JPH11239094A - Cellular phone terminal, service program providing device and mobile communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a variety of services with a small memory capacity without requiring processings such as exchanging a cellular phone terminal itself even if a new service is introduced or services (version up of a service program) are improved in a cellular phone terminal. SOLUTION: This cellular phone terminal 10 is accommodated in a mobile communication network and is provided with an input device 11, a display 12, radio equipment 14 and a processor. In such a case the terminal 10 is provided with a ROM 15 and a RAM 16 which store a program to transfer a program with the mobile communication network side, and the processor 13 downloads a service program corresponding to input information from the device 11 from the mobile communication network side by carrying out a transfer program and stores it in the RAM 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for providing a service to a portable telephone terminal accommodated in a mobile communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable telephone terminals have been reduced in size and weight, while being multifunctional. Since this type of mobile phone terminal is designed to be operated by embedded software, all of the service programs for providing various types of services are stored in the internal R.
It must be stored in the OM.

[0003]

As described above, in a conventional portable telephone terminal, a ROM is used as a memory for storing a service program. Therefore, the more types of services, the more ROM capacity is required. Therefore, there is a problem that the size and the power supply capacity of the mobile phone terminal increase.

[0004] Even if a new service is introduced or a service function is improved (a service program is upgraded), a user who has obtained a mobile phone terminal before that is already stored in the ROM. There was also a problem that the service program could not be changed and that measures such as replacing the mobile phone terminal itself were necessary.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to use a RAM as a storage means for a service program in a portable telephone terminal and to download a necessary service program to the RAM when necessary. Another object of the present invention is to realize a mobile phone terminal capable of providing a wide variety of services with a small memory capacity.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication network, comprising: an input device;
A mobile phone terminal including a display device, a wireless device, and a processing device, wherein the first storage device stores a transfer program for transferring a program to and from the mobile communication network; A rewritable second storage device, wherein the processing device executes a transfer program stored in the first storage device to provide a service corresponding to input information from the input device. A mobile phone terminal characterized by having a service program obtaining means for downloading a service program for the mobile communication network from the mobile communication network side and storing the service program in the second storage device.

Here, the first storage device may be either a ROM or a RAM.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable telephone terminal accommodated in a mobile communication network and provided with an input device, a display device, a wireless device, and a processing device. A first program storing a service program for providing a predetermined service and a transfer program for transferring a program to and from the mobile communication network side;
And a rewritable second storage device, wherein the processing device executes a transfer program stored in the first storage device to store the data in the first storage device. A service program for providing a service corresponding to the input information from the input device, out of the services provided by the service program being provided, is downloaded from the mobile communication network side; The present invention discloses a mobile phone terminal having service program acquisition means stored in an apparatus.

Here, the first storage device may be either a ROM or a RAM.

[0010] In the portable telephone terminal disclosed by the present invention, the service program obtaining means stores the service program downloaded from the mobile communication network side in the second storage device, and thereafter, a message indicating the fact is stored. May be displayed on the display device.

Further, the service program acquiring means, if there is no free area for storing the service program downloaded from the mobile communication network side, in the second storage device, After deleting the service program with the least number of uses or the service program with the oldest use date and time, the downloaded service program can be stored in the second storage device.

The service program obtaining means may store the service program downloaded from the mobile communication network side in the second storage device when there is no free space in the second storage device. A list of services provided by all of the service programs that have been displayed is displayed on the display device, and a service program for providing a service corresponding to the input information from the input device is deleted. The service program may be stored in the second storage device.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a mobile communication network according to the first embodiment. In the figure, 10 is a mobile phone terminal,
20 is a wireless base station, 30 is a mobile switching center, and 40 is a general switching network.

As shown in FIG. 2, the portable telephone terminal 10
An input device 11, a display device 12, a processing device 13, a wireless device 14, a ROM 15, and a RAM 16 are provided.

For example, the input device 11 is a portable telephone terminal 1
0 may be the key to have. Also,
For example, when the mobile phone terminal 10 has a liquid crystal screen as the display device 12, the input device 11 can be a touch panel stacked on the liquid crystal screen.

In the first embodiment, a transfer program for transferring a program to and from the mobile switching center 30 is stored in the ROM 15 of the portable telephone terminal 10. The capacity can be increased up to a predetermined maximum capacity.

