WO2007032105A1

WO2007032105A1 - Mobile communication terminal apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007032105A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/304170
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tomohiro Matano; Yoshiyuki Hoshi; Mitsuru Satou
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-09-16
Filing date: 2006-03-03
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: JP2007082057A

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal apparatus capable of suppressing the current consumption at the activation of a communication module. This apparatus comprises a WCDMA communication module (110) and a wireless LAN communication module (120). The WCDMA communication module (110) has a mobile telephone radio part (111) that receives a wake-up signal transmitted by a base station; and a mobile telephone wake-up control part (112) that activates, based on the wake-up signal received by the mobile telephone radio part (111), the WCDMA communication module (110). The wireless LAN communication module (120) has a WLAN radio part (121) that transmits an AP search signal for searching for an access point of a wireless LAN; and a WLAN AP search period control part (122) that controls the period in which to transmit the AP search signal. A HOST CPU (140) controls the WLAN AP search period control part (122) such that the WLAN radio part (121) transmits the AP search signal in synchronism with the period in which the mobile telephone radio part (111) receives the wake-up signal.

Description

Specification

Mobile communication terminal device

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal device, and more particularly, to a dual-mode mobile communication terminal device capable of communication using a plurality of communication methods.

Background art

Conventionally, as this type of mobile communication terminal device, for example, a WCDMA communication module capable of communicating in a WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) network communication area and a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) communication area. A WLAN-equipped mobile phone equipped with a wireless LAN communication module that can communicate with the Internet is proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a communication area in a mobile communication system described in Patent Document 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication area in this mobile communication system includes WCDMA communication areas 411 and 421 composed of a plurality of base stations 4 10 and 420, and a plurality of access points (APs) 430 and 440. It comprises hot spots 431 and 441 composed of

In FIG. 1, a switching center 450 connects a plurality of WCDMA communication areas 411 and 421 to form a WCDMA network, and connects a plurality of access points 430 and 440 to form a wireless LAN. I'm going.

Here, the hot spots 431 and 441 of the wireless LAN are much narrower than the WCDMA communication areas 411 and 421 of the WCDMA network.

[0007] Each base station 410, 420 has a W CDMA communication module in a state where WCDMA communication with its own station is possible with respect to the WCDMA communication module existing in the respective WCDMA communication areas 411, 421. Wakeup signal for starting up (Wakeup) is transmitted at a predetermined cycle (see Fig. 2).

On the other hand, WLAN-equipped mobile phones (hereinafter referred to as “dual terminals”) 460, 470 wireless LAN communication modules are wireless LAN hotspots 431, 441 access points 430, In order to search for 440, an AP search signal is transmitted from the WLAN radio unit at a predetermined cycle (see Fig. 2).

[0009] The dual terminal 460 existing in the WCDMA communication area 411 and the dual terminal 470 existing in the hotspot 44 1 receive the Wakeup signal sent from the base station 410 by each mobile phone radio unit. As a result, each WCDMA communication module is activated (mobile phone Wakeup) in a state where WCDMA communication using the WCDM A method via the base stations 410 and 420 is possible (see Fig. 3).

[0010] Further, when the dual terminal 470 existing in the hot spot 441 accesses the access point 440 searched by the AP search signal transmitted from the WLAN radio unit, the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) via the access point 440 is used. Wireless LAN communication module is activated in a state where IP communication based on SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) etc. is possible (WLAN

Wakeup (see Figure 3).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-136553

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0011] However, this type of conventional dual terminal consumes current because it is necessary to always activate the wireless WLAN communication module (WLAN Wakeup) during a call and standby of the WCDMA communication module using WCDMA communication. There was a problem of becoming larger.

[0012] As a result of repeated research to solve such problems, the present inventors have contributed to an increase in current consumption in this type of dual terminal S, between the WCDMA communication module and the wireless LAN communication module. I found out that there was a wakeup timing shift.

