KR20070086556A - Communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication method enabling communication by a predetermined mobile communication network using a mobile terminal and communication by a predetermined radio communication network different from the predetermined mobile communication network. This communication method comprises a step of switching between the communication by the predetermined mobile communication network as a communicating means for performing a predetermined data transfer while asuring a communication path by the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication by the predetermined radio communication network, or a step of activating or inactivating a part relating to the communication by the predetermined radio communication network.

Description

Communication method {COMMUNICATION METHOD}

1 is a diagram (first) showing an example of a system configuration applicable to each embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the establishment of a user data path in the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the sequence from the UTRAN path to the wireless LAN path.

FIG. 3 shows details of the PDP context processing procedure in the sequence shown in FIG. 2, and is a sequence diagram showing the flow until the wireless LAN desired parameter reaches the RNC.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for assigning an IP address that can be used only in a wireless LAN environment to the MS by the DHCP function of the wireless LAN air station in the sequence shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of " wireless LAN available " notification using a conventional UTRAN path from MS to RNC in the sequence shown in FIG.

FIG. 6A is a diagram for explaining the flow of communication information from the MS to the RNC in the sequence shown in FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of a " mobile terminal information correspondence table " created and held by the RNC by information obtained by the communication operation shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of path switching in units of paths referred to by the "mobile terminal information correspondence table" in the sequence shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a packet format at the time of user data transmission by a wireless LAN path in the sequence shown in FIG. 2.

9 is a diagram (second) showing an example of the system configuration applicable to each embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a sequence diagram of establishing a user data path and changing it from the UTRAN path to the wireless LAN path according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a functional block diagram of a mobile terminal applicable to each embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a mobile terminal applicable to each embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of the establishment of the user data path and the subsequent processing according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of establishment of a user data path and subsequent processing according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication method, a communication apparatus, and a communication system, and in particular, a communication method capable of providing a system that enables high-speed transmission of a large amount of user data occurring in a spot without affecting normal communication. And a communication device and a communication system.

In the mobile communication field, the traffic related to a portable terminal tends to increase with the spread of the portable telephone terminal. In particular, the expansion of services and contents by operators (operators), in particular, the expansion of web base contents, etc., has resulted in an increase in traffic due to access to web sites and download of contents. On the other hand, since the radio resources required for this are finite, there is a possibility that a situation may occur in which a mobile terminal interferes with communication by another mobile terminal in the same base station area when a mobile terminal transmits or receives a large amount of user data.

Conventionally, in such a mobile communication system, data transmission by communication via the base station and the base station adjacent to the base station is possible for the mobile phone terminal existing within a range covered by a base station. In addition, within the range covered by the same base station, a normal communication signal and a signal for transmitting user data such as the above web content are also transmitted using a common radio resource. Therefore, when a large number of mobile telephone terminals exist within the cover range of the same base station, when any one of them has performed a high-speed data transfer process such as downloading of web and content, communication by other terminals is impossible until it ends. There was a possibility that a situation would occur.

In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide an environment in which a large amount of user data can be communicated at high speed without affecting other communications in the base station area. In other words, it is possible to spot-speed high-speed communication in a mobile IP communication network by seamlessly integrating a high-speed communication function, which is performed independently of mobile communication, into a mobile IP communication network without changing the existing mobile communication technology. The purpose is to make it.

The present invention provides an area that can be applied to a wireless LAN or the like that can communicate at a much higher speed than that of a conventional mobile communication network path within a range covered by a base station, and provides signal information such as a request for use in a conventional mobile communication. By transmitting to a base station control apparatus using a path, the path provided for transmission of the normal call signal and the path provided for other high-speed transmission user data transmission are separated, without affecting normal signal communication. The present invention relates to a technology that enables high-speed communication of a large amount of spot user data in the application area.

That is, the present invention is a communication method that enables communication by a predetermined mobile communication network by a mobile terminal and by a predetermined wireless communication network different from the predetermined mobile communication network, wherein the mobile terminal is connected to the predetermined wireless communication network. The mobile terminal acquires a predetermined address for the communication service when the communication service is in a state capable of receiving a communication service, and uses the signal transmission function of the predetermined mobile communication network to obtain the predetermined address. And notifying the control means for controlling the communication, and establishing a session for realizing the predetermined data transfer of the mobile terminal and the control means via the predetermined wireless communication network in response to the notification of the address.

By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to construct an environment in which communication services by wireless communication networks such as different predetermined wireless LANs can be spotted by a relatively simple method using the functions of the existing mobile communication network as it is. Therefore, it is possible to provide a high-speed mass transmission wireless communication service at any time without affecting the normal call signal transmission, small capacity data communication, etc. during the operation of the existing mobile communication network service with a relatively simple configuration.

In addition, the present invention provides a new problem in the system for introducing a high-speed, high-capacity data transmission wireless communication service among the existing mobile communication network services, which is described above. Attention was drawn to the problem of battery drain. In order to solve the problem, the communication by the existing mobile communication network as the communication means for performing the predetermined data transmission and the communication by the other predetermined wireless communication network are appropriately switched, and at the same time, the mobile movement is performed. It was equipped with the structure which suitably deactivates the part which concerns on the communication by the said predetermined | prescribed wireless communication network which a terminal has.

As a result, in particular, by appropriately deactivating the portion related to the high-speed mass data transmission wireless communication service in the portable mobile terminal device, which is expected to have a relatively high power consumption rate, that is, interrupting power supply to the portion, Power consumption can be reduced efficiently. Accordingly, a configuration capable of maintaining a waiting time of the portable mobile terminal device and providing a high-speed, large-capacity data transmission service that occurs at the same time, can be realized.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the Example of this invention is described in detail with drawing.

This embodiment is basically a 3GPP mobile communication system which is a project group involved in the specification creation of the so-called third generation mobile communication system "IMT2000", and has a configuration as shown in FIG. 1, for example.

The communication system is composed of a radio access network (UTRAN) and a core network device (CN) 40 which is in charge of position control, call control, and service control, and the radio access network UTRAN is a base station controller (RNC) 30. And a NodeB 20 as a wireless base station.

The core network device 40 and the base station control device 30 are connected by a so-called Iu (interconnection point) interface, and the base station control device 30 manages radio resources, controls each Node B 20, and the like. Do it. Each NodeB 20 covers one or more cells, and in the example of FIG. 1 covers an area of the range R1.

On the other hand, the base station control device 30 is connected to an air station 50 for providing spot communication service by a predetermined wireless LAN via a router 60 by a communication network such as Ethernet (registered trademark). The air station 50 includes a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server 70 and has a DHCP function of automatically assigning an IP address to the terminal 10 on which it is subordinated. The range covered by the notification radio wave of the air station 50 is the area of the range R2 in the example of FIG. 1.

Each mobile terminal 10 that the user has is a mobile phone, for example, and when the mobile terminal 10 exists within the range R1 covered by the node B 20, the mobile terminal 10 is connected to the node B 20 by a predetermined wireless communication path. On the other hand, when it exists in the range R2 which the air station 50 of a wireless LAN covers, it is similarly connected with the said air station 50 by a predetermined wireless communication path. Here, in the communication with the Node B 20, the general communication communication and the packet communication with a small amount of transmission data are usually performed, while in the communication with the air station 50 of the wireless LAN, the amount of transmission data is relatively high. Large high-speed large packet communication is performed.