As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile switching center 30 comprises a radio interface (IF) 31, a network interface (NWIF) 32, and a switching device 33.
, A processing device 34, a memory 35, and a disk device 36
And

In the first embodiment, a transfer program for transferring a program to / from the mobile phone terminal 10 is stored in the memory 35 of the mobile switching center 30. Disk device 3 of exchange 30
6 stores a plurality of service programs that can be transferred to the mobile phone terminal 10. The transfer program is not stored in the memory 35 but in the disk device 36.
May be stored.

In the first embodiment, the mobile telephone terminal 10 requests the mobile exchange 30 to download a desired service program, and the mobile exchange receives the request. 30 transfers the service program requested to be downloaded to the requesting mobile phone terminal 10.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the mobile switching center 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile switching center 30
A download request receiving unit 301 and a download response transmitting unit 302 are provided. These functional blocks 30
1 to 302 are realized by the processing device 34 executing the transfer program stored in the memory 35.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the portable telephone terminal 10. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the portable telephone terminal 10
Service reception unit 101 and download request unit 102
, A download execution unit 103 and a service program storage unit 104. These functional blocks 1
01 to 104 are realized by the processing device 13 executing the transfer program stored in the ROM 15, and correspond to the above-described service program acquisition means.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described below.

In the portable telephone terminal 10, when a user wants to receive a desired service, if a service program for providing the service is not stored in the ROM 16, a service request instruction and a request for the service are provided. The service identifier is input from the input device 11.

For example, the service identifier may be a key uniquely assigned to each service,
It can be numbers or alphabets.
This service identifier is centrally assigned and managed in the mobile switching center 30.

In the mobile phone terminal 10, the service request and the service identifier input by the user from the input device 11 are received by the service receiving unit 101 and output to the download request unit 102. The download request unit 102 creates a download start request message for requesting the download of the service program specified by the service identifier output from the service reception unit 101, and transmits the created download start request message from the wireless device 14 The data is transmitted to the mobile switching center 30 via the radio base station 20.

For example, the download start request message may include a message identifier indicating that the message is a download start request message and a service identifier.

In the mobile switching center 30, when the download request receiving section 301 receives the download start request message transmitted from the mobile phone terminal 10, the download response transmitting section 302 is included in the received download start request message. When the download of the service program specified by the service identifier specified is permitted, a download start response message is created, and the created download start response message is transmitted from the wireless IF 31 via the wireless base station 20 to the transmission source mobile phone. Transmit to terminal 10.

For example, the download start response message can include a message identifier indicating that the message is a download start response message and information indicating that download is permitted.

Note that the download response transmitting section 302
If the download of the service program specified by the service identifier included in the received download start request message is not permitted, a message identifier indicating that the service program is a download start response message, and information indicating that the download is not permitted, Create and send a download start response message including

Here, the download response transmitting section 302
May determine whether or not to permit downloading of the service program simply by determining whether or not the service identifier is valid.
The determination may be made according to the user of 0. In the latter case, it is necessary for the mobile switching center 30 to manage conditions and the like serving as determination criteria.

In the mobile phone terminal 10, when the download execution section 103 receives the download start response message transmitted from the mobile switching center 30, the download execution section 103 executes the download of the service program.

In actuality, in the mobile exchange 30, the download response transmitting unit 302 transmits the service program specified by the service identifier included in the received download start request message from the wireless IF 31. Is transferred to the mobile phone terminal 10 of the transmission source via the wireless base station 20, and the download execution unit 103 is realized by receiving the transferred service program.

In the portable telephone terminal 10, when the download execution unit 103 receives the service program transferred from the mobile switching center 30, the service program storage unit 104 stores the received service program in the RAM.
16 is stored.

The service program storage unit 104
When there is no free area for storing the received service program in the RAM 16, the service program already stored in the RAM 16 is deleted, and then the received service program is stored in the RAM 16. be able to.

Here, as a method of erasing a service program, for example, a method of erasing a service program with the oldest storage date and time, a method of erasing a service program with the least number of uses, and a method of erasing a service program with the oldest use date and time are described. An erasing method or the like can be considered. Further, for example, by displaying a list of services (list of service identifiers) provided by the service programs already stored in the RAM 16 on the display device 12, the user is confirmed to erase the service program, and May delete the service program specified by the service identifier input from the input device 11.

When the service program storage unit 104 finishes storing the service program, the processing device 13 becomes ready to execute the service program, and the user can receive the service provided by the service program. .

The service program storage unit 104
When the storage of the service program is completed, a message may be displayed on the display device 12 to notify the user of the fact, for example.

