Network system transmitting data to mobile terminal, server used in the system, and method for transmitting data to mobile terminal used by the server

• US 6,957,262 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2001
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yutaka, Kimura, Shinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/757,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709217-219, 709/225, 709/227, 709/238, 709/242, 709/245, 709/249, 709/239, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

A system communicating data with a mobile node includes a server and a plurality of networks connected to the server. The mobile node moves between the plurality of networks. One of the networks is set as a home network of the mobile node. The server includes a storage circuit that stores, when it is detected that the mobile node has moved from its home network to another network, an IP address of the mobile node and information indicating the network to which the mobile node has moved, in a location management table. The server further includes a communication circuit that, upon receipt of data destined for the mobile node, forwards the received data to the network that is specified by the information stored in the location management table corresponding to the mobile node.

Claims

1. A system comprising a sever and a plurality of networks that are separately connected to said server;

wherein each said network includes

at least one mobile terminal primarily assigned to said network as its home network that receives preselected data from said server and outputs the received preselected data, said at least one mobile terminal being movable from its primarily assigned network to another of said plurality of networks,

a communication device that sends said preselected data received from said server to all mobile terminals primarily assigned to any of said plurality of networks located within a range of communication of said communication device wirelessly, and

a detection device that detects any said mobile terminals primarily assigned to any of said plurality of networks present within said range of communication of said communication device by detecfing said output of said received preselected data therefrom; and

wherein said server includes

a communication circuit that communicates with the communication device and the detection device included in each said network,

a storage circuit connected to said communication circuit, said storage circuit storing in the form of a management table for each mobile terminal (i) information specifying the network in which that mobile terminal is currently located based on information received from said detection device and (ii) prestored information specifying the home network of that mobile terminal, and

a control circuit connected to said communication circuit and to said storage circuit, said control circuit being adapted to receive data and information including a vortion indicating a specified mobile terminal primarily assigned to one of said plurality of networks as the destination of a remainder of said received data and information, and to control said communication circuit such that it sends said remainder of said received data and information to the specified mobile terminal based on information concerning the specified mobile terminal contained in said management table.

2. The network system according to claim 1,

wherein the communication device includes

a first transmission circuit that transmits inquiry information concerning whether any mobile terminal is located within the communication range of the communication device,

wherein the detection device includes

a receiving circuit that receives in-zone information output by all mobile terminals present within the communication range of the communication device in response to said inquiry information, and

a second transmission circuit connected to said receiving circuit that transmits to said server first identification information specifying the ones of the mobile terminals that transmitted said in-zone information and second identification information specifying the network in which said detection device is included,

wherein said storage circuit includes a circuit storing

a management table including, for each mobile terminal identified by the first identification information, said second identification information and said prestored information specifying the home network of each mobile terminal present within the communication range of the communication device;

wherein said data and information indicating a specified one of the mobile terminals as the destination of the remainder of the data and information is represented in the first identification information, and

wherein said control circuit includes

a circuit that reads from said management table the second identification information corresponding to the first identification information;

a circuit that compares the read second identification information and the prestored information specifying the home network, and

a circuit that controls said communication circuit so as to send the remainder of said data and information to the communication device located in the network identified by the second identification information when the read second identification information and the information identifying the home network differ from one another.

3. The network system according to claim 1, wherein

said server further includes a connection circuit that connects to another network not included in said plurality of networks, and

said server receives said data and information indicating the specified mobile terminal as the destination of the remainder of the received data and information from a device connected to said another network.

4. The network system according to claim 3, wherein

said another network is the Internet, and

said connection circuit includes a circuit that connects to the Internet via a public network.

5. A system comprising a server and a plurality of networks that are separately connected to said server,

wherein each said netwdrk includes

at least one mobile terminal primarily assigned to said network as its home network that receives preselected data from said server and outputs the received preselected data, said at least one mobile terminal being movable from its primarily assigned network to another of said plurality of networks,

a communication device that sends said preselected data received from said server to all of said at least one mobile terminals located within a range of communication of said communication device wirelessly, and

a detection device that detects any of said at least one mobile terminal primarily assiged to any of said plurality of networks present within said range of communication of said communication device by detecting said output of said received preselected data therefrom;

and

wherein said server includes

communication means for communicating with the communication device and the detection device included in each said network,

storage means, connected to said communication means for storing in the form of a management table for each mobile terminal (i) information specifying the network in which that mobile terminal is currently located based on information received from said detection device and (ii) prestored information specifying the home network of that mobile terminal, and

control means connected to said communication means and to said storage means, for receiving data and information including a portion indicating a specified mobile terminal primarily assigned to one of said networks as the destination of a remainder of said received data and information, and for controlling said communication means such that it sends said remainder of said received data and information to the specified mobile terminal based on the information concerning the specified mobile terminal contained in said management table.

