KR100832540B1 - Apparatus and method for supporting multi-mode wireless networks - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-mode wireless network processing method and a device thereof are provided to enable different wireless modems and applications to be mounted within one terminal, so that various kinds of wireless services can be provided to the one terminal. An MT(Mobile Terminal)(120) includes at least more than one of different wireless modems, so that the respective wireless modems support different wireless services. A TE(Terminal Equipment)(110) includes at least more than one of different user applications corresponding to each wireless service supported through the different wireless modems. A USIM(Universal Subscriber Identity Module) card(130) includes user information and information necessary for authentication, and performs an authentication protocol message processing function for providing each wireless service.

Description

Apparatus and method for supporting multi-mode wireless networks

1 is a configuration diagram showing a WCDMA terminal and a WLAN terminal interworking on a wireless network as an example of the prior art;

2 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a message processing procedure between a WCDMA terminal and a WLAN terminal interworking on a wireless network as an example of the prior art;

3 is a block diagram showing a multi-mode wireless terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention,

4 is a block diagram showing a multi-mode wireless terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a block diagram showing a multi-mode wireless terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention,

6 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an authentication process of a multi-mode wireless terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

7 is a flowchart illustrating a wireless service operation of a multi-mode wireless terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: multi-mode wireless terminal 110: TE (Terminal Equipment)

120: MT (Mobile Terminal)

130: Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card

140: memory 150: wireless unit

160: camera 170: display unit

180: power supply unit 190: input and output unit

The present invention relates to a multi-mode wireless network processing method and apparatus, and more particularly, to a multi-mode wireless processing method and apparatus for enabling a multi-radio mode service to be implemented through one terminal in a wireless network.

As computer, electronic, and communication technologies have made rapid progress, various wireless communication services using wireless networks have been provided. The most basic wireless communication service is a wireless voice call service that provides a voice call to a mobile terminal user wirelessly, which can provide a service regardless of time and place. In addition, while providing a text message service to complement the voice call service, a wireless Internet service has recently emerged to provide an Internet communication service to a user of a mobile communication terminal through a wireless communication network.

As a result of the development of mobile communication technology, services provided by a code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile communication system are developing not only a voice service but also a multimedia communication service for transmitting data.

In recent years, with the development of information and communication, IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunication 2000), a third generation mobile communication system that has been standardized by ITU-R (eg, CDMA2000 1X, 3X, EV-DO, WCDMA) Etc.), and the IS-95C network, which has evolved from the existing IS-95A and IS-95B networks, is much more than 14.4 Kbps or 56 Kbps, which is the data rate supported by IS-95A and IS-95B networks. It provides wireless Internet at a fast transmission speed of up to 307.2 Kbps. In particular, by using IMT-2000 service, it is possible to provide various multimedia services (AOD, VOD, etc.) at higher speed as well as improving existing voice and WAP service quality.

However, the existing mobile communication system has a limitation in providing the high-speed wireless Internet because the base station construction cost is high, the usage fee of the wireless Internet is high, and the screen size of the mobile communication terminal is limited. In addition, wireless local area network (WLAN) technology has limitations in providing public services due to problems such as radio wave interference and narrow coverage. As a result, a high-speed portable internet system, which guarantees portability and mobility, and can use a high-speed wireless internet service at a low rate, has emerged.

The portable Internet system uses various types of information and contents by accessing the Internet in indoor and outdoor stationary environments and mobile environments of walking speed and medium / low speed using various types of portable mobile terminals such as laptops, PDAs, and handheld PCs. This is a possible service. In addition, it provides mobility of 60 km / h per hour, and the downlink transmission rate is 24.8 Mbps, but the uplink transmission rate is 5.2 Mbps, which is an IP (Internet Protocol) based wireless data system having up and down asymmetric transmission characteristics.

As a new system that can compensate for the shortcomings of the existing mobile communication system is introduced, there is a movement to interwork the existing network and the new network, and users are demanding various services that are not limited to the type of network. The establishment of an interlocking network to meet their needs is becoming visible. The research on 3G mobile communication and WLAN is most actively conducted on such interworking network construction.

According to this study, the WCDMA terminal and the WLAN terminal are currently implemented to interwork with local interfaces such as Bluetooth and USB.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a WCDMA terminal and a WLAN terminal interworking on a wireless network as an example of the related art.

