Multi-network communications system
First Claim
1. A method of establishing a connection to a desired communications network, comprising the steps of;
- a sending a request signal to each of a plurality of communications networks;
receiving response signals from said communications networks;
indicating the received response signals;
allowing a user to select one of said plurality of networks based on the indicated response signals; and
establishing a connection to the selected communications network.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a multi-network environment, a request signal is sent from a user terminal to each of a number of communications networks. In response, the network returns a response signal. Based on the response signals received from all networks, the user selects one of the networks. The response signal contains information on communication services of the requested network such as tariff data and current congestion level. The user terminal then establishes a connection to the selected communications network. In a modified embodiment, request signals may be sent during a handover to base stations of different wireless networks to request for congestion information for selecting a network having the lowest congestion level as a handover destination. In a further modification, when a congestion is encountered in a first network in response to a user'"'"'s request, a second network of low congestion level is selected and indicated to the user.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of establishing a connection to a desired communications network, comprising the steps of;
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a sending a request signal to each of a plurality of communications networks;
receiving response signals from said communications networks;
indicating the received response signals;
allowing a user to select one of said plurality of networks based on the indicated response signals; and
establishing a connection to the selected communications network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A communication terminal comprising:
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a network interface for sending a request signal to each of a plurality of communications networks and for receiving response signals from said communications networks; and
a user interface for indicating the received response signals to allow a user to enter a command signal based on the indicated response signals and selecting one of said plurality of networks according to the entered command signal; and
said network interface establishing a connection to one of said plurality of networks which is selected by said user interface. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication system comprising:
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a plurality of wireless networks, each of the wireless networks producing a response signal upon receipt of a request signal; and
a wireless terminal comprising;
a wireless interface for sending said request signal to each of said plurality of wireless networks and for receiving response signals from said wireless networks;
a user interface for indicating the received response signals, allowing a user to enter a command signal based on the indicated response signals and selecting one of said wireless networks according to the entered command signal, said wireless interface establishing a connection to one of said wireless networks which is selected by said user interface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 17, 19)
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13. A method of performing a handover operation, comprising the steps of:
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sending a handover request signal to each of a plurality of wireless networks;
receiving a response signal from each of said plurality of wireless networks, the response signal of each wireless network indicating traffic congestion level of the network;
selecting one of said plurality of wireless networks based on response signals received from said wireless networks; and
establishing a connection to the selected wireless network.
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14. A mobile terminal comprising:
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a wireless interface for sending a handover request signal to each of a plurality of wireless networks and receiving a response signal from each of said plurality of wireless networks, the response signal of each wireless network indicating traffic congestion level of the network; and
control circuitry for selecting one of said plurality of wireless networks based on the response signals received from said networks, said wireless interface establishing a connection to the wireless network selected by the control circuitry.
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15. A communication system comprising:
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a plurality of wireless networks, each of said networks producing a response signal upon receipt of a handover request signal which indicates traffic congestion level of the network; and
a wireless terminal comprising;
a wireless interface for sending said handover request signal to said wireless networks and receiving said response signals from said wireless networks; and
control circuitry for selecting one of said wireless networks based on the received response signals, said wireless interface establishing a connection to one of said wireless networks which is selected y said control circuitry.
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16. A method of establishing a connection to a selected network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a first communications network, a connection request from a user terminal;
sending a request signal from said first communications network to a traffic management center if said connection request encounters a traffic congestion; and
sending a rerouting message from the center to said user terminal via said first communications network for identifying a second communications network whose congestion level is lower than a predefined threshold level to thereby allow a user to send a connection request to said second communications network.
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18. A communication system comprising:
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a traffic management center; and
a plurality of communications networks, a first one of the communications networks receiving a connection request from a user terminal and sending a request signal to said traffic management center when a traffic congestion is encountered in said first communications network and receiving a rerouting message from said center, and sending the received rerouting message to said user terminal to allow a user to establish a connection to a network identified by the rerouting message, said traffic management center responding to said request signal by returning said rerouting message to said first communications network, the rerouting message identifying a second one of said networks whose congestion level is lower than a predefined threshold level.
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Specification