KR20070104227A - Terminal devices for providing guaranteeing quality of service between each other wireless communication networks by using switching function of communication protocol stack - Google Patents

Abstract

A terminal for providing a guarantee of QoS(Quality of Service) between heterogeneous wireless networks using the switching function of a communication protocol stack is provided to access a wireless network with great QoS among more than two heterogeneous wireless networks and use the network inexpensively at high speed by installing a logical switching control layer which executes logical switching for an upper protocol layer and more than two lower protocol layers on the protocol stacks corresponding to more than two heterogeneous wireless communication functions. A terminal(100) having more than two heterogeneous wireless communication functions comprises a switching part(180), a QoS confirmation part(160), a network confirmation part(165), a network switchover part(170), and a protocol control part(175). The switching part(180) executes logical switching for an upper protocol layer and the lower protocol layers corresponding to more than two heterogeneous wireless networks on the protocol stacks corresponding to more than two heterogeneous wireless communication functions. The QoS confirmation part(160) confirms whether QoS for the first wireless network, connected among more than two heterogeneous wireless networks at present, gets deteriorated. The network confirmation part(165) confirms the second wireless network, which the terminal(100) will access, among one or more communication networks, which the terminal can access, or QoS for the second wireless network. The network switchover part(170) changes over from a communication connection for the first wireless network to a communication connection for the second wireless network through a logical switching control layer. The protocol control part(175) selects and controls a communication protocol to confirm the QoS among at least two heterogeneous wireless networks or to change wireless networks.

Description

Terminal Devices for Providing Guaranteeing Quality of Service Between Each Other Wireless Communication Networks by Using Switching Function of Communication Protocol Stack}

1 is a diagram illustrating a network connection configuration of a terminal having a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating a preferred functional configuration of a terminal having a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating a preferred functional configuration of a terminal having a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a preferred functional configuration of a terminal having a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5A, 5B and 5C are diagrams showing a preferred configuration of a communication processing device configuration provided in a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6A and 6B are diagrams showing a preferred configuration diagram of a communication processing device provided in a terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

7A and 7B are diagrams showing a preferred configuration diagram of a communication processing device configuration provided in a terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

8A and 8B are diagrams showing a preferred configuration diagram of a communication processing device configuration provided in a terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D illustrate a logical switching control hierarchy that provides integrated processing of a communication protocol stack in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an IEEE 802.11x wireless LAN system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an IEEE 802.16x based portable Internet system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

12A, 12B, and 12C illustrate a protocol stack structure in which a terminal equipped with a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to an embodiment of the present invention communicates with a server (and / or a terminal) on a communication network.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a process of loading a logical switching layer providing an integrated processing function of a communication protocol stack to a terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

14 is a diagram illustrating a process of transmitting predetermined data through an integrated processing function of a communication protocol stack provided in a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

15 is a diagram illustrating a process of receiving predetermined data through an integrated processing function of a communication protocol stack provided in a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a broadband quality of service (QoS) processing process between heterogeneous wireless communication networks using a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of main parts of drawing>

100: terminal 105: control unit

110: screen output unit 115: sound processing unit

120: key input unit 125: IC chip reader unit

130: power supply unit 135: network connection check unit

140: communication network confirmation unit 145: handoff processing unit

150: protocol control unit 155: memory unit

160: switching unit 165: communication processing unit

The present invention provides a method of guaranteeing a service quality between heterogeneous wireless communication networks using a switching function of a communication protocol stack and a terminal device having a switching function of a communication protocol stack corresponding to an IEEE 802.11x based wireless communication network and an IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network. It is about.

With the continuous development of information and communication technology, various forms of wireless communication infrastructure have been established, and users can access the network anytime and anywhere through the wireless communication infrastructure that suits their tastes.

However, in order for the user to access a network through the wireless communication infrastructure, first, an economic burden of purchasing an expensive terminal device (and / or communication device) corresponding to each communication infrastructure, and second, corresponding to each communication infrastructure There is an inconvenience in joining a wireless communication network.

It is an object of the present invention to have at least two heterogeneous wireless communication functions and to logically switch an upper protocol layer and a lower protocol layer corresponding to at least two heterogeneous wireless communication networks on a protocol stack corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions. Among the at least one heterogeneous wireless communication network, a switching unit, a quality of service (QoS) checking unit for checking whether a quality of service (QoS) for the currently connected first wireless communication network is lowered, and at least one other communication network to which the terminal device can be connected. A network confirmation unit for confirming a second wireless communication network to which the terminal device will connect, and / or checking a quality of service (QoS) for the second wireless communication network, and a network for the first wireless communication network through the logical switching control layer. Connection (and / or communication connection) to the second wireless network Selecting and controlling a communication network switching unit for switching to one network connection (and / or communication connection), and a communication protocol for the terminal device to check quality of service (QoS) between at least two or more communication networks, and / or to switch the communication network. The present invention provides a terminal device that provides a service quality guarantee between heterogeneous wireless communication networks using a switching function of a communication protocol stack having a protocol control unit.

A method of guaranteeing a quality of service between heterogeneous wireless communication networks using a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to the present invention includes at least two heterogeneous wireless communication functions and a higher protocol layer on a protocol stack corresponding to at least two heterogeneous wireless communication functions. And a logical switching control layer for logically switching a lower protocol layer corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless networks, the quality of service (QoS) for the currently connected first wireless network among the at least two or more heterogeneous wireless networks is deteriorated. Confirming that; If the quality of service (QoS) for the currently connected first wireless communication network is reduced, the second wireless communication network to which the terminal device is to be connected among the at least one or more other wireless communication networks accessible by the terminal device is checked, and / or the first wireless communication network is connected. Checking a quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network; If the quality of service (QoS) for the second wireless communication network is better than the first wireless communication network, a network connection (and / or communication connection) for the first wireless communication network is transmitted to the second wireless communication network through the logical switching control layer. Switching to a network connection (and / or communication connection) for the; characterized in that comprises a.

According to the present invention, the heterogeneous wireless communication network may include at least one WCDMA and / or HSDPA based mobile communication network, and / or an IEEE 802.11x based wireless LAN communication network, and / or an IEEE 802.16x based portable Internet communication network. Characterized in that made.

Further, according to the present invention, the logical switching control layer is characterized in that provided in the same protocol layer on at least two or more protocol layers corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions.

In addition, according to the present invention, the logical switching control layer is characterized in that to switch the upper protocol layer on a protocol stack corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions to a lower protocol layer corresponding to the communication network currently connected to the terminal device. It is done.

According to the present invention, the logical switching control layer corresponds to a communication network to which the terminal apparatus currently connects a transmission communication packet generated and provided in an upper protocol layer on a protocol stack corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions. And converting the packet structure into a packet structure corresponding to the lower protocol layer.

In addition, according to the present invention, the logical switching control layer is received from a communication network connected to the terminal device on a protocol stack corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions and the received communication packet provided from the lower protocol layer to the upper layer. And converting the packet structure into a packet structure corresponding to the protocol layer.

In addition, according to the present invention, the logical switching control layer is provided at an upper layer of the datalink layer (and / or medium access control layer) on the communication protocol stack, and / or from a sublayer of the network layer, and And / or provided at a higher layer of the network layer on the communication protocol stack, and / or provided from a sub-layer of the transport layer, and / or provided at a higher layer of the transport layer on the communication protocol stack, and / or a portion of the session layer. At least one or more provided from a layer, and / or provided from an upper layer of a session layer on a communication protocol stack, and / or provided from a sublayer of a presentation layer.

On the other hand, the terminal device for providing a service quality guarantee between heterogeneous wireless communication networks using the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention, has at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions, corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions A switching unit for logically switching an upper protocol layer and a lower protocol layer corresponding to at least two heterogeneous wireless communication networks on a protocol stack; A quality of service (QoS) checking unit for checking whether a quality of service (QoS) for the currently connected first wireless communication network among at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication networks is lowered; A communication network identification unit for identifying a second wireless communication network to which the terminal device connects among at least one or more other communication networks accessible by the terminal device, and / or checking a quality of service (QoS) for the second wireless communication network; A network switching unit for converting a network connection (and / or communication connection) to a first wireless communication network into a network connection (and / or communication connection) to the second wireless communication network through the logical switching control layer; And a protocol controller configured to check the quality of service (QoS) between at least two communication networks and / or to select and control a communication protocol for switching the communication network.

According to the present invention, the terminal apparatus stores at least two subscriber information and communication parameter information corresponding to at least two wireless communication networks to which the terminal apparatus is accessible through at least two heterogeneous wireless communication functions. And a memory unit (and / or IC chip).

In addition, according to the present invention, the communication network identification unit, the second wireless communication network that can be connected to the terminal device using the subscriber information and communication parameter information stored in the memory unit (and / or IC chip) And / or confirming a quality of service (QoS) for the or the second wireless communication network.

On the other hand, the present invention includes a computer-readable recording medium, characterized in that for recording a program for executing the function of the terminal component to provide a service quality guarantee between heterogeneous wireless communication networks using the switching function of the communication protocol stack described above. do.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings and description will be described in detail the operating principle of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, the drawings and the following description shown below are for the preferred method among various methods for effectively explaining the features of the present invention, the present invention is not limited only to the drawings and description below. In addition, in the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to intentions or customs of users or operators. Therefore, the definition should be based on the contents throughout the present title.

In addition, preferred embodiments of the present invention to be carried out below are provided in each system functional configuration to efficiently describe the technical components constituting the present invention, or system functions that are commonly provided in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. The configuration will be omitted, and described mainly on the functional configuration to be additionally provided for the present invention. If those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, it will be able to easily understand the function of the components that are conventionally used among the omitted functional configuration not shown below, and also the configuration omitted as described above The relationship between the elements and the components added for the present invention will also be clearly understood.

In addition, the following examples will be used to appropriately modify the terms so that those skilled in the art to clearly understand the technical features of the present invention to effectively understand, but the present invention It is by no means limited.

As a result, the technical spirit of the present invention is determined by the claims, and the following examples are one means for efficiently explaining the technical spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is only.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network connection configuration of a terminal 100 having a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, FIG. 1 shows a terminal 100 having a switching function of a communication protocol stack and a network connection configuration for connecting (and / or communicating) at least two heterogeneous wireless communication networks through the switching function of the communication protocol stack. As a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack is connected to at least two heterogeneous wireless communication networks by referring to and / or modifying the present invention. While various implementation methods of connecting (and / or communication connection) may be inferred, the present invention includes all the implementation methods inferred above and is not limited to the implementation method shown in FIG.

According to the present invention, the terminal 100 is characterized in that the connection to a predetermined ESD (Electronic Software Delivery) server through a predetermined communication network currently connected to have a switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention, By downloading a predetermined program file corresponding to the switching function of the communication protocol stack from the ESD server and mounting it in the terminal 100, the terminal 100 is provided with a switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the server 100 is connected to the terminal 100 before the terminal 100 has a switching function of the communication protocol stack. It is preferable to include an ESD server for providing and mounting a predetermined program file corresponding to the switching function.

In FIG. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a wireless communication network connected to a terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack is connected to a W-CDMA (W-CDMA) operating based on a code division multiple access (CDMA) stack. Wide-CDMA and / or High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) based wireless networks (e.g., mobile networks), complex Pi-sigma network (CPSN) based wireless networks (e.g., satellite networks), and / or IEEE 802.11x based At least one wireless communication network (eg, wireless LAN communication network), and / or IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network (eg, portable Internet), and / or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access (OFDMA) based wireless communication network, and the like. do.

However, the terminal 100 equipped with the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention can never be connected only to the wireless communication network shown in FIG. 1, which is a general knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is only for efficiently describing the technical features of the terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 1, a terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack may be connected to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication networks and / or may be connected to at least one server (and / or terminal) through the wireless communication network. And a wireless communication function for connecting a communication channel, and the function of connecting the terminal 100 to at least two wireless communication networks as described above is realized through a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to the present invention. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, the terminal 100 equipped with the switching function of the communication protocol stack basically connects to a predetermined wireless communication network, and / or is connected to at least one server (and / or terminal) via the wireless communication network. It is characterized in that the function is provided for connecting the communication channel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 100 equipped with the switching function of the communication protocol stack is a wireless terminal 100 basically connected to a W-CDMA and / or HSDPA-based mobile communication network operating based on a CDMA stack. ) Further includes a communication device configuration connected to at least one other communication network (eg, heterogeneous wireless communication network), and the mobile terminal device configuration and the wireless terminal 100 which are basically provided in the wireless terminal 100. At least one server (and / or at least one server connected to and connected to at least two communication networks by providing a switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention for at least one other network device configuration additionally mounted) Terminal) and a predetermined communication channel.

In addition, the terminal 100 with the switching function of the communication protocol stack is basically a wireless LAN based on IEEE 802.11x (eg, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, HIPERLAN / 2, etc.). For the wireless terminal 100 connected to each other, a communication device configuration connected to at least one or more other communication networks (for example, heterogeneous wireless communication networks) is additionally mounted, and the mobile communication network device basically provided in the wireless terminal 100 is provided. At least one provided on each communication network and connected to at least two communication networks by providing a switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention with respect to the configuration and at least one or more other network device configurations additionally mounted in the wireless terminal 100. It is characterized by connecting a predetermined communication channel with the above server (and / or terminal).

In addition, at least one terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack is connected to a wireless terminal 100 that is basically connected to a wireless Internet (WiBro) based on IEEE 802.16x (eg, IEEE 802.16e). Further equipped with a communication device configuration connected to other communication networks (for example, heterogeneous wireless communication networks), the mobile communication network device configuration provided in the wireless terminal 100 and at least additionally mounted in the wireless terminal 100 By providing a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to the present invention for one or more other network device configurations, it is possible to connect to at least two or more communication networks and to communicate with at least one server (and / or terminal) provided on each network. It is characterized by connecting the channel.

According to the present invention, the terminal 100 equipped with the switching function of the communication protocol stack basically connects to at least two or more wireless communication networks, and / or at least one or more servers (and / or terminals) through the respective wireless communication networks. ) And a function for connecting a predetermined communication channel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 100 equipped with the switching function of the communication protocol stack is connected to a plurality of wireless communication networks, and / or at least one server (and / or terminal) through the respective wireless communication networks. ) And a predetermined communication channel are preferably provided.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a server to which the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack communicates through at least one wired network and / or a wireless communication network is at least one or more to the terminal 100. It is preferable to include a content providing server for providing a content file, and / or preferably comprises a web server through a web browsing function provided in the terminal 100, and / or the terminal 100 As such, it is preferable to include a financial server for providing at least one or more financial services.

If the person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, the terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack communication server via at least one or more wired communication network and / or wireless communication network, the above example It will be clearly understood that all servers on the wired and / or wireless communication network are included in addition to the provided content providing server and / or web server and / or financial server, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

The communication protocol defines a format, a procedure, and a sequence defined by at least two communication devices (server and / or terminal 100) for transmitting and receiving predetermined information (or data), and the communication protocol controls physical circuits. And a plurality of layers for performing respective functions such as data connection control, relay transmission of a packet or file transfer control, and each of the layers in a predetermined communication protocol. Is done.

Here, detailed technical features and functions for each layer of the communication protocol are defined in each communication protocol standard, and the present invention does not violate the communication protocol standard.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the terminal 100 connecting to at least two or more communication networks (eg, heterogeneous wireless communication networks), the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention is based on the development and development of the terminal 100. It can be realized by mounting through hardware device configuration and / or software functional configuration at the manufacturing stage, thereby the present invention is not limited.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the terminal 100 connecting to at least two or more communication networks (eg, heterogeneous wireless communication networks), the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention is developed by the terminal 100. And / or after being manufactured, the program including the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention can be realized by recording on a predetermined recording medium provided in the terminal 100, whereby the present invention is not limited thereto. .

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the terminal 100 connecting to at least two or more communication networks (eg, heterogeneous wireless communication networks), a part of the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention may be performed by the terminal 100. In the development and / or manufacturing stage of the hardware device configuration and / or software functional configuration, and the rest of the terminal 100 after the development and / or manufacturing, the switching of the communication protocol stack according to the invention It can be realized by recording a program including a function on a predetermined recording medium provided in the terminal 100, whereby the present invention is not limited.

For example, in order for the terminal 100 connecting to at least two communication networks to connect to a predetermined wireless communication network, an antenna unit, an RF processing unit, an IF processing unit, and a baseband unit must be provided, wherein the hardware device configuration is the antenna unit. And at least one electrical / electronic device and a circuit corresponding to the RF processor, the IF processor, and the baseband unit, wherein the software functional configuration controls the operation of the antenna unit, the RF processor, the IF processor, and the baseband unit. And a program for processing a communication protocol defined in the wireless communication network through the operation control.

In particular, the program (for example, a program that controls the operation of the antenna unit, the RF processing unit, the IF processing unit and the baseband unit, and processes the communication protocol defined in the wireless communication network through the operation control) is a firmware (Firmware) In the form of memory in the device configuration (e.g., Read Only Memory (ROM) and / or Erratable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM) and / or Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM, etc.)) and / or the The terminal 100 may be recorded in a memory provided in the terminal 100 in the form of a predetermined system program (and / or an application program according to the intention of a person skilled in the art) included in the operating system of the terminal 100. The present invention is not limited by this.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 100 may access at least two or more wireless communication networks, and for this purpose, the terminal 100 may be configured with hardware devices and / or software for connecting to the two or more wireless communication networks. A functional configuration can be mounted independently corresponding to each wireless communication network, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, the terminal 100 connecting to at least two or more communication networks may include an antenna unit, an RF processing unit, and an IF unit for connecting to a first wireless communication network (eg, an IEEE 802.11x-based wireless communication network) to access at least two or more wireless communication networks. And an antenna unit, an RF processor, an IF processor, and a baseband unit for connecting to a second wireless communication network (e.g., an IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network). It is not limited.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 100 may be connected to at least two or more wireless communication networks, and for this purpose, the terminal 100 may use a predetermined hardware configuration to connect the two or more wireless communication networks. After being designed and mounted to correspond to the two or more wireless communication networks, the mounted hardware device configuration may be implemented to be shared through a software functional configuration corresponding to each wireless communication network, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, the terminal 100 connecting to at least two or more communication networks may use a frequency band corresponding to a first wireless communication network (eg, an IEEE 802.11x based wireless communication network) and a second wireless communication network (eg, to connect to at least two or more wireless communication networks). For example, an antenna unit, an RF processor, an IF processor, and a baseband unit including all frequency bands corresponding to an IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network) are provided, and then the antenna unit, the RF processor, and the IF processor are configured through the software functional configuration. And the baseband unit may be controlled to operate in response to the first wireless communication network, and / or to operate in response to the second wireless communication network, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

The terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack is connected to a predetermined wireless communication network with a predetermined backbone network.