The outline of the communication control operation performed in this configuration is as follows.

That is, the mobile terminal 10 requests the IP address from the DHCP server 70 providing the IP address when receiving the radio wave from the wireless LAN side, and the terminal 10 thus obtained obtains the IP address from the wireless LAN side. Is sent to the radio base station 30 in addition to the " Measurement Report " signal as new report information called a temporal IP address parameter. In addition, the user of the terminal 10 can insert the "wireless LAN-desired parameter" into the context information by the terminal operation at the time of communication activation.

On the other hand, the core-side device 40 that has received the active PDP context request signal information, the base station control device 30 corresponding to the " wireless LAN desired parameter " included therein as a new information element of the RAB assignment request signal. Notify The base station control apparatus 30 stores "terminal identifier information-temporal IP address-communication path context information" on a predetermined "mobile terminal information correspondence table" and reports "receiving propagation status" from the terminal 10 (Measurement). Reference) in the above table as a trigger for receiving.

When the base station control apparatus 30 determines whether the communication path needs to be changed based on the reference result of the "mobile terminal information correspondence table" and switches the path to the wireless LAN, the user data is converted into IP over IP. Then, the IP address obtained in the wireless LAN environment is inserted into the header of the outer side and sent.

In addition, the base station control apparatus 30 sends its IP address to the terminal 10 as a new information called an IP address parameter in a " measurement complete command ".

By such a process, the terminal 10 acquires a new IP address from the DHCP server 70 in an environment in which the wireless LAN can be used, and notifies the base station controller 30 to the base station controller 30. Using this IP address as a receiving side address, communication with the terminal 10 via a new communication path called a wireless LAN path is executed.

In addition, the terminal 10 adds the IP address acquired in the wireless LAN environment as new parameter information of the " Measurement Report " signal to send this information to the base station controller 30 using the existing signal. It becomes possible.

In addition, by designating the "wireless LAN desired parameter" by the terminal operation at the time of communication activation, the terminal user can determine the intention to use the wireless LAN path for each communication content. In addition, by adding the parameter as new context information, this information can be transmitted to the network side through an existing signal (active PDP context request).

The base station 40, which has received this active PDP context request signal, adds the " wireless LAN desired parameter " contained therein as a new information element of the existing signal (RAB assignment request) to control the base station. By sending to the device 30, the subscriber's request input from the terminal 10 is retained as context information in the base station control device 30.

Then, the base station control device 30 has a "mobile terminal information correspondence table" and collectively manages all the information about the data paths extending with respect to the terminal 10 therein, so that the base station control device 30 itself needs to switch routes. It can be determined. Further, by receiving the "Measurement Report" as an opportunity to refer to the correspondence table, the operation of allocating data to an appropriate path can be started at any time.

In addition, since the terminal 10 transmits the IP address acquired in the wireless LAN environment as the outer header information of the packet encapsulated in the form of IP over IP, the base station control device 30 and the terminal using the wireless LAN as the communication path using this are used. Sections between (10) can be established.

In this way, the base station controller 30 in the mobile IP communication network is informed of the wireless LAN environment that the terminal 10 can use, thereby changing the user data supplied through the predetermined path to data transmission in the wireless LAN path. It is possible to make a judgment for this, and as a result, it is possible to change the user data communication path between the base station control device 30 and the terminal 10 from time to time via the wireless LAN. Therefore, the high speed communication function, which is realized independently of the original mobile communication such as wireless LAN, is seamlessly merged with the mobile IP communication network, so that a spot high speed communication service can be provided within the framework of the operation of the mobile communication network service.

In the above configuration, normally, when the user moves to the area S2 that can use the wireless LAN by using the access function inherent to the mobile communication network, it is possible to automatically switch to data communication by the wireless LAN. In this case, a user who desires data communication by wireless LAN always activates the wireless LAN device mounted in the mobile terminal 10 regardless of whether it is in or outside the service provision area S2 of the wireless LAN. You can think of it.

At that time, the wireless LAN apparatus receives all the radio frames transmitted from the air station of the wireless LAN regardless of whether they are in the area S2 as long as they are in the area S2, and at each time, the destination MAC address of the reception frame is received. A process to investigate is performed. Therefore, the power consumption in the mobile terminal 10 increases.

Moreover, when the user is in the service provision area S2 of the wireless LAN and performs data transmission and reception, the data amount is relatively small, and the line capacity prepared in advance in the communication system by the wireless LAN is excessive and the access means of the original mobile communication network Even if the line capacity is sufficient, it can be considered that data transmission and reception are always performed via a communication system by a wireless LAN. In this case, the power consumption of the wireless LAN device is larger than in the case of the communication operation by the original mobile communication network, and therefore consumes the power of the mobile terminal 10 more than necessary.

On the other hand, since the mobile terminal 10 normally used in the communication by the mobile communication network is operated by the mounted battery, when the standby time is shortened with the increase of the power consumption, the convenience of use deteriorates. Therefore, the 3GPP divides each mobile terminal into several destination groups in advance, and notifies that a specific destination is received by using a page indication channel (PICH). In this PICH, the mobile terminal (plural number) receiving the notification of the incoming call receives a PCH (Paging Channel) which is mapped to S-CCPCH (Secondary Common Control Physical Channel). At that time, the waiting mobile terminal receives only the Paging Indicator (PI) for the incoming army to which it belongs, and receives the S-CCPCH / PCH only when it is notified that the incoming call is received. Therefore, the current consumption at the time of reception is effectively reduced, resulting in reduction of power consumption at the mobile terminal. On the other hand, the details of the system are disclosed in, for example, "W-CDMA Mobile Communication System", Supervisory Service of Mitsubishi Corporation, Issuance of KK Co., Ltd., 4th Edition, pages 222 to 223, "(ii) Hepatic Blood Receipt Control" and the like. have. Here, current is consumed for about 10 ms for each radio frame of the PICH.

On the other hand, in a wireless LAN communication system, all radio waves are transmitted and received on one kind of channel between an access point and a transmission / reception terminal subordinate thereto. As a technique for avoiding radio contention (frame collision), techniques such as carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance with acknowledgment (CSMA / CA + ACK) and request to send / clear to send (RTS / CTS) are applied. have. In this CSMA / CA + ACK system, a transmitter may transmit radio waves to a receiver without any notice. In the RTS / CTS system, the transmitting side performs RTS (transmission notice) and receives data after receiving the CTS (acknowledgment of receipt). However, all the terminals receive these RTS and CTS. Therefore, the transmission / reception terminal needs to be in a situation where it can always receive radio waves by any method, so that the power consumption in the terminal increases. Moreover, as a technique of the said electric wave competition, it is disclosed, for example in "How can the electric wave contention be avoided" described on pages 66-67 of "September 2000 issue of NETWORK".

As described above, a technique for reducing power consumption of a terminal has been applied to a communication system using a mobile communication network. However, such a technique has not yet been established in a communication system using a wireless LAN. Therefore, when the wireless LAN communication system is applied to the existing mobile communication network as it is, the power consumption of each mobile terminal is increased as a result of the unbalance of the power consumption. As the waiting time of the mobile terminal is drastically reduced, there is a concern that the convenience in use for the user is deteriorated.