6. The network system according to claim 5,

wherein said communication device includes

first transmission means for transmitting inquiry information concerning whether any mobile terminal is located within the communication range of the communication device,

wherein the detection means includes

receiving means for receiving in-zone information output by all mobile terminals present within the communication range of the communication device in response to said inquiry information, and

second transmission means, connected to said receiving means, for transmitting to said server, first identification information specifying the ones of the mobile terminals that transmitted said in-zone information and second identification information specifying the network in which said detection device is included,

wherein said storage means includes means for storing a management table including, for each mobile terminal identified by the first identification information, said second identification information and said prestored information specifying the home network of each mobile terminal present within the communication range of the communication device;

wherein said data and information indicating a specified one of the mobile terminals as the destination of the remainder of the data and information is represented in the first identification information, and

wherein said control means includes

means for reading from said management table the second identification information corresponding to the first identification information,

means for comparing the read second identification information and the prestored information specifying said home network, and

means for controlling said communication means so as to send the remainder of said data and information to the communication device located in the network identified by the read second identification information when the read second identification information and the information specifying the home network differ from one another.

7. The network system according to claim 5, wherein

said server further includes connection means for connecting to another network not included in said plurality of networks, and

said server receives said data and the information indicating the specified mobile terminal as the destination of the remainder of the received data and information from a device connected to said another network.

8. The network according to claim 7, where said another network is the Internet, and

said connection means includes means for connecting to said Internet via a public network.

9. A server for use in a system including the server and a plurality of networks that are separately connected to said server,

wherein each said network includes

at least one mobile terminal primarily assigned to said network as its home network that receives preselected data from said server and outputs the received preselected data, said at least one mobile terminal being movable from its primarily assigned network to another of said plurality of networks,

a communication device that sends said preselected data received from said server to any of said at least one mobile terminal primarily assigned to any of said plurality of networks located within a range of communication of said communication device wirelessly, and

a detection device that detects any of said at least one mobile terminal primarily assianed to any of said plurality of networks present within said range of communication of said communication device by detecting said output of said received preselected data therefrom;

said server comprising;

a communications circuit that communicates with the communication device and the detection device included in each said network;

a storage circuit connected to said communication circuit, said storage circuit storing in the form of a management table for each mobile terminal (i) information specifying the network in which that mobile terminal is currently located based on information received from said detection device and (ii) prestored information specifying the home network of that mobile terminal; and

a control circuit connected to said communication circuit and to said storage circuit, said control circuit being adapted to receive data and information including a portion indicating a specified mobile terminal primarily assigned to one of said plurality of networks as the destination of a remainder of said received data and information, and to control said communication circuit such that it sends said remainder of said received data and information to the specified mobile terminal based on information concerning the specified mobile terminal contained in said management table.

10. The server according to claim 9,

wherein said communication device includes

a first transmission circuit that transmits inquiry information concerning whether any mobile terminal is located within the communication range of said communication device,

wherein said detection device includes

a receiving circuit that receives in-zone information output by all mobile terminals present within the communication range of the communication device in response to said inquiry information, and

a second transmission circuit connected to said receiving circuit that transmits to said server, first identification information specifying the ones of the mobile terminals that transmitted in-zone information and second identification information specifying the network in which said detection device is included,

wherein said storage circuit includes a circuit storing a management table including, for each mobile terminal identified by the first identification information, said second identification information and said prestored information specifying the home network of each mobile terminal present within the communication range of the communication device,

wherein said data and information indicating a specified one of the mobile terminals as the destination of the remainder of the data and information is represented in the first identification information, and

wherein said control circuit includes

a circuit that reads from said management table the second identification information corresponding to the first identification information,

a circuit that compares the read second identification information and the prestored information specifying the home network, and

a circuit that controls said communication circuit so as to send the remainder of said data and information to the communication device in the network identified by the read second identification information when the read second identification information and the information specifying the home network differ from one another.

11. The server according to claim 9, further comprising a connection circuit that connects to another network not included in said plurality of networks,

wherein said server receives said data and the information indicating the specified mobile terminal as the destination of the remainder of the data and information from a device connected to said another network.

12. The server according to claim 11, wherein said another network is the Internet, and

said connection circuit includes a circuit that connects to the Internet via a public network.