In addition, the terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack is characterized in that a predetermined communication channel is connected to at least one server (and / or terminal) through the backbone network.

For example, the terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack is connected to a web server and a client / server based communication channel on the Internet through the backbone network, and / or the terminal 100 on the Internet and the P2P. A peer to peer based communication channel may be connected.

In addition, the terminal 100 equipped with the switching function of the communication protocol stack is a predetermined application network connected to the backbone network (eg, a network defined to provide a specialized application service on the backbone network (or based on the backbone network)). The server (and / or terminal) on the predetermined communication channel is characterized in that connected.

For example, the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack has a predetermined communication channel connected to a server (for example, a VoIP server) on an application network such as a predetermined Voice over IP network connected to the backbone network. And / or a communication channel with a VoIP terminal 100 on the VoIP network.

In addition, the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack is a terminal 100 on a predetermined external network (for example, a network connected through an application network and a predetermined gateway) connected to a predetermined application network connected to the backbone network. ) And a predetermined communication channel is connected.

For example, the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack includes a server (for example, an Automatic Response Service (ARS) server) on a public switched telephone network connected to a predetermined VoIP network connected to the backbone network. A predetermined communication channel may be connected, and / or a communication channel may be connected with the call terminal 100 on the VoIP network.

2 is a diagram showing a preferred functional configuration of a terminal 100 having a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred function of a terminal 100 having a switching function of a W-CDMA and / or HSDPA based wireless communication network operating on a CDMA stack, and a communication protocol stack corresponding to an IEEE 802.11x based wireless communication network. As shown in the drawings, a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains may refer to and / or modify this drawing 2, and the terminal 100 having a switching function of a communication protocol stack corresponding to at least two or more communication networks. Various functional configurations of) may be inferred, but the present invention includes all the implementation methods inferred above and is not limited to the implementation method shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a communication network to which a terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack is connected includes a W-CDMA and / or HSDPA-based mobile communication network operating based on a CDMA stack. It is shown to include a wireless communication network including at least one or more IEEE 802.11x-based wireless LAN communication network.

However, the terminal 100 equipped with the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention can never be connected only to the communication network shown in FIG. 2, which is a general knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains. The present invention is only for efficiently explaining the functional configuration of the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 2, the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack includes a control unit 105 for controlling and operating the overall function of the terminal 100, and an overall function of the terminal 100. A memory unit 155 for storing information (or data) necessary for control and operation, and / or recording a program necessary for controlling and operating the overall function of the terminal 100, and the terminal 100 using CDMA WCDMA / HSDPA communication processing unit 135 for processing to communicate with the W-CDMA and / or HSDPA-based wireless communication network operating on the stack, and IEEE 802.11 for processing the terminal 100 to communicate with IEEE 802.11x-based wireless communication network Characterized in that it comprises a communication processor 140, the screen output unit 110 for the screen output function of the terminal 100, the sound for the sound input and output function of the terminal 100 Provided with a rib 115 and a key input section 120 for key input functions of the terminal 100 it is basically characterized in that formed.

In addition, the terminal 100 equipped with a switching function of the communication protocol stack stores IC chip storage information (or data) necessary for controlling and operating a characteristic function of the terminal 100, and / or the IC And an IC chip reader unit 125 for interfacing with a predetermined IC chip (and / or IC card) for recording an IC chip program that performs a characteristic function corresponding to chip storage information (or data). do.

In addition, the terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack includes a power supply unit 130 (eg, a power supply device and / or a battery, etc.) for supplying power required for the terminal 100 to operate. It is characterized by further comprising.

The control unit 105 includes a processor including a CPU / MPU in hardware and an execution memory (for example, a register and / or a random access memory (RAM)), and from the memory unit 155 to the terminal 100. A predetermined program routine for realizing the overall (and / or characteristic) function of the bus and / or a bus for inputting / outputting the program data and a predetermined electronic circuit (or integrated circuit) provided therefor, And a program routine which is software-loaded from a predetermined memory unit 155 (and / or chipset) into the execution memory to be arithmetic and processed through the processor to realize at least one predefined function. And / or generic term of the program data (hence, in the present invention, a predetermined program recorded on the recording medium of the terminal 100 for the switching function of the communication protocol stack). A gram routine is illustrated as being provided in the control unit 105 for convenience.), Various functions to be implemented in the terminal 100 by the control unit 105 are realized, and the above functions are also realized. To control and operate the overall operation of the terminal 100 in order to.

In particular, when power is input to the terminal 100 to perform a function of the control unit 105 that controls and operates the overall operation of the terminal 100, an operating system routine stored in a predetermined memory unit 155, System management routines and / or system variables are loaded into the execution memory and computed by the processor to perform functions of providing an operating system, system management program, and / or communication service.

The screen output unit 110 drives a predetermined screen output device (for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and / or a cathode ray tube (CRT) device, etc.) included in the terminal 100, and controls the control unit. Predetermined screen output data (for example, screen output data generated by a screen output program routine) generated from the 105, key data generated through the key input unit 120, and predetermined functions provided in the terminal 100; And outputting various information, signals, and / or contents (eg, text contents, image contents, and / or multimedia contents) extracted and / or generated in the process of performing the above operation to the screen output device. The screen output unit 110 includes a driver for outputting the screen output information (and / or data) according to the resolution and / or the number of colors corresponding to the screen output device.

The sound processor 115 drives a sound input device (for example, a microphone) provided in the terminal 100, encodes a predetermined sound signal input from the sound input device, and provides the sound signal to the controller 105. Or / or drives a sound input device (eg, a speaker) provided in the terminal 100, decodes a predetermined sound signal extracted and / or generated by the controller 105, and outputs a sound output device. (For example, a speaker). The sound processor 115 is provided with a predetermined vocoder and a codec. The sound processing unit 115 performs a function of a sound input unit provided in the terminal 100 through the microphone, or the sound output unit provided in the terminal 100 through the sound processing unit 115 and a speaker. Perform the function.

The key input unit 120 includes a predetermined key having at least one key button including a predetermined number key and / or a character key and / or a function key. To detect information (or signals) input from a key input device (eg, a keypad, and / or a keyboard), and to control a specific input mode of the terminal 100 controlled by the controller 105; And / or predetermined information (or signal) is inputted from a predetermined key button provided in the keypad in the operation mode, so that at least one or more key events (eg, MH_KEY_PRESSEVENT, MH_KEY_REPEATEVENT, MH_KEY_RELEASEEVENT) corresponding to the input information (or signal) are input. ), The generated key event is provided to the controller 105, and the controller 105 is configured to provide the key event in the current input mode and / or operation mode of the terminal 100. Read a predetermined key data corresponding to the (e.g., from the key table to store (manage) at least one or more key data corresponding to a specific key event in each terminal 100 input mode and / or operation mode to the key event) Read key data) and / or read a command for executing a predetermined function defined in accordance with the key event. The keypad including the key input unit 120 and at least one key button interlocks with each other to perform a function of a key input unit provided in the terminal 100.

The WCDMA / HSDPA communication processing unit 135 transmits the W-CDMA and / or HSDPA to the terminal 100 through the W-CDMA and / or HSDPA-based communication protocol among the switching functions of the communication protocol stack provided in the terminal 100. And processing the W-CDMA and / or HSDPA-based communication protocol with a network component on a wireless communication network based on the wireless communication network, and antenna, RF corresponding to the W-CDMA and / or HSDPA communication standard in hardware. And a radio frequency signal transmitted / received through the antenna by software in the RF processor, the IF processor, and the baseband unit, by the W-CDMA and / or HSDPA. A system program (e.g., firmware included in each device configuration and / or an operating system of the terminal 100) for processing in response to an underlying communication protocol. System program included (or included)), a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The IEEE 802.11x communication processor 140 is based on the IEEE 802.11x-based wireless communication network and the IEEE 802.11x based on the IEEE 802.11x-based communication protocol of the switching function of the communication protocol stack provided in the terminal 100 And a device configuration including an antenna, an RF processing unit, an IF processing unit, and a baseband unit corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x communication standard in hardware. A system program (eg, firmware provided in each device configuration) for allowing the RF processor, the IF processor, and the baseband to process radio frequency signals transmitted and received through an antenna corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x based communication protocol. System programs included in (or included) the operating system of the terminal 100) It is preferably made, a preferred embodiment thereof will be described in detail with reference to Figure 5b.

The memory unit 155 is input / output information when an operation by a predetermined program routine (or code) and / or program data (eg, a program routine (or code)) for controlling the overall operation of the terminal 100 is performed. And / or a general term for a memory for storing data; read only memory (ROM) corresponding to read-only memory, flash memory (FM), and electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM). ), And a nonvolatile memory including at least one of a hard disk drive (HDD) and the like. In general, the ROM stores system information that should not be deleted, and the nonvolatile memory includes an operating system routine, a communication processing program routine, and / or various application program routines provided through the terminal 100 and information or data therefor. Is stored.

According to the present invention, in order to provide a switching function of the communication protocol stack, the memory unit 155 provides subscriber information and communication parameter information corresponding to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected. It is characterized by storing.

Here, the subscriber information is each subscriber information subscribed to at least two communication networks that the terminal 100 can access through the switching function of the communication protocol stack, and the terminal 100 switches the communication protocol stack. Through at least two or more communication networks through the terminal 100 to identify (and / or identify) the subscriber, and comprises the basic information for processing the charge corresponding to the network connection.

Further, the communication parameter information is parameter information for connecting to each communication network according to a communication protocol standard defined in at least two communication networks that the terminal 100 can access through a switching function of the communication protocol stack. The terminal 100 includes basic information defined to transmit and receive with network components on each communication network in the process of connecting to at least two communication networks through the switching function of the communication protocol stack.

According to the present invention, the memory unit 155 preferably stores a communication program routine for connecting to at least two communication networks to which the terminal 100 can connect in order to provide a switching function of the communication protocol stack. The communication program routine may be loaded into the execution memory of the controller 105 at the same time as the terminal 100 is booted (or through a predetermined communication related command), thereby switching the communication protocol stack. The functional configuration of the communication program routine that provides the function will be described as a block in the control section 105 for convenience.

The IC chip reader unit 125 includes an IC chip related functional configuration (eg, provided in the terminal 100) provided in the terminal 100 through an IC chip standard including ISO / IEC 7816 and / or ISO / IEC 14443. IC chip agent program) and the IC chip mounted on or detached from the terminal 100 to exchange information and / or data. For example, the IC chip reader unit 125 provides information and / or data exchange between the IC chip agent program and the IC chip through an application protocol data unit (APDU).

According to the present invention, the information and / or data exchanged through the IC chip reader unit 125 correspond to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected to provide a switching function of the communication protocol stack. Each subscriber information and communication parameter information may be included, and for this purpose, it is preferable that each subscriber information and communication parameter information corresponding to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected are stored in the IC chip. .

Here, the IC chip for storing each subscriber information and communication parameter information corresponding to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected includes a subscriber identity module (SIM), a universal identification module (UIM), and a universal subscriber (USIM). Identity Module) may be included, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 2, a communication program routine for providing a switching function of the communication protocol includes an upper protocol layer and a lower protocol layer corresponding to at least two heterogeneous wireless communication networks on a protocol stack corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions. A switching unit 180 for logically switching, a quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 for checking whether a quality of service (QoS) for a currently connected first wireless communication network among at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication networks is lowered, and the terminal A network checking unit for checking a second wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 connects among at least one or more other communication networks that 100 can access, and / or checking a quality of service (QoS) for the second wireless communication network ( 165 and a network connection (and / or communication connection) to a first wireless communication network through the logical switching control layer. Communication network switching unit 170 for switching to a network connection (and / or communication connection) for the second wireless communication network, and the terminal 100 checks the quality of service (QoS) between at least two or more communication networks, and / or And a protocol control unit 175 for selecting and controlling a communication protocol for switching the communication network.

In general, the application program provided in the terminal 100 is characterized in that the interworking with the highest layer on the communication protocol stack, and is manufactured and developed to fully trust the communication protocol stack of the lower layer.

That is, the application program provided in the terminal 100 operates by calling an API (Application Program Interface) function corresponding to the highest layer on the communication protocol stack, and the communication protocol stack of the lower layer is the communication processor (eg, And a system program provided in the WCDMA / HSDPA communication processing unit 135 and / or the IEEE 802.11x communication processing unit 140, and / or a system program provided in the operating system of the terminal 100. The application program does not access the communication protocol stack of the lower layer.

According to the present invention, in the communication protocol structure as described above, the switching unit 180 includes at least two or more communication processing units (eg, WCDMA / HSDPA communication processing unit 135 and / or IEEE 802.11x communication) provided in the terminal 100. A Logical Switching Control (LSC) layer is provided between a communication protocol layer (eg, a physical layer, a data link layer) corresponding to the processor 140 and a communication protocol layer provided on an operating system of the terminal 100. It is characterized by the implementation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the logical switching control layer is included in a predetermined protocol layer on the communication protocol layer provided in the terminal 100 and / or separated into at least two or more protocol layers according to the function of each layer. The present invention is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the protocol stack above the logical switching control layer preferably includes a structure included in a hierarchical structure corresponding to the main communication protocol stack corresponding to the terminal 100. The switching control layer controls the upper layer of the layer including the logical switching control layer among the main communication protocol stack included in the terminal 100 to be processed by the main communication protocol stack, and / or the logical switching control layer is The lower layer of the included layer is preferably controlled to be switched to any one of a lower layer of the main communication protocol stack and / or an equivalent lower layer of at least one or more other communication protocol stacks provided in the terminal 100.

For example, if the terminal 100 is a main communication protocol stack is a WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol, and the logical switching control layer is provided in a specific layer of the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol layer, the logical switching control layer is provided at this time The upper layer of the configured layer is implemented as the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol layer, and the lower layer of the layer provided with the logical switching control layer includes the lower layer of the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack, and also the WCDMA / HSDPA communication. Lower layers of other communication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.11x communication protocol) stacks that are equivalent to lower layers of the protocol stack are included.

In this case, the logical switching control layer may link the lower layer of the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack corresponding to the lower logical switching control layer to an upper layer of the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack, and / or the logical switching control. A lower layer of another communication protocol (eg, IEEE 802.11x communication protocol) stack corresponding to the lower layer is interworked by switching to an upper layer of the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack.

Further, for example, if the terminal 100 is a main communication protocol stack is an IEEE 802.11X communication protocol, and the logical switching control layer is provided in a specific layer of the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol layer, then the logical switching control The upper layer of the layer provided with the layer is implemented by the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol layer, and the lower layer of the layer provided with the logical switching control layer includes the lower layer of the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol stack, and also the IEEE Lower layers of the 802.11X communication protocol stack and lower layers of other communication protocol (e.g., WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol) stacks that are equivalent.

In this case, the logical switching control layer may link a lower layer of the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol stack corresponding to a lower layer of the logical switching control layer to an upper layer of the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol stack, and / or the logical switching control. A lower layer of another communication protocol (eg, WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol) stack corresponding to the lower layer is interworked by switching to an upper layer of the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol stack.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the protocol stack above the logical switching control layer preferably comprises a compatible protocol stack structure for at least two or more protocol stacks provided in the terminal 100, the logical switching The protocol stack below the control layer preferably comprises at least two different communication protocol stacks that are compatible with the compatible protocol stack above the logical switching control layer, wherein the logical switching control layer is the communication protocol of the lower layer. It is preferable to control to switch the communication protocol stack of any one of the stacks to the compatible protocol stack of the upper layer.

For example, a compatible protocol stack above the logical switching control layer is a protocol stack compatible with a WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack and / or an IEEE 802.11x communication protocol stack stack, and the like, and a protocol stack below the logical switching control layer is the WCDMA / HSDPA. And the logical switching control layer comprises the lower WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack and / or the IEEE 802.11x communication protocol stack and / or any one of the IEEE 802.11x communication protocol stack and / or stack. And / or switch and interwork with any of the higher compatible protocol stacks.

According to the present invention, the logical switching control layer corresponding to the switching unit 180 performing the switching function of the communication protocol stack as described above in the communication protocol structure, the upper communication packet generated by the upper protocol stack A lower communication packet corresponding to a lower protocol stack corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected, and / or a lower communication corresponding to a lower protocol stack corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. And a communication packet compatible function for converting a packet into an upper communication packet corresponding to the upper protocol stack.

Data to be transmitted from the application program provided in the terminal 100 to the server (and / or terminal) on the communication network is transferred to the lower layer with the packet information corresponding to each protocol layer from the upper layer on the communication protocol layer, The lowest layer (e.g., the physical layer) transmits the communication packet including at least one packet information corresponding to each layer as described above to the server (and / or terminal) through the communication network, wherein the logical switching The control layer transfers a packet transferred from an application provided in the terminal 100 to a protocol layer including the logical switching control layer while adding packet information corresponding to each protocol layer from an upper layer on the communication protocol layer. Lower protocol layer corresponding to communication network 100 is currently connected It is preferable to convert to a structure that can be transferred to, and to transfer the converted packet to a lower protocol layer corresponding to the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected.