The sequence between the mobile telephone terminal 10 and the mobile switching center 30 in the above-described operation is as shown in FIG. Calling and disconnection are performed before and after this sequence, but these sequences are omitted because they are the same as the conventional sequence.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the RAM 16 is used as the service program storage means in the mobile phone terminal 10, and
By enabling a necessary service program to be downloaded to the RAM 16 when necessary, it is possible to provide a wide variety of services with a small memory capacity.

In the first embodiment, it is assumed that only the transfer program is stored in the ROM 15 of the mobile phone terminal 10.
A specific service program such as a common service program or a service program of a type and number corresponding to the selling price of the mobile phone terminal 10 may be stored in the ROM 15.

In the first embodiment, the mobile telephone terminal 10 requests the mobile exchange 30 to download a service program desired by the user. The mobile phone terminal 10 is instructed to request a download of a specific service program, and the mobile phone terminal 10 requests the mobile exchange 30 to download the service program. The sequence between the mobile phone terminal 10 and the mobile switching center 30 in such a case is as shown in FIG. 6B. Calling and disconnection are also performed before and after this sequence, but since these sequences are similar to the conventional sequence, they are omitted.

For example, when the mobile switching center 30 manages the service identifier of the service provided by the service program transferred to the mobile phone terminal 10 for each mobile phone terminal 10, if a certain service program has a version When a mobile phone exchange 30 is upgraded or a bug is fixed,
It is possible to instruct only the mobile phone terminal 10 to which the service program before the bug correction has been transferred, to request the version-up / download of the service program after the bug correction.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram of a mobile communication network according to the second embodiment. In the figure, 10 is a mobile phone terminal,
20 is a wireless base station, 50 is a mobile switching center, 40 is a general public network, and 60 is a service program providing device.

The configuration of the portable telephone terminal 10 is the same as that of FIG.

In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, a transfer program for transferring a program to and from the mobile switching center 50 is stored in the ROM 15 of the portable telephone terminal 10. RAM1
6 can be expanded up to a predetermined maximum capacity.

The mobile exchange 50 is a mobile exchange in a conventional mobile communication network.

The service program providing device 60
As shown in FIG. 8, a network interface (NWIF) 61, a processing device 62, a memory 63,
And a disk device 64. In addition, the service program providing device 60 may include an input device and a display device, and can be specifically realized by an information processing device such as a personal computer or a workstation.

In the second embodiment, the memory 63 of the service program providing device 60 stores the portable telephone terminal 1
0 is stored in the disk device 64 of the service program providing device 60.
A plurality of service programs that can be transferred to 0 are stored. The transfer program is stored in the memory 6
3, it may be stored in the disk device 64.

In the second embodiment, the portable telephone terminal 10 requests the service program providing device 60 to download a desired service program. The providing device 60 transfers the service program requested to be downloaded to the requesting mobile phone terminal 10.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the service program providing device 60.

As shown in FIG. 9, the service program providing device 60 includes a download request receiving unit 601 and a download response transmitting unit 602. These functional blocks 601 to 602 are realized by the processing device 62 executing a transfer program stored in the memory 63.

The functional block diagram of the portable telephone terminal 10 is the same as that of FIG.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described below.

In the portable telephone terminal 10, when the user wants to receive a desired service, as in the first embodiment, if a service program for providing the service is not stored in the ROM 16, A service request instruction and a service identifier of the service are input from the input device 11.

In the mobile phone terminal 10, the service request and the service identifier input by the user from the input device 11 are transmitted to the service receiving unit 101 as in the first embodiment.
And is output to the download request unit 102. As in the first embodiment, the download request unit 102 creates a download start request message for requesting the download of the service program specified by the service identifier output from the service reception unit 101, and creates the created download start message. The request message is transmitted from the wireless device 14 to the service program providing device 60 via the wireless base station 20, the mobile switch 50, and the public network 40.

In the service program providing device 60, the download request receiving unit 601
Upon receiving the download start request message transmitted from 0, the download response transmission unit 602 starts downloading when the download of the service program specified by the service identifier included in the received download start request message is permitted. A response message is created, and the created download start response message is transmitted from the NWIF 61 to the transmission source mobile phone terminal 10 via the general public network 40, the mobile switching center 50, and the wireless base station 20.