As shown in FIG. 1, the WCDMA terminal 10 on the wireless network includes a WCDMA modem 11, a first wireless unit 12, a camera 13, a first Bluetooth module 14, and a first power supply unit 15. And a first display unit 16, a first input / output unit 17, a USIM card 18, and a first memory 19.

The WLAN terminal 20 interworking with the WCDMA terminal 10 includes a WLAN modem 21, a second wireless unit 22, a second power supply unit 23, a second display unit 24, and a second input / output unit 25. ), A second Bluetooth module 26 and a second memory 27.

Here, the USIM card 18 included in the WCDMA terminal 10 is a module that stores personal information of a user for the purpose of user authentication, and is a smart card that can be mounted or inserted into the terminal. The USIM card 18 is easy to carry and provides a voice mobile phone and an e-commerce service including international roaming regardless of a terminal type or a carrier.

In performing the user authentication, the WCDMA terminal 10 acquires user information included in the USIM card 18 to perform user authentication, and after the process is successfully completed, the WCDMA service is provided to the user.

The WCDMA terminal 10 wirelessly connects to the second Bluetooth module 26 included in the WLAN terminal 20 through the first Bluetooth module 14, as shown in FIG. 1, and thus, the WLAN terminal 20 on the wireless network. It is linked with.

Accordingly, when the WCDMA terminal 10 wishes to provide WLAN service to a user according to a user's request, the WCDMA terminal 10 accesses the second Bluetooth module 26 through the first Bluetooth module 14 and communicates with the WLAN terminal 20. And provide the user with the WLAN service serviced from the WLAN terminal 20 through the established communication path.

On the other hand, the wireless network implemented so that the WCDMA and WLAN interworked, to configure a different terminal equipped with each service modem to provide the WCDMA service and WLAN service, the cost burden and implementation of the Bluetooth module Security vulnerability through the problem.

2 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a message processing procedure between a WCDMA terminal 10 and a WLAN terminal 20 interworking on a wireless network as an example of the related art.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the WCDMA terminal 10 transmits an arbitrary message (Message A) to the WLAN terminal 20, a message generated from the WCDMA modem 11 is transmitted through the first Bluetooth module 14. In order to be transmitted to the second Bluetooth module 26 of the terminal 20 (S11 and S12), the corresponding message is transmitted to the WLAN modem 21 through the second Bluetooth module 26 (S13).

Accordingly, the WLAN terminal 20 generates a response message (Message B) corresponding to the message provided from the WCDMA terminal 10 through the WLAN modem 21, and the corresponding message is WCDMA through the second Bluetooth module 26. It is transmitted to the first Bluetooth module 14 of the terminal 10 to be transmitted to the WCDMA modem 11 (S14, S15, S16).

Meanwhile, the WCDMA terminal and the WLAN terminal which perform such a message transmission transmit the messages using the 'AT_commands' defined in the Bluetooth protocol stack as the messages are transmitted to each other through the Bluetooth module mounted (S12). , S15).

Therefore, the interworking method for coexisting the WCDMA service and the WLAN service through the current Bluetooth technology is cumbersome to include an additional message conversion process such as 'AT_commands' defined in the Bluetooth protocol stack.

This is not only limited to the Bluetooth technology, but also hassles caused by connecting the WCDMA terminal and the WLAN terminal through a local interface such as USB.

A first object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a multi-mode wireless network processing method and apparatus for implementing a multi-mode wireless service with increased security at a reduced cost in a wireless network.

A second object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a multi-mode wireless processing method and apparatus for reducing the additional message conversion process and enhance the safety according to the implementation of a multi-mode wireless network service in a wireless network. It is.

The multi-mode wireless terminal of the present invention for achieving the above object of the present invention, including a at least one or more different wireless modem modem unit for each wireless modem to support different wireless services (Mobile Terminal: MT) ); An application unit (TE) including at least one or more different user applications corresponding to respective wireless service provisions supported through the different wireless modems; It includes a USIM card (Universal Subscriber Identity Module Card) that performs authentication protocol message processing for providing each of the wireless services, including user information and information necessary for authentication.

