Communication method, communication apparatus and communication system

• US 20050090262A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Hamano, Yuichiro, Higuchi, Mamoru, Hayashi, Ritsuo, Noda, Yukihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/24 Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/28 involving a plurality of connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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

A communication method enabling communication on a predetermined mobile communication network and communication on a predetermined wireless communication network different from the predetermined mobile communication network, includes the step of: switching, means for carrying out predetermined data transfer while maintaining a communication channel on the predetermined mobile communication network, between communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and communication on the predetermined wireless communication network, or activating or deactivating a part concerning the predetermined wireless communication included in a mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A communication method enabling communication on a predetermined mobile communication network and communication on a predetermined wireless communication network different from the predetermined mobile communication network, comprising the step of:

switching means for carrying out predetermined data transfer between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network, or activating or deactivating a part concerning the predetermined wireless communication included in a mobile terminal.

2. The communication method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a data communication amount of the mobile terminal; and

carrying out switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the data communication amount exceeds a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring.

3. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising steps of:

monitoring radio link band usage condition concerning the predetermined mobile communication network or the predetermined wireless communication network; and

carrying out switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the band link usage condition corresponds to a predetermined condition as a result of the monitoring.

4. The communication method as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said monitoring step and the step of carrying out switching a communication channel as a result of the monitoring are carried out by control means which carries out communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network.

5. The communication method as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said monitoring step is carried out by the mobile terminal; and

the mobile terminal determines for switching the communication channel as a result of the monitoring, and provides an instruction for the switching to control means which carries out communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network.

6. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

operating by a user of the mobile terminal on said mobile terminal for switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network.

7. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a remaining battery power of the mobile terminal; and

carrying out switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the remaining battery power falls from a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring.

8. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring automatically by the mobile terminal a remaining battery power of its own; and

providing to control means which carries out communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network an instruction for execution of the switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the remaining battery power falls from a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring.

9. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring by a user of the mobile terminal a remaining battery power of said mobile terminal; and

providing, from the mobile terminal according to an operation of the user, to control means which carries out communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network, an instruction for execution of the switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the remaining battery power falls from a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring.

10. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

when it is determined that the mobile terminal does not carry out the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network, the part concerning the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network is deactivated.

26. The communication apparatus, the communication method or the communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

when no predetermined processing has been carried out for carrying out the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network within a predetermined time interval after the part of the mobile terminal concerning the wireless communication network is activated or an instruction is given for activating the same, said part is deactivated or an instruction is given for deactivating the same.

11. A communication apparatus in a mobile terminal carrying out communication on a predetermined mobile communication network and communication on a predetermined wireless communication network different from the predetermined mobile communication network, comprising:

means for responding to switching of means for carrying out predetermined data transfer between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network, to activate or deactivate a part concerning the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network.

12. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

means for monitoring a data communication amount in the mobile terminal, wherein;

said means for carrying out the switching generates a signal providing an instruction for switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the data communication amount exceeds a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring.

13. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

means for monitoring a radio link band usage condition of the predetermined mobile communication network or the predetermined wireless communication network, wherein;

said means for carrying out the switching generates a signal providing an instruction for switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the radio link band usage condition corresponds to a predetermined condition as a result of the monitoring.

14. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

means for monitoring a remaining battery power, wherein;

said means for carrying out the switching generates a signal providing an instruction for switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the remaining battery power falls from a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring.

15. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said means for carrying out activation or deactivation deactivates the part concerning the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when it is determined that the mobile terminal does not carry out the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network.

16. A communication system for carrying out, by a mobile terminal, communication on a predetermined mobile communication network and communication on a predetermined wireless communication network different from the predetermined mobile communication network, comprising:

means for switching means for carrying out predetermined data transfer between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network; and

means for activating or deactivating a part included in the mobile terminal concerning the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network.

17. The communication system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

means for monitoring a data communication amount in the mobile terminal; and

means for carrying out the switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the data communication amount exceeds a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring.

18. The communication system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

means for monitoring a radio link band usage condition of the predetermined mobile communication network or the predetermined wireless communication network; and

means for carrying out the switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the radio link band usage condition corresponds to a predetermined condition as a result of the monitoring.

19. The communication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the control means which carries out communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network has said means for carrying out the switching of the communication channel as a result of the monitoring.

20. The communication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the mobile terminal has said monitoring means; and

the mobile terminal determines for switching of the communication channel as a result of the monitoring, and provides an instruction for execution of the switching to control means which carries out communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network.

21. The communication system as claimed claim 16, wherein:

a user of the mobile terminal carries out operation on the mobile terminal for switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network.

22. The communication system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

means for monitoring a remaining battery power of the mobile terminal; and

means for carrying out the switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the remaining battery power falls from a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring.

23. The communication system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

means for monitoring automatically by a mobile terminal a remaining battery power of its own; and

means for providing to control means which carries out communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network an instruction for execution of the switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the remaining battery power falls from a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring.

24. The communication system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

means for monitoring by a user of a mobile terminal a remaining battery power of said mobile terminal; and

means for providing, from the mobile terminal according to an operation of the user, to control means which carries out communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network, an instruction for execution of the switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the remaining battery power falls from a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring.

25. The communication system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

means for providing an instruction for deactivating the part of the mobile terminal concerning the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network, when it is determined that the mobile terminal does not carry out the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network,