Apparatus and method for searching for base station of radio communication network

• US 20070293262A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Shibata, Shigeru, Arai, Katsuyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/592,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20070293262A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/02 Reducing interference from electric apparatus by means located at or near the interfering apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A radio communication apparatus for searching for a base station of a radio communication network is provided. The radio communication apparatus is configured to join a network including a plurality of base stations forming service coverage of radio communication. The radio communication apparatus includes an antenna and a radio circuit coupled to the antenna. The radio circuit is configured to send and receive a radio wave via the antenna to and from one of the base stations. The radio communication apparatus includes a controller coupled to the radio circuit and configured to start and stop an application other than the communication. The controller is configured to search for one of the base stations providing maximum signal strength by way of the antenna and the radio circuit after stopping the application.

Claims

1. A radio communication apparatus configured to join a network including a plurality of base stations forming service coverage of radio communication, the radio communication apparatus comprising:

an antenna;

a radio circuit coupled to the antenna, the radio circuit configured to send and receive a radio wave via the antenna to and from one of the base stations; and

a controller coupled to the radio circuit, the controller configured to start and stop an application other than the communication, the controller configured to search for one of the base stations providing maximum signal strength by way of the antenna and the radio circuit after stopping the application.

2. The radio communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the controller, wherein

the controller is further configured to display an indicator on the display indicating whether the radio communication apparatus is within or out of the service coverage, the controller further configured to stop displaying the indicator upon starting the application and to resume displaying the indicator upon stopping the application.

3. The radio communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a camera coupled to the controller, wherein the application is use of the camera.

4. The radio communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display and a camera coupled to the controller each, wherein

the controller is further configured to display an indicator on the display indicating whether the radio communication apparatus is within or out of the service coverage, the controller further configured to stop displaying the indicator upon starting the application and to resume displaying the indicator upon stopping the application, and the application is use of the camera.

5. The radio communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a broadcast receiver coupled to the controller, wherein the application is use of the broadcast receiver.

6. The radio communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display and a broadcast receiver coupled to the controller each, wherein

the controller is further configured to display an indicator on the display indicating whether the radio communication apparatus is within or out of the service coverage, the controller further configured to stop displaying the indicator upon starting the application and to resume displaying the indicator upon stopping the application, and the application is use of the broadcast receiver.

7. A method for searching for one of a plurality of base stations of a network, the base stations forming service coverage of radio communication, the method comprising:

starting an application of a radio communication apparatus configured to join the network, the application being other than the communication; and

searching for one of the base stations providing the radio communication apparatus with maximum signal strength upon stopping the application.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying an indicator on a display of the radio communication apparatus, the indicator indicating whether the radio communication apparatus is within or out of the service coverage,

stopping displaying the indicator upon starting the application, and resuming displaying the indicator upon stopping the application.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the application is use of a camera of the radio communication apparatus.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the application is use of a broadcast receiver of the radio communication apparatus.