When the MT is requested to provide a first wireless service from the user, the MT activates a first wireless modem for supporting the requested first wireless service, and performs a first user application corresponding to the first wireless service with the TE. Characterized in that request.

The USIM card is connected to at least one of the MT and the TE by a smart card interface, and receives an authentication protocol request message for providing a wireless service from the MT or the TE and processes the authentication protocol request message.

When the MT is connected to the USIM card through a smart card interface, the MT transmits the authentication protocol request message to the USIM card when the wireless modem corresponding to the wireless service support requested by the user is activated.

When the TE is connected to the USIM card through a smart card interface, the authentication protocol request message is transmitted to the USIM card when authentication is requested from a user through execution of the user application.

The MT deactivates the first wireless modem when a user is requested to provide a second wireless service while the first wireless modem according to the first wireless service support is activated, and the second wireless service supports the second wireless service. By activating a wireless modem, the TE to request to perform a second user application corresponding to the second wireless service provision.

A multi-mode wireless terminal comprising at least one or more different wireless modems supporting different wireless services of the present invention and at least one or more different user applications corresponding to the different wireless service provisions for achieving the above object. The method of providing multiple wireless services may include: when a user is requested to provide a first wireless service, activating a first wireless modem according to the requested first wireless service support, and a first user application corresponding to the first wireless service provision; Executing; Processing an authentication protocol request message for the first wireless service using a USIM card; Providing the first wireless service to a user.

Processing the authentication protocol request message using a USIM card may include processing the authentication protocol request message when the wireless modem is activated or when the user application is executed to input authentication from the user. It features.

Preferably, the multi-wireless service providing method includes: receiving a request for providing a second wireless service from the user while providing the first wireless service to the user; Deactivating the first wireless modem and activating a second wireless modem for supporting the second wireless service; Terminating the first user application and executing a second user application corresponding to the second wireless service provision; Processing an authentication protocol request message for the second wireless service using the USIM card; The method may further include providing the second wireless service to a user.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in describing in detail the operating principle of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, the same reference numerals are used for parts having similar functions and functions throughout the drawings.

3 is a block diagram showing a multi-mode wireless terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 includes a terminal equipment (TE) 110, a mobile terminal 120, a universal subscriber identify module (USIM) card 130, and a memory 140. , A wireless unit 150, a camera 160, a display unit 170, a power supply unit 180, and an input / output unit 190.

In the multi-mode wireless terminal 100, the TE 110 is an application unit including a plurality of different user applications for supporting wireless services such as WCDMA, WLAN, portable Internet, and the like, and the MT 120 is applied to each application. The modem unit includes a plurality of different wireless modems (not shown) for supporting corresponding wireless mode services.

The USIM card 130 stores and manages user information and information necessary for authentication for using a multi-mode wireless service, and can process an authentication protocol message that has been processed by an existing wireless terminal.

That is, the USIM card 130 may process the authentication protocol message on the basis of managing user information and authentication information so that the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 may be independent of the authentication protocol.

On the other hand, the memory 140 includes information necessary for providing each wireless service, terminal information, etc., the wireless unit 150 allows each wireless modem to be connected to each wireless base station, the camera 160 is a wireless terminal The module is provided to provide a camera 160 function to a user as an additional service.

In addition, the display unit 170 is composed of a display screen such as an LCD, such as to display the information according to the multi-mode wireless service provided on the display screen to provide the corresponding service provision information to the user, the power supply unit 180 is each driver Supply operating power to In addition, the input / output unit 190 is composed of a speaker, a microphone, a keypad, and the like to allow input and output of information according to a multi-mode wireless service implementation.

In the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 having such a configuration, the USIM card 130 and the TE 110 are interconnected through a general smart card interface.

Therefore, when the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 receives an arbitrary wireless service request through the display unit 170 and the input / output unit 190 from the user, the TE 110 executing the wireless mode application corresponding to the requested wireless service. The authentication protocol request message is transmitted to the USIM card 130 through), and correspondingly, the USIM card 130 processes the authentication protocol message itself.

That is, when the TE 110 executes a user application for providing a wireless service supported by the wireless modem according to activation of any wireless modem included in the MT 120, the wireless service from the user through the user application. The authentication request may be received and the authentication protocol request message may be transmitted to the USIM card 130, and the USIM card 130 may process the authentication protocol message in response thereto.

