Mobile communications system

• US 6,118,996 A
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Oda, Takashi, Usami, Shinya, Kowaguchi, Satoshi, Keirinbou, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Pablo N.
• Application Number:
  US08/988,110
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426, 455/448, 455/468, 455/435, 455/556, 455/412, 455/422, 455/574, 379/357, 340/311.1
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communication system includes a one-way communication system where a wide area base station forms a wide one-way communication area and a two-way communication system having a cellular service area which is formed by a plurality of cell base stations each forming a cellular two-way communication area. A mobile terminal can communicate with the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system. Further, a system controller connected to the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system controls mobile communications in the wide one-way communication area and/or the cellular service area. The system controller transfers data addressed to a mobile terminal to the mobile terminal through a selected one of the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system comprising:

a one-way communication system where a wide area base station forms a wide one-way communication area;

a two-way communication system having a cellular service area which is formed by a plurality of cell base stations each forming a cellular two-way communication area;

a plurality of mobile terminals each for communicating with the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system; and

a system controller connected to the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system, for controlling mobile communications in the wide one-way communication area and/or the cellular service area, wherein the system controller transfers to the mobile telephone data addressed thereto through a selected one of the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system.

2. The mobile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the system controller transmits a start-up signal to the mobile terminal through the one-way communication system, the start-up signal causing the mobile terminal to activate a two-way communication transceiver provided therein so as to receive the data addressed thereto.

3. The mobile communication system according to claim 2, wherein, when receiving the start-up signal from the system controller, the mobile terminal transmits a data check signal to the system controller through the two-way communication system at predetermined time intervals, the data check signal causing the system controller to search for the data addressed to the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal receives the data from the system controller when the data is found.

4. The mobile communication system according to claim 2, wherein, when receiving the start-up signal from the system controller, the mobile terminal transmits a reply signal to the start-up signal to the system controller before receiving the data from the system controller.

5. The mobile communication system according to claim 4, wherein, when receiving the replay signal from the mobile terminal, the system controller transmits the data addressed to the mobile terminal.

6. The mobile communication system according to claim 4, wherein, when no replay signal is received from the mobile terminal after the start-up signal has been transmitted a predetermined number of times, the system controller transmits the data addressed to the mobile terminal through the one-way communication system.

7. The mobile communication system according to claim 3, wherein, when receiving the start-up signal from the system controller, the mobile terminal transmits a reply signal to the start-up signal to the system controller before receiving the data from the system controller.

8. The mobile communication system according to claim 7, wherein, when receiving the replay signal from the mobile terminal, the system controller transmits the data addressed to the mobile terminal.

9. The mobile communication system according to claim 7, wherein, when no replay signal is received from the mobile terminal after the start-up signal has been transmitted a predetermined number of times, the system controller transmits the data addressed to the mobile terminal through the one-way communication system.

10. The mobile communication system according to claim 1, wherein each of the mobile terminals comprises:

a determiner for determining whether the mobile terminal exists within or outside the wide one-way communication area based on a received signal from the wide one-way communication area.

11. The mobile communication system according to claim 10, wherein, when the determiner determines that the mobile terminal exists outside the wide one-way communication area, the mobile terminal activates a two-way communication transceiver provided therein so as to receive the data addressed thereto.

12. The mobile communication system according to claim 1, wherein each of the mobile terminals comprises a detector for detecting a wide area radio condition of the wide one-way communication area and a cellular radio condition of the cellular two-way communication area, respectively, wherein the mobile terminal transmits terminal information including the wide area radio condition and the cellular radio condition to the system controller,

wherein the system controller selects one of the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system depending to which one of the wide area radio condition and the cellular radio condition is better.

13. The mobile communication system according to claim 12, wherein the system controller transmits a start-up signal to the mobile terminal through the one-way communication system, the start-up signal causing the mobile terminal to activate a two-way communication transceiver provided therein so as to receive the data addressed thereto.

14. The mobile communication system according to claim 13, wherein, when receiving the start-up signal from the system controller, the mobile terminal transmits a data check signal to the system controller through the two-way communication system at predetermined time intervals, the data check signal causing the system controller to search for the data addressed to the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal receives the data from the system controller when the data is found.

15. A data transmission method in a mobile communication system comprising:

a one-way communication system where a wide area base station forms a wide one-way communication area;

a two-way communication system having a cellular service area which is formed by a plurality of cell base stations each forming a cellular two-way communication area;

a plurality of mobile terminals each for communicating with the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system; and

a system controller connected to the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system, for controlling mobile communications in the wide one-way communication are and/or the cellular service area,

the data transmission method comprising the steps of;

selecting one of the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system; and

transferring to the mobile telephone data addressed thereto through a selected one of the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system.

