Compound information terminal, mobile communications system and control method thereof

• US 20030045333A1
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ichihara, Masaki, Kimata, Yusuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/109 by improving strong signal performance of the receiver when strong unwanted signals are present at the receiver input
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers

Abstract

A compound information terminal, a mobile communications system and a control method thereof, which prevent the reception on a GPS terminal unit in operation from being affected by interference without turning off a 3GPP-compliant mobile telephone unit or disabling it for transmission. The compound information terminal comprises a user interface unit, a terminal control unit, a 3GPP-compliant mobile telephone unit and a GPS terminal unit. When the GPS terminal unit is activated, the terminal control unit switches the operation of the 3GPP-compliant mobile telephone unit to the compressed mode, in which the transmission is suspended at intervals of arbitrary period of time. Accordingly, the GPS terminal unit can be brought into action while the 3GPP-compliant mobile telephone unit suspends its transmission operation. With this exclusive operation control performed between the 3GPP-compliant mobile telephone unit and GPS terminal unit, it is possible to prevent the reception on a GPS terminal from being affected by interference.

Claims

1. A compound information terminal comprising a plurality of different communication units and a control unit for controlling the operation of the communication units, wherein:

the control unit requests a first communication unit to switch to an operation mode in which its communication operation is deactivated at arbitrary time intervals, and after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode, requests one or more other communication units to carry out communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated.

2. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 1, wherein:

after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode, the control unit turns on a power section of the one or more other communication units while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated, and turns off the power section while the first communication unit carries out the communication operation.

3. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 1, wherein:

after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode, the control unit puts a power supply line to an RF section of the one or more other communication units in the connected state while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated, and puts the line in the disconnected state while the first communication unit carries out the communication operation.

9. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first communication unit is connected to a base station via a wireless communication network, and switches to the operation mode according to parameter information on the operation mode sent from the base station which arbitrarily sets the operation modes.

13. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the control unit is connected to a base station via a wireless communication network, and controls the operation of the one or more other communication units according to information on transmit power sent from the base station.

17. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 9, wherein:

the control unit is connected to the base station via the wireless communication network, and controls the operation of the one or more other communication units according to information on transmit power sent from the base station.

18. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 1, including a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication units.

22. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 9, including a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication units.

23. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 13, including a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication units.

4. A compound information terminal comprising a plurality of different communication units, a control unit for controlling the operation of the communication units, and an interface unit for receiving requests from the outside to activate/deactivate the operation of a first communication unit and/or one or more other communication units, wherein:

the control unit requests the first communication unit to switch to an operation mode in which its communication operation is deactivated at arbitrary time intervals, and after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode, requests the one or more other communication units to carry out communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated.

10. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the first communication unit is connected to a base station via a wireless communication network, and switches to the operation mode according to parameter information on the operation mode sent from the base station which arbitrarily sets the operation modes.

14. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the control unit is connected to a base station via a wireless communication network, and controls the operation of the one or more other communication units according to information on transmit power sent from the base station.

19. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 4, including a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication units.

5. A compound information terminal comprising a plurality of different communication units, a control unit for controlling the operation of the communication units, and an interface unit for receiving requests from the outside to activate/deactivate the operation of a first communication unit and/or one or more other communication units, wherein:

the control unit requests the first communication unit to switch to an operation mode in which its communication operation is deactivated at arbitrary time intervals on receipt of the request over the interface unit to activate the one or more other communication units, and after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode, requests the one or more other communication units to carry out communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated.

6. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the control unit requests the first communication unit to release the operation mode on receipt of the request over the interface unit to deactivate the one or more other communication units.

7. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the control unit releases the operation mode of the first communication unit and turns off a power section thereof on receipt of the request over the interface unit to deactivate the first communication unit, and turns on a power section of the one or more other communication units.

8. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the control unit releases the operation mode of the first communication unit and breaks a power supply line to an RF section thereof on receipt of the request over the interface unit to deactivate the first communication unit, and makes a power supply line to an RF section of the one or more other communication units.

11. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the first communication unit is connected to a base station via a wireless communication network, and switches to the operation mode according to parameter information on the operation mode sent from the base station which arbitrarily sets the operation modes.

12. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the first communication unit is connected to a base station via a wireless communication network, and switches to the operation mode according to parameter information on the operation mode sent from the base station which arbitrarily sets the operation modes.

15. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the control unit is connected to a base station via a wireless communication network, and controls the operation of the one or more other communication units according to information on transmit power sent from the base station.

16. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the control unit is connected to a base station via a wireless communication network, and controls the operation of the one or more other communication units according to information on transmit power sent from the base station.

20. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 5, including a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication units.

21. The compound information terminal claimed in claim 6, including a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication units.

24. A mobile communications system comprising a compound information terminal that includes a plurality of different communication units and a control unit for controlling the operation of the communication units, and a base station, wherein:

the compound information terminal requests the base station for permission to switch the operation of a first communication unit to an operation mode in which its communication operation is deactivated at arbitrary time intervals;

the base station sends parameter information on the operation mode to the compound information terminal in response to the permission request; and

after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode according to the parameter information, the control unit makes one or more other communication units carry out communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated.

25. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 24, wherein:

after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode, the control unit turns on a power section of the one or more other communication units while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated, and turns off the power section while the first communication unit carries out the communication operation.

26. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 24, wherein:

after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode, the control unit puts a power supply line to an RF section of the one or more other communication units in the connected state while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated, and puts the line in the disconnected state while the first communication unit carries out the communication operation.

32. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 24, wherein:

the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units according to information on transmit power sent from the base station.

38. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 24, wherein:

the compound information terminal includes a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication unit.

44. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 32, wherein:

the compound information terminal includes a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication unit.

27. A mobile communications system comprising a compound information terminal that includes a plurality of different communication units, a control unit for controlling the operation of the communication units and an interface unit for receiving requests from the outside to activate/deactivate the operation of a first communication unit and/or one or more other communication units, and a base station, wherein:

the compound information terminal requests the base station for permission to switch the operation of a first communication unit to an operation mode in which its communication operation is deactivated at arbitrary time intervals;

the base station sends parameter information on the operation mode to the compound information terminal in response to the permission request; and

after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode according to the parameter information, the control unit makes the one or more other communication units carry out communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated.

33. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 27, wherein:

the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units according to information on transmit power sent from the base station.

39. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 27, wherein:

the compound information terminal includes a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication unit.

28. A mobile communications system comprising a compound information terminal that includes a plurality of different communication units, a control unit for controlling the operation of the communication units and an interface unit for receiving requests from the outside to activate/deactivate the operation of a first communication unit and/or one or more other communication units, and a base station, wherein:

the compound information terminal requests the base station for permission to switch the operation of the first communication unit to the operation mode on receipt of the request over the interface unit to activate the operation of the one or more other communication units;

the base station sends parameter information on the operation mode to the compound information terminal in response to the permission request; and

after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode according to the parameter information, the control unit makes the one or more other communication units carry out communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated.

29. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 28, wherein:

the compound information terminal sends a request to the base station for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit on receipt of the request over the interface unit to deactivate the operation of the one or more other communication units;

the base station sends the acceptance for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit to the compound information terminal in response to the request; and

after receiving the acceptance from the base station, the control unit releases the operation mode in the first communication unit.

30. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 28, wherein:

the compound information terminal sends a request to the base station for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit on receipt of the request over the interface unit to deactivate the operation of the first communication units;

the base station sends the acceptance for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit to the compound information terminal in response to the request; and

after receiving the acceptance from the base station, the control unit turns off a power section of the first communication unit, and turns on a power section of the one or more other communication units.

31. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 28, wherein:

the compound information terminal sends a request to the base station for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit on receipt of the request over the interface unit to deactivate the operation of the first communication unit;

the base station sends the acceptance for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit to the compound information terminal in response to the request; and

after receiving the acceptance from the base station, the control unit breaks a power supply line to an RF section of the first communication unit, and makes a power supply line to an RF section of the one or more other communication units.

34. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 28, wherein:

the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units according to information on transmit power sent from the base station.

35. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 29, wherein:

the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units according to information on transmit power sent from the base station.

36. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 30, wherein:

the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units according to information on transmit power sent from the base station.

37. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 31, wherein:

the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units according to information on transmit power sent from the base station.

40. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 28, wherein:

the compound information terminal includes a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication unit.

41. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 29, wherein:

the compound information terminal includes a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication unit.

42. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 30, wherein:

the compound information terminal includes a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication unit.

43. The mobile communications system claimed in claim 31, wherein:

the compound information terminal includes a GPS terminal as the one or more other communication unit.

45. A method for controlling a compound information terminal that includes a plurality of different communication units and a control unit for controlling the operation of the communication units, comprising the steps of:

receiving requests from the outside to activate/deactivate the operation of a first communication unit and/or one or more other communication units;

requesting the first communication unit to switch to an operation mode in which its communication operation is deactivated at arbitrary time intervals on receipt of the request to activate the operation of the one or more other communication units;

switching the operation of the first communication unit to the operation mode according to the request; and

after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode, making the one or more other communication units carry out communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated.

46. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 45, wherein:

after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode, the control unit turns on a power section of the one or more other communication units while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated, and turns off the power section while the first communication unit carries out the communication operation.

47. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 45, wherein:

after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode, the control unit puts a power supply line to an RF section of the one or more other communication units in the connected state while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated, and puts the line in the disconnected state while the first communication unit carries out the communication operation.

51. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 45, wherein:

the control unit switches the operation of the first communication unit to the operation mode according to parameter information on the operation mode sent from a base station which is connected to the first communication unit via a wireless communication network and arbitrarily sets operation modes.

55. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 51, further including the step of:

determining whether or not to switch the operation of the one or more other communication units according to transmit power information sent from the base station; and

wherein;

the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units based on the determination result.

48. A method for controlling a compound information terminal that includes a plurality of different communication units and a control unit for controlling the operation of the communication units, comprising the steps of:

receiving requests from the outside to activate/deactivate the operation of a first communication unit and/or one or more other communication units;

requesting the first communication unit to switch to an operation mode in which its communication operation is deactivated at arbitrary time intervals on receipt of the request to activate the operation of the one or more other communication units;

switching the operation of the first communication unit to the operation mode according to the request;

after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode, making the one or more other communication units carry out communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated; and

releasing the operation mode in the first communication unit on receipt of the request to deactivate the operation of the one or more other communication units.

49. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 48, wherein:

after releasing the operation mode on receipt of the request to deactivate the operation of the first communication unit, the control unit turns off a power section of the first communication unit, and turns on a power section of the one or more other communication units.

50. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 48, wherein:

after releasing the operation mode on receipt of the request to deactivate the operation of the first communication unit, the control unit breaks a power supply line to an RF section of the first communication unit, and makes a power supply line to an RF section of the one or more other communication units.

52. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 48, wherein:

the control unit switches the operation of the first communication unit to the operation mode according to parameter information on the operation mode sent from a base station which is connected to the first communication unit via a wireless communication network. and arbitrarily sets operation modes.

53. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 49, wherein:

the control unit switches the operation of the first communication unit to the operation mode according to parameter information on the operation mode sent from a base station which is connected to the first communication unit via a wireless communication network and arbitrarily sets operation modes.

54. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 50, wherein:

the control unit switches the operation of the first communication unit to the operation mode according to parameter information on the operation mode sent from a base station which is connected to the first communication unit via a wireless communication network and arbitrarily sets operation modes.

56. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 52, further including the step of:

determining whether or not to switch the operation of the one or more other communication units according to transmit power information sent from the base station; and

wherein;

the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units based on the determination result.

57. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 53, further including the step of:

determining whether or not to switch the operation of the one or more other communication units according to transmit power information sent from the base station; and

wherein;

the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units based on the determination result.

58. The method for controlling a compound information terminal claimed in claim 54, further including the step of:

determining whether or not to switch the operation of the one or more other communication units according to transmit power information sent from the base station; and

wherein;

the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units based on the determination result.

