determines whether or not the mobile communication terminal 2 is within the communication range of another base station. (Step S203). For example, the communication control unit 252 measures the reception strength of the radio signal transmitted from the base station and receives the broadcast signal including the PLMN periodically transmitted from the base station. The mobile communication terminal 2 refers to the PLMN included in the broadcast information of the base station that transmitted the radio signal whose reception strength is higher than a predetermined value and the OPLMN stored in the SIM card stored in the mobile communication terminal 2, and the base. Determine if the telecommunications carrier of the station is another telecommunications carrier. Then, when the communication carrier of the base station determines that it is another communication carrier, the communication control unit 252 determines that the mobile communication terminal 2 is within the communication range of the other base station.

When the mobile communication terminal 2 determines that the mobile communication terminal 2 is out of the communication range of another base station (step S203-No), the communication control unit 252 ends the communication request transmission process (does not make a communication request).

When the communication control unit 252 determines that the mobile communication terminal 2 is within the communication range of another base station (step S203-Yes), the specific APN is assigned to the application 221 being executed when the data communication instruction is acquired in step S102. Determine if is associated. (Step S204). For example, the communication control unit 252 identifies the application identification information of the application 221 that is being executed when the data communication instruction is acquired in step S102, and refers to the APN setting table 223, and the specific APN is added to the specified application identification information. Determine if it is associated.

When the communication control unit 252 determines that the specific APN is associated with the running application 221 (step S204-Yes), the communication control unit 252 requests the other base station 3 to transmit a specific communication request including information indicating the specific APN. Instructing the communication unit 21, the terminal communication unit 21 transmits a normal communication request (step S205), and ends the communication request transmission process.

When the communication control unit 252 determines that the specific APN is not associated with the running application 221 (step S204-No), the communication control unit 252 does not give an instruction to the terminal communication unit 21 and ends the communication request transmission process.

In this way, even when the data roaming communication of the mobile communication terminal 2 is not permitted, the mobile communication terminal 2 can automatically perform the data roaming communication only for the specific application 221. ..

(Modification example 1)
The application associated with the specific APN may be a management application that manages a plurality of applications (language translation application, navigation application, etc.). When the management application is executed by the application control unit 251 of the mobile communication terminal 2, the application control unit 251 displays an operation object (operation button or the like) capable of calling a plurality of applications managed by the management application on the display unit 24. To do.

When the user operates the operation object by the operation unit 23, the corresponding application can be executed. A plurality of applications managed by the management application can receive the communication service of the service providing server 12 via the PGW corresponding to the specific APN associated with the management application.

In this way, by managing a plurality of types of applications by one application, it is possible to reduce the storage capacity of the APN setting table 223 and the like and improve the execution processing speed of the mobile communication terminal 2.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, substitutions and modifications can be made to this without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 Communication system 2 Mobile communication terminal 21 Terminal communication unit 22 Terminal storage unit 221,221a, 221b Application 222 Communication setting table 223 APN setting table 23 Operation unit 24 Display unit 25 Terminal control unit 251 Application control unit 252 Communication control unit 3 Other bases Station 4 MME
5 SGW
6 PCRF
7 HSS
8,8a, 8b PGW
9 Billing management device 10 PCRF
11 Network (Internet, etc.)
12 Service providing server

Claims (6)

A mobile communication terminal that can execute application programs
A storage unit that stores information for identifying the first APN and the second APN set by the first telecommunications carrier, and
A communication unit that communicates with the communication network managed by the first telecommunications carrier, and
A communication control unit that controls the communication unit is provided.
The communication control unit
Information indicating the second APN associated with at least one application program among the plurality of application programs is stored in the storage unit.
When the data communication instruction by the running application program is acquired,
When the mobile communication terminal is within the communication area of the first base station operated by the first communication carrier, the first communication request including the information indicating the first APN is transmitted to the first base station. , Control the communication unit so as to perform data communication with the communication network,
When the mobile communication terminal is outside the communication range of the first base station and is within the communication range of the second base station operated by the second communication carrier.
If the information indicating the second APN is associated with the running application program, data with the communication network can be obtained by transmitting a second communication request including the information indicating the second APN to the second base station. The communication unit is controlled so as to perform roaming communication.
A mobile communication terminal characterized in that the communication unit is controlled so as not to transmit the second communication request to the second base station unless the information indicating the second APN is associated with the running application program. .. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the running application program is an application program that translates language information input by a user into other language information. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the running application program is an application program that displays electronic map information and performs navigation. The mobile communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data roaming communication is an international data roaming communication. An application program including a storage unit for storing information for identifying the first APN and the second APN set by the first telecommunications carrier and a communication unit for communicating with a communication network managed by the first telecommunications carrier. Is a control method for mobile communication terminals that can execute
Information indicating the second APN associated with at least one application program among the plurality of application programs is stored in the storage unit.
When the data communication instruction by the running application program is acquired,
When the mobile communication terminal is within the communication area of the first base station operated by the first communication carrier, the first communication request including the information indicating the first APN is transmitted to the first base station. , Control the communication unit so as to perform data communication with the communication network,
When the mobile communication terminal is outside the communication range of the first base station and is within the communication range of the second base station operated by the second communication carrier.
If the information indicating the second APN is associated with the running application program, data with the communication network can be obtained by transmitting a second communication request including the information indicating the second APN to the second base station. The communication unit is controlled so as to perform roaming communication.
If the information indicating the second APN is not associated with the running application program, the communication unit is controlled so as not to transmit the second communication request to the second base station. Control method. An application program including a storage unit for storing information for identifying the first APN and the second APN set by the first telecommunications carrier and a communication unit for communicating with a communication network managed by the first telecommunications carrier. Is a control program for mobile communication terminals that can execute
Information indicating the second APN associated with at least one application program among the plurality of application programs is stored in the storage unit.
When the data communication instruction by the running application program is acquired,
When the mobile communication terminal is within the communication area of the first base station operated by the first communication carrier, the first communication request including the information indicating the first APN is transmitted to the first base station. , Control the communication unit so as to perform data communication with the communication network,
When the mobile communication terminal is outside the communication range of the first base station and is within the communication range of the second base station operated by the second communication carrier.
If the information indicating the second APN is associated with the running application program, data with the communication network can be obtained by transmitting a second communication request including the information indicating the second APN to the second base station. The communication unit is controlled so as to perform roaming communication.
If the information indicating the second APN is not associated with the running application program, the mobile communication terminal executes to control the communication unit so as not to transmit the second communication request to the second base station. Control program to make it.

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