In addition, the data received from the server (and / or terminal) on the communication network by the application program provided in the terminal 100 is transferred to the upper layer while removing the packet information corresponding to each protocol layer from the lower layer on the communication protocol layer The uppermost layer provides data to which the respective packet information is removed from each layer as described above to the application program, wherein the logical switching control layer is a lower protocol layer corresponding to the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. Packet information corresponding to each protocol layer is removed from the packet, and the packet transferred to the protocol layer including the logical switching control layer is converted into a structure that can be transferred to the higher protocol layer, and the converted packet is converted into the higher protocol layer. It is preferable to transfer to.

The quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 may periodically check whether the quality of service (QoS) for the currently connected wireless communication network among the at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication networks to which the terminal 100 is connected is inferior.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected may include a data communication speed for the wireless communication network, and at this time, the quality of service (QoS) The identification unit 160 confirms the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network, whether the data communication speed in the wireless communication network falls below a certain criterion, and / or a reconnection attempt for data communication in the wireless communication network is performed. It occurs at least one or more of the frequent occurrence over a certain criterion and / or whether the terminal 100 is located in the shadow area on the wireless communication network.

In addition, the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected may further include a communication fee for the wireless communication network. In this case, the quality of service (QoS) check unit 160 Checking the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network, the terminal 100 is a data of more than a certain criterion through a wireless communication network of a lower communication fee among at least one or more wireless communication networks that can be connected (and / or communication connection) This includes checking if the communication speed can be communicated.

If the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected is lowered, the network identification unit 165 may be configured based on communication parameter information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip). Search for a communication network that the terminal 100 can access from among at least two communication networks accessible by the terminal 100 through the logical switching control layer and lower layers thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication network identification unit 165 may be configured to transmit the terminal through the logical switching control layer and its lower layer based on communication parameter information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip). It is preferable to search for a communication network to which the terminal 100 can access by performing a communication connection procedure for a specific communication network among at least two or more communication networks that can be connected.

If a communication network to which the terminal 100 can access is found by performing the communication connection procedure, the communication network identification unit 165 based on subscriber information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip). By using the logical switching control layer and its lower layer it is characterized in that whether to connect to the searched communication network and the communication connection.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication network identification unit 165 searches the searched communication network through the logical switching control layer and its lower layer based on the subscriber information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip). By performing a communication connection procedure with respect to, it is preferable to check whether the terminal 100 can connect to the searched communication network to communicate.

In addition, while the communication network confirming unit 165 performs a communication connection procedure for the searched communication network, the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 transfers the quality of service (QoS) of the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected. It is preferable to further comprise checking whether the superior to the wireless communication network.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the quality of service (QoS) includes a data communication speed for the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected, the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 may determine the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected. It is desirable to verify that the data communication speed is faster than the data communication speed of the previous wireless communication network.

* Or, if the quality of service (QoS) includes the number of reconnection attempts to the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected, the quality of service (QoS) check unit 160 transfers the number of reconnection attempts of the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected. It is preferable to check whether the number of reconnection attempts of the wireless communication network is smaller.

Alternatively, when the quality of service (QoS) further includes a communication fee for a wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is communicatively connected, the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 may determine the quality of the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected. It is desirable to verify that the telecommunications usage fee is lower than the telecommunications usage fee of the previous wireless communication network.

When a predetermined communication network to which the terminal 100 connects is confirmed by the communication network confirming unit 165, the protocol control unit 175 selects a protocol layer corresponding to the logical switching control layer and a lower layer thereof. And control to operate through the logical switching control layer by interworking by switching the lower layer and the upper layer.

The communication network switching unit 170 blocks a network connection (and / or communication connection) to a wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected based on the communication protocol stack selected by the protocol control unit 175, and the communication network Characterized by switching the network connection (and / or communication connection) to another communication network which is confirmed by the confirming unit 165 and the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 to provide better quality of service (QoS). do.

3 is a diagram illustrating a preferred functional configuration of a terminal 100 having a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred functional configuration of a terminal 100 having a switching function of a communication protocol stack corresponding to an IEEE 802.11x-based wireless communication network and an IEEE 802.16x-based wireless communication network. Those skilled in the art will be able to infer various functional configurations of the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack corresponding to at least two communication networks by referring to and / or modifying the drawing 3. The present invention includes all implementation methods inferred from the above, and is not limited to the implementation method shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a communication network to which a terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack is connected includes at least one of an IEEE 802.11x-based wireless LAN network, an IEEE 802.16x-based portable Internet, and the like. It is shown as including a wireless communication network that includes.

However, the terminal 100 equipped with the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention can never be connected only to the communication network shown in FIG. 3, which is a general knowledge of the present invention. The present invention is only for efficiently explaining the functional configuration of the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 3, the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack includes a control unit 105 for controlling and operating the overall function of the terminal 100, and an overall function of the terminal 100. A memory unit 155 for storing information (or data) necessary for control and operation, and / or recording a program necessary for controlling and operating the overall function of the terminal 100, and the terminal 100 for IEEE And an IEEE 802.11x communication processor 140 for processing to communicate with an 802.11x based wireless communication network and an IEEE 802.16x communication processor 145 for processing the terminal 100 to communicate with an IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network. Basically, the screen output unit 110 for the screen output function of the terminal 100, the sound processing unit 115 for the sound input and output function of the terminal 100, and the key of the terminal 100 input A key input unit 120 for a function is basically provided.

In addition, the terminal 100 equipped with a switching function of the communication protocol stack stores IC chip storage information (or data) necessary for controlling and operating a characteristic function of the terminal 100, and / or the IC And an IC chip reader unit 125 for interfacing with a predetermined IC chip (and / or IC card) for recording an IC chip program that performs a characteristic function corresponding to chip storage information (or data). do.

In addition, the terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack includes a power supply unit 130 (eg, a power supply device and / or a battery, etc.) for supplying power required for the terminal 100 to operate. It is characterized by further comprising.

The control unit 105 includes a processor including a CPU / MPU in hardware and an execution memory (for example, a register and / or a random access memory (RAM)), and from the memory unit 155 to the terminal 100. A predetermined program routine for realizing the overall (and / or characteristic) function of the bus and / or a bus for inputting / outputting the program data and a predetermined electronic circuit (or integrated circuit) provided therefor, And a program routine which is software-loaded from a predetermined memory unit 155 (and / or chipset) into the execution memory to be arithmetic and processed through the processor to realize at least one predefined function. And / or generic term of the program data (hence, in the present invention, a predetermined program recorded on the recording medium of the terminal 100 for the switching function of the communication protocol stack). A gram routine is illustrated as being provided in the control unit 105 for convenience.), Various functions to be implemented in the terminal 100 by the control unit 105 are realized, and the above functions are also realized. To control and operate the overall operation of the terminal 100 in order to.

In particular, when power is input to the terminal 100 to perform a function of the control unit 105 that controls and operates the overall operation of the terminal 100, an operating system routine stored in a predetermined memory unit 155, System management routines and / or system variables are loaded into the execution memory and computed by the processor to perform functions of providing an operating system, system management program, and / or communication service.

The screen output unit 110 drives a predetermined screen output device (for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and / or a cathode ray tube (CRT) device, etc.) included in the terminal 100, and controls the control unit. Predetermined screen output data (for example, screen output data generated by a screen output program routine) generated from the 105, key data generated through the key input unit 120, and predetermined functions provided in the terminal 100; And outputting various information, signals, and / or contents (eg, text contents, image contents, and / or multimedia contents) extracted and / or generated in the process of performing the above operation to the screen output device. The screen output unit 110 includes a driver for outputting the screen output information (and / or data) according to the resolution and / or the number of colors corresponding to the screen output device.

The sound processor 115 drives a sound input device (for example, a microphone) provided in the terminal 100, encodes a predetermined sound signal input from the sound input device, and provides the sound signal to the controller 105. Or / or drives a sound input device (eg, a speaker) provided in the terminal 100, decodes a predetermined sound signal extracted and / or generated by the controller 105, and outputs a sound output device. (For example, a speaker). The sound processor 115 is provided with a predetermined vocoder and a codec. The sound processing unit 115 performs a function of a sound input unit provided in the terminal 100 through the microphone, or the sound output unit provided in the terminal 100 through the sound processing unit 115 and a speaker. Perform the function.

The key input unit 120 includes a predetermined key having at least one key button including a predetermined number key and / or a character key and / or a function key. To detect information (or signals) input from a key input device (eg, a keypad, and / or a keyboard), and to control a specific input mode of the terminal 100 controlled by the controller 105; And / or predetermined information (or signal) is inputted from a predetermined key button provided in the keypad in the operation mode, so that at least one or more key events (eg, MH_KEY_PRESSEVENT, MH_KEY_REPEATEVENT, MH_KEY_RELEASEEVENT) corresponding to the input information (or signal) are input. ), The generated key event is provided to the controller 105, and the controller 105 is configured to provide the key event in the current input mode and / or operation mode of the terminal 100. Read a predetermined key data corresponding to the (e.g., from the key table to store (manage) at least one or more key data corresponding to a specific key event in each terminal 100 input mode and / or operation mode to the key event) Read key data) and / or read a command for executing a predetermined function defined in accordance with the key event. The keypad including the key input unit 120 and at least one key button interlocks with each other to perform a function of a key input unit provided in the terminal 100.

The IEEE 802.11x communication processor 140 is based on the IEEE 802.11x-based wireless communication network and the IEEE 802.11x based on the IEEE 802.11x-based communication protocol of the switching function of the communication protocol stack provided in the terminal 100 And a device configuration including an antenna, an RF processing unit, an IF processing unit, and a baseband unit corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x communication standard in hardware. A system program (eg, firmware provided in each device configuration) for allowing the RF processor, the IF processor, and the baseband to process radio frequency signals transmitted and received through an antenna corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x based communication protocol. System programs included in (or included) the operating system of the terminal 100) It is preferably made, a preferred embodiment thereof will be described in detail with reference to Figure 5b.

The IEEE 802.16x communication processing unit 145 is a network component on the IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network and the IEEE 802.16x through an IEEE 802.16x based communication protocol among the switching functions of the communication protocol stack provided in the terminal 100. And a device configuration including an antenna, an RF processing unit, an IF processing unit, and a baseband unit corresponding to the IEEE 802.16x communication standard in hardware. A system program (eg, firmware provided in each device configuration) for allowing the RF processor, the IF processor, and the baseband unit to process radio frequency signals transmitted and received through the antenna corresponding to the IEEE 802.16x based communication protocol. System program included in (or included) the operating system of the terminal 100) It is preferably made, a preferred embodiment thereof will be described in detail with reference to Figure 5c.

The memory unit 155 is input / output information when an operation by a predetermined program routine (or code) and / or program data (eg, a program routine (or code)) for controlling the overall operation of the terminal 100 is performed. And / or a general term for a memory for storing data; read only memory (ROM) corresponding to read-only memory, flash memory (FM), and electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM). ), And a nonvolatile memory including at least one of a hard disk drive (HDD) and the like. In general, the ROM stores system information that should not be deleted, and the nonvolatile memory includes an operating system routine, a communication processing program routine, and / or various application program routines provided through the terminal 100 and information or data therefor. Is stored.

According to the present invention, in order to provide a switching function of the communication protocol stack, the memory unit 155 provides subscriber information and communication parameter information corresponding to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected. It is characterized by storing.

Here, the subscriber information is each subscriber information subscribed to at least two communication networks that the terminal 100 can access through the switching function of the communication protocol stack, and the terminal 100 switches the communication protocol stack. Through at least two or more communication networks through the terminal 100 to identify (and / or identify) the subscriber, and comprises the basic information for processing the charge corresponding to the network connection.

Further, the communication parameter information is parameter information for connecting to each communication network according to a communication protocol standard defined in at least two communication networks that the terminal 100 can access through a switching function of the communication protocol stack. The terminal 100 includes basic information defined to transmit and receive with network components on each communication network in the process of connecting to at least two communication networks through the switching function of the communication protocol stack.

According to the present invention, the memory unit 155 preferably stores a communication program routine for connecting to at least two communication networks to which the terminal 100 can connect in order to provide a switching function of the communication protocol stack. The communication program routine may be loaded into the execution memory of the controller 105 at the same time as the terminal 100 is booted (or through a predetermined communication related command), thereby switching the communication protocol stack. The functional configuration of the communication program routine that provides the function will be described as a block in the control section 105 for convenience.

The IC chip reader unit 125 includes an IC chip related functional configuration (eg, provided in the terminal 100) provided in the terminal 100 through an IC chip standard including ISO / IEC 7816 and / or ISO / IEC 14443. IC chip agent program) and the IC chip mounted on or detached from the terminal 100 to exchange information and / or data. For example, the IC chip reader unit 125 provides information and / or data exchange between the IC chip agent program and the IC chip through an application protocol data unit (APDU).

According to the present invention, the information and / or data exchanged through the IC chip reader unit 125 correspond to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected to provide a switching function of the communication protocol stack. Each subscriber information and communication parameter information may be included, and for this purpose, it is preferable that each subscriber information and communication parameter information corresponding to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected are stored in the IC chip. .

Here, the IC chip for storing each subscriber information and communication parameter information corresponding to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected includes a subscriber identity module (SIM), a universal identification module (UIM), and a universal subscriber (USIM). Identity Module) may be included, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 3, a communication program routine for providing a switching function of the communication protocol includes an upper protocol layer and a lower protocol layer corresponding to at least two heterogeneous wireless communication networks on a protocol stack corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions. A switching unit 180 for logically switching, a quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 for checking whether a quality of service (QoS) for a currently connected first wireless communication network among at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication networks is lowered, and the terminal A network checking unit for checking a second wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 connects among at least one or more other communication networks that 100 can access, and / or checking a quality of service (QoS) for the second wireless communication network ( 165 and a network connection (and / or communication connection) to a first wireless communication network through the logical switching control layer. Communication network switching unit 170 for switching to a network connection (and / or communication connection) for the second wireless communication network, and the terminal 100 checks the quality of service (QoS) between at least two or more communication networks, and / or And a protocol control unit 175 for selecting and controlling a communication protocol for switching the communication network.

In general, the application program provided in the terminal 100 is characterized in that the interworking with the highest layer on the communication protocol stack, and is manufactured and developed to fully trust the communication protocol stack of the lower layer.

That is, the application program provided in the terminal 100 operates by calling an API (Application Program Interface) function corresponding to the highest layer on the communication protocol stack, and the communication protocol stack of the lower layer is the communication processor (eg, And a system program included in the IEEE 802.11x communication processor 140 and / or the IEEE 802.16x communication processor 145) and / or a system program included in the operating system of the terminal 100. The application program does not access the communication protocol stack of the lower layer.

According to the present invention, in the communication protocol structure as described above, the switching unit 180 includes at least two or more communication processing units (eg, IEEE 802.11x communication processing unit 140 and / or IEEE 802.16x communication) provided in the terminal 100. A Logical Switching Control (LSC) layer is provided between a communication protocol layer (eg, a physical layer, a data link layer) corresponding to the processing unit 145 and a communication protocol layer provided on an operating system of the terminal 100. It is characterized by the implementation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the logical switching control layer is included in a predetermined protocol layer on the communication protocol layer provided in the terminal 100 and / or separated into at least two or more protocol layers according to the function of each layer. The present invention is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the protocol stack above the logical switching control layer preferably includes a structure included in a hierarchical structure corresponding to the main communication protocol stack corresponding to the terminal 100. The switching control layer controls the upper layer of the layer including the logical switching control layer among the main communication protocol stack included in the terminal 100 to be processed by the main communication protocol stack, and / or the logical switching control layer is The lower layer of the included layer is preferably controlled to be switched to any one of a lower layer of the main communication protocol stack and / or an equivalent lower layer of at least one or more other communication protocol stacks provided in the terminal 100.

Further, for example, if the terminal 100 is the main communication protocol stack is an IEEE 802.11X communication protocol, and the logical switching control layer is provided in a specific layer of the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol layer, then the logical switching control layer An upper layer of the provided layer is implemented by the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol layer, and a lower layer of the layer provided with the logical switching control layer includes a lower layer of the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol stack, and also the IEEE 802.11 A lower layer of another communication protocol (eg, IEEE 802.16x communication protocol) stack that is equivalent to the lower layer of the X communication protocol stack is included.

In this case, the logical switching control layer may link a lower layer of the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol stack corresponding to a lower layer of the logical switching control layer to an upper layer of the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol stack, and / or the logical switching control. The lower layer of another communication protocol (eg, IEEE 802.16x communication protocol) stack corresponding to the lower layer is interworked by switching to an upper layer of the IEEE 802.11X communication protocol stack.

Also, for example, if the terminal 100 is a main communication protocol stack of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol, and the logical switching control layer is provided in a specific layer of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol layer, then the logical switching control The upper layer of the layer provided with a layer is implemented by the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol layer, and the lower layer of the layer provided with the logical switching control layer includes a lower layer of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol stack, and also the IEEE A lower layer of the 802.16X communication protocol stack and a lower layer of other communication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.11x communication protocol) stacks that are equivalent.

In this case, the logical switching control layer may link a lower layer of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol stack corresponding to a lower layer of the logical switching control layer to an upper layer of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol stack, and / or the logical switching control. A lower layer of another communication protocol (eg, IEEE 802.11x communication protocol) stack corresponding to the lower layer is interworked by switching to an upper layer of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol stack.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the protocol stack above the logical switching control layer preferably comprises a compatible protocol stack structure for at least two or more protocol stacks provided in the terminal 100, the logical switching The protocol stack below the control layer preferably comprises at least two different communication protocol stacks that are compatible with the compatible protocol stack above the logical switching control layer, wherein the logical switching control layer is the communication protocol of the lower layer. It is preferable to control to switch the communication protocol stack of any one of the stacks to the compatible protocol stack of the upper layer.