As described above, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 includes a plurality of different wireless modems and applications that support wireless services such as WCDMA, WLAN, and portable Internet in one terminal, thereby providing various types of wireless services in one terminal. It can be provided as, and by including the USIM card 130 to process the authentication protocol message itself can be performed more stable and improved security user authentication.

4 is a block diagram showing a multi-mode wireless terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 includes a TE 110, an MT 120, a USIM card 130, a memory 140, a wireless unit 150, and a camera as described above with reference to FIG. 3. 160, the display unit 170, the power supply unit 180, and the input / output unit 190, but the USIM card 130 that processes the authentication protocol message itself may be configured to be connected to the MT 120.

Therefore, when the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 wants to provide a user with any wireless service, an authentication protocol request message is sent to the USIM card 130 through the MT 120 that activates a wireless modem corresponding to the wireless service. And the corresponding USIM card 130 to process the authentication protocol message itself.

5 is a block diagram showing a multi-mode wireless terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 includes a TE 110, an MT 120, a USIM card 130, a memory 140, a wireless unit 150, and a camera as described above with reference to FIG. 3. 160, a display unit 170, a power supply unit 180, and an input / output unit 190, including a USIM card 130 that processes an authentication protocol message by itself so as to be connected to the TE 110 and the MT 120. Can be.

Accordingly, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 may perform a setting to allow the authentication protocol request to be transmitted to the USIM card 130 through the TE 110 or through the MT 120 at the initial stage of driving.

In this case, the USIM card 130 inputs an authentication protocol request message through the TE 110 or the MT 120 according to a value set in the initial stage of driving the terminal when an arbitrary wireless modem is activated or an arbitrary wireless application is executed. Receiving a corresponding authentication protocol message.

6 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an authentication process of a multi-mode wireless terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 receives a wireless service such as WCDMA, WLAN, or mobile Internet from a user, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 may internally perform user and network authentication prior to providing the wireless service. The authentication protocol request message is transmitted to the USIM card 130 through the TE 110 or the MT 120 (S101).

Accordingly, the USIM card 130 performs the authentication protocol message processing by itself in response to the provided authentication protocol request message, and generates an authentication protocol response message according to the authentication protocol message processing (S102).

Thereafter, the USIM card 130 transfers the generated authentication protocol response message back to the TE 110 or the MT 120 (S103), and the corresponding message is transmitted through the wireless unit 150 of the multi-mode wireless terminal 100. It is transmitted to the AP or the base station (S104).

When the AP or the base station receives the authentication protocol response message from the multi-mode wireless terminal 100, the AP or the base station transmits the corresponding message to the authentication server through the AAA protocol (S105).

The authentication server transmits an authentication protocol request message according to user and network authentication of the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 to the AP or the base station through the AAA protocol through the received authentication protocol response message (S106). The received message is transmitted to the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 (S107).

When the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 receives the authentication protocol request message transmitted from the AP or the base station through the wireless unit 150, the message is transmitted to the USIM card through the TE 110 or the MT 120 ( S108).

As such, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 does not include a component according to the authentication protocol message processing in performing the authentication process required to provide each wireless service, so that the corresponding authentication protocol message is processed only by the USIM card 130. Stable and secure user authentication can be performed.

7 is a flowchart illustrating an internal operation of a multi-mode wireless terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 illustrates an example of a wireless service operation of a multi-mode wireless terminal 100 that implements a WCDMA service and a WLAN service as one terminal.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 first receives a WCDMA service request from a user (S201), the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 recognizes this and activates a WCDMA modem (S202).

Thereafter, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 executes a WCDMA application (S203) and then performs WCDMA authentication necessary to provide a corresponding WCDMA service (S204). Here, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 allows WCDMA authentication to be performed through the USIM card 130 provided therein.

Therefore, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 checks whether the WCDMA authentication is performed successfully (S205). If it is determined that the corresponding authentication has failed, a message corresponding to the WCDMA service authentication failure is output to the display screen, and the user confirms the corresponding authentication failure. In operation S206, if the corresponding authentication is successful, the WCDMA service is provided to the user (S207).