In the embodiment of the present invention, in view of the above problem, it is possible to selectively switch data communication from the form of mobile communication access means to the use of wireless LAN, thereby reducing power consumption, and the user moves to battery feeding. The construction which lengthens the operation time at the time of using a terminal, and improves convenience of a user is applied.

That is, in the wireless data communication using the wireless LAN as described above, the radio frame reaches all mobile terminals existing in the radio wave reach range, and the mobile terminal receiving the radio wave has the destination MAC addresses of all radio frames and its own MAC. The addresses are compared, and if the result of the comparison is not forward, the radio frame is discarded and the radio frame is acquired only when forward. In this way, since the reception and comparison operation is always performed even for the radio frame that is not in front of the self, it is conceivable that the amount of power consumed by the mobile terminal increases significantly compared to the other states in the state of using the wireless LAN service. Therefore, when the method of always activating the wireless LAN device regardless of the presence or absence of data communication is applied, the power consumption increases.

In order to solve the above problems, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the mobile terminal moves to the wireless LAN available area, the mobile terminal always stops moving to the wireless LAN service available state, and the service by the mobile communication access means is changed to the wireless LAN. By selectively switching the data communication to the service, the power consumption at each terminal is reduced. As a result, the user's convenience can be improved by extending the operating time when the user is using the mobile terminal with battery feeding.

That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, even when the mobile terminal 10 is in the area S2 where the wireless LAN service can be used, when the data is not actually transmitted or received, the wireless LAN device mounted on the mobile terminal 10 is in an inactive state. In other words, a function of determining whether or not to perform data transmission / reception by a wireless LAN is provided to the user, the mobile terminal itself, or the mobile communication network.

As a criterion for the determination, a data transmission / reception amount, a battery remaining amount, a free band condition of a wireless link of a mobile communication network and a wireless LAN, or the like or a combination thereof is used. Then, it is determined that the user, the mobile terminal, or the mobile communication network performs data transmission / reception by the wireless LAN, and the wireless LAN apparatus is activated only when the data transmission / reception is actually performed, that is, the power is supplied, the transmission and reception of radio waves and the destination of the received MAC frame. Enable verification processing. At the end of data transmission and reception, the wireless LAN device is manually deactivated again automatically or automatically.

With such a configuration, the wireless LAN device is activated only when necessary and deactivated when it is unnecessary, so that power consumption of the mobile terminal can be minimized to a minimum. Therefore, the operating time by the battery of the mobile terminal can be extended, and the convenience in the conventional mobile communication system can be maintained even by the built-in wireless LAN system.

As described above, the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a mobile terminal 10, a base station control apparatus 30, a wireless base station 20, an air station 50 and a core network apparatus for providing a wireless LAN service. It consists of 40. The configuration of each of these devices in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the first embodiment described below, data transmission by UTRAN, i.e., data transmission by a conventional mobile communication network and data transmission by a wireless LAN, are performed based on the amount of communication data when downloading data to the mobile terminal 10. Switch.

First, the configuration of the mobile terminal 10 will be described. The mobile terminal 10 has an IP communication function in the UTRAN path and an IP communication function via a wireless LAN. In addition, the mobile terminal 10 is pre-assigned an IP address for end-to-end communication. This IP address is used for IP communication in each of the UTRAN paths and via the wireless LAN.

The mobile terminal 10 also has a function of notifying the base station control device 30 in addition to the PDP context information that the user desires data communication by the wireless LAN. The information used for this notification is called a "wireless LAN desired parameter." In addition, the mobile terminal 10 has a function of notifying the base station control device 30 in addition to the PDP context information the "threshold value" at the time of switching from the communication state via UTRAN to the communication state by a wireless LAN. However, the threshold value may be fixedly set by the base station control apparatus 30 as the common value of all subordinate mobile terminals 10 thereof, in which case the notification function becomes unnecessary.

In addition, the mobile terminal 10 has a function of switching on and off of the wireless LAN device power supply mounted by itself by an instruction (signal) from the base station controller 30. The mobile terminal 10 receives radio waves from the air station 50 when the wireless LAN device is turned on according to the instruction from the base station controller 30 so that communication via the wireless LAN is possible. Has the function of judging that.

Here, the mobile terminal 10 acquires an IP address via the air station of the wireless LAN by the DHCP function of the DHCP server 70 installed in the air station prior to the communication by the wireless LAN. This IP address is used to set the transport layer between the base station control device 30 and the mobile terminal 10, unlike the IP address previously allocated for the end-to-end communication. It is called the temporal IP address.

The mobile terminal notifies the base station controller 30 of the obtained temporal IP address by using a reception propagation status report signal conventionally used in UTRAN via the radio base station 20 (formerly UTRAN path). Has the function. In addition, when the mobile terminal 10 moves out of the service area S2 of the wireless LAN, the situation is indicated using a reception propagation report signal with the temporary IP address set to "blank". It has a function of notifying a base station control device. In addition, even when the power supply of the wireless LAN device mounted on the mobile terminal 10 is turned off, the situation is determined by using a reception propagation report signal with the temporary IP address set to "blank". It has a function of notifying the control apparatus 30.

Next, the structure of the base station control apparatus 30 is demonstrated. The base station control device 30 has IP communication capability in the UTRAN path. That is, the base station control apparatus 30 has a function of identifying a wireless environment that the mobile terminal 10 can transmit and receive by the reception report signal from the mobile terminal 10. This is a function of the base station control apparatus according to the conventional 3GPP.

The base station control device 30 is assigned an IP address for communication by wireless LAN. This IP address corresponds to the temporal IP address on the mobile terminal 10 side. In addition, the base station control apparatus 30 has a function of receiving a temporal IP address included in a reception propagation report signal from the mobile terminal 10.

The base station controller 30 also has a function of receiving the "wireless LAN desired parameter" included in the active PDP context request signal from the CN 40. When the base station control device 30 receives the "threshold value" for switching to communication by the wireless LAN from the mobile terminal 10 as part of the reception report report signal, the base station controller 30 stores the value. Has the function. As described above, the threshold value may not be received from the mobile terminal, but may be fixed in advance on the base station controller 30 side. In addition, this threshold value is registered in advance in a database in the core network device (CN) 40 as subscriber data, and the base station control device 30 may download it from the database.

In addition, the base station control apparatus 30 includes a predetermined "mobile terminal identifier (MS ID)", "temporary IP address", "assigned radio bearer", "GTP", and "context (wireless LAN desired)". And the function of creating and managing a correspondence table between "critical values". This correspondence table is called "mobile terminal information correspondence table."

The base station control device 30 also has a control unit and a user data transmission unit. The control unit determines the path to which the user data is to be transmitted to the UTRAN or the wireless LAN by executing the processing described below with reference to the mobile terminal information correspondence table, and instructs the user data transmission unit to switch the path. Has In addition, when the control unit of the base station controller 30 detects that the amount of data forwarded to the mobile terminal 10 having the communication function by the wireless LAN has exceeded a preset threshold, It has a function of transmitting a signal for instructing to turn on the power of its own wireless LAN device. On the contrary, when it detects that the said data amount is below the preset threshold, it has a function which sends the signal for instructing the said mobile terminal 10 to turn off the power supply of its own wireless LAN apparatus.