Note that the download response transmission unit 602
If the download of the service program specified by the service identifier included in the received download start request message is not permitted, a message identifier indicating that the service program is a download start response message, and information indicating that the download is not permitted, Create and send a download start response message including

Here, the download response transmitting section 602
May determine whether or not to permit downloading of the service program simply by determining whether or not the service identifier is valid.
The determination may be made according to the user of 0. In the latter case, it is necessary for the service program providing device 60 to manage conditions and the like as criteria for determination.

In the mobile phone terminal 10, when the download execution section 103 receives the download start response message transmitted from the service program providing device 60, as in the first embodiment, the download execution section 103 executes the download of the service program.

The service program is actually downloaded by the download response transmitting unit 602 in the service program providing device 60 from the NWIF 61 by the service program specified by the service identifier included in the received download start request message. General public network 40, mobile switching center 50, wireless base station 2
The service program is transferred to the mobile phone terminal 10 of the transmission source via the “0” and the download execution unit 103 receives the transferred service program.

In the portable telephone terminal 10, when the download execution unit 103 receives the service program transferred from the service program providing device 60, the service program storage unit 104 stores the received service program in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The program is stored in the RAM 16.

The service program storage unit 104
As in the first embodiment, when there is no free area for storing the received service program on the RAM 16, the service program already stored in the RAM 16 is deleted, and then the received service program is deleted. The program can be stored in the RAM 16.

When the service program storage unit 104 finishes storing the service program, the processing device 13 becomes ready to execute the service program, and the user can receive the service provided by the service program. .

The service program storage unit 104
As in the first embodiment, when the storage of the service program is completed, a message may be displayed on the display device 12 to notify the user of the termination.

The sequence between the portable telephone terminal 10 and the service program providing device 60 in the above-described operation is as shown in FIG. Calling and disconnection are performed before and after this sequence, but these sequences are omitted because they are the same as the conventional sequence.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the RAM 16 is used as the storage means for the service program in the portable telephone terminal 10, and when necessary, the RAM 16 is used. By enabling the downloading of various service programs onto the RAM 16, it is possible to provide a wide variety of services with a small memory capacity.

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the ROM 15 of the portable telephone terminal 10
Although it is assumed that only the transfer program is stored, a specific service program such as a service program common to all the mobile phone terminals 10 or a service program of a type and number corresponding to the selling price of the mobile phone terminal 10 is stored in the ROM 15. May be stored.

In the second embodiment, the mobile phone terminal 10 requests the service program providing device 60 to download a service program desired by the user. 60 instructs the mobile phone terminal 10 to request the download of a specific service program. With this instruction, the mobile phone terminal 10 requests the service program providing device 60 to download the service program. The sequence between the mobile phone terminal 10 and the service program providing device 60 in such a case is as shown in FIG. Calling and disconnection are also performed before and after this sequence, but since these sequences are similar to the conventional sequence, they are omitted.

For example, when the mobile switching center 30 manages the service identifier of the service provided by the service program transferred to the mobile phone terminal 10 for each mobile phone terminal 10, if a certain service program has a version When the service program before the version upgrade / bug correction is transferred from the service program providing apparatus 60 to the mobile phone terminal 10 to which the service program before the version upgrade / bug correction has been transferred, Of the service program is requested.

Incidentally, both the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above can be applied to the case where a portable information processing terminal is used instead of the portable telephone terminal 10.

That is, for example, in a portable information processing terminal that includes an input device, a display device, a storage device, and a processing device and is accommodated in a mobile communication network by a built-in or mounted wireless device, In the mobile exchange 30
Alternatively, only a transfer program for transferring a program with the service program providing device 60 is stored in the storage device, and the processing device executes the transfer program stored in the storage device. The desired service program can be downloaded from the mobile switching center 30 or the service program providing device 60 and stored in the storage device.

In this way, the selling price of the portable information processing terminal can be kept low, and the user of the portable information processing terminal can selectively download only the service program of the service desired by the user. Will be able to

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A RAM is used as a storage means for a service program in a mobile phone terminal, and a necessary service program can be downloaded to the RAM when necessary, so that a variety of services can be provided with a small memory capacity. Can be realized.