For example, the compatible protocol stack above the logical switching control layer is a protocol stack compatible with the IEEE 802.11x communication protocol stack and / or the IEEE 802.16x communication protocol stack, and the protocol stack below the logical switching control layer is the IEEE 802.11x communication. The logical switching control layer is one of the lower IEEE 802.11x communication protocol stack and / or the IEEE 802.16x communication protocol stack and the upper layer, if any one of the protocol stack and / or the IEEE 802.16x communication protocol stack is included. Interoperate by switching compatible protocol stacks.

According to the present invention, the logical switching control layer corresponding to the switching unit 180 performing the switching function of the communication protocol stack as described above in the communication protocol structure, the upper communication packet generated by the upper protocol stack A lower communication packet corresponding to a lower protocol stack corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected, and / or a lower communication corresponding to a lower protocol stack corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. And a communication packet compatible function for converting a packet into an upper communication packet corresponding to the upper protocol stack.

Data to be transmitted from the application program provided in the terminal 100 to the server (and / or terminal) on the communication network is transferred to the lower layer with the packet information corresponding to each protocol layer from the upper layer on the communication protocol layer, The lowest layer (e.g., the physical layer) transmits the communication packet including at least one packet information corresponding to each layer as described above to the server (and / or terminal) through the communication network, wherein the logical switching The control layer transfers a packet transferred from an application provided in the terminal 100 to a protocol layer including the logical switching control layer while adding packet information corresponding to each protocol layer from an upper layer on the communication protocol layer. Lower protocol layer corresponding to communication network 100 is currently connected It is preferable to convert to a structure that can be transferred to, and to transfer the converted packet to a lower protocol layer corresponding to the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected.

In addition, the data received from the server (and / or terminal) on the communication network by the application program provided in the terminal 100 is transferred to the upper layer while removing the packet information corresponding to each protocol layer from the lower layer on the communication protocol layer The uppermost layer provides data to which the respective packet information is removed from each layer as described above to the application program, wherein the logical switching control layer is a lower protocol layer corresponding to the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. Packet information corresponding to each protocol layer is removed from the packet, and the packet transferred to the protocol layer including the logical switching control layer is converted into a structure that can be transferred to the higher protocol layer, and the converted packet is converted into the higher protocol layer. It is preferable to transfer to.

The quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 may periodically check whether the quality of service (QoS) for the currently connected wireless communication network among the at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication networks to which the terminal 100 is connected is inferior.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected may include a data communication speed for the wireless communication network, and at this time, the quality of service (QoS) The identification unit 160 confirms the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network, whether the data communication speed in the wireless communication network falls below a certain criterion, and / or a reconnection attempt for data communication in the wireless communication network is performed. It occurs at least one or more of the frequent occurrence over a certain criterion and / or whether the terminal 100 is located in the shadow area on the wireless communication network.

In addition, the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected may further include a communication fee for the wireless communication network. In this case, the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 The quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network, the terminal 100 is a network connection (and / or communication connection) of the at least one or more wireless communication network that can be connected to (or communication connection) through a wireless communication network that is less expensive to use a certain standard or more This includes checking whether data can be communicated at the data communication speed.

If the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected is lowered, the network identification unit 165 may be configured based on communication parameter information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip). Search for a communication network that the terminal 100 can access from among at least two communication networks accessible by the terminal 100 through the logical switching control layer and lower layers thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication network identification unit 165 may be configured to transmit the terminal through the logical switching control layer and its lower layer based on communication parameter information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip). It is preferable to search for a communication network to which the terminal 100 can access by performing a communication connection procedure for a specific communication network among at least two or more communication networks that can be connected.

If the communication network to which the terminal 100 can access is found by performing the communication connection procedure, the communication network checking unit 165 may be based on the subscriber information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or the IC chip). It is characterized in that whether to connect to the searched communication network through the logical switching control layer and its lower layer can be connected to the communication.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication network identification unit 165 searches the searched communication network through the logical switching control layer and its lower layer based on the subscriber information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip). By performing a communication connection procedure with respect to, it is preferable to check whether the terminal 100 can connect to the searched communication network to communicate.

In addition, while the communication network confirming unit 165 performs a communication connection procedure for the searched communication network, the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 transfers the quality of service (QoS) of the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected. It is preferable to further comprise checking whether the superior to the wireless communication network.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the quality of service (QoS) includes a data communication speed for the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected, the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 may determine the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected. It is desirable to verify that the data communication speed is faster than the data communication speed of the previous wireless communication network.

Alternatively, when the quality of service (QoS) includes the number of reconnection attempts to the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected, the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 may determine that the number of reconnection attempts of the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected is earlier than the wireless. It is preferable to check whether the number of reconnection attempts of the communication network is smaller.

Alternatively, when the quality of service (QoS) further includes a communication fee for a wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is communicatively connected, the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 may determine the quality of the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected. It is desirable to verify that the telecommunications usage fee is lower than the telecommunications usage fee of the previous wireless communication network.

When a predetermined communication network to which the terminal 100 connects is confirmed by the communication network confirming unit 165, the protocol control unit 175 selects a protocol layer corresponding to the logical switching control layer and a lower layer thereof. And control to operate through the logical switching control layer by interworking by switching the lower layer and the upper layer.

The communication network switching unit 170 blocks a network connection (and / or communication connection) to a wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected based on the communication protocol stack selected by the protocol control unit 175, and the communication network Switch network connection (and / or communication connection) to another communication network confirmed to provide better quality of service (QoS) by the confirming unit 165 and the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160. It is done.

4 is a diagram illustrating a preferred functional configuration of a terminal 100 having a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred function of the terminal 100 having a switching function of a communication protocol stack corresponding to a W-CDMA and / or HSDPA-based wireless communication network operating on the basis of a CDMA stack and an IEEE 802.16x-based wireless communication network. As shown in the drawings, a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains may refer to and / or modify this drawing 4, and the terminal 100 having a switching function of a communication protocol stack corresponding to at least two or more communication networks. Various functional configurations of) may be inferred, but the present invention includes all the implementation methods inferred above and is not limited to the implementation method shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a communication network to which a terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack is connected includes a W-CDMA and / or HSDPA-based mobile communication network operating based on a CDMA stack. A wireless communication network including at least one or more IEEE 802.16x-based portable Internet and the like is shown.

However, the terminal 100 equipped with the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention can never be connected only to the communication network shown in FIG. 4, and this FIG. 4 shows general knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. The present invention is only for efficiently explaining the functional configuration of the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 4, the terminal 100 having the switching function of the communication protocol stack includes a control unit 105 for controlling and operating the overall function of the terminal 100, and an overall function of the terminal 100. A memory unit 155 for storing information (or data) necessary for control and operation, and / or recording a program necessary for controlling and operating the overall function of the terminal 100, and the terminal 100 using CDMA WCDMA / HSDPA communication processing unit 135 for communicating with the W-CDMA and / or HSDPA-based wireless communication network operating on a stack basis, and IEEE 802.16 for processing the terminal 100 to communicate with IEEE 802.16x-based wireless communication network x communication processing unit 145, and basically a screen output unit 110 for the screen output function of the terminal 100, and a sound for the sound input and output function of the terminal 100 Provided with a rib 115 and a key input section 120 for key input functions of the terminal 100 it is basically characterized in that formed.

In addition, the terminal 100 equipped with a switching function of the communication protocol stack stores IC chip storage information (or data) necessary for controlling and operating a characteristic function of the terminal 100, and / or the IC And an IC chip reader unit 125 for interfacing with a predetermined IC chip (and / or IC card) for recording an IC chip program that performs a characteristic function corresponding to chip storage information (or data). do.

In addition, the terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack includes a power supply unit 130 (eg, a power supply device and / or a battery, etc.) for supplying power required for the terminal 100 to operate. It is characterized by further comprising.

The control unit 105 includes a processor including a CPU / MPU in hardware and an execution memory (for example, a register and / or a random access memory (RAM)), and from the memory unit 155 to the terminal 100. A predetermined program routine for realizing the overall (and / or characteristic) function of the bus and / or a bus for inputting / outputting the program data and a predetermined electronic circuit (or integrated circuit) provided therefor, And a program routine which is software-loaded from a predetermined memory unit 155 (and / or chipset) into the execution memory to be arithmetic and processed through the processor to realize at least one predefined function. And / or generic term of the program data (hence, in the present invention, a predetermined program recorded on the recording medium of the terminal 100 for the switching function of the communication protocol stack). A gram routine is illustrated as being provided in the control unit 105 for convenience.), Various functions to be implemented in the terminal 100 by the control unit 105 are realized, and the above functions are realized. In order to control and operate the overall operation of the terminal 100.

In particular, when power is input to the terminal 100 to perform a function of the control unit 105 that controls and operates the overall operation of the terminal 100, an operating system routine stored in a predetermined memory unit 155, System management routines and / or system variables are loaded into the execution memory and computed by the processor to perform functions of providing an operating system, system management program, and / or communication service.

The screen output unit 110 drives a predetermined screen output device (for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and / or a cathode ray tube (CRT) device, etc.) included in the terminal 100, and controls the control unit. Predetermined screen output data (for example, screen output data generated by a screen output program routine) generated from the 105, key data generated through the key input unit 120, and predetermined functions provided in the terminal 100; And outputting various information, signals, and / or contents (eg, text contents, image contents, and / or multimedia contents) extracted and / or generated in the process of performing the above operation to the screen output device. The screen output unit 110 is configured to include a driver for outputting the screen output information (and / or data) according to the resolution and / or the number of colors corresponding to the screen output device.

The sound processor 115 drives a sound input device (for example, a microphone) provided in the terminal 100, encodes a predetermined sound signal input from the sound input device, and provides the sound signal to the controller 105. Or / or drives a sound input device (eg, a speaker) provided in the terminal 100, decodes a predetermined sound signal extracted and / or generated by the controller 105, and outputs a sound output device. (For example, a speaker). The sound processor 115 is provided with a predetermined vocoder and a codec. The sound processing unit 115 performs a function of a sound input unit provided in the terminal 100 through the microphone, or the sound output unit provided in the terminal 100 through the sound processing unit 115 and a speaker. Perform the function.

The key input unit 120 includes a predetermined key having at least one key button including a predetermined number key and / or a character key and / or a function key. To detect information (or signals) input from a key input device (eg, a keypad, and / or a keyboard), and to control a specific input mode of the terminal 100 controlled by the controller 105; And / or predetermined information (or signal) is inputted from a predetermined key button provided in the keypad in an operation mode, so that at least one or more key events (eg, MH_KEY_PRESSEVENT, MH_KEY_REPEATEVENT, MH_KEY_RELEASEEVENT) corresponding to the input information (or signal) are input. ), The generated key event is provided to the controller 105, and the controller 105 is configured to provide the key event in the current input mode and / or operation mode of the terminal 100. Read a predetermined key data corresponding to the (e.g., from the key table to store (manage) at least one or more key data corresponding to a specific key event in each terminal 100 input mode and / or operation mode to the key event) Read key data) and / or read a command for executing a predetermined function defined in accordance with the key event. The keypad including the key input unit 120 and at least one key button interlocks with each other to perform a function of a key input unit provided in the terminal 100.

* The WCDMA / HSDPA communication processor 135 W-CDMA and / or the terminal 100 via the W-CDMA and / or HSDPA-based communication protocol of the switching function of the communication protocol stack provided in the terminal 100 And processing the W-CDMA and / or HSDPA-based communication protocol with a network component on an HSDPA-based wireless communication network to perform wireless communication, and an antenna corresponding to the W-CDMA and / or HSDPA communication standard in hardware. And a radio frequency signal transmitted / received through the antenna by software in the RF processor, the IF processor, and the baseband unit in the W-CDMA and / or baseband unit. System program (e.g., firmware provided in each device configuration, and / or operating system of the terminal 100) to process in response to the HSDPA-based communication protocol And preferably it comprises a system program) (or included) which is provided, for this preferred embodiment will be described in detail through figures 5a.

The IEEE 802.16x communication processor 145 is a network component on the IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network and the IEEE 802.16x based on an IEEE 802.16x based communication protocol among the switching functions of the communication protocol stack provided in the terminal 100. And a device configuration including an antenna, an RF processing unit, an IF processing unit, and a baseband unit corresponding to the IEEE 802.16x communication standard in hardware. A system program (eg, firmware provided in each device configuration) for allowing the RF processor, the IF processor, and the baseband to process radio frequency signals transmitted and received through an antenna corresponding to the IEEE 802.16x based communication protocol. System programs included in (or included) the operating system of the terminal 100) It is preferably made, a preferred embodiment thereof will be described in detail with reference to Figure 5c.

The memory unit 155 is input / output information when an operation by a predetermined program routine (or code) and / or program data (eg, a program routine (or code)) for controlling the overall operation of the terminal 100 is performed. And / or data, which is a generic term for memory, that includes read only memory (ROM), read / write flash memory (FM), and electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM). ), And a nonvolatile memory including at least one of a hard disk drive (HDD) and the like. In general, the ROM stores system information that should not be deleted, and the nonvolatile memory includes an operating system routine, a communication processing program routine, and / or various application program routines provided through the terminal 100 and information or data therefor. Is stored.

According to the present invention, in order to provide a switching function of the communication protocol stack, the memory unit 155 provides subscriber information and communication parameter information corresponding to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected. It is characterized by storing.

Here, the subscriber information is each subscriber information subscribed to at least two communication networks that the terminal 100 can access through the switching function of the communication protocol stack, and the terminal 100 switches the communication protocol stack. Through at least two or more communication networks through the terminal 100 to identify (and / or identify) the subscriber, and comprises the basic information for processing the charge corresponding to the network connection.

Further, the communication parameter information is parameter information for connecting to each communication network according to a communication protocol standard defined in at least two communication networks that the terminal 100 can access through a switching function of the communication protocol stack. In the process of accessing at least two communication networks through the switching function of the communication protocol stack, the method 100 includes basic information defined to transmit and receive with network components on each communication network.

According to the present invention, the memory unit 155 preferably stores a communication program routine for connecting to at least two communication networks to which the terminal 100 can connect in order to provide a switching function of the communication protocol stack. The communication program routine may be loaded into the execution memory of the controller 105 at the same time as the terminal 100 is booted (or through a predetermined communication related command), thereby switching the communication protocol stack. The functional configuration of the communication program routine that provides the function will be described as a block in the control section 105 for convenience.

The IC chip reader unit 125 includes an IC chip related functional configuration (eg, provided in the terminal 100) provided in the terminal 100 through an IC chip standard including ISO / IEC 7816 and / or ISO / IEC 14443. IC chip agent program) and the IC chip mounted on or detached from the terminal 100 to exchange information and / or data. For example, the IC chip reader unit 125 provides information and / or data exchange between the IC chip agent program and the IC chip through an APDU (Application Protocol Data Unit).

According to the present invention, the information and / or data exchanged through the IC chip reader unit 125 correspond to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected to provide a switching function of the communication protocol stack. Each subscriber information and communication parameter information may be included, and for this purpose, it is preferable that each subscriber information and communication parameter information corresponding to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected are stored in the IC chip. .

Here, the IC chip for storing each subscriber information and communication parameter information corresponding to at least two or more communication networks to which the terminal 100 can be connected includes a subscriber identity module (SIM), a universal identification module (UIM), and a universal subscriber (USIM). Identity Module) may be included, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 4, a communication program routine for providing a switching function of the communication protocol may include an upper protocol layer and a lower protocol layer corresponding to at least two heterogeneous wireless communication networks on a protocol stack corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions. A switching unit 180 for logically switching, a quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 for checking whether a quality of service (QoS) for a currently connected first wireless communication network among at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication networks is lowered, and the terminal A network checking unit 165 for checking a second wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is to be connected among at least one or more other communication networks accessible by 100, and / or checking a quality of service (QoS) for the second wireless communication network. And a network connection (and / or communication connection) to a first wireless communication network through the logical switching control layer. Communication network switching unit 170 for switching to a network connection (and / or communication connection) for the second wireless communication network, and the terminal 100 checks the quality of service (QoS) between at least two or more communication networks, and / or And a protocol control unit 175 for selecting and controlling a communication protocol for switching the communication network.

In general, the application program provided in the terminal 100 is characterized in that the interworking with the highest layer on the communication protocol stack, and is manufactured and developed to fully trust the communication protocol stack of the lower layer.

That is, the application program provided in the terminal 100 operates by calling an API (Application Program Interface) function corresponding to the highest layer on the communication protocol stack, and the communication protocol stack of the lower layer is the communication processor (eg, Being operated and controlled by the system program included in the WCDMA / HSDPA communication processing unit 135 and / or the IEEE 802.16x communication processing unit 145, and / or the system program provided in the operating system of the terminal 100. The application program does not have access to the communication protocol stack of the lower layer.

According to the present invention, in the communication protocol structure as described above, the switching unit 180 includes at least two or more communication processing units (eg, WCDMA / HSDPA communication processing unit 135 and / or IEEE 802.16x communication) provided in the terminal 100. A Logical Switching Control (LSC) layer is provided between a communication protocol layer (eg, a physical layer, a data link layer) corresponding to the processing unit 145 and a communication protocol layer provided on an operating system of the terminal 100. It is characterized by the implementation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the logical switching control layer is included in a predetermined protocol layer on the communication protocol layer provided in the terminal 100 and / or separated into at least two or more protocol layers according to the function of each layer. The present invention is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the protocol stack above the logical switching control layer preferably includes a structure included in a hierarchical structure corresponding to the main communication protocol stack corresponding to the terminal 100. The switching control layer controls the upper layer of the layer including the logical switching control layer among the main communication protocol stack included in the terminal 100 to be processed by the main communication protocol stack, and / or the logical switching control layer is The lower layer of the included layer is preferably controlled to be switched to any one of a lower layer of the main communication protocol stack and / or an equivalent lower layer of at least one or more other communication protocol stacks provided in the terminal 100.