In addition, when the control unit of the base station controller 30 receives a notification indicating that communication is possible via the wireless LAN by a reception report from the mobile terminal 10 instructing the wireless LAN device to be turned on. And a communication path switching instruction instructing that the user data transmission to the mobile terminal 10 is performed via the wireless LAN. On the other hand, even after a certain time has elapsed after the mobile terminal 10 is instructed to turn on the wireless LAN device, a notification indicating that communication has been enabled via the wireless LAN has not been received in a reception report report. The mobile terminal 10 determines that the mobile terminal 10 is outside the service area S2 of the wireless LAN, and transmits a signal for instructing the mobile terminal 10 to turn off the wireless LAN device. In addition, the MS 10 via the wireless base station 20, that is, via the UTRAN, until the notification that the communication via the wireless LAN is possible in the received radio wave report (Measurement Report) signal from the mobile terminal 10 is received. Send user data for.

The user data transmission unit of the base station control device 30 terminates the GTP, which is the communication path for the CN 40, and the communication path via the UTRAN for the MS 10 and via the wireless LAN. When transmitting the user data received from the CN 40 to the MS 10 based on this, the transmission path has a function of switching between UTRAN and wireless LAN. In addition, the base station control apparatus 30 shall transmit and receive a control signal between the mobile terminal 10 via the conventional radio base station 20 (via UTRAN) regardless of the transmission path of the user data.

Next, the configuration of the radio base station 20 will be described. The radio base station 20 has an IP communication function via the UTRAN, thereby transmitting user data and control signals from the mobile terminal 10 to the base station control device 30, and also from the base station control device 30 It has a function of transmitting user data and control signals to the mobile terminal 10. On the other hand, this is a function of the radio base station constituting the UTRAN by the conventional 3GPP.

Next, the structure of the air station 50 of a wireless LAN is demonstrated. The air station 50 of the wireless LAN has an interface with the base station controller 30, and can relay user data sent from the base station controller 30 to the mobile terminal 10. That is, the interface with the base station control device 30 of the air station 50 has a user data transmission function, and has a function of mediating user data transmission between the mobile terminal 10 and the base station control device 30. That is, it has a conversion function between the frame format on the wired interface (Ethernet (registered trademark) and the like) and the frame format on the wireless communication (wireless LAN).

In addition, the air station 50 is connected to the DHCP server 70, and has a function of automatically assigning an IP address (corresponding to the temporary IP address) to the mobile terminal 10 to which it depends.

Next, the configuration of the core network device 40 may be the same as the configuration of the core network device in the conventional 3GPP mobile communication method, and the configuration utilizing the functions of the conventional subscriber management and mobile management as it is.

The following describes the communication sequence of the present embodiment together with FIGS. 2 to 8. In addition, in FIG. 2, a solid line shows the flow of signal transmission via the conventional UTRAN, and a broken line shows the flow of the signal via a wireless LAN. In addition, according to the device name defined in the 3GPP, the mobile terminal 10 described above is "MS", the base station control apparatus 30 is "RNC", the wireless base station 20 is "Node B", and the base station control apparatus. The generic name of the core network side device 40 connected to 30 is referred to as "CN".

2, in the case of data reception at the MS 10 in step S1, an RRC connection setting procedure for establishing a control signal between the RNC 30 and the MS 10 is executed. In addition, this is a process defined in the European standard of the conventional UMTS, that is, the third generation mobile communication system "IMT2000" defined by the European Telecommunication Standardization Association, and this procedure is defined in 3GPP specification TS 25.331.

Subsequently, in step S2, a PDP context processing procedure for setting a user data transmission path is executed. Details of this processing procedure are as shown in FIG. 3 and this is also the process defined in the UMTS, and this procedure is defined in 3GPP specification TS 23.060. In this embodiment, the "wireless LAN desired parameter" is newly added as context information defined in the procedure (step S31 in FIG. 3). By executing this PDP context processing procedure, a pipe called GTP is established between the RNC 30 and the CN 40 to carry user data.

In addition, by adding " Wireless LAN desired parameter " as one of the information elements of the RAB assignment request (step S32), which is defined as being sent from the CN 40 to the RNC 30 in the processing procedure, the parameter is added. The information is sent to the RNC 30, where it is stored as one of the context information elements (step S33), and at the same time, the assigned radio transmission path (Radio Bearer) as a user data transmission path between the RNC 30 and the MS 10. ) Is established (step S34).

Next, in step S3, user data transmission in the conventional UTRAN path (via node BG 20) is performed using the GTP established as described above and an allocated radio bearer. At this time, the user data transmission section of the RNC 30 sends the user data received from the CN 40 to the UTRAN path, thereby realizing user data transmission to the MS 10.

In step S4, the RNC 30 monitors the amount of traffic (traffic) that the MS 10 is receiving. This process uses the result of the traffic monitoring process by the RNC 30 to switch the allocation of the transmission path used according to the data amount as a process according to the conventional 3GPP specification between the common channel and the individual channel.

Next, in step S5, the RNC 30 continuously determines whether the data amount (traffic) obtained by the above process has exceeded a predetermined predetermined threshold. This threshold may be set in advance in the RNC 30 or may be included in the information notified to the RNC 30 from the MS 10 via the CN in the PDP context processing procedure in step S2, and transmitted. It may be used.

Next, in step S6, when the RNC 30 detects that the amount of data (traffic) exceeds the threshold in step S5, the RNC 30 itself with respect to the MS 10 in the control signal route of the UTRAN path (via the node B 20). Instructs the wireless LAN device to turn on. Specifically, this signal can be added to the specification of a conventional dedicated control channel (ie, DCCH).

In step S7, when receiving the instruction in step S6, the MS 10 turns on the power of its own wireless LAN device and receives radio waves from the air station 50. In step S8, the MS 10 requests the temporary IP address from the DHCP server 70 of the present air station 50 (see Fig. 4).

In step S9, the air station 50 of the wireless LAN gives the MS 10 a temporary IP address. This temporary IP address becomes an IP address of the MS 10 side for realizing a transport layer used when communicating user data between the RNC 30 and the MS 10 via a wireless LAN. As described above, the MS 10 is different from the IP address used in end-to-end communication.

Next, in step S10, the RNC 30 sends the reception propagation request message to the MS 10. This is a function conventionally provided in the RNC by 3GPP, and is actually transmitted to the MS 10 periodically.

In step S11, the MS 10 transmits the temporary IP address obtained in step S9 to the RNC 30 by including it in the reception propagation status report signal, which is a response to the reception propagation request signal. . As a result, the RNC 30 recognizes that the present MS 10 is in a wireless LAN enabled environment (see Fig. 5).

On the other hand, when the MS 10 is outside the service area R2 of the wireless LAN, since the temporal IP address cannot be obtained in step S9, the MS 10 receives a reception propagation status report signal returned to the RNC 30. In this case, the temporary IP address cannot be added and notified (step S11A).

Next, in step S12, the RNC 30 instructs the MS 10 to power on the wireless LAN in step S6, and then receives the received propagation status report signal from the MS 10 until a predetermined time elapses. If the temporary IP address is not included, the MS 10 determines that it is outside the service area R2 of the wireless LAN, and instructs the MS 10 to turn off the wireless LAN.

