Data transfer system capable of selecting a low-cost call type

• US 20040039792A1
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Tomoaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Each of mobile terminals and base stations in a mobile communication system detects the file size of multimedia data from normal command file and calculates the communication costs based on the file size and unit price of the call type, and selects either a packet switched call or a circuit switched call for transmitting the multimedia data file based on the communication costs involved.

Claims

1. A data transfer system comprising a plurality of mobile terminals, at least one base station, and a communication network for transmitting data between one of said mobile terminals and said base station by using either a packet switched call or a circuit switched call, wherein at least one of said mobile terminals and said base station comprises:

a command file storage section for storing therein a first command file including information of a file size of a data file to be transmitted from the own terminal or own station;

a command file read section for reading said first command file to detect said file size of the data file;

a cost calculation section for calculating a first cost of transmission of the data file by using said packet switched call and a second cost of file transmission of the data file by using is said circuit switched call,

a cost comparison section for comparing said first cost and said second cost against each other; and

a call type selection section for selecting one of said packet switched call and said circuit switched call for transmission of the data file based on a result of comparison by said cost comparison section.

2. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said mobile terminals and said base station include said mobile terminals.

3. The data transfer system according to claim 2, wherein each of said mobile terminals comprises a command file creator for creating said first command file.

4. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said mobile terminals and said base station includes said base station.

5. The data transfer system according to claim 4, wherein said base station further comprises a command file creator for creating said first command file and a second command file, said second command file including information of requesting one of said mobile terminal of a callback and a call type of said callback.

6. The data transfer system according to claim 5, wherein said second command file further comprises a transfer password, a name of a corresponding command file, and file size data of a data file to be transferred from said base station.

7. The data transfer system according to claim 4, wherein said base station comprises therein a file server.

8. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said at lest one of said mobile terminals and said base station further comprises a text editor for creating or editing said first command file.

9. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said mobile terminals and said base station further comprises a packet switched call controller and a circuit switched call controller each disposed at an end of a barer and capable of converting a data format of a data file between first, data format adapted to said packet switched call and second data format adapted to said circuit switched call.

10. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said base station has a function of receiving a data file via another communication network from a terminal having an address in the internet specified by one of said mobile terminals.

11. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said first command file is a command file corresponding to a data file to be transferred from said at least one of said mobile terminals and said base station.

12. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said mobile terminals and said base station has a function of transmitting a plurality of data files by using at least a selected one of a plurality of said packet switched calls and/or at least a selected one of a plurality of circuit switched calls.

13. A method for transferring a data file between one of a mobile terminals and a base station, said method comprising the steps of:

reading a first command file of the data file to detect a file size of the data file;

calculating a first cost of transmission of the data file by using a packet switched call and a second cost of file transmission of the data file by using a circuit switched call;

a cost comparison section for comparing said first cost and said second cost against each other; and

selecting one of said packet switched call and said circuit switched call for transmission of the data file based on a result of comparison by said cost comparing step.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said at least one of said mobile terminals and said base station has a function of transmitting a plurality of data files by using at least a selected one of a plurality of said packet switched calls and/or at least a selected one of a plurality of circuit switched calls.