For example, if the terminal 100 is a main communication protocol stack is a WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol, and the logical switching control layer is provided in a specific layer of the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol layer, the logical switching control layer is provided at this time The upper layer of the configured layer is implemented as the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol layer, and the lower layer of the layer provided with the logical switching control layer includes the lower layer of the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack, and also the WCDMA / HSDPA communication. Lower layers of other communication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.16x communication protocol) stacks that are equivalent to lower layers of the protocol stack are included.

In this case, the logical switching control layer may link the lower layer of the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack corresponding to the lower logical switching control layer to an upper layer of the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack, and / or the logical switching control. A lower layer of another communication protocol (eg, IEEE 802.16x communication protocol) stack corresponding to the lower layer is interworked by switching to an upper layer of the WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack.

Further, for example, if the terminal 100 is a main communication protocol stack of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol, and the logical switching control layer is provided in a specific layer of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol layer, then the logical switching control layer The upper layer of the provided layer is implemented by the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol layer, and the lower layer of the layer provided with the logical switching control layer includes the lower layer of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol stack, and also the IEEE 802.16 Lower layers of the X communication protocol stack and other communication protocol (e.g., WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol) stacks in the same class are included.

In this case, the logical switching control layer may link a lower layer of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol stack corresponding to a lower layer of the logical switching control layer to an upper layer of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol stack, and / or the logical switching control. A lower layer of another communication protocol (eg, WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol) stack corresponding to the lower layer is interworked by switching to an upper layer of the IEEE 802.16X communication protocol stack.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the protocol stack above the logical switching control layer may include a compatible protocol stack structure for at least two or more protocol stacks provided in the terminal 100. The protocol stack below the switching control layer preferably comprises at least two other communication protocol stacks compatible with the compatible protocol stack above the logical switching control layer, wherein the logical switching control layer is the communication protocol of the lower layer. It is preferable to control to switch the communication protocol stack of any one of the stacks to the compatible protocol stack of the upper layer.

For example, the compatible protocol stack above the logical switching control layer is a protocol stack that is compatible with a WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack stack and / or an IEEE 802.16x communication protocol stack, and the protocol stack below the logical switching control layer is the WCDMA / HSDPA. The logical switching control layer is any one of the lower WCDMA / HSDPA communication protocol stack stack and / or the IEEE 802.16x communication protocol stack, if any one comprises a communication protocol stack stack and / or an IEEE 802.16x communication protocol stack. And interwork with the upper compatible protocol stack by switching.

According to the present invention, the logical switching control layer corresponding to the switching unit 180 performing the switching function of the communication protocol stack as described above in the communication protocol structure, the upper communication packet generated by the upper protocol stack A lower communication packet corresponding to a lower protocol stack corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected, and / or a lower protocol stack corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. And a communication packet compatible function for converting a communication packet into an upper communication packet corresponding to the upper protocol stack.

Data to be transmitted from the application program provided in the terminal 100 to the server (and / or terminal) on the communication network is transferred to the lower layer with the packet information corresponding to each protocol layer from the upper layer on the communication protocol layer, The lowest layer (e.g., the physical layer) transmits the communication packet including at least one packet information corresponding to each layer as described above to the server (and / or terminal) through the communication network, wherein the logical switching The control layer transfers a packet transferred from an application provided in the terminal 100 to a protocol layer including the logical switching control layer while adding packet information corresponding to each protocol layer from an upper layer on the communication protocol layer. Lower protocol layer corresponding to communication network 100 is currently connected It is preferable to convert to a structure that can be transferred to, and to transfer the converted packet to a lower protocol layer corresponding to the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected.

In addition, the data received from the server (and / or terminal) on the communication network by the application program provided in the terminal 100 is transferred to the upper layer while removing the packet information corresponding to each protocol layer from the lower layer on the communication protocol layer The uppermost layer provides data to which the respective packet information is removed from each layer as described above to the application program, wherein the logical switching control layer is a lower protocol layer corresponding to the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. Packet information corresponding to each protocol layer is removed from the packet, and the packet transferred to the protocol layer including the logical switching control layer is converted into a structure that can be transferred to the higher protocol layer, and the converted packet is converted into the higher protocol layer. It is preferable to transfer to.

The quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 may periodically check whether the quality of service (QoS) for the currently connected wireless communication network among the at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication networks to which the terminal 100 is connected is inferior.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected may include a data communication speed for the wireless communication network, and at this time, the quality of service (QoS) The identification unit 160 confirms the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network, whether the data communication speed in the wireless communication network falls below a certain criterion, and / or a reconnection attempt for data communication in the wireless communication network is performed. It occurs at least one or more of the frequent occurrence over a certain criterion and / or whether the terminal 100 is located in the shadow area on the wireless communication network.

In addition, the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected may further include a communication fee for the wireless communication network. In this case, the quality of service (QoS) check unit 160 Checking the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network, the terminal 100 is a data of more than a certain criterion through a wireless communication network of a lower communication fee among at least one or more wireless communication networks that can be connected (and / or communication connection) This includes checking if the communication speed can be communicated.

If the quality of service (QoS) for the wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected is lowered, the network identification unit 165 may be configured based on communication parameter information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip). Search for a communication network that the terminal 100 can access from among at least two communication networks accessible by the terminal 100 through the logical switching control layer and lower layers thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication network identification unit 165 may be configured to transmit the terminal through the logical switching control layer and its lower layer based on communication parameter information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip). It is preferable to search for a communication network to which the terminal 100 can access by performing a communication connection procedure for a specific communication network among at least two or more communication networks that can be connected.

If the communication network to which the terminal 100 can access is found by performing the communication connection procedure, the communication network checking unit 165 may be based on the subscriber information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or the IC chip). It is characterized in that whether to connect to the searched communication network through the logical switching control layer and its lower layer can be connected to the communication.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication network identification unit 165 searches the searched communication network through the logical switching control layer and its lower layer based on the subscriber information stored in the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip). By performing a communication connection procedure with respect to, it is preferable to check whether the terminal 100 can connect to the searched communication network to communicate.

In addition, while the communication network confirming unit 165 performs a communication connection procedure for the searched communication network, the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 determines that the quality of service (QoS) of the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected. It is preferable to further comprise checking whether it is superior to the previous wireless communication network.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the quality of service (QoS) includes a data communication speed for the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected, the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 is the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected. It is desirable to make sure that the data communication speed of is faster than the data communication speed of the previous wireless communication network.

* Or, if the quality of service (QoS) includes the number of reconnection attempts to the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected, the quality of service (QoS) check unit 160 transfers the number of reconnection attempts of the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected. It is preferable to check whether the number of reconnection attempts of the wireless communication network is smaller.

Alternatively, when the quality of service (QoS) further includes a communication fee for a wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is communicatively connected, the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 may determine the quality of the wireless communication network to which the communication is connected. It is desirable to verify that the telecommunications usage fee is lower than the telecommunications usage fee of the previous wireless communication network.

When a predetermined communication network to which the terminal 100 connects is confirmed by the communication network confirming unit 165, the protocol control unit 175 selects a protocol layer corresponding to the logical switching control layer and a lower layer thereof. And control to operate through the logical switching control layer by interworking by switching the lower layer and the upper layer.

The communication network switching unit 170 blocks a network connection (and / or communication connection) to a wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected based on the communication protocol stack selected by the protocol control unit 175, and the communication network Characterized by switching the network connection (and / or communication connection) to another communication network which is confirmed by the confirming unit 165 and the quality of service (QoS) checking unit 160 to provide better quality of service (QoS). do.

5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams showing a preferred configuration diagram of a communication processing device configuration included in the terminal 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate a terminal 100 having an integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack illustrated in FIGS. 2 and / or 3 and / or 4. ) Is an independent device configuration diagram for a communication processing device configuration corresponding to a wireless communication network to which a) can be connected. Specifically, FIG. 5A illustrates W-CDMA and / or HSDPA based operation of the terminal 100 based on a CDMA stack. FIG. 5B shows an embodiment of an independent device configuration for accessing a wireless communication network, and FIG. 5B shows an embodiment of an independent device configuration for accessing an IEEE 802.11x-based wireless communication network. FIG. 5C illustrates an embodiment of an independent device configuration for the terminal 100 to access an IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can refer to and / or modify the drawings 5a, 5b, and 5c to implement various methods of configuring an independent communication processing device corresponding to each wireless communication network. For example, an integrated chip method may be inferred, but the present invention includes all the inferred implementation methods, and is not limited to the implementation methods illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C.

Referring to FIG. 5A corresponding to an independent device configuration for the terminal 100 to access a W-CDMA and / or HSDPA-based wireless communication network operating based on a CDMA stack, the device configuration of the WCDMA / HSDPA-based communication processor Is an antenna for WCDMA / HSDPA-based wireless communication, an RF processor for processing a WCDMA / HSDPA-based radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna, and an IF processor for processing the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor at an intermediate frequency. And a baseband unit for converting the intermediate frequency signal processed by the IF processing unit into a baseband signal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the baseband portion of the device configuration of the WCDMA / HSDPA-based communication processing unit is shown to be processed in a predetermined integrated chip (eg, MSM chip supplied by Qualcomm, Inc.), but the present invention is limited by this. It never happens.

Referring to FIG. 5B, which corresponds to an independent device configuration for the terminal 100 to access an IEEE 802.11x-based wireless communication network, the device configuration of the IEEE 802.1x-based communication processing unit is a device configuration of the IEEE 802.11x-based communication processing unit. Is an antenna for IEEE 802.11x based wireless communication, an RF processor for processing an IEEE 802.11x based radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna, and an IF processor for processing the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor as an intermediate frequency. And a baseband unit for converting the intermediate frequency signal processed by the IF processing unit into a baseband signal.

Referring to FIG. 5B, although the MAC processing unit is further configured to process the miracle band signal processed by the device-based baseband unit of the IEEE 802.1x-based communication processing unit as MAC data, the MAC processing unit is configured to include the terminal. It may be processed in the form of a system program on the operating system provided in (100), whereby the present invention is not limited.

Referring to FIG. 5C corresponding to an independent device configuration for the terminal 100 to access an IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network, the device configuration of the IEEE 802.16x based communication processing unit includes an antenna for IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication. An RF processor for processing an IEEE 802.16x based radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna, an IF processor for processing the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor as an intermediate frequency, and an intermediate frequency processed by the IF processor And a baseband portion for converting the signal into a baseband signal.

The device configuration shown in FIG. 5c performs an up / down conversion function between an RF front end (FE) and a power amplification RF signal based on the antenna, the RF processing unit, the IF processing unit, and the baseband unit. Front End Module is composed of PA (Power Amplifier), RFSW (RF SWitch), and LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) FEM to convert the transmit / receive mode according to the control signal, power amplifier function of transmit signal, and low noise amplifier function of received signal. UPCM (UP Conversion Module) is composed of LPF, I / Q modulator, VGA, RF BPF and performs upconversion of baseband signal to RF signal, transmission power control function and filtering function -Conversion Module) is composed of RF BPF, RF mixer, VGA, I / Q demodulator, LPF, and DNCM is used to perform down conversion of RF signal to baseband signal, automatic gain control and filtering of received power. Device configuration is made.

In addition, the device configuration of the IEEE 802.16x-based communication processing unit includes a local oscillator module (LOM) consisting of a PLL and an RF VCO and a TDD scheme, and thus includes an antenna module (ANTM) that performs transmission and reception on the same antenna.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 100 equipped with the integrated processing function of the protocol stack may be separately provided with each wireless communication device configuration shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C. Thereby, this invention is not limited.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 100 having the integrated processing function of the protocol stack may be provided so that some of the respective wireless communication device configurations shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are shared. The present invention is not limited thereby.

6A and 6B are diagrams showing a preferred configuration diagram of a communication processing device configuration provided in the terminal 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a communication processing device configuration (e.g., a WCDMA / HSDPA based communication processing device configuration, an IEEE 802.11x based communication processing device configuration, etc.) separately provided in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C. As a part of the device configuration provided in the terminal 100 shown in FIG. 2 so that some of them are shared, specifically, FIG. 6A relates to an implementation method of sharing an antenna and an RF processing unit among the wireless communication processing device configurations. 6B illustrates an embodiment of sharing an antenna, an RF processor, and an IF processor in the wireless communication processing device configuration.

Those skilled in the art will be able to infer various implementation methods for sharing some of the communication processing device configurations by referring to and / or modifying the drawings 6a and 6b. Includes all the inferred implementation methods, and is not limited to the implementation methods shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

Referring to FIG. 6A in which an antenna and an RF processor are shared in the communication processing device configuration, the antenna in the wireless communication processing device configuration is allocated to a radio frequency band allocated to a WCDMA / HSDPA-based communication network and / or an IEEE 802.11x-based communication network. And an antenna processing capability for transmitting and receiving a radio frequency signal corresponding to the radio frequency band, etc., wherein the RF processing unit transmits the radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna to the WCDMA / HSDPA based RF processing function; And / or a function of performing an RF processing function of any one of the IEEE 802.11x-based RF processing functions, wherein the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processing unit is WCDMA / HSDPA-based IF processing unit, IEEE 802.11 and an RF / IF converter for converting to an intermediate frequency corresponding to any one of the x-based IF processors. It is characterized by made.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the RF / IF converter transmits and receives a radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna, the RF processor processes the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor to a WCDMA / HSDPA-based IF processor. And converting into a corresponding intermediate frequency, and then the intermediate frequency signal processed by the WCDMA / HSDPA-based IF processing unit is processed into a baseband signal corresponding to the WCDMA / HSDPA-based baseband unit to control the controller 105. Is provided.

The RF / IF converter may convert the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor into an intermediate frequency corresponding to an IEEE 802.11x-based IF processor when the RF signal transmitted / received through the antenna is processed by the RF processor. After that, the frequency signal processed by the IEEE 802.11x-based IF processing unit is processed into a baseband signal corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x-based baseband unit and provided to the controller 105.

Referring to FIG. 6B, in which the antenna and the RF processor and the IF processor are shared with each other in the wireless communication processing device configuration, the antenna may include a radio frequency band allocated to a WCDMA / HSDPA-based communication network, and / or IEEE 802.11x. And an antenna processing capability capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals corresponding to a radio frequency band allocated to an based communication network, wherein the RF processing unit transmits radio frequency signals transmitted and received through the antenna based on the WCDMA / HSDPA. And a function of performing an RF processing function of any one of an RF processing function and / or an IEEE 802.11x based RF processing function, wherein the IF processing unit receives the radio frequency signal processed through the RF processing unit. Either WCDMA / HSDPA-based IF processing and / or IEEE 802.11x-based IF processing And a baseband corresponding to any one of a WCDMA / HSDPA-based baseband unit and an IEEE 802.11x-based baseband unit for the intermediate frequency signal processed by the IF processing unit. And an IF / baseband converter for converting to a signal.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the RF / IF converter may process a radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna by the RF processor, and a radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor may be processed by the IF processor. And converts the intermediate frequency signal into a baseband signal corresponding to the WCDMA / HSDPA-based baseband unit, and then the baseband signal processed by the WCDMA / HSDPA-based baseband unit is converted into the baseband signal. Is provided.

In addition, the RF / IF converter is the intermediate frequency signal when the radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna is processed by the RF processor, and the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor is processed by the IF processor. To convert the baseband signal corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x baseband unit, and then the baseband signal processed by the IEEE 802.11x baseband unit is provided to the controller 105.

7A and 7B are diagrams showing a preferred configuration diagram of a communication processing device configuration provided in the terminal 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a communication processing device configuration (e.g., IEEE 802.11x based communication processing device configuration, IEEE 802.16x based communication processing device configuration, etc.) separately provided in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C. As a part of the device configuration provided in the terminal 100 shown in FIG. 3 so that some of them are shared, specifically, FIG. 7A relates to an implementation method of sharing an antenna and an RF processing unit among the wireless communication processing device configurations. FIG. 7B illustrates an implementation method of sharing an antenna, an RF processor, and an IF processor in the wireless communication processing device configuration.

Those skilled in the art will be able to infer various implementation methods for sharing some of the communication processing device configurations by referring to and / or modifying the drawings 7a and 7b. Includes all the inferred implementation methods, and is not limited to the implementation methods illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

Referring to FIG. 7A in which an antenna and an RF processor are shared in the communication processing device configuration, the antenna in the wireless communication processing device configuration is allocated to a radio frequency band allocated to an IEEE 802.11x based communication network and / or to an IEEE 802.16x based communication network And an antenna processing capability for transmitting and receiving a radio frequency signal corresponding to a radio frequency band, etc., wherein the RF processing unit performs an IEEE 802.11x based RF processing function on a radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna; And / or a function of performing an RF processing function of any one of the IEEE 802.16x based RF processing functions, wherein the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processing unit is an IEEE 802.11x based IF processing unit, IEEE Implement an RF / IF converter that converts an intermediate frequency corresponding to any one of the 802.16x based IF processors. And it characterized in that formed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, if the RF / IF converter transmits and receives a radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna, the RF processor processes the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor in an IEEE 802.11x-based IF processor. And converting into a corresponding intermediate frequency, and then the frequency signal processed by the IEEE 802.11x-based IF processing unit is processed into a baseband signal corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x-based baseband unit to the controller 105. Is provided.

The RF / IF converter may convert the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor into an intermediate frequency corresponding to an IEEE 802.16x based IF processor when the RF signal transmitted / received through the antenna is processed by the RF processor. After that, the frequency signal processed by the IEEE 802.16x-based IF processing unit is processed into a baseband signal corresponding to the IEEE 802.16x-based baseband unit and provided to the controller 105.