Next, in step S13, when the MS 10 receives an instruction to turn off the wireless LAN from the RNC 30 in step S12, the MS 10 turns off its wireless LAN apparatus and continues data transmission via UTRAN.

Further, the RNC 30 creates and manages the mobile terminal information correspondence table (step S14). This mobile terminal information correspondence table has a configuration shown in Fig. 6B, for example, "mobile terminal identifier (MS ID)", "temporary IP address", "assigned radio bearer", "GTP", Context (Wireless LAN Hope) and Threshold.

In step S15, the RNC 30 determines whether it is necessary to switch the data transmission path to the wireless LAN path based on the mobile terminal information correspondence table created in step S14. Specifically, when the amount of data communication to the mobile terminal whose " Wireless LAN desired parameter " and " temporary IP address " are included in the mobile terminal information correspondence table exceeds the threshold value, the RNC is transmitted to the mobile terminal 10. The control unit 30 determines that the path switching is necessary, and instructs the user data transmission unit of the RNC 30 to switch to the wireless LAN path.

In this case, in step S16, the user data transmitter of the RNC 30 transmits the user data to the temporal IP address, thereby realizing user data transmission via the wireless LAN. That is, the user data transmission path is switched to the path using the data transmission path by the air station 50 of the wireless LAN as shown in FIG. By the above procedure, as shown in Fig. 8, user data is transmitted to the MS 10 via a wireless LAN path.

On the other hand, in the conventional 3GPP specification, when the data communication amount of an individual channel decreases, the communication path of the mobile terminal is automatically switched to the common channel. In the embodiment of the present invention, the assigned radio transmission path (Radio Bearer) set in step S3 is preserved even after the transmission path of the user data is switched over the wireless LAN as described above according to the present specification. In addition, according to the 3GPP specification, since it takes some time from the switching of the communication path to the wireless LAN to the switching from the individual channel of the assigned radio bearer to the common channel, It is preferable to configure the radio bearer to switch from the individual channel to the common channel forcibly immediately after the communication path is changed.

In addition, in step S17, the RNC 30 continues to monitor the data amount (traffic) started in step S4, and determines whether the data amount (traffic) is lower than the threshold value described in step S5. When the RNC 30 detects that the amount of data falls below the threshold in step S18, the RNC 30 returns the user data communication path to the path via the allocated radio bearer saved in step S16. In this case, at step S19, the RNC 30 turns off the power of its own wireless LAN device to the MS 10 at the control signal route of the UTRAN path (via node B) at the time when the path switching in step S18 is completed. Instruct. In this case, in step S20, the RNC 30 updates the mobile terminal management table created in step S14, and deletes the value of the "temporary IP address" column. Then, in step S21, when receiving the instruction by step S19, the MS 10 turns off its wireless LAN device.

By the above operation, the user data communication is switched by switching to the data transmission path via wireless LAN only when receiving a large amount of data having insufficient data transmission speed in the conventional data transmission path of the UTRAN path (via Node B). Do it. In addition, since the power supply of the wireless LAN device of the mobile terminal 10 concerned is turned ON only when the wireless LAN is used, the power consumption of the terminal can be effectively reduced.

In this embodiment, the MS 10 receiving the control signal from the RNC 30 automatically turns on / off the power of its own wireless LAN device. However, the MS 10 receiving the control signal has been configured. Displays the information on a display or the like, so that the user using the MS 10 recognizes it, determines whether or not to switch the communication path as a result, and manually operates to turn on / off the power of the wireless LAN device. The structure which turns off may be sufficient.

In this embodiment, the allocation radio transmission path (Radio Bearer) set in step S3 is preserved even after the transmission path of the user data is switched via the wireless LAN. However, when the transmission path of the user data is switched via the wireless LAN. The allocation radio bearer may be cut off and the allocation radio bearer may be set again when communication via the wireless LAN is completed.

In addition, in this embodiment, although the temporary IP address was assigned to the mobile terminal from the DHCP server 70 which is attached to the air station 50, the independent DHCP server is the air station 50 and the router 60. ) May be provided on a network such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

In addition, in the above embodiment, a system configuration is a method of providing a service of a wireless LAN in one air station 50 as shown in FIG. 1, but a plurality of air stations as shown in FIG. 9, for example. It is also possible to use the configuration 51, 52, 53 to provide a service to one area R2.

Further, for geographically separated regions, the router 60 shown in FIG. 1 or 9 is divided into segments, and the network number of the IP address is changed for each segment to provide services by wireless LAN for these regions. It is possible.

In addition, as an example of the power-on method of the wireless LAN device mounted in the specific mobile terminal 10 in the present embodiment, the " control panel " By automatically executing the "Add Hardware" function, a method of detecting a wireless LAN device and starting it can be considered. Moreover, the power supply of the said wireless LAN apparatus can be turned off by performing the "hardware removal" function of a PC card.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment. Therefore, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described in detail. In this embodiment, a user using the mobile terminal 10 switches the data transmission path between UTRAN and via wireless LAN as needed by manual operation based on the amount of data (traffic) displayed on the mobile terminal 10. do. That is, based on the amount of data downloaded by the user of the mobile terminal 10, it is determined in which path between the UTRAN and the wireless LAN the download of the data is to be performed. It is assumed that the operation is performed on the MS 10.

In this embodiment, the function of notifying the base station controller 30 by adding the threshold value at the time of switching to the communication by the wireless LAN to the PDP context information is unnecessary. In addition, when the user judges that the user receives the data via the wireless LAN or terminates the reception, and performs the necessary operation on the mobile terminal 10, the wireless LAN mounted on the mobile terminal 10 automatically in response to the operation. Set the device power to ON / OFF.

In addition, when the wireless LAN device is turned on by the user's operation in this manner, the mobile terminal 10 determines that communication via the wireless LAN is possible by receiving radio waves from the air station 50. On the other hand, when the radio wave from the air station 50 cannot be received, it is determined that it is outside the service area R2 of the wireless LAN, and the user is notified of the result, and the power of the wireless LAN device is turned off. It also has a configuration.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the base station control device 30 receives this value when received from the mobile terminal 10 in the form of including a threshold value for switching to communication by the wireless LAN in a reception measurement report signal. The function to preserve them is unnecessary. In addition, a function for determining which path of the UTRAN and the wireless LAN to transmit is unnecessary.

In the present embodiment, the control unit of the base station controller 30 detects that the amount of data forwarded to the mobile terminal 10 having the communication function by the wireless LAN exceeds a preset threshold. Is also unnecessary to send a signal for instructing the wireless LAN device to turn on. In addition, when detecting that the amount of data falls below a preset threshold, the function of transmitting a signal for instructing the mobile terminal to turn off the power of the wireless LAN apparatus is also unnecessary.

In the present embodiment, when the base station controller 30 receives a notification that communication is possible via the wireless LAN in a form included in a reception report report from the mobile terminal 10, the mobile terminal 10 receives the notification. It has a function of instructing the user data transmission unit to switch the communication path for performing user data transmission to (10) via the wireless LAN.