59. A method for controlling a mobile communications system comprising a compound information terminal that includes a plurality of different communication units and a control unit for controlling the operation of the communication units, and a base station, comprising:

a reception step in which the compound information terminal receives requests from the outside to activate/deactivate the operation of a first communication unit and/or one or more other communication units;

a first transmission step in which the compound information terminal sends a request to the base station for permission to switch the operation of the first communication unit to an operation mode for deactivating its communication operation at arbitrary time intervals;

a second transmission step in which the base station sends parameter information on the operation mode to the compound information terminal in response to the permission request made at the first transmission step;

a switch step in which the compound information terminal switches the operation of the first communication unit to the operation mode according to the parameter information obtained at the second transmission step; and

a control step in which the compound information terminal makes the one or more other communication units carry out communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated after having been switched to the operation mode at the switch step.

60. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 59, wherein:

at the control step, a power section of the one or more other communication units is turned on while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated, and turned off while the first communication unit carries out the communication operation.

61. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 59, wherein:

at the control step, a power supply line to an RF section of the one or more other communication units is put in the connected state while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated, and in the disconnected state while the first communication unit carries out the communication operation.

62. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 59, further comprising:

a third transmission step in which the compound information terminal sends a request to the base station for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit on receipt of the request from the outside to deactivate the operation of the one or more other communication units at the reception step;

a fourth transmission step in which the base station sends the acceptance for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit to the compound information terminal in response to the request made at the third transmission step; and

a cancel release step in which after receiving the acceptance from the base station, the compound information terminal releases the operation mode in the first communication unit.

63. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 59, further comprising:

a fifth transmission step in which the compound information terminal sends a request to the base station for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit on receipt of the request from the outside to deactivate the operation of the first communication unit at the reception step; and

a sixth transmission step in which the base station sends the acceptance for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit to the compound information terminal in response to the request made at the fifth transmission step; and

wherein;

after receiving the acceptance from the base station, the compound information terminal releases the operation mode in the first communication unit at the cancel release step.

64. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 62, further comprising:

a fifth transmission step in which the compound information terminal sends a request to the base station for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit on receipt of the request from the outside to deactivate the operation of the first communication unit at the reception step; and

a sixth transmission step in which the base station sends the acceptance for the cancel release of the operation mode in the first communication unit to the compound information terminal in response to the request made at the fifth transmission step; and

wherein;

after receiving the acceptance from the base station, the compound information terminal releases the operation mode in the first communication unit at the cancel release step.

65. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 62, wherein:

after releasing the operation mode at the cancel release step, the compound information terminal turns off a power section of the first communication unit, and turns on a power section of the one or more other communication units.

66. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 63, wherein:

after releasing the operation mode at the cancel release step, the compound information terminal turns off a power section of the first communication unit, and turns on a power section of the one or more other communication units.

67. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 64, wherein:

after releasing the operation mode at the cancel release step, the compound information terminal turns off a power section of the first communication unit, and turns on a power section of the one or more other communication units.

68. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 62, wherein:

after releasing the operation mode at the cancel release step, the compound information terminal breaks a power supply line to an RF section of the first communication unit, and makes a power supply line to an RF section of the one or more other communication units.

69. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 63, wherein:

after releasing the operation mode at the cancel release step, the compound information terminal breaks a power supply line to an RF section of the first communication unit, and makes a power supply line to an RF section of the one or more other communication units.

70. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 64, wherein:

after releasing the operation mode at the cancel release step, the compound information terminal breaks a power supply line to an RF section of the first communication unit, and makes a power supply line to an RF section of the one or more other communication units.

71. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 59, further including:

a determination step in which the compound information terminal determines whether or not to switch the operation of the one or more other communication units according to transmit power information sent from the base station; and

wherein;

at the control step, the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units based on the determination result made at the determination step.

72. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 62, further including:

a determination step in which the compound information terminal determines whether or not to switch the operation of the one or more other communication units according to transmit power information sent from the base station; and

wherein;

at the control step, the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units based on the determination result made at the determination step.

73. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 63, further including:

a determination step in which the compound information terminal determines whether or not to switch the operation of the one or more other communication units according to transmit power information sent from the base station; and

wherein;

at the control step, the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units based on the determination result made at the determination step.

74. The method for controlling a mobile communications system claimed in claim 64, further including:

a determination step in which the compound information terminal determines whether or not to switch the operation of the one or more other communication units according to transmit power information sent from the base station; and

wherein;

at the control step, the control unit controls the operation of the one or more other communication units based on the determination result made at the determination step.