Referring to FIG. 7B, in which the antenna and the RF processor and the IF processor are shared in the wireless communication processing device configuration, the antenna may include a radio frequency band allocated to an IEEE 802.11x-based communication network, and / or IEEE 802.16x. And an antenna processing capability for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals corresponding to a radio frequency band allocated to the base communication network, wherein the RF processing unit transmits the radio frequency signals transmitted and received through the antenna to the IEEE 802.11x based RF. And a function of performing an RF processing function of any one of the IEEE 802.16x based RF processing function and the IF processing unit is configured to generate the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processing unit. IEEE 802.11x based IF processing function and / or any of the IEEE 802.16x based IF processing functions And a function corresponding to any one of an IEEE 802.11x based baseband unit and an IEEE 802.16x based baseband unit for the intermediate frequency signal processed by the IF processing unit. And an IF / baseband converter for converting the signal into a band signal.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the RF / IF converter may process a radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna by the RF processor, and a radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor may be processed by the IF processor. And converts the intermediate frequency signal into a baseband signal corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x based baseband unit, and then the baseband signal processed by the IEEE 802.11x based baseband unit is converted into the baseband signal. Is provided.

In addition, the RF / IF converter is the intermediate frequency signal when the radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna is processed by the RF processor, and the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor is processed by the IF processor. And converts the baseband signal corresponding to the IEEE 802.16x based baseband portion, and then the baseband signal processed by the IEEE 802.16x based baseband portion is provided to the controller 105.

8A and 8B are diagrams showing a preferred configuration diagram of a communication processing device configuration provided in the terminal 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a communication processing device configuration (e.g., WCDMA / HSDPA based communication processing device configuration, IEEE 802.16x based communication processing device configuration, etc.) separately provided in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C. As a part of the device configuration provided in the terminal 100 shown in FIG. 4 so that some of them may be shared, specifically, FIG. 8A relates to an implementation method of sharing an antenna and an RF processor in the wireless communication processing device configuration. 8B illustrates an embodiment of sharing an antenna, an RF processor, and an IF processor in the wireless communication processing device configuration.

Those skilled in the art will be able to infer various implementation methods for sharing some of the communication processing device configurations by referring to and / or modifying the drawings 8a and 8b. Includes all of the inferred implementation methods, and is not limited to the implementation methods shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

Referring to FIG. 8A, in which the antenna and the RF processor are shared in the communication processing device configuration, the antenna in the wireless communication processing device configuration is allocated to a radio frequency band allocated to a WCDMA / HSDPA based communication network, and / or an IEEE 802.16x based communication network. And an antenna processing capability for transmitting and receiving a radio frequency signal corresponding to the radio frequency band, etc., wherein the RF processing unit transmits the radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna to the WCDMA / HSDPA based RF processing function; And / or a function of performing an RF processing function of any one of the IEEE 802.16x based RF processing functions, wherein the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processing unit is WCDMA / HSDPA based IF processing unit, IEEE RF / IF converter for converting to an intermediate frequency corresponding to any one of the 802.16x based IF processor The comparison made is characterized.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, if the RF / IF converter transmits and receives a radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna, the RF processor processes the WCDMA / HSDPA-based IF processor. And converting the intermediate frequency signal corresponding to the WCDMA / HSDPA-based IF processing unit into a baseband signal corresponding to the WCDMA / HSDPA-based baseband unit. Is provided.

The RF / IF converter may convert the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor into an intermediate frequency corresponding to an IEEE 802.16x based IF processor when the RF signal transmitted / received through the antenna is processed by the RF processor. After that, the frequency signal processed by the IEEE 802.16x-based IF processing unit is processed into a baseband signal corresponding to the IEEE 802.16x-based baseband unit and provided to the controller 105.

Referring to FIG. 8B, in which an antenna is shared with an RF processor and an IF processor in the wireless communication processing device configuration, the antenna in the wireless communication processing device configuration is a radio frequency band allocated to a WCDMA / HSDPA based communication network, and / or IEEE 802.16x And an antenna processing capability capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals corresponding to a radio frequency band allocated to an based communication network, wherein the RF processing unit transmits radio frequency signals transmitted and received through the antenna based on the WCDMA / HSDPA. And a function of performing an RF processing function of any one of an RF processing function and / or the IEEE 802.16x based RF processing function, wherein the IF processing unit is configured to perform a radio frequency signal processed through the RF processing unit. One of the WCDMA / HSDPA based IF processing function and / or the IEEE 802.16x based IF processing function And an intermediate frequency signal processed by the IF processing unit corresponding to any one of a WCDMA / HSDPA-based baseband unit and an IEEE 802.16x-based baseband unit. And an IF / baseband converter for converting to a baseband signal.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the RF / IF converter may process a radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna by the RF processor, and a radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor may be processed by the IF processor. And converts the intermediate frequency signal into a baseband signal corresponding to the WCDMA / HSDPA-based baseband unit, and then the baseband signal processed by the WCDMA / HSDPA-based baseband unit is converted into the baseband signal. Is provided.

In addition, the RF / IF converter is the intermediate frequency signal when the radio frequency signal transmitted and received through the antenna is processed by the RF processor, and the radio frequency signal processed by the RF processor is processed by the IF processor. The baseband signal processed by the IEEE 802.16x based baseband unit is then provided to the controller 105.

Hereinafter, the communication protocol stack of the communication protocol stack based on a wireless communication network and / or a wired communication network corresponding to an IP based and / or an IP compatible communication network supporting a communication protocol compatible with OSI 7 layer among various communication protocols. The technical features of the terminal 100 equipped with the integrated processing function will be described.

However, the present invention is not only applied to a communication protocol compatible with the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layer 7, and a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, will be described below. The technical characteristics of the terminal 100 equipped with the integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention may be inferred corresponding to each communication protocol including a hierarchical structure through the present invention. It includes a method, and is not limited to the implementation method shown below.

9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D illustrate a logical switching control hierarchy that provides integrated processing of a communication protocol stack in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

9a and 9b and 9c and 9d show the integration of a communication protocol stack according to the present invention on an IEEE 802.11x based communication protocol stack and / or an IEEE 802.16x based communication protocol stack compatible with the OSI 7 layer. An implementation method having a logical switching control layer providing a processing function, specifically, FIG. 9A shows an upper layer (and / or sublayer of a network layer) of a datalink layer on a communication protocol compatible with the OSI 7 layer. FIG. 9b illustrates an implementation method in which a logical switching control layer is provided to provide integrated processing of the communication protocol stack, and FIG. Logical switching control layer which provides integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack. 9c shows a logical way to provide integrated processing of the communication protocol stack to an upper layer (and / or sublayer of a session layer) of a transport layer on a communication protocol compatible with the OSI 7 layer. FIG. 9D illustrates an integrated process of the communication protocol stack in an upper layer (and / or sub-layer of the presentation layer) of a session layer on a communication protocol compatible with the OSI 7 layer. An implementation method is provided in which a logical switching control layer is provided to provide a function.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may refer to, and / or modify, the IEEE 802.11x based communication protocol stack compatible with the OSI 7 layer by referring to and / or modifying the drawings 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d. Or various implementation methods including a logical switching control layer providing an integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention on an IEEE 802.16x based communication protocol stack (e.g., at least two or more layers are functionally It can be inferred from the implementation method is provided separately, but the present invention includes all of the inferred implementation method, it is not limited to the implementation method shown in Figures 9a and 9b and 9c and 9d.

Also, those skilled in the art can refer to and / or modify the drawings 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d to present the invention on another communication protocol stack that is incompatible with the OSI 7 layer. While various implementations may be inferred with a logical switching control layer providing integrated processing of a communication protocol stack in accordance with the present invention, the present invention encompasses all of the inferred implementations, including FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9B. It is not limited to the implementation method shown in 9c and FIG. 9d.

In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains refer to and / or modify the present drawings 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d to provide a communication protocol stack compatible with the OSI 7 layer and the OSI 7 layer. It would be possible to infer a variety of implementations having a logical switching control layer on the incompatible communications protocol stack that provides the integrated processing of the communications protocol stack according to the invention, but the present invention includes all such inferred implementation methods. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D.

9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D, the OSI 7 hierarchical structure configures and maintains a physical link to enable data communication through a predetermined communication network, and a communication line corresponding to the physical link. A physical layer that defines the mechanical, electrical, functional, and procedural characteristics for establishing and / or maintaining and / or breaking circuit connections for direct transmission of data bits through Once the link is established, the physical layer is controlled to define functions for data delivery reliability such as addressing, network topology, circuit usage rules, error detection, frame forwarding and flow control for the physical link. A network between a datalink layer and at least two communication systems that are physically connected through the communication network. Network Layer, which defines error control, flow control and multiplexing functions to provide path selection and connectivity, and virtual circuit construction, path maintenance, termination, and transmission for reliability of data transmission. And a transport layer that provides error detection, recovery, and flow control, wherein the physical layer, the data link layer, the network layer, and the transport layer provide reliability of data transmitted and received through a predetermined communication network. It is desirable to be defined for the primary purpose of the transmission.

In the OSI 7 hierarchical structure, the network layer further performs a function of correcting that an order of a packet is changed or an error occurs, and TCP and / or UDP are defined in the network layer.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the OSI 7 hierarchical structure, the physical layer and the data link layer include a hardware device configuration of a communication processing unit provided in the terminal 100 and / or correspond to the communication device configuration. It is preferable to include a firmware, so that the logical switching control layer that provides the integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention is preferably defined above the physical layer and the data link layer.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a logical switching control layer providing integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack may be made in the form of firmware and defined in the datalink layer and / or physical layer, whereby the present invention It is not limited.

9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D, the OSI 7 hierarchical structure provides a function of configuring, managing, and terminating a communication session between applications provided in at least two communication systems connected through a predetermined communication network. A session layer defining a presentation layer, a presentation layer defining data conversion, compression, and encryption / decryption functions between applications provided in at least two communication systems connected through a predetermined communication network; And an application layer corresponding to an application program included in at least two communication systems connected through a communication network.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the session layer and / or the presentation layer and / or the application layer may be integrated into one layer according to the functional characteristics of the terminal 100 providing the integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack. As such, the present invention is not limited thereto.

9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D, the terminal 100 includes a physical layer corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x standard to provide access and communication connection to the IEEE 802.11x-based communication network. And a data link layer including a media access control (MAC) layer and a logical link control (LLC) layer corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x standard.

The physical layer corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x standard includes a PHY Convergence Layer (PCL) layer (not shown) and a Physical Medium Dependent (PMD) layer (not shown), and include a direct sequence spread spectrum (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum); A network component (eg, an access point (AP)) on the terminal 100 and an IEEE 802.11x-based wireless communication network through at least one or more of a DSSS scheme and / or an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme. Etc.) and a wireless communication section, wherein the wireless communication section includes at least one server (and / or terminal) through a wired communication section including a backbone network corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x-based wireless communication network. It is characterized in that it is physically connected.

The MAC layer included in the data link layer corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x standard may include carrier sense multiple access / collision avoidance (CDMA / CA) and / or time division multiple access / time division duplex (TDMA / TDD) on the data link layer. At least one of the media access control functions.

The LLC layer included in the data link layer corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x standard provides a connection between communication systems existing on a local area network (LAN) according to the IEEE 802.2 standard. In order to provide a function of a wireless LAN), it is provided above the MAC layer of the data link layer.

The LLC layer includes three characteristics: LLC1 cannot correct errors at the connection level, LLC2 can correct errors, LLC3 provides immediate recognition, and LLC3 must control time-critical processing. Can be used in the environment.

Those skilled in the art will be familiar with the technical features of the MAC layer and LLC layer included in the physical layer and the data link layer with reference to the IEEE 802.11x communication protocol specification. A detailed description of the physical layer and the data link layer corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x communication protocol standard will be omitted for convenience.

9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D, the terminal 100 includes a physical layer corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x standard to provide an access and communication connection to the IEEE 802.16x based communication network. And a data link layer including a MAC layer corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x standard.

The physical layer corresponding to the IEEE 802.16x standard is a network component (eg, RAS (Radio) on an IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network with the terminal 100 through a time division duplex / orthogonal frequency division multiple access (TDD / OFDMA) scheme. Access System, etc.) and a wireless communication section, wherein the wireless communication section includes at least one or more servers (and / or via a wired communication section including a backbone network corresponding to the IEEE 802.11x-based wireless communication network). Terminal) and physically connected.

The MAC layer included in the data link layer corresponding to the IEEE 802. 16x standard includes three convergence sublayers (CS), a MAC common part sublayer (CPS), and a privacy sublayer. Convergence layer for each service performs conversion or mapping function to MAC SDU so that data of external network received through CS SAP (Service Access Point) can be transmitted to MAC layer CPS through MAC SAP. In addition, these multiple CS specifications enable connection with various protocols.

Among the MAC layers, MAC CPS provides core MAC layer functions such as system access, bandwidth allocation, connection establishment, and connection management, and the privacy sublayer includes authentication, secure key exchange, and encryption. And so on.

In addition, it includes a 48-bit medium access control layer address defined in the MAC PDU (eg, 802-2001 (R)) on the data link layer, and connections allocated per terminal 100 when a base station (RAS) is connected are 16-bit CIDs. Structure identified by &quot;

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be familiar with the technical features of the MAC layer included in the physical layer and the data link layer with reference to the IEEE 802.16x communication protocol specification. Detailed description of the physical layer and data link layer corresponding to the 802.16x communication protocol standard will be omitted for convenience.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the logical switching control layer is provided in an upper layer (and / or a sublayer included in a network layer) of the datalink layer, and is in an upper layer (and / or in the datalink layer). Switching the application layer and / or presentation layer and / or session layer and / or transport layer on the communication protocol stack to the IEEE 802.11x based datalink layer and / or physical layer in the network layer). Or switching to the IEEE 802.16x based data link layer and / or physical layer.

In addition, the logical switching control layer provided in an upper layer (and / or sub-layer included in the network layer) of the data link layer may be provided through a presentation layer, a session layer, and a transport layer at an application layer on the communication protocol stack. Switching a communication packet provided to the network layer to the IEEE 802.11x based data link layer and / or a physical layer, or to the IEEE 802.16x based data link layer and / or a physical layer, whereby the application The communication packet provided to the network layer through the presentation layer, the session layer, and the transport layer in the layer is connected to any one of an IEEE 802.11x based wireless communication network, or an IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network, to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. Is sent via.

The logical switching control layer provided in an upper layer (and / or a sublayer included in a network layer) of the data link layer may include an IEEE 802.11x-based physical layer corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. A communication packet received from the IEEE 802.11x based data link layer, and / or received from an IEEE 802.16x based physical layer corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. It is characterized in that for switching the communication packet provided to the upper layer through the network layer, whereby the communication packet received from the communication network currently connected to the terminal 100 through the network layer including the logical switching control layer It is received by the application layer via the transport layer, the session layer and the presentation layer.

In FIG. 9A, the logical switching control layer is illustrated as a sub-layer provided above the network layer for convenience, but the logical switching control layer is a sub-layer existing between the network layer and the data link layer, and / or the It may be a sublayer provided below the network layer, whereby the present invention is not limited.

Referring to FIG. 9B, the logical switching control layer is provided in an upper layer (and / or a sublayer included in a transport layer) of the network layer, and is in an upper layer (and / or transport layer) of the network layer. Switch an application layer and / or a presentation layer and / or a session layer on the communication protocol stack to a network layer provided above the IEEE 802.11x-based physical layer and / or datalink layer through the transport layer. And switching to a network layer provided above the IEEE 802.16x based physical layer and / or data link layer.

In addition, the logical switching control layer provided in an upper layer (and / or sub-layer included in the transport layer) of the network layer, the transport layer through the presentation layer and the session layer in the application layer on the communication protocol stack Switches the communication packet provided to the network layer provided above the IEEE 802.11x based physical layer and / or the data link layer, or the network layer provided above the IEEE 802.16x based physical layer and / or the data link layer. And the communication packet provided from the application layer to the transport layer through the presentation layer and the session layer through the network layer is an IEEE 802.11x-based wireless communication network currently connected by the terminal 100. Or any one of IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication networks It is transmitted over.

In addition, the logical switching control layer provided in an upper layer (and / or sub-layer included in the transport layer) of the network layer is from an IEEE 802.11x-based physical layer corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. A communication packet received and provided to the network layer through the IEEE 802.11x based data link layer, and / or from an IEEE 802.16x based physical layer corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected to the IEEE 802.11x Switching the communication packet provided to the network layer through the underlying data link layer, to the upper layer through the transport layer, whereby the communication packet received from the communication network that the terminal 100 is currently connected to the logical Through the transport layer including the switching control layer through the session layer and the presentation layer It is received by an application layer group.

In FIG. 9B, the logical switching control layer is illustrated as a sub-layer provided above the transport layer for convenience. However, the logical switching control layer is a sub-layer existing between the transport layer and the network layer, and / or the transmission. It may be a sublayer provided below the hierarchy, and the present invention is not limited thereby.

Referring to FIG. 9C, the logical switching control layer is provided in an upper layer (and / or a sublayer included in a session layer) of the transport layer, and is in a higher layer (and / or session layer) of the transport layer. Switch an application layer and / or a presentation layer on the communication protocol stack to a transport layer above a network layer provided above the IEEE 802.11x-based physical layer and / or datalink layer through the session layer, And switching to a transport layer above a network layer provided on the IEEE 802.16x-based physical layer and / or the data link layer.

In addition, the logical switching control layer provided in the upper layer (and / or sub-layer included in the session layer) of the transport layer, the communication packet provided to the session layer through the presentation layer in the application layer on the communication protocol stack Switching to a transport layer above the network layer provided on the IEEE 802.11x-based physical layer and / or a data link layer, or on the network layer provided on the IEEE 802.16x-based physical layer and / or a datalink layer And switching to a higher transport layer, whereby the communication packet provided from the application layer to the session layer through the presentation layer is transmitted through the transport layer and the network layer to the IEEE 802.11 currently connected by the terminal 100. x-based wireless network, or IEEE 802.16x-based wireless network It is transmitted through one communication network.