Next, the communication sequence in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step S1 as in the first embodiment, at the time of data transmission and reception at the MS 10, an RRC connection setting procedure for establishing a control signal between the RNC 30 and the MS 10 is executed. Subsequently, in step S2, a PDP context processing procedure for setting a user data transmission path is executed. By adding a new " Wireless LAN desired parameter " as the context information and executing the PDP context processing procedure, a pipe called GTP is established between the RNC 30 and the CN 40 to carry user data. This parameter information is added to the RNC 30 by adding the " Wireless LAN desired parameter " as one of the information elements of the RAB assignment request sent from the CN 40 to the RNC 30 during this processing procedure. The radio bearer is established as a user data transmission path between the RNC 30 and the MS 10 at the same time as being stored as.

User data communication in the conventional UTRAN path (via Node B) is performed using the thus established GTP and allocated radio bearer. At this time, the user data transmission unit of the RNC 30 sends the user data received from the CN 40 to the UTRAN path, thereby realizing the user data transmission to the MS 10.

At this point in time, the user of the mobile terminal 10 can access the FTP server and so on. In step S41, the MS 10 sends data to which the user wishes to download by a function such as a normal web browser. Display the size of. Next, in step S42, the user judges whether or not to switch the data communication path therefor to the wireless LAN based on the amount of data to be downloaded displayed on the MS 10 in this way. If it is determined that the communication path is to be switched, an operation for the switching is performed on the MS 10.

The MS 10 receives radio waves from the air station 50 by turning on the power of the wireless LAN apparatus as described above in step S43 by the user's operation.

Next, in step S8, as in the first embodiment, the MS 10 requests a temporary IP address from the DHCP server 70 of the present air station 50, and the air station 50 of the wireless LAN responds accordingly. In S9, the temporary IP address is assigned to the MS 10.

Next, the MS 10 determines that it is outside the service area R2 of the wireless LAN when the temporary IP address has not been received even after a certain time has elapsed from the temporary IP address request in step S8. As a result, in step S44, the MS 10 notifies the user that it is outside the service area of the wireless LAN, turns off its wireless LAN device, and continues receiving data in the UTRAN path set in step S3. .

In addition, similarly to the first embodiment, in step S10, the RNC 30 periodically sends a reception propagation request message to the MS 10, and the MS 10 obtains the temporal acquired in the step in step S45. The IP address is included in the propagation status report signal, which is a signal of the received radio wave status request signal, and transmitted to the RNC 30. As a result, the RNC 30 recognizes that the present MS 10 is in a wireless LAN enabled environment.

Next, similarly to the case of the first embodiment in step S14, the RNC 30 creates and manages a mobile terminal information correspondence table. The mobile terminal information correspondence table includes "mobile terminal identifier (MS ID)", "temporary IP address", "assigned radio bearer", "GTP", "context (wireless LAN hope)" and "threshold value". Each piece of information is included. The RNC 30 performs data transmission to the corresponding mobile terminal 10 when the " wireless LAN desired parameter " and " temporary IP address " are included in the " mobile terminal information correspondence table " created as described above in step S15. We believe it is necessary to switch to wireless LAN. Specifically, when the "temporary IP address" is received from the mobile terminal 10 in which the "wireless LAN desired parameter" is included in the mobile terminal information correspondence table, the control unit of the RNC 30 controls the user of the RNC 30. Instructs the data transmission unit to switch to the wireless LAN path.

In step S16, the user data transfer unit of the RNC 30 transfers the user data in front of the temporary IP address, thereby realizing user data transmission via the wireless LAN. By the above procedure, user data is transmitted to the MS 10 in a wireless LAN path.

Then, the user can know that the data download has ended by the conventional function of data download by FTP (step S46). When the user recognizes the end of the download in this manner, the user decides the end of data reception via the wireless LAN and performs an operation for turning off the power of the wireless LAN device of the MS 10 (step S47).

When the MS 10 detects that the wireless LAN device is powered off, the MS 10 transmits the received radio wave report signal to the RNC 30 with the temporary IP address field blank, thereby over the wireless LAN. The end of data transfer is notified (step S48).

When the RNC 30 receives the reception propagation report signal, it leaves the temporary IP address field in the mobile terminal information correspondence table blank (step S49). In this way, the RNC 30 recognizes that the present MS 10 is no longer in a wireless LAN-enabled environment, and switches to user data communication in the conventional UTRAN path (via node B) set in step S2 (step S50). ).

By the above processing, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, after detecting switching to the user data communication in the conventional UTRAN path (node B path) by the procedure of step S50, the wireless LAN device may be turned off by the procedure of step S47.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the user recognizes the amount of user data and determines to switch to communication in the wireless LAN path. However, separately, the user data amount monitoring unit is installed in the mobile terminal 10 so that the data transmission / reception amount is set to a predetermined threshold. The mobile terminal 10 itself detects that it is above or below this level, and it is also possible to set it as the structure which automatically switches between a mobile communication network path and a wireless LAN path.

In addition to the configuration of FIG. 1, as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a service may be provided to one area using a plurality of air stations. Further, for geographically separated regions, it is possible to divide the segments in the router 60 of Fig. 1 or 9 and to provide services by wireless LAN by changing the network number of the IP address for each segment.

Although the first and second embodiments have described the case in which the mobile terminal 10 receives data, the present invention has the same configuration in the case of transmitting data from the mobile terminal 10 to the RNC 30. Of course it is applicable.

Although all of these embodiments have described a method of reducing power consumption by turning on and off the power of the entire wireless LAN device provided in the mobile terminal 10, some of the wireless LAN devices, such as a radio wave transmission function portion and a MAC address analysis function portion, are described. The same effect can be obtained even when only the function of is configured to be activated and deactivated, that is, feeding or not feeding.

The configuration of the mobile terminal device 10 in each of the above embodiments will be described below. 11 shows a functional block diagram of the mobile terminal 10, and FIG. 12 shows a hardware configuration diagram. As shown in Fig. 12, the mobile terminal 10 provides a wireless transmission / reception function 10c, 10d having a wireless transmission / reception function inherent to a mobile communication method, that is, a communication function via UTRAN, and a wireless transmission / reception function by a new wireless LAN. Display to the input unit 10k and the user having a wireless transceiver 10b, that is, a wireless LAN device 10b, and made by a push button or the like for enabling input operation by the user of the mobile terminal 10. FIG. And a display portion 10l such as a liquid crystal display device for performing the above. In addition, antennas 10a and 10b3 are provided for the transceivers 10c, 10d, and 10b.

The mobile terminal 10 further includes a CPU and a memory which are in charge of various operations and controls including the operations in the above-described communication sequence, and these are the functional blocks 10e, 10h, shown in FIG. 11 described below. 10i, 10j). A battery 10h for supplying the operating power of the terminal 10 and a power supply unit 10f for turning on and off the power supply to the wireless LAN device 10b by the battery 10h are provided.

Hereinafter, the detail of the specific function of the mobile terminal 10 is demonstrated with FIG. In the case of the first embodiment, since the base station control device 30 determines the switching of the user data communication path, the mobile terminal device 10 monitors the user data amount monitoring unit 10e and the remaining battery capacity in FIG. The part 10g becomes unnecessary.

The mobile terminal 10 typically performs normal data and user data communication such as web and content via a communication path by a conventional mobile communication network, that is, UTRAN.

