Unit and system for mobile communications

• US 6,181,952 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Murata, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Application Number:
  US09/389,376
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426, 455/427, 455/432, 455/456, 455/457, 455/507, 455/514, 455/551, 455/552, 455/553, 455/558, 455/186.1, 455/67.1
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A mobile communication unit that receives communications services of a cellular communication system within the service area of the cellular communication system and receives communications services of a satellite communication system outside the service area. The mobile communication unit includes a state monitor for monitoring the state of services of the satellite communication system, a memory in which information about the service areas of the cellular communication system is stored, a decision circuit, and a switching controller. If the state monitor detects deterioration of the state of services of the satellite communication system, the decision circuit makes a decision based on the information stored in the memory as to whether the present location of the unit itself is within the service areas of the cellular communication system. If the result of the decision made by the decision circuit is that the present location of the unit itself is outside the service area, the switching controller maintains the services of the satellite communication system. If the present location is within the service areas, the switching controller switches to the services of the cellular communication system.

Claims

1. A mobile communication unit adapted to receive communications services of a cellular communication system within a service area of the cellular communication system and to receive communication services of a satellite communication system outside said service area, said mobile communication unit comprising:

a state monitor for monitoring field intensity of signals received from said satellite communication system;

a memory in which information about the part of a service area of said cellular communication system which a user can use in accordance with a contract between the use and a cellular communication system provider is stored;

a decision circuit which, if said state monitor detects a decrease of said field intensity below a threshold value, makes a decision based on present location information of the mobile unit sent from said satellite communication system and said information stored in said memory as to whether the present location of the unit itself is located within said part of said service area of the cellular communication system; and

a switching controller which, if said present location of the unit itself is decided to be outside said part of said service area by said decision circuit, maintains the services of said satellite communication system, and switches the state of reception from said services of said satellite communication system to the services of said cellular communication system if said present location of the unit is decided to be within said part of said service area.

2. A mobile communication unit of claim 1, wherein said decision circuit makes a decision as to whether the present location of the unit itself is located within a selected service area.

3. A mobile communication unit of claim 1, wherein said memory consists of a replaceable storage means that is plugged in the body of said mobile communication unit.

4. A mobile communication unit of claim 3, wherein said memory consists of a replaceable nonvolatile memory for holding contents of storage for a given period if power supply is interrupted.

5. A mobile communication unit of claim 1, wherein said memory consists of a nonvolatile memory for holding contents of storage for a given period if power supply is interrupted.

6. The mobile communication unit of claim 1, wherein said memory further stores line connection information about connected and unconnected locations with said cellular communication system within said part of said service area;

and

if said decision circuit decides that the present location of the unit itself is located within said part of said service area of the cellular communication system, further makes a decision based on said line connection information as to which of said connected and unconnected locations is the present location of the unit itself within said part of said service area.

7. The mobile communication unit of claim 1, wherein information about said part of said service area of said cellular communication system is sent to said service area of said satellite communication system via said satellite station and is inputted into said memory of said mobile communication unit.