Method and apparatus for performing data communication in mobile communication terminal

• US 20080080417A1
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Min Chul, Kang, Chang Taek
• Granted Patent: US 8,121,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/023 Buffering or recovering information during reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and apparatus for performing communication in a mobile communication terminal. The method includes determining the type of the communication when the mobile communication terminal exits from a WiBro service area while performing the communication using a WiBro network, receiving, if the communication is data communication, an input of a data communication method and continuing to perform or terminating the data communication according to the input data communication method.

Claims

1. A method for performing communication in a mobile communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

determining the type of the communication when the mobile communication terminal exits from a Wireless Broadband (WiBro) service area while performing the communication using a WiBro network;

receiving, if the communication is data communication, an input of a data communication method; and

continuing to perform or terminating the data communication according to the input data communication method.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of continuing to perform or terminating the data communication comprises the steps of:

continuing to perform the data communication using the public wireless network, if the input data communication method is to continue data communication using a public wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of continuing to perform or terminating the data communication comprises the steps of:

determining whether a signal requesting storage of information about the data communication is input upon terminating the data communication; and

storing the information, if a signal requesting storage of the information about the data communication is input,

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

performing communication of the suspended data from the point at which the data was suspended using the information about the data communication, if the mobile communication terminal reenters the WiBro service area.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the information about the data communication includes a data communication processing rate, the address and name of data, and a portion of the mobile communication terminal where data has been stored.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication terminal is determined to have exited from the WiBro service area when the strength of a received WiBro signal falls below a threshold level.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

accessing a public wireless network and continuing to perform the communication when the communication is not data communication.

8. A method for performing communication in a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

determining when the mobile communication terminal enters a WiBro service area whether data that has ceased to be communicated exists; and

performing, if data communication has ceased, communication of the data from the point at which the data has ceased using prestored data communication related information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data communication related information includes a data communication processing rate, the address and name of data, and a portion of the mobile communication terminal where data has been stored.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile communication terminal is determined to have entered the WiBro service area when the strength of a received WiBro signal is greater than or equal to a threshold level.

11. A mobile communication terminal having a WiBro function, the terminal comprising:

a WiBro communication unit for receiving a WiBro signal from a WiBro base station and performing data communication using a WiBro network when the mobile communication terminal enters a WiBro service area;

a controller for sensing the WiBro signal received from the WiBro communication unit to determine whether the mobile communication terminal exits from or enters the WiBro service area;

a public wireless communication unit for performing data communication using a public wireless network when the mobile communication terminal exits from the WiBro service area; and

a storage unit for storing data communication related information.

12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller extracts the data communication related information from data being communicated and controls the storage unit to store the data communication related information when the mobile communication terminal exits from the WiBro service area.

13. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, wherein the data communication related information includes a data communication processing rate, the address and name of data, and a portion of the mobile communication terminal where data has been stored.

14. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, wherein said terminal is determined to be within a WiBro service area when said received signal strength is above a threshold level.

15. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, wherein WiBro communication is suspended when said received signal strength is below a threshold level.

16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, further comprising:

a display device for displaying a selection menu that allows a user to select a data communication method.

17. The mobile communication terminal of claim 16, further comprising:

an input device for providing an input signal responsive to said selection menu to said controller.

18. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, wherein said controller comprises:

a processor in communication with a memory, the processor executing code stored in said memory.

19. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

a WiBro receiving unit;

a wireless receiving unit; and

a controller selecting one of said receiving units for receiving data communications, wherein said WiBro receiving unit is selected when a received WiBro received signal is above a threshold level

20. The terminal of claim 19 further comprising:

a display device for displaying a selection menu that allows a user to select a data communication method; and

an input device for selecting said data communication method.

21. The terminal of claim 20, wherein said wireless receiver is selected when a received WiBro received signal is below said threshold level.

22. The terminal of claim 21, wherein said selection menu allows for data communication via said selected wireless receiver.