In the first embodiment, when the base station controller 30 detects that the amount of data communication to the mobile terminal 10 exceeds a preset threshold, the wireless LAN device 10b with respect to the mobile terminal 10. ) To signal to communicate on the wireless LAN path. The mobile terminal 10 receives this signal at the base station control apparatus transceiver 10d via the data transceiver 10c of the conventional mobile communication network. When the signal is received by the base station control device transceiver 10d in this manner, the transceiver 10d drives the power supply unit 10f for the wireless LAN device to transfer from the battery 10h to the wireless LAN device 10b. Let's feed.

In addition, the base station control device transceiver 10d notifies that the temporary IP address request / receiver 10j has supplied power to the wireless LAN device 10b in parallel with the above operation, and has received the temporary IP address. The request / receiver 10j requests and receives the temporary IP address from the air station 50 via the wireless LAN device 10b. In addition, the temporal IP address request / receiver 10j thus notifies the base station control device transceiver 10d of the temporal IP address received from the air station 50, and the transceiver 10d receives the reception. The temporary IP address is transmitted to the base station control device 30 by being included in a propagation report signal. As a result, the mobile terminal apparatus 10 can perform communication by a wireless LAN.

In addition, when the base station controller 30 detects that the amount of data communication to the mobile terminal 10 communicating via the wireless LAN path is lower than a preset threshold, the wireless LAN device 10b with respect to the mobile terminal 10. Signal to deactivate and switch to communication on the mobile network path (via UTRAN). The mobile terminal 10 receives this indication signal from the base station control apparatus transceiver 10d via the data transceiver 10c via the mobile communication network. When the base station control device transceiver 10d receives the instruction signal, the base station control device transmission / reception unit 10d drives the wireless LAN device power supply unit 10f to stop the power supply from the battery 10h to the wireless LAN device 10b.

As a result of the above configuration, the mobile terminal apparatus 10 can realize the operation to be supplied to the wireless LAN apparatus 10b only when user data communication is performed in the wireless LAN path by an instruction from the base station control apparatus 30. Thus, the power consumption of the mobile terminal 10 can be reduced.

The operation of the mobile terminal 10 corresponding to the second embodiment will be described below. However, in this case, since the switching operation of the user data communication path is performed by the user of the mobile terminal apparatus 10, the battery remaining amount monitoring unit 10g in Fig. 11 is unnecessary.

The screen of the web browser displayed on the display portion 10l when the mobile terminal 10 downloads a file using FTP or the like while the signal and user data are being communicated in the mobile communication network path (via UTRAN). The data amount of the file is shown in the figure, and the user judges whether the data should be downloaded to the wireless LAN path by looking at this.

As a result, when it is determined that the switch to the wireless LAN path, the user operates the input unit 10k to instruct the terminal 10 to switch to the wireless LAN path. The power supply unit 10f for the wireless LAN device is driven by the input operation, and power supply from the battery 10h to the wireless LAN device 10b is started, and the mobile terminal device 10 is operated in the same procedure as in the first embodiment. ) Becomes a state in which communication in a wireless LAN is possible.

In addition, in the case of file download by FTP, since the reception of the data is displayed on the display unit 10l and the user is notified, the user who receives the file is operated by the input unit 10k to transmit and receive the base station control apparatus 10d and the moving unit. A request is made to the base station control apparatus 30 via a communication transmission / reception unit 10c as a signal to communicate on a mobile communication network path.

At the same time, the power feeding unit 10f for the wireless LAN device is driven by the user's input unit 10k to stop the power feeding from the battery 10h to the wireless LAN device 10b. Alternatively, at the same time, the user data amount monitoring unit 10e detects the completion of the data reception by decreasing the amount of data reception and drives the power supply unit 10f for the wireless LAN device to transfer the battery 10h from the battery 10h to the wireless LAN device 10b. It is also possible to set it as the structure which stops feeding automatically.

As a result of this, the mobile terminal apparatus 10 can make power supply to the wireless LAN apparatus 10b only when user data communication is performed in the wireless LAN path, so that the power consumption of the mobile terminal 10 can be effectively reduced. have.

The third embodiment as a modification of the second embodiment will be described below. In the present embodiment, unlike the second embodiment, the user data amount is monitored by the function of the mobile terminal 10 itself, and as a result, the path switching is automatically started by the mobile terminal 10. Also in this case, the battery remaining amount monitoring unit 10g is not necessarily required.

First, in the state where the mobile terminal 10 communicates signals and user data in the communication path by the mobile communication network, the user data amount monitoring unit 10e sets in advance the data communication amount in the communication path by the mobile communication network. When the detected threshold value is exceeded, the base station controller 30 switches to the communication via the wireless LAN via the base transceiver station signal transmitting and receiving unit 10d and the mobile communication network transmitting and receiving unit 10c. Indicate by signal.

In parallel with the above processing, the user data amount monitoring unit 10e drives the power supply unit 10f for the wireless LAN device to start power supply from the battery 10h to the wireless LAN device 10b, and at the same time, performs the first embodiment. By the same procedure as in the example, the mobile terminal apparatus 10 is in a state capable of communicating in a wireless LAN.

In addition, when the user data amount monitoring unit 10e of the mobile terminal 10 detects that the amount of data communication in the wireless LAN path falls below a preset threshold, the base station control device transceiver 10d and the mobile communication network are detected. Instructs the base station control apparatus 30 to return to communication in the mobile communication network communication path via the transmission / reception unit 10c. In parallel with this, the user data amount monitoring unit 10e drives the power supply unit 10f for the wireless LAN device to stop the power supply from the battery 10h to the wireless LAN device 10b.

As a result of the above, as in the other embodiments, the mobile terminal apparatus can supply power to the wireless LAN apparatus only when user data communication is performed in the wireless LAN path, thereby effectively reducing the power consumption of the mobile terminal.

The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In this embodiment, when the remaining battery capacity of the mobile terminal apparatus 10 communicating in the wireless LAN path is lower than the threshold, the mobile terminal apparatus 10 has a configuration for switching to communication in the mobile communication network communication path.

In this case, while the control signal is communicated in the mobile communication network communication path and user data is communicated in the wireless LAN path, the battery remaining amount monitoring unit 10g of the mobile terminal 10 is connected to the battery 10h. When it is detected that the remaining amount is lower than a preset threshold, transmission of user data to the base station controller 30 is performed via the base station controller 10d and the mobile communication network 10c. Signal to switch to transmission in the mobile network communication path. When the base station control device 30 is instructed to transmit on the mobile communication network communication path by the mobile terminal 10, the base station controller 30 switches the communication path. The base station control device 30 instructs the mobile terminal 10 to deactivate the wireless LAN device 10b to signal communication in the mobile communication network communication path when the path switching is completed.

The mobile terminal 10 receives this signal from the base station control device transceiver 10d via the mobile communication network transceiver 10c, and as a result drives the power supply unit 10f for the wireless LAN device to drive the battery 10h. Stops feeding to the wireless LAN device 10b.

As a result, the mobile terminal apparatus stops the communication on the wireless LAN path when the battery level is low, thereby preventing the battery from running out during communication processing such as downloading and stopping the processing.

Fig. 13 shows a communication sequence according to the fourth embodiment. In this case, the procedure of steps S1 to S16 is the same as that of the first embodiment described above. However, in the present embodiment, since it is a switching procedure in a situation where communication is performed in the wireless LAN path, the processing of steps S11A, S12, and S13 is not performed.

