Wireless terminal apparatus for automatically changing WLAN standard and method thereof

• US 20060058059A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jin-Hyung
• Granted Patent: US 7,941,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• 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 wireless terminal apparatus having a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standard automatic change function and method thereof are provided. The wireless terminal apparatus comprises a memory for storing information of a condition change, a wireless communication module for communicating with a predetermined correspondent node according to a first WLAN standard, a communication status detection unit for detecting a communication status of the wireless communication module and determining whether an event occurs satisfying the condition for change, and a central processing unit, changing the first WLAN standard to a second WLAN standard and establishing a communication link. An optimum WLAN standard can be established and a communication is performed according to the WLAN standard.

Claims

1. A wireless terminal apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication module for establishing a communication link according to a first wireless local area network (WLAN) standard with respect to a correspondent node in al least one of an ad-hoc mode and an infrastructure mode, and for performing a communication with the correspondent node; and

a central processing unit for controlling the wireless communication module;

wherein, if an operation mode of the wireless communication mode changes, the first WLAN standard is changed to a second WLAN standard, and the communication link is established according to the second WLAN standard.

2. The wireless terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central processing unit searches for the second WLAN standard from a plurality of WLAN standards wherein the second WLAN standard a different frequency band from that of the first WLAN standard.

3. The wireless terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a key input receiving unit for inputting a mode selection signal to select at least one of the ad-hoc mode and the infrastructure mode.

4. The wireless terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

an output unit for displaying an user interface window comprising input for communication profile information relating to the plurality of WLAN standards; and

a memory for storing the communication profile information input through the user interface window.

5. The wireless terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein, if a mode is selected by the mode selection signal, the central processing unit determines a WLAN standard used in a network located within a communicable range of the wireless communication module, and employs a different standard from the determined WLAN standard for the second WLAN standard.

6. A method of communicating with a correspondent node in a predetermined operation mode in a wireless terminal apparatus, the method comprising:

determining whether an operation mode is changed;

if the operation mode is changed, determining a first Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standard which was used before the operation mode is changed;

applying a second WLAN standard different from the first WLAN standard;

establishing a communication link according to the second WLAN standard; and

performing a communication.

7. The wireless communication method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the applying step comprises:

searching for the second WLAN standard from a plurality of WLAN standards, wherein the second WLAN standard uses a different frequency band from that of the first WLAN standard.

8. The wireless communication method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

displaying a user interface window for inputting communication profile information relating to the plurality of WLAN standards; and

storing the communication profile information input through the user interface window.

9. The wireless communication method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the applying step further comprises:

retrieving communication profile information relating to the second WLAN standard; and

establishing a communication link according to the second WLAN standard based on the retrieved communication profile.

10. The wireless communication method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a mode selection signal for selecting at least one of an infrastructure mode and an ad-hoc mode;

determining a WLAN standard used in a network existing in a communicable range of the wireless terminal apparatus; and

employing a different standard from the determined WLAN standard for the second WLAN standard.

11. A wireless terminal apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing information comprising communication profiles for a plurality of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards and information of a condition for change;

a wireless communication module for communicating with a correspondent node according to a first WLAN standard; and

a communication status detection unit for detecting a communication status of the wireless communication module and determining whether an event occurs satisfying the condition for change,

wherein, if the communication status detection unit determines that the event occurs satisfying the condition for change, the wireless communication module changes the first WLAN standard into a second WLAN standard and communicates according to the second WLAN standard.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an input unit for inputting the information of the communication profiles and the information of the condition for change.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a central processing unit for searching for the second WLAN standard among the plurality of WLAN standards, retrieving communication profiles for the second WLAN standard from the memory, and controlling the wireless communication module based on the retrieved communication profiles to communicate according to the second WLAN standard.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein, if a communication link off (LINK OFF) condition is selected as the condition for change, the central processing unit searches for the second WLAN standard among the plurality of WLAN standards when the communication LINK OFF condition is satisfied.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein, if a low transmission rate is selected as the condition for change and is less than a reference rate, the central processing unit searches for the second WLAN standard from the plurality of WLAN standards that support a transmission rate greater than the reference rate.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein, if a time change condition is selected as the condition for change and a time is changed, the central processing unit changes the first WLAN standard into the second WLAN standard, wherein the second WLAN standard is designated to a current time according to information about WLAN standards respectively designated to different times.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an output unit which displays a user interface window for setting at least one of the information of the communication profiles and the information of the condition for change.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the information of the communication profiles comprises at least one of Service Set Identification (SSID), WLAN standard information, operation mode information, authentication information and encryption information.

19. A wireless communication method comprising:

performing a wireless communication with a correspondent node according to a first Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standard;

detecting a wireless communication status and determining whether an event occurs satisfying a predetermined a condition for change;

if the event occurs, changing the first WLAN standard into a second WLAN standard; and

performing a wireless communication according to the second WLAN standard.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the step of changing comprises:

retrieving communication profiles for the second WLAN standard from a plurality of WLAN standards.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising receiving and storing information of communication profiles for the plurality of WLAN standards and information on the event.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the information of the communication profiles comprises at least one of Service Set Identification (SSID), WLAN standard information, operation mode information, authentication information and encryption information.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the event comprises at least one of a link off, a low transmission rate and a time change.