16. The data transmission method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

at the system controller,

transmitting a start-up signal to the mobile terminal through the one-way communication system, the start-up signal causing the mobile terminal to activate a two-way communication transceiver provided therein so as to receive the data addressed thereto.

17. The data transmission method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

at the mobile terminal,

receiving the start-up signal from the system controller;

transmitting a data check signal to the system controller through the two-way communication system at predetermined time intervals, the data check signal causing the system controller to search for the data addressed to the mobile terminal; and

receiving the data from the system controller when the data is found.

18. The data transmission method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

at the mobile terminal,

receiving the start-up signal from the system controller;

transmits a reply signal to the start-up signal to the system controller; and

receiving the data from the system controller.

19. The data transmission method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

at the system controller,

receiving the replay signal from the mobile terminal; and

transmitting the data addressed to the mobile terminal.

20. The data transmission method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

at the system controller,

transmitting the start-up signal a predetermined number of times unless the replay signal is received from the mobile terminal; and

transmitting the data addressed to the mobile terminal through the one-way communication system when the replay signal is not received finally.

21. The data transmission method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

at the mobile terminal,

receiving the start-up signal from the system controller;

transmits a reply signal to the start-up signal to the system controller; and

receiving the data from the system controller.

22. The data transmission method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

at the system controller,

receiving the replay signal from the mobile terminal; and

transmitting the data addressed to the mobile terminal.

23. The data transmission method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

at the system controller,

transmitting the start-up signal a predetermined number of times unless the replay signal is received from the mobile terminal; and

transmitting the data addressed to the mobile terminal through the one-way communication system when the replay signal is not received finally.

24. The data transmission method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of

at each of the mobile terminals,

detecting a wide area radio condition of the wide one-way communication area and a cellular radio condition of the cellular two-way communication area, respectively;

and

transmitting terminal information including the wide area radio condition and the cellular radio condition to the system controller; and

at the system controller,

selecting one of the one-way communication system and the two-way communication system depending to which one of the wide area radio condition and the cellular radio condition is better.

25. The data transmission method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

at the system controller,

transmitting a start-up signal to the mobile terminal through the one-way communication system, the start-up signal causing the mobile terminal to activate a two-way communication transceiver provided therein so as to receive the data addressed thereto.

26. The data transmission method according to claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

at the mobile terminal,

receiving the start-up signal from the system controller;

transmitting a data check signal to the system controller through the two-way communication system at predetermined time intervals, the data check signal causing the system controller to search for the data addressed to the mobile terminal; and

receiving the data from the system controller when the data is found.

27. A mobile terminal in a mobile communication system including a wide one-way communication system and a cellular two-way communication system, comprising:

a wide area receiver operating at relatively low power, for receiving a selective calling signal from a wide area base station of the wide one-way communication system;

a cell transceiver operating at higher power than the wide area receiver, for two-way communication with a nearest cell base station of the cellular two-way communication system; and

a communication controller for causing the wide area receiver to operate at all times and causing the cell transceiver to start operating for data reception when a start-up signal is received from the wide base station.

28. The mobile terminal according to claim 27, further comprising:

a determiner for determining whether the mobile terminal exists within or outside the wide one-way communication area based on a received signal of the wide area receiver,

wherein the communication controller causes the cell transceiver to start operating for data reception when the determiner determines that the mobile terminal exists outside the wide one-way communication area.

29. A mobile terminal in a mobile communication system including a wide one-way communication system and a cellular two-way communication system, comprising:

a wide area receiver operating at relatively low power, for receiving a selective calling signal from a wide area base station of the wide one-way communication system;

a cell transceiver operating at higher power than the wide area receiver, for two-way communication with a nearest cell base station of the cellular two-way communication system; and

a communication controller for causing the wide area receiver to intermittently operate at all times and causing the cell transceiver to start operating for data reception when a start-up signal is received from the wide base station and further to transmit a data check signal to the mobile communication system, the data check signal causing the mobile communication system to search for data addressed to the mobile terminal.

30. The mobile terminal according to claim 29, further comprising:

a determiner for determining whether the mobile terminal exists within or outside the wide one-way communication area based on a received signal of the wide area receiver,

wherein the communication controller causes the cell transceiver to start operating for data reception when the determiner determines that the mobile terminal exists outside the wide one-way communication area.

31. A mobile terminal in a mobile communication system including a wide one-way communication system and a cellular two-way communication system, comprising:

a wide area receiver operating at relatively low power, for receiving a selective calling signal from a wide area base station of the wide one-way communication system;

a cell transceiver operating at higher power than the wide area receiver, for two-way communication with a nearest cell base station of the cellular two-way communication system;

a detector for detecting a wide area radio condition of the wide one-way communication area and a cellular radio condition of the cellular two-way communication area, respectively; and

a communication controller for transmitting terminal information including the wide area radio condition and the cellular radio condition to the system controller.