Mobile communication apparatus, fixed communicaton apparatus, communication system and communication method

• US 5,887,260 A
• Filed: 09/05/1996
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakata, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, DORIS HA
• Application Number:
  US08/708,728
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426, 455/436, 455/437-439, 455/552, 455/553, 455/561, 455/509, 455/514, 455/516, 455/517, 455/524, 455/525, 455/62, 455/462, 455/463, 455/464, 455/465, 455/550 , 455/443, 455/100, 455/101, 455/103, 455/114-115, 455/121
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0055 Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0064 of control information between different access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In a mobile communication apparatus, power consumption at the time of waiting can be reduced, and hand-off can be easily performed to other systems. The mobile communication apparatus is provided with a memory part (32) which memorizes a selection signal of the first fixed communication apparatus for selecting the first fixed communication apparatuses, the signal being obtained by receiving a signal transmitted from the first fixed communication apparatuses when a hand-off is performed between the first and second fixed communication apparatuses; a comparing part (33) for comparing a memorized selection signal of said first fixed communication apparatuses with a newly received selection signal of the first fixed communication apparatus; and a hand-off process part (31) for performing hand-off to a second fixed communication apparatus from said first fixed communication apparatus in accordance with the comparison result. Thus, hand-off can be easily performed to second fixed communication apparatus, and power consumption during the waiting time can be reduced.

Claims

1. A mobile communication apparatus for constructing a broad-band communication system with a plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses and for constructing a closed-band communication system with a second fixed communication apparatus which is different from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses, comprising:

first communication means for communicating with said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses;

second communication means for communicating with said second fixed communication apparatus;

a first memory for memorizing a selection signal of the plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses for selecting said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses, said signal being obtained by being received by said first communication means when said signal is transmitted from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses when a hand-off is conducted between said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses and said second fixed communication apparatus;

comparing means for comparing a selection signal and providing a comparison result of said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses that is memorized in said first memory with a selection signal of said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses that is newly received by said first communication means; and

hand-off process means for conducting a hand-off to said second fixed communication apparatus from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses in accordance with the comparison result which is output from said comparing means.

2. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising:

a second memory for memorizing a selection signal of the second fixed communication apparatus for selecting the second fixed communication apparatus;

second comparing means for comparing the selection signal and forming a comparison result of said second fixed communication apparatus, said signal being obtained by being received by said second communication means as transmitted from the second fixed communication apparatus, with the selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus which is memorized in said second memory, wherein said comparing means comprises first comparing means and

said hand-off process means conducts a hand-off to said second fixed communication apparatus from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses in accordance with the comparison result output from said first comparing means and a comparison result output from said second comparing means.

3. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 2 wherein

said selection signal of said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses is an identification signal of a fixed communication apparatus for specifying said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses.

4. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 2 wherein

said selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus is an identification signal of a fixed communication apparatus for specifying said second fixed communication apparatus.

5. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 2 wherein

said selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus is an identification signal of the mobile communication apparatus for specifying said mobile communication apparatus.

6. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 2 wherein

said selection signal of said first fixed communication apparatus is an identification signal of the adjacent fixed communication apparatus for specifying said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses which is located adjacent to the said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses.

7. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein

said selection signal of said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses is an identification signal of a fixed communication apparatus for specifying said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses.

8. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein

said selection signal of said plurality of first fixed communication apparatus is an identification signal of an adjacent fixed communication apparatus for specifying said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses which is located adjacent to said first fixed communication apparatuses.

9. A mobile communication apparatus for constructing a broad-band communication system with a plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses and constructing a closed-band communication system with a second fixed communication apparatus which is different from the plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses, comprising:

first communication means for communicating with said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses;

second communication means for communicating with said second fixed communication apparatus;

a memory for memorizing in advance a selection signal of the second fixed communication apparatus for selecting said second fixed communication apparatus;

comparing means for comparing a signal from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses, which is constituted to transmit a selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus, with a selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus, which is obtained by being received by said first communication means, and with a selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus, which is memorized in said memory; and

a hand-off process means for conducting a hand-off to said second fixed communication apparatus from said first fixed communication apparatuses in accordance with the comparison result which is output from said comparing means.

10. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 9 wherein

said selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus is an identification signal of the fixed communication apparatus for specifying said second fixed communication apparatus.

11. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 9 wherein

said selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus is an identification signal of the mobile communication apparatus for specifying the mobile communication apparatus.

12. A fixed communication apparatus for constructing a broad-band communication system with a plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses and a mobile communication apparatus and for constructing a closed-band communication system with said mobile communication apparatus and a second fixed communication apparatus, wherein said mobile communication apparatus conducts a hand-off between said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses and between said plurality of first fixed communication apparatus and said second fixed communication apparatus, said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses comprising:

a hand-off controller for controlling a hand-off so that said mobile communication apparatus conducts a hand-off between said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses;

information holding means for holding a selection signal of the second fixed communication apparatus for selecting the second fixed communication apparatus required when said mobile communication apparatus conducts a hand-off to the second fixed communication apparatus; and

hand-off information providing means for periodically transmitting a selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus which is held in said information holding means.