Therefore, the execution of various service programs can be realized with a small amount of RAM, and even if a new service is introduced or a service function is improved (service program version upgrade), the mobile phone terminal itself is replaced. Since the service program can be changed without any change, not only will the multimedia service be improved in the future, but also it will be possible to easily cope with a change in the rate form in the LCR service or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a mobile communication network according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a mobile phone terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a mobile switching center according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the mobile switching center according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the mobile phone terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram between the mobile telephone terminal and the mobile switching center according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram of a mobile communication network according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a service program providing device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a service program providing device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram between a mobile phone terminal and a service program providing device according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Mobile telephone terminal, 20 ... Wireless base station, 30 ... Mobile exchange, 40 ... General exchange network, 50 ... Mobile exchange, 60
... Service program providing device, 11 ... Input device, 12
... Display device, 13 ... Processing device, 14 ... Wireless device, 15 ...
ROM, 16 ... RAM, 31 ... Wireless interface (I
F), 32 ... Network interface (NWI)
F), 33 ... exchange device, 34 ... processing device, 35 ... memory, 36 ... disk device, 301 ... download request receiving unit, 302 ... download response transmitting unit, 101 ... service receiving unit, 102 ... download request unit, 103 ... Download execution unit, 104: service program storage unit, 61: network interface (NWIF),
62: processing device, 63: memory, 64: disk device,
601: download request receiving unit, 602: download response transmitting unit.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A mobile phone terminal housed in a mobile communication network and provided with an input device, a display device, a wireless device, and a processing device, wherein a program is transmitted to and from the mobile communication network. A first storage device storing a transfer program for performing transfer; and a rewritable second storage device, wherein the processing device executes the transfer program stored in the first storage device According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a service program acquisition unit that downloads a service program for providing a service corresponding to input information from the input device from the mobile communication network side and stores the service program in the second storage device. Mobile phone terminal. 2. A service program for providing a predetermined service, comprising: a mobile phone terminal accommodated in a mobile communication network and provided with an input device, a display device, a wireless device, and a processing device. A first storage device storing a transfer program for transferring a program to and from the mobile communication network; and a rewritable second storage device. By executing the transfer program stored in the first storage device, the input information from the input device among the services other than the service provided by the service program stored in the first storage device A service program obtaining means for downloading a service program for providing a corresponding service from the mobile communication network side and storing the service program in the second storage device; A mobile phone terminal comprising: 3. The mobile phone terminal according to claim 1, wherein said service program obtaining means stores a service program downloaded from said mobile communication network side in said second storage device, and stores said service program in said second storage device. A mobile phone terminal displaying a message indicating the fact on the display device. 4. A program which is connected to a mobile communication network accommodating the mobile phone terminal according to claim 1, 2 or 3 directly or via a general public network, and executes a program A first storage device storing a transfer program for performing the transfer, a second storage device storing a plurality of service programs that can be transferred to the mobile phone terminal side, and a processing device; By executing the transfer program stored in the first storage device, the device is requested to download from the mobile phone terminal side of the service program stored in the second storage device. A service program providing apparatus comprising a service program providing unit for transferring a service program to the mobile phone terminal. 5. A mobile communication network accommodating the mobile telephone terminal according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein a mobile switching center provided in the mobile communication network includes: A first storage device storing a transfer program for transferring a program to and from the mobile phone terminal; and a second storage device storing a plurality of service programs that can be transferred to the mobile phone terminal. By executing the transfer program stored in the first storage device, the mobile switchboard can download a service program stored in the second storage device from the mobile phone terminal side. A mobile communication network for transferring a requested service program to the mobile phone terminal. 6. A method for providing a service program to each mobile telephone terminal in a mobile communication network accommodating a plurality of mobile telephone terminals, the method comprising: A transfer program for transferring a program to and from the mobile communication network, and a transfer program for transferring a program to and from each mobile phone terminal. A plurality of service programs that can be transferred to the mobile phone terminal are stored on the mobile communication terminal side.
A service program providing method, wherein a service program is transferred from the mobile communication network to each mobile phone terminal by executing a transfer program stored therein. 7. The service program providing method according to claim 6, wherein the service program transferred from the mobile communication network to each mobile phone terminal includes an instruction from a user of each mobile phone terminal, or A service program providing method wherein a download is requested from each mobile phone terminal to the mobile communication network in accordance with an instruction from the mobile communication network. 8. A portable information processing terminal comprising an input device, a display device, a storage device, and a processing device, wherein the portable information processing terminal is housed in a mobile communication network by a built-in or mounted wireless device. In the initial state, the device stores only a transfer program for transferring a program to and from the mobile communication network, and the processing device executes the transfer program stored in the storage device. A portable information processing terminal, wherein a service program for providing a service according to input information from the input device is downloaded from the mobile communication network side and stored in the storage device.