Terminal apparatus and communication system

• US 20100190465A1
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Koie, Yoshio, Matsui, Ryohei, Shintai, Tatsuya
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A terminal apparatus for communicating with an information center via a network includes: a memory for storing current and new connection destination information when the apparatus receives the new connection destination information from the center; a first trial element for trying communication connection to the center based on the new connection destination information after the center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information; and a second trial element for trying communication connection to the center based on the current connection destination information when the first trial element fails to perform the communication connection. The memory maintains to store the current connection destination information until the first connection trial element succeeds to perform the communication connection.

Claims

1. A terminal apparatus for communicating with an information center via a wireless communication network in such a manner that the terminal apparatus receives connection destination information for communicating with the center, and the terminal apparatus stores the connection destination information, the apparatus comprising:

a connection destination information memory for storing current connection destination information and new connection destination information when the terminal apparatus receives the new connection destination information from the center, wherein the new connection destination information is to be switched from the current connection destination information, and the current connection destination information is preliminarily stored in the connection destination information memory;

a first connection trial element for trying communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information after the center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information; and

a second connection trial element for trying communication connection to the information center based on the current connection destination information when the first connection trial element fails to perform the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information,

wherein the connection destination information memory maintains to store the current connection destination information until the first connection trial element succeeds to perform the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information.

2. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the connection destination information memory further stores switching date information when the terminal apparatus receives the switching date information together with the new connection destination information from the center,

wherein the switching date information represents a switching date at which the center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information, and

wherein the first connection trial element determines that the center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information when the switching date has passed.

3. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a stored information deleting element for deleting the current connection destination information in the connection destination information memory when the first connection trial element succeeds to perform the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information.

4. A communication system for telematics service comprising:

the terminal apparatus according to claim 1; and

the information center,

wherein the terminal apparatus performs data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network.

5. The communication system according to claim 4,

wherein the information center is an emergency call center for handling emergency call.

6. The communication system according to claim 4,

wherein the terminal apparatus is an in-vehicle communication module, which solely performs the data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network.

7. The communication system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a communication terminal for solely performing the data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network,

wherein the communication terminal executes the data communication with the terminal apparatus via second wired or wireless communication network,

wherein the terminal apparatus performs the data communication with the information center via the second wired or wireless communication network, the communication terminal and the wireless communication network.

8. A terminal apparatus for communicating with an information center via a wireless communication network in such a manner that the terminal apparatus receives connection destination information for communicating with the center, and the terminal apparatus stores the connection destination information, the apparatus comprising:

a connection destination information memory for storing current connection destination information and new connection destination information when the terminal apparatus receives the new connection destination information from the center, wherein the new connection destination information is to be switched from the current connection destination information, and the current connection destination information is preliminarily stored in the connection destination information memory;

a third connection trial element for trying communication connection to the information center based on the current connection destination information after the center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information; and

a fourth connection trial element for trying communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information when the third connection trial element fails to perform the communication connection to the information center based on the current connection destination information,

wherein the third connection trial element retries the communication connection to the information center based on the current connection destination information when the fourth connection trial element fails to perform the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information, and

wherein the connection destination information memory maintains to store the current connection destination information until the fourth connection trial element succeeds to perform the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information.

9. The terminal apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein the connection destination information memory further stores switching date information when the terminal apparatus receives the switching date information together with the new connection destination information from the center,

wherein the switching date information represents a switching date at which the center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information, and

wherein the third connection trial element determines that the center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information when the switching date has passed.

10. The terminal apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a stored information deleting element for deleting the current connection destination information in the connection destination information memory when the fourth connection trial element succeeds to perform the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information.

11. A communication system for telematics service comprising:

the terminal apparatus according to claim 8; and

the information center,

wherein the terminal apparatus performs data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network.

12. The communication system according to claim 11,

wherein the information center is an emergency call center for handling emergency call.

13. The communication system according to claim 11,

wherein the terminal apparatus is an in-vehicle communication module, which solely performs the data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network.

14. The communication system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a communication terminal for solely performing the data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network,

wherein the communication terminal executes the data communication with the terminal apparatus via second wired or wireless communication network, and

wherein the terminal apparatus performs the data communication with the information center via the second wired or wireless communication network, the communication terminal and the wireless communication network.