[0013] That is, in this type of conventional dual terminal, as shown in FIG. 2, the timing when the mobile phone radio unit of the WCDMA communication module receives the wakeup signal and the WLAN radio unit of the wireless LAN communication module search for an AP. There was a difference in the timing of signal transmission.

[0014] This is because the WCDMA communication module and the wireless LAN communication module in this type of dual terminal are configured to start individually at their own timing. For this reason, in this type of conventional dual terminal, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, in addition to current consumption when the WC DMA communication module is activated (mobile phone wakeup), the wireless LAN communication module When starting up (WLAN Wakeup), similar current consumption occurs, increasing the current consumption of the entire terminal.

[0016] An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication terminal device that can suppress current consumption when starting up a communication module.

Means for solving the problem

[0017] The mobile communication terminal apparatus of the present invention is a mobile communication terminal apparatus capable of communicating by a plurality of communication methods of a first communication method and a second communication method, wherein the first communication method is the first communication method. The first communication module that performs communication by the second communication module, the second communication module that performs communication by the second communication method, and the second communication module that synchronizes with a cycle in which the first communication module is activated. And a control means for controlling a starting cycle of the second communication module so that the second communication module is started.

The invention's effect

According to the present invention, since the second communication module is activated in synchronization with the activation cycle of the first communication module, it is necessary for the first communication module to fall at the time of activation. Current consumption can be saved by saving the current consumption for the time and the current consumption for the time required to start up the second communication module.

Brief Description of Drawings

[Figure 2] Timing chart showing the timing of Wakeup signal reception in the mobile radio unit of a conventional dual terminal and the timing of AP search signal transmission in the WLAN radio unit [Figure 3] WCDMA communication module and radio in the conventional dual terminal Graph to explain current consumption at startup with LAN communication module

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the mobile communication terminal apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 5] Wakeup signal reception timing of the mobile phone radio unit and transmission timing of the AP search signal of the WLAN radio unit in the mobile communication terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. Timing chart

FIG. 6 is a graph for explaining current consumption at start-up of the WCDMA communication module and the wireless LAN communication module in the mobile communication terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same reference numerals are given to components having the same configuration or function and corresponding parts, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the mobile communication terminal apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile communication terminal device 100 of this example includes a WCDMA communication module 110 as a first communication module, a wireless LAN communication module 120 as a second communication module, and a storage A memory 130 as means and a HOST 'CPU 140 as control means are provided.

In FIG. 4, the WCDMA communication module 110 includes a mobile phone radio unit 111 and a mobile phone Wakeup control P unit 112.

Mobile phone radio section 111 receives a wakeup signal transmitted from base stations 410 and 420 in WCDMA communication areas 411 and 421 shown in FIG. 1, for example.

Mobile phone Wakeup control unit 112 activates WCDMA communication module 110 based on the Wakeup signal received by mobile phone radio unit 111.

The wireless LAN communication module 120 includes a WLAN radio unit 121 and a WLAN 'AP search cycle control unit 122.

The WLAN radio unit 121 transmits an AP search signal for searching for the access points 430 and 440 of the hot spots 431 and 441 shown in FIG. 1, for example.

[0028] The WLAN.AP search cycle control unit 122 transmits the AP search signal transmission cycle of the WLAN radio unit 121, that is, the access points 43 of the hot spots 431 and 441 that are wireless LAN communication areas.

Controls the search interval for 0 and 440.

[0029] The memory 130 stores in advance a Wakeup periodic program for operating the HOST 'CPU 140. [0030] H 0 ST 'CPU 140 controls mobile phone Wakeup control unit 112 and WLAN'AP search cycle control unit 122 according to the Wakeup cycle program stored in memory 130.

[0031] When the Wakeup periodic program stored in the memory 130 starts, first, the HST-CPU 140 determines whether or not the mobile phone radio unit 111 has received a wake-up signal.

