Radio communication system and radio terminal device using faster and slower radio networks cooperatively

• US 6,845,090 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Toshimitsu, Kiyoshi, Tamada, Yuzo, Takabatake, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Volper, Thomas E.
• Application Number:
  US09/541,889
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/341, 370/343, 370/480, 455/3.05, 455/561, 455/422, 455/426, 709/213, 709/217, 709/227, 709/231, 725/62, 725/63, 725/64, 725/65, 725/74, 725/78, 725/81, 725/109, 725/121, 725/123
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• 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: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A communication system including a first terminal device connected to first and second networks, having only a reception function with respect to the first network and transmission and reception functions with respect to the second network, the first network being a radio network according to IEEE 802.11 and the second network being a radio network slower than the first network, and a second terminal device connected to the first and second networks, having at least a transmission function with respect to the first network and transmission and reception functions with respect to the second network is disclosed. In this communication system, the first terminal device carries out a prescribed procedure required in using the first terminal as a receiving side in the first network, by carrying out communications with the second terminal device through the second network, the second terminal device transmits a prescribed information to the first network on behalf of the first terminal device, the prescribed information being an information required to be transmitted to the first network in order for the first terminal device to receive packets through the first network, and the first terminal device receives the packets through the first network.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a first terminal device connected to first and second networks, having only a reception function with respect to the first network and transmission and reception functions with respect to the second network, the first network being a radio network according to IEEE 802.11 and the second network being a radio network slower than the first network;

a second terminal device connected to the first network and a third network different from the first and second networks, having at least a transmission function with respect to the first network and transmission and reception functions with respect to the third network;

a third terminal device connected to the second and third networks, having transmission and reception functions with respect to the second and third networks; and

a fourth device provided on the third network, having transmission and reception functions with respect to the third network;

wherein the first terminal device carries out a prescribed procedure required in using the first terminal as a receiving side in the first network, by carrying out communications with the third terminal device through the second network;

the third terminal device carries out the prescribed procedure by carrying out communications with the second terminal device through the third network;

the third terminal device carries out another prescribed procedure required in relaying packets transferred from the fourth device towards the first terminal device at the second terminal device, by transferring a control information received from the first terminal device through the second network, to the second terminal device through the third network;

the first terminal device transmits a packet transmission request with respect to the fourth device, to the third terminal device through the second network;

the third terminal device transfers the packet transmission request received from the first terminal device, to the fourth device through the third network;

the fourth device transmits packets in response to the packet transmission request received from the third terminal device, to the second terminal device through the third network; and

the second terminal device transfers the packets received from the fourth device, to the first terminal device through the first network.

2. A method of packet transfer in a communication system including a first terminal device connected to first and second networks, having only a reception function with respect to the first network and transmission and reception functions with respect to the second network, the first network being a radio network according to IEEE 802.11 and the second network being a radio network slower than the first network, a second terminal device connected to the first network and a third network different from the first and second networks, having at least a transmission function with respect to the first network and transmission and reception functions with respect to the third network, a third terminal device connected to the second and third networks, having transmission and reception functions with respect to the second and third networks, and a fourth device provided on the third network, having transmission and reception functions with respect to the third network, the method comprising the steps of:

carrying out a prescribed procedure required in using the first terminal as a receiving side in the first network, by carrying out communications between the first terminal device and the third terminal device through the second network;

carrying out the prescribed procedure by carrying out communications between the third terminal device and the second terminal device through the third network;

carrying out another prescribed procedure required in relaying packets transferred from the fourth device towards the first terminal device at the second terminal device, by transferring a control information received from the first terminal device through the second network, from the third terminal device to the second terminal device through the third network;

transmitting a packet transmission request with respect to the fourth device, from the first terminal device to the third terminal device through the second network;

transferring the packet transmission request received from the first terminal device, from the third terminal device to the fourth device through the third network;

transmitting packets in response to the packet transmission request received from the third terminal device, from the fourth device to the second terminal device through the third network; and

transferring the packets received from the fourth device, from the second terminal device to the first terminal device through the first network.