Communication channel selection method and mobile communication apparatus

• US 6,434,397 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Hazama, Kaori
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/350,281
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/422, 455/450, 455/452, 455/12.1, 455/427, 455/430, 455/513, 455/514, 455/464
• US Class Current: 455/515
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18558 Arrangements for managing communications, i.e. for setting up, maintaining or releasing a call between stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

When a mobile communication apparatus detects a communication channel in a good channel state, the identification information on a system side communication apparatus providing the communication channel is extracted and stored in relation to the communication channel. At the time of channel switching, a stored communication channel having identification information coincident with the identification information on a communication channel being acquired is selected in preference to other communication channels, whereby the channel search can be completed in a short time.

Claims

1. A communication channel selecting method, comprising the steps of:

extracting from a received signal over a communication channel, identification information of a system side communication apparatus which provides said communication channel;

storing said extracted identification information in a memory linking said identification information to said communication channel, when said communication channel is determined to be in a state usable for communication;

retrieving identification information stored in said memory, when it is determined that a state of a communication channel being used is unacceptable; and

selecting a communication channel to be switched to to which said retrieved identification information is linked.

2. A communication channel selecting method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retrieving step comprises retrieving identification information corresponding to identification information of a system side communication apparatus providing a communication channel being acquired.

3. A communication channel selecting method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

detecting a channel state of a communication channel being acquired,

wherein said retrieving step comprises retrieving on a basis of said detected channel state, identification information linked to a communication channel which is different from said communication channel being acquired.

4. A communication channel selecting method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extracting step comprises extracting identification information on an earth station providing said communication channel.

5. A communication channel selecting method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said earth station provides said communication channel through a communication satellite.

6. A communication channel selecting method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extracting step comprises extracting identification information on an earth station providing said communication channel through a communication satellite and identification information on said communication satellite.

7. A communication channel selecting method as claimed in claim 1, said method further comprising:

extracting from said received signal corresponding to a communication channel being acquired, channel information on a neighboring communication channel,

wherein said identification information extracting step includes extracting from a received signal corresponding to said neighboring communication channel, identification information on a system side communication apparatus which provides said neighboring communication channel.

8. A mobile communication apparatus, comprising:

an identification information extractor for extracting from a received signal over a communication channel, identification information of a system side communication apparatus which provides said communication channel;

a memory for storing said extracted identification information in a memory and linking said identification information to said communication channel, when said communication channel is determined to be in a state usable for communication;

a memory retriever for retrieving identification information stored in said memory, when it is determined that a state of a communication channel being used is unacceptable; and

a channel selector for selecting a communication channel to be switched to to which said retrieved identification information is linked.

9. A mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said memory retriever retrieves identification information corresponding to identification information of a system side communication apparatus providing a communication channel being acquired.

10. A mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a channel monitor for detecting a channel state of a communication channel being acquired,

wherein said memory retriever retrieves on a basis of said detected channel state, identification information linked to a communication channel which is different from said communication channel being acquired.

11. A mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said information extractor extracts identification information on an earth station providing said communication channel.

12. A mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said earth station provides said communication channel through a communication satellite.

13. A mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said information extractor extracts identification information on an earth station providing said communication channel through a communication satellite and identification information on said communication satellite.

14. A mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a channel information extractor for extracting from a received signal corresponding to a communication channel being acquired, channel information on a neighboring communication channel,

wherein said identification information extractor extracts from a received signal corresponding to said neighboring communication channel, identification information on a system side communication apparatus which provides said neighboring communication channel.