Subsequent to step S16, when the MS 10 detects that its battery level falls below a predetermined threshold in step S61, the radio propagation status report is not included in the temporary IP address in step S62 (Measurement Report). By sending a signal to the RNC 30, it notifies that communication in the wireless LAN cannot be continued.

Upon receiving this notification, the RNC 30 switches the user data communication path to that by the assigned radio bearer saved in step S16 in step S63. At the time when this path switching is completed, the RNC 30 instructs the MS 10 to power off the wireless LAN device 10b in the control signal route of the UTRAN path (via the node B) in step S64. Further, the RNC 30 updates the mobile terminal management table created in step S14 and deletes "temporary IP address" (step S65). When the MS 10 receives the instruction in step S64, the MS 10 turns off the power of the wireless LAN device 10b (step S66).

According to the above procedure, switching from the wireless LAN path to the mobile communication network path is automatically performed when the battery level decreases.

Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the mobile terminal apparatus 10 capable of communication in the wireless LAN path is performing its user data transmission in the mobile communication network path (the state of step S3 in the sequence of the first embodiment), and the battery of its own battery. If it is detected that the remaining amount is lower than the threshold, even if the power-on instruction of the wireless LAN device 10b is received from the RNC 30 (step S6 in the sequence of the first embodiment), the wireless LAN device 10b may be used. It has a configuration of continuing the user data transmission on the mobile communication network path without performing the power ON process.

That is, in this case, the mobile terminal 10 communicates signals in the mobile communication network communication path and simultaneously communicates user data in the mobile communication network communication path. Thus, the battery remaining amount monitoring unit 10g of the mobile terminal 10 is present. If the battery 10h detects that the remaining amount of the battery is below the preset threshold, the wireless LAN device power supply ON instruction from the base station controller 30f is received from the power supply unit 10f for the wireless LAN device. Instructs the signal not to start power feeding.

As a result, the mobile terminal apparatus 10 does not switch from the mobile communication network communication path to the wireless LAN communication path when the battery level is low, thereby preventing the battery from running out of wireless LAN communication and stopping the communication.

A communication sequence in the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the procedure of steps S1 to S5 is the same as the procedure in the sequence of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. Subsequent to step S5, in step S73, the MS 10 detects that its battery level has fallen below a predetermined threshold, and then the RNC 30 detects that the data amount (traffic) exceeds the threshold in step S6. In this case, as in the case of the first embodiment, the control signal route of the UTRAN path (via Node B) instructs the MS 10 to power on the wireless LAN device 10b (step S74), but in this case, the MS 10 Does not turn on its own wireless LAN device 10b (step S75). As a result, radio waves at the air station 50 cannot be received. Therefore, the temporal IP address obtained in steps S8 and S9 of the sequence of the first embodiment cannot be obtained.

Subsequently, as in the case of the first embodiment, in step S76, the RNC 30 sends a reception propagation request message to the MS 10. At this time, since the MS 10 could not acquire the temporal IP address as described above, the MS 10 could not notify the RNC 30 of the temporal IP address in the reception propagation status report signal (Step). S77). As a result, even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the RNC 30 instructed the MS 10 to turn on the power of the wireless LAN device 10b in step S77, the reception propagation status report from the MS 10 is still measured (Measurement). Report) signal that contains a temporal IP address cannot be received. Therefore, the RNC 30 determines that the wireless LAN device 10b is not powered on in the MS 10, and instructs the MS 10 to turn off the power (step S78). Here, in this case, in the first embodiment, the MS 10 is determined to be outside the service area R2, but in the mobile communication network, the MS outside the service area R2 and the MS in which the wireless LAN device power is turned off. Is considered to be the same. In this case, the MS 10 originally ignores the OFF instruction from the RNC 30 in step S78 because the power supply of the wireless LAN device 10b is OFF (step S79).

Through the above procedure, transmission of user data in the mobile communication network path is continued.

As described above, according to the present embodiment of the present invention, even when the user moves into the service area of the wireless LAN, it is not necessary to use the wireless LAN, and there is data transmission / reception or data amount, battery level, wireless link of the mobile communication network and wireless LAN. It is possible to select either the communication path by the UTRAN of the mobile communication network or the communication path by the wireless LAN as appropriate based on the free-band situation of the mobile communication network or the like. Therefore, since it is activated only when the wireless LAN device of the mobile terminal is actually used, the power consumption of the mobile terminal can be effectively reduced, and the operating time by the battery of the mobile terminal is long, so that high-speed IP communication can be appropriately improved while improving user convenience. It is possible to provide an environment to enjoy services by.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the form of each said embodiment, As long as it conforms to the basic idea of this invention, other various Example / modifications can be derived.

According to the present invention, it is possible to construct an environment in which communication services by wireless communication networks, such as different predetermined wireless LANs, can be spotted by a relatively simple method using the functions of the existing mobile communication network as it is. Therefore, it is possible to provide a high-speed mass transmission wireless communication service at any time without affecting the normal call signal transmission, small capacity data communication, etc. during the operation of the existing mobile communication network service with a relatively simple configuration.

In particular, by appropriately deactivating a portion related to the high-speed mass data transmission wireless communication service in the portable mobile terminal device, which is expected to have a relatively high power consumption rate, that is, interrupting power supply to the portion, power consumption of the portable mobile terminal device can be reduced. It can reduce efficiently. Therefore, a configuration capable of maintaining a standby time of the portable mobile terminal device and providing a high-speed, large-capacity data transmission service occurring at the same time in spots can be realized.

Claims (7)

A communication method for enabling communication by a mobile terminal by a mobile terminal and communication by a predetermined wireless communication network different from the mobile communication network, Activating a part related to the switching between the communication by the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication by the predetermined wireless communication network as the communication means for performing the predetermined packet communication, and the communication with the predetermined wireless communication network included in the mobile terminal, or Deactivation step, Monitoring the battery level of the mobile terminal; Instructing switching to communication by the predetermined mobile communication network when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring during communication through the predetermined wireless communication network; And when the remaining battery level is lower than a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring, the mobile terminal not activating a portion related to communication by the predetermined wireless communication network. The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring a data communication amount that is a data flow amount per unit time transmitted and received by the mobile terminal; And when the data communication amount exceeds a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring, switching between communication by the predetermined mobile communication network and communication by a predetermined wireless communication network. The method of claim 1, further comprising: switching between communication by the predetermined mobile communication network and communication by a predetermined wireless communication network when the amount of communication data, which is a data capacity transmitted and received by the mobile terminal, exceeds a predetermined threshold. Communication method comprising. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the step of switching between communication by the predetermined mobile communication network and communication by the predetermined wireless communication network based on the free band condition of the radio link. Communication method. 4. The communication according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the switching of the communication path in accordance with the monitoring step and the monitoring result includes the step of being executed by control means in charge of the communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network. Way. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the monitoring step is executed by a mobile terminal, And the mobile terminal instructing the switching means to the control means in charge of the communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network by determining the switching of the communication path according to the monitoring result. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the step of a user of a mobile terminal manipulating the mobile terminal for switching between communication by the predetermined mobile communication network and communication by a predetermined wireless communication network. Communication method.

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