[0032] Then, when the mobile phone wireless unit 111 receives the wake-up signal, the HOST-CPU 140 0 starts the WCDMA communication module 110 so that the mobile phone Wakeup control unit 11

Give instructions to 2.

[0033] In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the HOST 'CPU 140 receives the wake-up signal from the mobile phone radio unit 111, that is, the Wakeup cycle at which the WCDMA communication module 110 is activated by the mobile phone Wakeup control unit 112. Synchronously with this, the WLAN radio unit 121 gives an instruction to the WLAN'AP search cycle control unit 122 so as to transmit an AP search signal.

Thereby, in the mobile communication terminal device 100 of this example, for example, the WCDMA communication module 110 executes an event such as an antenna bar display during standby, so that the host host CPU 140 is synchronized with the wake-up cycle. No, no! ¾You can search for LAN access points.

Therefore, in the mobile communication terminal device 100 of the present example, the wireless LAN communication module 120 is activated in synchronization with the activation cycle of the WCDMA communication module 110, so that as shown in FIG. 6, the WCDMA communication module It is possible to save power consumption for the time required for the start-up of 110 and the time required for the start-up of the wireless LAN communication module 120.

That is, in the mobile communication terminal device 100 of this example, the current consumption of the falling part during the conventional mobile phone wakeup shown in FIG. 3 and the current consumption of the rising part during the conventional WLAN wakeup are shown. And the current consumption at the time of starting the communication module can be suppressed.

Here, the WLAN.AP search cycle control unit 122 in the mobile communication terminal device 100 of the present example performs AP search communication of the WLAN radio unit 121 according to location information, cell ID, RSSI, and the like. You can change the transmission period of the issue. In this case, WCDMA communication module 11

It is preferable to control the transmission cycle of the AP search signal of the WLAN radio unit 121 in synchronization with a multiple of the activation cycle of 0.

That is, by synchronizing the transmission cycle of the AP search signal of the WLAN radio unit 121 with a multiple of the activation cycle of the WCDMA communication module 110, the transmission interval of the AP search signal becomes longer. Therefore, the consumption current consumed can be reduced.

[0039] Also, in the mobile communication terminal device 100 of this example, the WCDMA communication module 11

The WLAN radio unit 121 may acquire the wireless LAN information in synchronization with the 0 activation cycle.

[0040] The contents of this specification are based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-269817 filed on September 16, 2005. All this content is included here.

Industrial applicability

[0041] Since the mobile communication terminal device according to the present invention can suppress current consumption when starting up the communication module, it is useful as a dual-mode compatible mobile communication terminal device capable of communication using a plurality of communication methods. It is.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A mobile communication terminal device capable of communicating with a plurality of communication methods of a first communication method and a second communication method, wherein the first communication module performs communication according to the first communication method. The second communication module that performs communication according to the second communication method and the second communication module so that the second communication module is activated in synchronization with a period in which the first communication module is activated. A mobile communication terminal device comprising: control means for controlling a start cycle of the communication module.

[2] The first communication module includes a mobile phone radio unit for receiving a wake-up signal transmitted from a base station of a mobile phone network, and the wake-up signal received by the mobile phone radio unit. A mobile phone wakeup control unit that activates the first communication module;

The second communication module includes a WLAN radio unit for transmitting an AP search signal for searching for a wireless LAN access point, and a WLAN'AP search for controlling a transmission cycle of the AP search signal of the WLAN radio unit. A cycle control unit,

The control means synchronizes with the period in which the mobile phone radio unit receives the wake-up signal, so that the WLAN radio unit transmits the AP search signal.

2. The mobile communication terminal device according to claim 1, which controls the AP search cycle control unit.

[3] The WLAN 'AP search cycle control unit controls a transmission cycle of the AP search signal of the WLAN radio unit in synchronization with a multiple of a startup cycle of the first communication module. Mobile communication terminal device.

4. The mobile communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the WLAN radio unit acquires information on the wireless LAN in synchronization with a start cycle of the first communication module.