In addition, the logical switching control layer provided in an upper layer (and / or sublayer included in the session layer) of the transport layer is from an IEEE 802.11x-based physical layer corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. Received from the IEEE 802.16x based physical layer corresponding to the communication packet received and provided to the transport layer via the IEEE 802.11x based data link layer, and / or the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. The communication packet provided to the transport layer via the IEEE 802. 16x based data link layer is switched to a higher layer through the session layer, whereby the terminal 100 is currently connected. Communication packets received from one network are transmitted through a session layer including the logical switching control layer. After the presentation file is received by the application layer.

In FIG. 9C, the logical switching control layer is illustrated as a sub-layer provided above the session layer for convenience, but the logical switching control layer is a sub-layer existing between the session layer and the transport layer, and / or the session. It may be a sublayer provided below the hierarchy, and the present invention is not limited thereby.

Referring to FIG. 9D, the logical switching control layer is provided in an upper layer (and / or a sub-layer included in the presentation layer) of the session layer, and is in an upper layer (and / or presentation) of the session layer. Switching an application layer on the communication protocol stack to a session layer on a transport layer above a network layer provided on the IEEE 802.11x-based physical layer and / or a datalink layer through the presentation layer; And switching to a session layer above a transport layer above a network layer provided on the IEEE 802.16x-based physical layer and / or a data link layer.

The logical switching control layer provided in an upper layer (and / or a sublayer included in a presentation layer) of the session layer may include a communication packet provided from the application layer on the communication protocol stack to the presentation layer. Switching to a session layer above a transport layer above the network layer provided on an IEEE 802.11x-based physical layer and / or a datalink layer, or on the network provided on the IEEE 802.16x-based physical layer and / or a datalink layer Switching to a session layer above a transport layer above the layer, whereby the communication packet provided from the application layer to the presentation layer is currently transmitted by the terminal 100 through the session layer, the transport layer, and the network layer. IEEE 802.11x based wireless communication network or IEEE 802.16x based It is transmitted through any one of wireless communication networks.

The logical switching control layer provided in an upper layer (and / or a sublayer included in a presentation layer) of the session layer may include an IEEE 802.11x-based physical layer corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. A communication packet received from and provided to the transport layer and the session layer through the network layer through the IEEE 802.11x based datalink layer, and / or an IEEE 802.16x based physical corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected. Switching a packet received from a layer and provided to the transport layer and the session layer via the IEEE 802. 16x based datalink layer to the transport layer and the session layer to the upper layer through the presentation layer, whereby The communication packet received from the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected is the logical switching agent. It is received by the application layer through the presentation layer including the fish layer.

In FIG. 9D, the logical switching control layer is illustrated as a sub-layer provided above the presentation layer for convenience. However, the logical switching control layer is a sub-layer existing between the presentation layer and the session layer. The sublayer provided below the presentation layer may be used, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an IEEE 802.11x based WLAN system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the WLAN system includes at least one terminal 100 (eg, an AT) and a base station (eg, an AP) having a function of processing a communication protocol stack defined in the WLAN. Access Point)), APM (Access Point Manager) for managing at least one base station and the operator network, characterized in that the operator network is HA (Home) for mobility of the IP to the terminal 100 Agent), AAA (Authentication, Authorization and Accounting) server for authentication and billing of the user, and a management server (Network Management System) and the FA (Foreign Agent) in conjunction with the external wireless network is further included.

Referring to FIG. 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the WLAN system further includes a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server and DNS for allocating and registering a MIP to the terminal 100 accessing the WLAN. In addition, it may be possible to add at least one or more components according to the intention of the operator and / or the type of additional service.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, since they will be familiar with the detailed technical specifications for the WLAN system, a detailed description thereof will be omitted for convenience.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an IEEE 802.16x based portable Internet system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, FIG. 11 is a 2.3 GHz portable Internet network based on High-speed Portable Internet (HPi), which provides a wireless access technology including mobility of 60 km / h or more and a transmission speed of 1 Mbps.

The 2.3 GHz portable Internet system uses an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) / TDD (Time Division Duplex) wideband wireless transmission technology to form a cellular network and up / down an IP-based wireless data service. It can effectively adapt to asymmetric transmission characteristics, support handoff to guarantee inter-cell mobility without interruption of service, dynamically or statically assign IP to portable terminal 100, and also allow unauthorized users access to the system. It performs an authentication function that effectively prevents and guarantees quality of service against latency and packet loss for high speed transmission of various types of IP-based packet data such as streaming video, FTP, mail, chat, etc. provided by the wired Internet. It is made to include the features.

Referring to FIG. 11, the portable Internet system includes at least one terminal 100 (for example, an access terminal (AT) or a portable subscriber station (PSS)) equipped with a function of processing a communication protocol stack defined in the portable internet. And a provider network that connects a base station (eg, an access point (AP) or a radio access station (RAS)), a packet access router (PAR), and at least one or more PARs. The operator network includes a home agent (HA) for mobility of IP to the terminal 100, an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server for authentication and billing of a user, a management server (Network Management System) and an external radio. It further comprises a foreign agent (FA) that interworks with the network.

Referring to FIG. 11 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the portable Internet system further includes a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server and DNS for allocating and registering a MIP to the terminal 100 accessing the portable Internet. In addition, it may be possible to add at least one or more components according to the intention of the operator and / or the type of additional service.

The terminal 100 is an endpoint of a wireless channel in the portable Internet system, and communicates with the base station in an OFDMA manner, and transmits and receives a wireless channel, a MAC processing function, a handover function, a user authentication and encryption function, and a radio link control management function. And so on.

The base station performs a wired / wireless channel conversion function to transfer information (or data) received from the terminal 100 to the PAR or, conversely, converts various information (or data) received from the PAR into an OFDMA-based radio signal. Packet retransmission function for error-free packet transmission and reception, packet scheduling and radio bandwidth allocation function, ranging function, ranging function, packet call connection setting, It performs connection control, handover control and PAR access functions related to maintenance and release.

The PAR is connected to and manages a plurality of base stations, and performs a handover control function to ensure high-speed mobility in the PAR. To this end, the base station and the PAR are connected based on the IP protocol, and is preferably configured based on a gigabit Ethernet switch for high-speed packet transmission.

In addition, the portable Internet system provides a Uh interface between the terminal 100 and the base station, an Ah interface between the base station and the PAR, a Ph interface between the PAR and the PAR, and between the AAA and the HA of the operator network to provide high-speed wireless communication. Ih interface is provided.

The Uh interface provided between the terminal 100 and the base station follows the physical layer (PHYsical) and media access control (MAC) standards of HPi, and the physical layer and MAC standards are line of sight (LOS). It is based on the 2.3GHz band with a non-guaranteed multipath channel environment, and provides mobility based on the wireless access standard of the IEEE 802.16 series.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the physical layer standard of the Uh interface includes all items corresponding to OFDMA in the IEEE802.16 standard, and the changed parts of the IEEE 802.16 standard are OFDMA subcarriers for frame structure, uplink and downlink. Allocation method and channel encoding method. Additional additions include Transmit / Receive Transition Gap (TGT), Receive / Transmit Transition Gap (RTG), and RF parameters to accommodate a maximum radius of 1km. In addition, the MAC standard is optimized for the OFDMA PHY. The ranging and bandwidth request procedures are modified to fit the OFDMA PHY, and a handover function for mobility support is added. In addition, a sleep mode function for reducing power consumption of the terminal 100 and a mechanism for checking a communication interruption state and recovering resources allocated at the time of interruption have been added.

The Ah interface between the base station and the PAR is used in the ANAP (Access Network Application Part) protocol that defines the control messages for smooth communication between the base station and the PAR, the Ph interface between the PAR and the PAR is used for smooth communication between the PAR The PAR-PAR Application Part (PPAP) protocol, which specifies control messages, is used.

The standard for the Ih interface between the PAR and the AAA is based on the IETF Diameter Base protocol, and also refers to the IETF Diameter MIP Application and the IETF Diameter Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). In addition, the standard for the Ih interface between the PAR and the HA is based on MIP (Mobile IP) of IETF RFC 3344, and MIP NAI (Network Access Identification) extension, MIP Challenge / Response extension, AAA Registration Key Extension, MIP extension for AAA NAI and MIP extension for reverse tunneling are added and used.

12A, 12B, and 12C illustrate a protocol stack structure in which a terminal 100 having a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to an embodiment of the present invention communicates with a server (and / or a terminal) on a communication network. .

12a, 12b, and 12c show a network through a predetermined wired network and / or a wireless communication network in a terminal 100 equipped with a switching function of a communication protocol stack through the logical switching layer shown in FIG. 9a. An embodiment of a protocol stack structure for communicating with a server (and / or a terminal) on a network is illustrated. Specifically, FIG. 12A illustrates that the terminal 100 is currently connected to an IEEE 802.11x based wireless communication network. 100 is for a protocol stack structure for communicating with a server (and / or terminal) on a backbone network through the IEEE 802.11x based wireless communication network through a switching function of the communication protocol stack, and FIG. 12B shows the terminal 100 ) Is currently connected to the IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network, the terminal 100 through the switching function of the communication protocol stack the IEEE 80 A protocol stack structure for communicating with servers (and / or terminals) on a backbone network via a 2.16x based wireless communication network.

According to the present invention, a server (and / or a terminal on a backbone network in which the terminal 100 communicates through an IEEE 802.11x based wireless communication network or an IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network in FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C). ) Is the same server, and the terminal 100 is a communication network (eg, IEEE 802.11x based wireless) to which the terminal 100 is currently connected (and / or communicated) through a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to the present invention. It can communicate with the server (and / or terminal) regardless of a communication network, or an IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network.

Those skilled in the art (for example, those who understand the protocol stack structure) are referred to the embodiment shown in Figures 12a, 12b, and 12c with reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 9a. The terminal 100 equipped with a switching function of a communication protocol stack corresponding to a switching layer is connected to the server through any one of the IEEE 802.11x based wireless communication network or the IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network. Since the protocol stack structure for communicating with the (and / or the terminal) will be understood, a detailed description thereof will be omitted for convenience.

In addition, those skilled in the art (for example, those who understand the protocol stack structure), with reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 12a, Figure 12b and Figure 12c, Figure 9b Terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack corresponding to the logical switching layer shown, and / or terminal 100 having a switching function of the communication protocol stack corresponding to the logical switching layer shown in FIG. 9C. And / or the terminal 100 equipped with the switching function of the communication protocol stack corresponding to the logical switching layer shown in FIG. 9D is based on the IEEE 802.11x based wireless communication network or the IEEE 802.16x based wireless communication network). Since the protocol stack structure for communicating with the server (and / or terminal) via any one of the wired communication network will be understood, a detailed description thereof is for convenience. And strategy.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a process of loading a logical switching layer providing an integrated processing function of a communication protocol stack to a terminal 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, FIG. 13 is provided with an integrated processing function of a communication protocol stack according to the present invention while performing a system booting process in the terminal 100 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and / or 3 and / or 4 ( For example, a method of driving a protocol processing routine (including a logical switching control layer) to be loaded into the control unit 105 provided in the terminal 100 is illustrated. The present invention can be inferred from various implementation methods for loading the logical switching layer providing the integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack to the terminal 100 by referring to and / or modifying the drawing 13. It includes all the implementation methods inferred above, and is not limited to the implementation method shown in FIG.

For example, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may refer to and / or modify this drawing 13 so that the terminal 100 shown in FIGS. 2 and / or 3 and / or 4 is system booted. After a predetermined communication protocol stack integration processing command, the control unit 105 provided in the terminal 100 is provided with an integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention (eg, including a logical switching control layer). It is possible to infer an implementation method of loading a protocol processing routine, but the present invention includes all implementation methods inferred from the above, and is not limited to the implementation method shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 13, while a predetermined power is supplied to the terminal 100 to perform a system booting procedure (1300), the terminal 100 includes a logical switching control layer according to the present invention during the system booting. A protocol processing routine is loaded into the controller 105 (1305).

Then, the terminal 100 from the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip) the subscriber information corresponding to the preferred access communication network (for example, the communication network corresponding to the main communication protocol corresponding to the terminal 100) and And / or extracting communication parameter information (1310), and accessing the preferred access network through a logical switching control layer included in the loaded protocol processing routine based on the extracted subscriber information and / or communication parameter information. And / or communication connection) (1315).

If a connection (and / or communication connection) attempt to the communication network fails (1320), the terminal 100 communicates with the terminal 100 from the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip). Extracting subscriber information and / or communication parameter information for another communication network corresponding to a processing function (1325), and logical switching control included in the loaded protocol processing routine based on the extracted subscriber information and / or communication parameter information A connection (and / or communication connection) to the communication network is attempted through the layer (1315).

If a connection (and / or communication connection) attempt to the communication network is successful (1320), the terminal 100 accesses the upper protocol layer (eg, the logical switching) through a logical switching control layer included in the protocol processing routine. A protocol layer provided above a layer provided with a control layer and a lower protocol layer corresponding to a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected (for example, a protocol layer provided below a layer provided with the logical switching control layer). (1330), and then the terminal 100 connects a predetermined communication channel with at least one server (and / or terminal) through a currently connected communication network and transmits and receives at least one communication packet. Done.

14 is a diagram illustrating a process of transmitting predetermined data through an integrated processing function of a communication protocol stack provided in the terminal 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, FIG. 14 illustrates an integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention through a system booting process as shown in FIG. 11 in the terminal 100 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and / or 3 and / or 4. For example, after a protocol processing routine including a logical switching control layer is driven, an exemplary method of transmitting predetermined data through a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected through the integrated processing function of the protocol stack is described. As illustrated, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains may refer to and / or modify this drawing 14 to transmit predetermined data from the terminal 100 through the integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack. Various implementation methods may be inferred, but the present invention includes all implementation methods inferred from the above, and the implementation method illustrated in FIG. It is not limited to this.

Referring to FIG. 14, after the protocol processing routine including the integrated processing function (eg, logical switching control layer) of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention is driven in the terminal 100 through the same process as in FIG. 11, Data transmitted from the terminal 100 to the external communication network is transmitted to the external communication network through a process of generating a predetermined communication packet including the data from the uppermost layer through the protocol processing routine and providing the lower layer of the next step. In this case, the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 periodically checks whether a predetermined communication packet is generated and provided to the logical switching control layer through a data transmission function corresponding to an upper layer (1400).

If a transmission communication packet generated through a predetermined data transmission function in the upper layer of the logical switching control layer is provided to the logical switching control layer (1405), the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 is the upper protocol layer. Whether to change the structure of the transmission communication packet provided by the client.

For example, an upper protocol layer of the logical switching control layer is a protocol layer corresponding to the preferred access communication network of the terminal 100, and a lower layer of the logical switching control layer also corresponds to a preferred access communication network of the terminal 100. If so, it is not necessary to change the transmission communication packet structure.

While the upper protocol layer of the logical switching control layer is a protocol layer corresponding to the preferred access communication network of the terminal 100, the lower layer of the logical switching control layer is other than the protocol corresponding to the preferred access communication network of the terminal 100. If it contains another protocol layer, the transmission communication packet should be changed to a data structure corresponding to a lower protocol layer of the logical switching control layer.

If it is determined that the transmission communication packet does not need to be changed (1415), the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 provides the transmission communication packet provided from the upper protocol layer to a lower layer of the logical switching control layer. The protocol processing routine corresponding to the lower layer of the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 performs a function of transmitting the transmission communication packet through a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected (1435). Thus, predetermined data is transmitted from the terminal 100 to the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected through the integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the transmission communication packet should be changed (1415), the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 corresponds to the communication network to which the terminal 100 currently accesses the transmission communication packet provided from the upper protocol layer. And convert to a structure (and / or a structure that can serve as a lower layer to be switched through the logical switching control layer) (1425).

Thereafter, the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 provides the converted transmission communication packet to a lower layer of the logical switching control layer (1430), and corresponds to a lower layer of the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100. The protocol processing routine for performing the function of transmitting the transmission communication packet through the communication network that the terminal 100 is currently connected (1435), thereby integrating the communication protocol stack according to the present invention in the terminal 100 Through the processing function, predetermined data is transmitted to the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected.

FIG. 15 illustrates a process of receiving predetermined data through an integrated processing function of a communication protocol stack provided in the terminal 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, FIG. 15 shows an integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention through a system booting process as shown in FIG. 11 in the terminal 100 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and / or 3 and / or 4. For example, after a protocol processing routine including a logical switching control layer is driven, an exemplary method of receiving predetermined data through a communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected through an integrated processing function of the protocol stack is provided. As illustrated, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may refer to and / or modify this drawing 15 to receive predetermined data from the terminal 100 through the integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack. Various implementation methods may be inferred, but the present invention includes all implementation methods inferred from the above, and the implementation method illustrated in FIG. It is not limited to this.

Referring to FIG. 15, after the protocol processing routine including the integrated processing function (eg, logical switching control layer) of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention is driven in the terminal 100 through the same process as in FIG. 11. The data received by the terminal 100 from an external communication network includes a predetermined communication packet including the received data from a lowermost layer (eg, a MAC layer corresponding to a physical layer and / or a datalink layer) through the protocol processing routine. Is received through a process provided to a higher layer of the next step, wherein the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 receives a predetermined communication packet through a data receiving function corresponding to a lower layer to the logical switching It periodically checks whether the control layer is provided (1500).

If a received communication packet is provided to the logical switching control layer by performing a predetermined data reception function in a lower layer of the logical switching control layer (1505), the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 is configured to receive the lower protocol layer. Check whether to change the provided received communication packet structure.

For example, a lower protocol layer of the logical switching control layer is a protocol layer corresponding to a preferred access communication network of the terminal 100, and a higher layer of the logical switching control layer also corresponds to a preferred access communication network of the terminal 100. If so, it is not necessary to change the received communication packet structure.