The multi-mode wireless terminal 100 determines whether a WLAN service request is input from a user while providing a WCDMA service (S208). If it is determined that a WLAN service request is input from a user, the WCDMA modem is currently being provided. Deactivate (S209).

Thereafter, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 activates the WLAN modem (S210), terminates the WCDMA application (S211), and executes the WLAN application (S212).

The multi-mode wireless terminal 100 activates the WLAN modem, executes the WLAN application, and performs WLAN authentication before providing the WLAN service according to the WLAN modem and the WLAN application (S213). Here, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 allows WLAN authentication to be performed through the USIM card 130 provided.

When the WLAN authentication fails, the multi-mode wireless terminal 100 that performs WLAN authentication outputs an authentication failure message on the display screen to allow the user to confirm that authentication for the corresponding service has failed (S214). If successful, WLAN service is provided to the user (S215).

The multi-mode wireless terminal 100 may receive a request for terminating the corresponding WLAN service from the user while providing the WLAN service (S216), thereby deactivating the activated WLAN modem according to the service provision (S217) and terminating the WLAN application. (S218).

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various substitutions, modifications, and changes can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In particular, the above-described present invention allows the WCDMA, WLAN, and portable Internet services to be implemented through one terminal. In another embodiment, other wireless services other than the WCDMA, WLAN, and portable Internet are also provided. In addition to the Internet can be implemented in a single terminal.

In the multi-mode wireless network processing method and apparatus according to the present invention as described above, a multi-mode wireless terminal allows a plurality of different wireless modems and applications to be mounted in one terminal, whereby various types of wireless services are provided in one terminal. Has the effect of being provided.

In addition, the multi-mode wireless network processing method and apparatus according to the present invention includes the USIM card that processes the authentication protocol message itself, it is possible to perform a more stable and improved user authentication.

Claims (9)

A modem unit (MT) for allowing each wireless modem to support different wireless services, including at least one different wireless modem; An application unit (TE) including at least one or more different user applications corresponding to respective wireless service provisions supported through the different wireless modems; And And a universal subscriber identity module card (USIM card) for performing authentication protocol message processing for providing each wireless service, including user information and information necessary for authentication. The method of claim 1, The MT, When requested to provide a first wireless service from a user, activating a first wireless modem for supporting the requested first wireless service and requesting the TE to perform a first user application corresponding to the first wireless service. Multi-mode wireless terminal characterized by. The method of claim 1, The USIM card, A multi-mode wireless terminal connected to at least one of the MT and the TE through a smart card interface, and receiving an authentication protocol request message for providing a wireless service from the MT or the TE and processing the authentication protocol request message. The method of claim 3, The MT, When the USIM card and the smart card interface is connected, when the wireless modem corresponding to the wireless service support requested from the user to activate the multi-mode wireless terminal, characterized in that for transmitting the authentication protocol request message to the USIM card. The method of claim 3, TE is When the USIM card and the smart card interface is connected, the authentication protocol request message is transmitted to the USIM card when authentication is requested from the user through the execution of the user application. The method of claim 1, The MT, If a user is requested to provide a second wireless service while the first wireless modem according to the first wireless service support is activated, the first wireless modem is deactivated and the second wireless modem for the second wireless service support is activated. Requesting the TE to perform a second user application corresponding to the provision of the second wireless service. In the multi-mode wireless service providing method of a multi-mode wireless terminal comprising at least one or more different wireless modem supporting different wireless services, and at least one different user application corresponding to the different wireless service provision, If a user is requested to provide a first wireless service, activating a first wireless modem according to the requested first wireless service support, and executing a first user application corresponding to the first wireless service provision; Processing an authentication protocol request message for the first wireless service using a USIM card; And Providing the first wireless service to a user. The method of claim 7, wherein Processing the authentication protocol request message using a USIM card, And processing the authentication protocol request message when the wireless modem is activated or when the user application is executed and authentication is input from the user. The method of claim 7, wherein Receiving a request for providing a second wireless service from the user while providing the first wireless service to the user; Deactivating the first wireless modem and activating a second wireless modem for supporting the second wireless service; Terminating the first user application and executing a second user application corresponding to the second wireless service provision; Processing an authentication protocol request message for the second wireless service using the USIM card; And Providing the second wireless service to a user.

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