13. The fixed communication apparatus according to claim 12 wherein

said selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus is an identification signal of the fixed communication apparatus for specifying said second fixed communication apparatus.

14. The fixed communication apparatus according to claim 12 wherein

said selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus is an identification signal of said mobile communication apparatus for specifying said mobile communication apparatus.

15. A communication system for constructing a broad-band communication system with a plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses and a mobile communication apparatus and for constructing a closed-band communication system with said mobile communication apparatus and a second fixed communication apparatus, wherein said mobile communication apparatus, comprising:

first communication means for communicating with said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses;

second communication means for communicating with said second fixed communication apparatus;

a memory for memorizing a selection signal of said plurality of first fixed communication apparatus for selecting said plurality of first fixed communication apparatus, which is obtained by receiving at said first communication means a signal which is transmitted from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses when a hand-off is performed between said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses and said second fixed communication apparatus;

comparing means for comparing the selection signal and providing a comparison result of said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses which is memorized in said memory with the selection signal of said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses which is newly received with said first communication means; and

hand-off process means for performing a hand-off to said second fixed communication apparatus from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses in accordance with the comparison result which is output from said first comparing means;

wherein

the hand-off is performed to said second fixed communication apparatus from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses.

16. The communication system according to claim 15 wherein said memory comprises a first memory, said comparing means comprises a first comparing means and said mobile communication apparatus further comprises:

a second memory which memorizes in advance a selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus for selecting said second fixed communication apparatus; and

second comparing means for comparing the selection signal and providing a comparison result of said second fixed communication apparatus, said signal being obtained by receiving a signal transmitted from said second fixed communication apparatus by the second communication means using the selection signal of said fixed communication apparatus, which is memorized in said second memory;

wherein

said hand-off process means performs a hand-off to said second fixed communication apparatus from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses in accordance with the comparison result output from said first comparing means and the comparison result output from said second comparing means.

17. A communication system for constructing a broad-band communication system with a plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses and a mobile communication apparatus and for constructing a closed-band communication system with said mobile communication apparatus and a second fixed communication apparatus, wherein said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses comprises:

hand-off information providing means for transmitting a selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus for selecting said second fixed communication apparatus; and

said mobile communication apparatus comprises;

first communication means for communicating with said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses;

second communication means for communicating with said second fixed communication apparatus;

a memory for memorizing in advance the selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus for selecting said second fixed communication apparatus;

comparing means for comparing the selection signal and providing a comparison result of said second fixed communication apparatus obtained by receiving a signal transmitted from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses at said first communication means with the selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus, which signal is memorized in said memory; and

hand-off process means for performing a hand-off to the second fixed communication apparatus from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses in accordance with the comparison result output from said comparing means, wherein

a hand-off is performed to said second fixed communication apparatus from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses.

18. A communication method for constructing a broad-band communication system with a plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses and a mobile communication apparatus and for constructing a closed-band communication system with said mobile communication apparatus and a second fixed communication apparatus, wherein

in said mobile communication apparatus, said method comprises the steps of:

memorizing a selection signal of said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses for selecting said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses, said selection signal being obtained by receiving a signal transmitted from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses when a hand-off is performed between said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses and second fixed communication apparatus;

comparing the selection signal and providing a comparison result of said first fixed communication apparatus that has been memorized with the selection signal of said first fixed communication apparatus that is newly received; and

performing a hand-off to said second fixed communication apparatus from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses in accordance with the comparison result thus obtained.

19. The communication method according to claim 18 wherein

in said mobile communication apparatus, said method comprises the steps of:

memorizing in advance a selection signal of the second fixed communication apparatus for selecting said second fixed communication apparatus;

comparing the selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus that is obtained by receiving a signal transmitted from said second fixed communication apparatus with the selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus that has been memorized and providing a comparison result; and

performing a hand-off to said second fixed communication apparatus from said first fixed communication apparatus in accordance with the comparison result obtained and the comparison result of the selection signal of said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses.

20. A communication method for constructing a broad-band communication system with a plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses and a mobile communication apparatus and for constructing a closed communication system with said mobile communication apparatus and a second fixed communication apparatus, wherein

in said mobile communication apparatus, said method comprises the steps of:

memorizing in advance a selection signal of the second fixed communication apparatus for selecting said second fixed communication apparatus;

comparing said selection signal and providing a comparison result of said second fixed communication apparatus obtained by receiving a signal from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatuses, which is constructed for transmitting the selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus, with said selection signal of said second fixed communication apparatus which has been memorized; and

performing a hand-off from said plurality of first fixed communication apparatus to said second fixed communication apparatuses in accordance with the comparison result obtained.