While the lower protocol layer of the logical switching control layer is a protocol layer corresponding to the preferred access communication network of the terminal 100, the upper layer of the logical switching control layer is other than the protocol corresponding to the preferred access communication network of the terminal 100. If it contains another protocol layer, the received communication packet should be changed to a data structure corresponding to a higher protocol layer of the logical switching control layer.

If it is determined that the received communication packet does not need to be changed (1515), the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 provides the received communication packet provided from the lower protocol layer to an upper layer of the logical switching control layer. (1520), the protocol processing routine corresponding to the upper layer of the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 performs a data receiving function for the received communication packet received from the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected ( 1535), thereby receiving and processing predetermined data from the communication network to which the terminal 100 is connected through the integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention.

On the other hand, if the received communication packet is to be changed as a result of the check (1515), the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 has a structure corresponding to the upper protocol layer of the received communication packet provided from the lower protocol layer ( And / or a structure that can be provided to a higher layer switched through the logical switching control layer (1525).

Thereafter, the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100 provides the converted received communication packet to an upper layer of the logical switching control layer (1530), and corresponds to an upper layer of the logical switching control layer of the terminal 100. The protocol processing routine for performing a data receiving function for the received communication packet received from the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected (1535), thereby through the integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention. Predetermined data is received from a communication network to which the terminal 100 is connected.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a broadband quality of service (QoS) processing process between heterogeneous wireless communication networks using a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, FIG. 16 illustrates an integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention through a system booting process as shown in FIG. 13 in the terminal 100 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and / or 3 and / or 4. For example, after a protocol processing routine including a logical switching control layer is driven, a broadband quality of service (QoS) is transferred from a wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected to another wireless communication network through an integrated processing function of the protocol stack. As one embodiment of the present invention, a person having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains may refer to and / or modify this drawing 16, and thus, the integrated processing function of the communication protocol stack in the terminal 100. It will be possible to infer various implementation methods for processing broadband quality of service (QoS) between a wired network and a wireless network through the present invention. It includes all embodiments in which the inference method, not limited to the exemplary method shown in the figure 16.

Hereinafter, in FIG. 16, for convenience, a wireless communication network currently connected by the terminal 100 is referred to as a "first wireless communication network", and the terminal 100 accesses a network for processing broadband quality of service (QoS) (and / or communication). The wireless communication network that connects is called a "second wireless communication network."

Referring to FIG. 16, after the protocol processing routine including the integrated processing function (eg, logical switching control layer) of the communication protocol stack according to the present invention is driven in the terminal 100 through the same process as in FIG. 13, The terminal 100 periodically checks whether a quality of service (QoS) for the currently connected first wireless communication network is degraded (1600).

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains refer to a communication standard corresponding to a first wireless communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected to determine a quality of service (QoS) for the first wireless communication network. Since you will be familiar with the various methods to check, detailed description thereof will be omitted for convenience.

If it is confirmed that the deterioration of the quality of service (QoS) for the first wireless communication network (1605), the terminal 100 is connected to the first wireless communication network server (communication channel through the first wireless communication network) And / or terminal) information (1610), and releases the network connection (and / or communication connection) to the first wireless communication network (1615).

Thereafter, the terminal 100 extracts subscriber information and / or communication parameter information corresponding to a communication network other than the first wireless communication network from the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip) (1620), and Based on the extracted subscriber information and / or communication parameter information, a network connection (and / or communication connection) is attempted (1625) via the logical switching control layer included in the loaded protocol processing routine.

If the network connection (and / or communication connection) attempt to the communication network fails (1630), the terminal 100 is provided in the terminal 100 from the memory unit 155 (and / or IC chip) Extracting subscriber information and / or communication parameter information for another communication network corresponding to the communication processing function (1635), and including the logical information included in the loaded protocol processing routine based on the extracted subscriber information and / or communication parameter information. A network connection (and / or communication connection) to the communication network is attempted via a switching control layer (1625).

If the network connection (and / or communication connection) attempt to the network is successful (1630), the terminal 100 is the quality of service (QoS) for the second wireless communication network connected to the network (and / or communication connection) In operation 1640, it is determined whether the quality of service (QoS) of the second wireless communication network is better than the quality of service (QoS) of the first wireless communication network.

If the quality of service (QoS) for the second wireless communication network is lower than the quality of service (QoS) of the first wireless communication network (1645), the terminal 100 is the memory unit 155 (and / or IC) Chip) extracts subscriber information and / or communication parameter information for another communication network corresponding to the communication processing function provided in the terminal 100 (1635) and based on the extracted subscriber information and / or communication parameter information. A network connection (and / or communication connection) is attempted (1625) to the communication network via a logical switching control layer included in the loaded protocol processing routine.

On the other hand, if the quality of service (QoS) for the second wireless communication network is better than the quality of service (QoS) of the first wireless communication network (1645), the terminal 100 is a logical switching control layer included in the protocol processing routine A lower protocol layer (eg, the logical switching control layer) corresponding to a communication network to which the upper protocol layer (for example, a protocol layer provided above the layer including the logical switching control layer) and the terminal 100 are currently connected. The network layer (and / or communication connection) for the second wireless communication network is handled by logically connecting (1650) by switching the protocol layer provided under the provided layer.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a process of loading a program for providing a switching function of a communication protocol stack to a terminal 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, Fig. 17 downloads a predetermined program corresponding to a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to the present invention by accessing a predetermined ESD server through the communication network currently connected by a terminal 100 connected to a predetermined communication network. By mounting the device, the process of having a switching function of a communication protocol stack as shown in FIG. 2 and / or FIG. 3 and / or FIG. 4 to connect to a network configuration as shown in FIG. Those skilled in the art may infer various implementation methods for a program loading process for providing a switching function of a communication protocol stack to the terminal 100 by referring to and / or modifying the drawing 17. It will be appreciated that the present invention encompasses all of the inferred practice methods, and is not limited to the practice method shown in FIG. The.

Hereinafter, in FIG. 17, the ESD server is referred to as "server" for convenience, and the terminal 100 is referred to as "terminal" for convenience.

Referring to FIG. 17, the terminal accesses the server through a currently connected communication network, connects a predetermined communication channel, and performs a member registration and / or login procedure with the server (1700). In order to download and mount a predetermined program corresponding to the switching function of the communication protocol stack, the server requests a network-based program to be loaded (1705), and correspondingly, the server inputs and provides predetermined terminal information to the terminal. The terminal provides a terminal information providing interface (1710), and the terminal inputs (or selects or extracts from the memory unit) the terminal information through the terminal information providing interface to provide it to the server through the communication network (1715). ).

Here, the terminal information includes at least one device model information and / or operating system information for the terminal.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the server does not provide the terminal information providing interface to the terminal, and a network operating apparatus (eg, the CDMA-based mobile terminal is a mobile communication terminal) on the communication network to which the terminal is currently connected. When connected to a communication network, it is possible to extract terminal information corresponding to the terminal from at least one or more of the HLR / VLR (Home Location Register / Visitor Location Register) provided in the mobile communication network. It is not limited.

When the terminal information is obtained as described above, the server reads the terminal information and checks whether the program corresponding to the switching function of the communication protocol stack can be downloaded and mounted to the terminal through the communication network (1720).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in order to download and mount a program corresponding to a switching function of a communication protocol stack to the terminal, the terminal may be software-connected so that the terminal may access at least two communication networks through the switching function of the communication protocol stack. A controlled communication module (for example, in the case of a wireless communication module, should be provided with a software module for controlling frequency bands and / or for controlling a part of a communication protocol layer), the server may include the terminal information. By confirming the device model information from the terminal, it is preferable to confirm whether the program corresponding to the switching function of the communication protocol stack can be downloaded to the terminal and loaded.

Also, in order to download and mount a program corresponding to a switching function of a communication protocol stack to the terminal, the terminal may be operated on an operating system corresponding to the terminal on the server (or a predetermined database associated with the server). A predetermined program should be provided. It is preferable that the server checks the operating system information from the terminal information to check whether the program corresponding to the switching function of the communication protocol stack can be downloaded and mounted on the terminal.

If the check result indicates that the program corresponding to the switching function of the communication protocol stack cannot be downloaded and mounted to the terminal (1725), the server generates predetermined program loading error information to the terminal through the communication network. Transmission and output (1730), the process of downloading and loading the program corresponding to the switching function of the communication protocol stack to the terminal is terminated.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the program corresponding to the switching function of the communication protocol stack can be downloaded and mounted to the terminal (1725), the server downloads a predetermined program file designed to provide the switching function of the communication protocol stack to the terminal. Extract (eg, extract from the database in which the terminal information and the program file are cooperatively processed and stored) (1735), and transmit the extracted program file to the terminal through the communication channel (1740).

The terminal receiving the program file drives the program file to back up a program file corresponding to a protocol layer that is pre-installed and operated in the terminal (eg, connecting a communication channel between the terminal and the server). (1745).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of backing up a program file corresponding to a protocol layer already installed and operating in the terminal may include disconnecting a communication channel between the terminal and the server. And disconnecting the network connection to the currently connected communication network, terminating the program corresponding to the protocol layer already installed and operating in the terminal, and changing the name of the terminated program file. Do.

Thereafter, the terminal processes the protocol layer program corresponding to the driven program file as the backed up file (for example, a protocol layer program file previously installed and operated in the terminal) and installs it in the terminal (1750).

If the new protocol layer program installation procedure is completed (1755), the terminal performs a system reboot procedure for updating the protocol layer by the driven program file (1760).

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal can update the program without system rebooting, the system rebooting procedure may be omitted, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a process of authenticating validity after loading a program for providing a switching function of a communication protocol stack to a terminal 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, FIG. 18 downloads a protocol layer program corresponding to a switching function of a communication protocol stack from the ESD server through the process shown in FIG. 17, mounts the protocol layer program on the terminal 100, and then loads the terminal 100. In the process of authenticating whether the loaded new protocol layer program is operating normally, if one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs, referring to and / or modified in this figure 18 to the terminal 100 Although various implementation methods for authenticating validity of a mounted program may be inferred in order to provide a switching function of a communication protocol stack, the present invention includes all the inferred implementation methods, and is shown in FIG. It is not limited.

Hereinafter, in FIG. 17, the ESD server is referred to as "server" for convenience, and the terminal 100 is referred to as "terminal" for convenience.

Referring to FIG. 18, after the protocol layer program corresponding to the switching function of the communication protocol stack is downloaded and mounted from the ESD server through the same process as that of FIG. 17, the terminal (for example, the terminal in FIG. A program driven to mount a protocol layer program corresponding to the switching function of the communication protocol stack) attempts to access a network connected to the connected communication network before the protocol layer program is loaded based on the switching function of the communication protocol stack ( 1800).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the protocol layer program mounted on the terminal to provide a switching function of the communication protocol stack provides a network access function for a communication network previously connected to the terminal, and attempts to connect to the network. The process is to authenticate its validity.

If the network access attempt fails (1805), the terminal restores the backed up protocol layer program (1810) and performs a system reboot procedure for the protocol layer recovery (1815).

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal can recover the program without rebooting the system, the system rebooting procedure may be omitted, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

On the other hand, if the network access attempt succeeds (1805), the terminal attempts to connect a communication channel with the server based on the switching function of the communication protocol stack (1820).

If the communication channel connection fails (1825),

On the other hand, if the communication channel connection is successful (1825), the terminal deletes the backed up protocol layer program (1830), so that the protocol layer program mounted on the terminal is provided to provide a switching function of the communication protocol stack. Prevent malfunction.

FIG. 19 illustrates a process of downloading predetermined content through heterogeneous wireless communication networks based on a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, FIG. 19 illustrates the heterogeneity of downloading predetermined content from a predetermined content providing server while the terminal 100 equipped with a switching function of a communication protocol stack according to the present invention is connected to a first wireless communication network. When a communication network change occurs between wireless communication networks, the technical features of the switching function of the communication protocol stack are described through a process of downloading the contents through a second wireless communication network, which is common in the art. Those skilled in the art will be able to infer various service methods for the switching function of the communication protocol stack provided in the terminal 100 by referring to and / or modifying the drawing 19. However, the present invention provides the inferred service method. It includes all, and is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG.

In addition, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19, the communication network to which the terminal 100 is currently connected may be the second wireless communication network, and the communication network changed from the second wireless communication network may be the first wireless communication network. The invention is not limited.

Hereinafter, in FIG. 19, the first wireless communication network is referred to as a "first communication network" for convenience, and the second wireless communication network is referred to as a "second communication network" for convenience, and the terminal 100 provided with the function of the present invention] is also provided. For convenience, the terminal is referred to as a terminal, and the content providing server connected to the terminal 100 through the first wireless communication network and / or the second wireless communication network is referred to as a "server" for convenience.

Referring to FIG. 19, the terminal connects a predetermined communication channel with the server through a first communication network (1900), and provides predetermined content (eg, multimedia content such as a movie / animation) from the server through the communication channel. And / or sound content such as an MP3 file, and / or image content such as a picture, text content such as an e-book, etc.) (1905).

While the content download is in progress, the terminal checks whether the communication network is changed from the first communication network to a predetermined second communication network through a switching function of the communication protocol stack (1910).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication network change may be changed to a quality of service guarantee function between the first communication network and the second communication network defined in the switching function of the communication protocol stack.

If the communication network change is not confirmed (1915), the terminal checks whether the content download from the server is completed (1945), if the content download is not completed (1950), the terminal through the communication channel Until the download of certain content (e.g., multimedia content such as a movie / animation, and / or sound content such as an MP3 file, and / or image content such as a picture, textual content such as an e-book, etc.) is completed from the server. Maintain the download process.

On the other hand, when the communication network change is confirmed (1915), the terminal backs up the communication session from the communication channel connected to the server through the first communication network (1920) based on the switching function of the communication protocol stack (1920), and also the communication protocol The communication network is changed from the first communication network to the second communication network based on the switching function of the stack (1925).

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the communication network change includes a network connection release to the first communication network and a network connection process to the second communication network.

If the communication network change is completed (1930), the terminal restores the backed up communication session to the second communication network based on the switching function of the communication protocol stack (1935), and based on the restored communication session 2 connects the communication channel with the server through a communication network (1940).

In this case, since the server maintains a communication session with the terminal, the terminal may transmit the content (eg, multimedia content such as a movie / animation) from the server through a communication channel connected through the second communication network, and / or Sound contents such as MP3 files, and / or image contents such as photographs, text contents such as e-books, etc.) can be continuously downloaded. For this purpose, the network change should be shorter than a communication session release period defined in the server.

Thereafter, the terminal checks whether content download from the server is completed (1945). If the content download is not completed (1950), the terminal transmits predetermined content (eg, movie / movie) from the server through the communication channel. The download process is maintained until the download of multimedia content such as animation, and / or sound content such as MP3 file, and / or image content such as photo, text content such as e-book, etc. is completed.

On the other hand, if the content download is not completed (1950), the terminal terminates downloading of the content from the server (eg, changes the temporary file being downloaded from the server to a content file) (1955).

According to the present invention, a logical switching control layer for logically switching an upper protocol layer and at least two lower protocol layers on a protocol stack corresponding to the heterogeneous wireless communication function is provided to a terminal device having at least two heterogeneous wireless communication functions. After providing, through the logical switching control layer, there is an advantage that the network can be used at a high speed at a low cost by accessing a wireless communication network having excellent quality of service (QoS) among at least two heterogeneous wireless communication networks.

According to the present invention, switching is performed in the protocol stack, so that it is horizontal regardless of a specific frequency band and a specific multiple access technology (CDMA, complex pi-sigma network (CPDMA), 802.11x, 802.16x, WCDMA, OFDMA, etc.) It is possible to perform handoff between base stations) or vertical (different frequency bands and different access technologies) in connection technology such as frequency band, so when adding VoIP function, one terminal can be used for game or voice call without interruption. The mobile station can be transferred to a frequency band or access technology having an optimal transmission rate. In particular, when transferring from a specific wireless carrier area to a wireless LAN (802, 11x) area, there may be a difference in communication costs. Can be. For example, in the 802.11x region, Hotspots are free to use PCs for the Internet, but when VoIP is added, voice calls are also free within the same Hotspots, and calls for other calls are added to the fixed-cost Internet subscription fee. Therefore, a significant call cost is reduced, so when the terminal with the Internet function and VoIP function of the existing CDMA or WCDMA and GSM terminal enters the hotspot area, an economical movement of the communication cost occurs, thereby reducing the mobile communication cost. It will help the national economy, and also have customers who visited hotspots, and can expect to increase sales.

Claims (3)

A terminal device having at least two heterogeneous wireless communication functions, A switching unit configured to logically switch an upper protocol layer and a lower protocol layer corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication networks on a protocol stack corresponding to at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions; A quality of service (QoS) checking unit for checking whether a quality of service (QoS) for the currently connected first wireless communication network among at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication networks is lowered; A communication network checking unit for checking a second wireless communication network to which the terminal device is to be connected among at least one or more other communication networks to which the terminal device is accessible, or checking a quality of service (QoS) for the second wireless communication network; A network switching unit for converting a network connection (or a communication connection) to a first wireless communication network into a network connection (or a communication connection) to the second wireless communication network through the logical switching control layer; And a protocol control unit configured to check and control a quality of service (QoS) between at least two communication networks or to select and control a communication protocol for switching the communication network, using the switching function of the communication protocol stack. Terminal device that provides a service quality guarantee between heterogeneous wireless communication networks. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal device, And a memory unit (or IC chip) for storing respective subscriber information and communication parameter information corresponding to at least two wireless communication networks accessible by the terminal device through at least two or more heterogeneous wireless communication functions. A terminal device for providing a service quality guarantee between heterogeneous wireless communication networks using a switching function of a communication protocol stack. According to claim 1, wherein the network identification unit Identifying a second wireless communication network to which the terminal apparatus is accessible by using the subscriber information and communication parameter information stored in the memory unit (or IC chip), or for the or the second wireless communication network A terminal device for providing a service quality guarantee between heterogeneous wireless communication networks using a switching function of a communication protocol stack characterized in that the quality of service (QoS) is checked.

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