13. A server for use in a system including a server and a plurality of networks that are separately connected to said server,

wherein each said network includes

at least one mobile terminal primarily assigned to said network as its home network that receives preselected data from said server and outputs the received preselected data, said at least one mobile terminal being movable from its primarily assigned network to another of said plurality of networks,

a communication device that sends said preselected data received from said server to any of said at least one mobile terminals primarily assigned to any of said plurality of networks located within a range of communication of said communication device wirelessly, and

a detection device that detects any of said at least one mobile terminal primarily assigned to any of said plurality of networks present within said range of communication of said communication device by detecting said output of said received preselected data therefrom;

and

said server comprising;

communication means for communicating with the communication device and the detection device included in each said network;

storage means, connected to said communication means for storing in the form of a management table for each mobile terminal (i) information specifying the network in which that mobile terminal is currently located based on information received from said detection device and (ii) prestored information specifying the home network of that mobile terminal; and

control means, connected to said communication means and to said storage means, for receiving data and information indicating a specified mobile terminal as the destination of a remainder of the data and information, and for controlling said communication means such that it sends said remainder of said data and information to the specified mobile terminal based on the information concerning the specified mobile terminal contained in said management table.

14. The server according to claim 13,

wherein said communication device includes

first transmission means for transmitting inquiry information concerning whether any mobile terminal is located within the communication range of the communication device,

wherein the detection device includes

receiving means for receiving rn-zone information output by all mobile terminals present within the communication range of the communication device in response to said inquiry information, and

second transmission means, connected to said receiving means, for transmitting to said server first identification information specifying the ones of the mobile terminals that transmitted in-zone information and second identification information specifying the network in which said detection device is included,

wherein said storage means includes means for storing a management table including, for each mobile terminal identified by the first identification information, said second identification information and said prestored information specifying the home network of each mobile terminal present within the communication range of the communication device,

wherein said data and information indicating a specified one of said mobile terminals as the destination of the data and information is represented in the first identification information, and

wherein said control means includes

means for reading from said management table the second identification information corresponding to the first identification information,

means for comparing the read second identification information and the prestored information specifying the home network, and

means for controlling said communication means so as to send said received data and information to the communication device in the network identified by the read second identification information when the read second identification information and the information specifying the home network differ from one another.

15. The server according to claim 13, further comprising connection means for connecting to another network not included in said plurality of networks, and

said server receives said data and the information indicating the specified mobile terminal as the destination of the remainder of the data and information from a device connected to said another network.

16. The server according to claim 15, wherein said another network is the Internet, and

said connection means includes means for connecting to the Internet via a public network.

17. A communication method of a server in a system including the server and a plurality of networks that are separately connected to said server,

wherein each said network includes

at least one mobile terminal primarily assigned to said network as its home network that receives preselected data from said server and outputs the received preselected data, said at least one mobile terminal being movable from its primarily assigned network to another of said plurality of networks,

a communication device that sends said preselected data received from said server to any of said at least one mobile terminals primarily assigned to any of said plurality of networks located within a range of communications of said communication device wirelessly, and

a detection device that detects any of said at least one mobile terminals primarily assigned to any of said plurality of networks present within said range of communication of said communication device by detecting said output of said received preselected data therefrom;

and

said communication method comprising the steps of;

storing in the form of a management table including, for each said mobile terminal, (i) information specifying the network in which that mobile terminal is currently located based on information received from said detection device and (ii) prestored information specifying the home network of that mobile terminal;

receiving data and information indicating a specified one of said mobile terminals as the destination of the data and information, and,

sending said received data and information to the specified one of said mobile terminals as the destination thereof.

18. The communication method according to claim 17,

wherein said communication device includes

a first transmission circuit that transmits inquiry information concerning whether any mobile terminal is located within the communication range of the communication device,

wherein the detection device includes

a receiving circuit that receives in-zone information output by all mobile terminals present within the communication range of the communication device in response to said inquiry information, and

a second transmission circuit connected to said receiving circuit that transmits to said server, first identification information specifying the ones of the mobile terminals that transmitted said in-zone information and second identification information specifying the network in which said detection device is included,

wherein said step of storing the management table includes the step of storing a management table including, for each mobile terminal identified by the first identification information, said second identification information and said prestored information specifying the home network of each mobile terminal present within the communication range of the communication device,

wherein said data and information indicating a specified one of the mobile terminals as the destination of the remainder of the data and information is represented in the first identification information, and

wherein said step of sending the remainder of said data and information to said specified mobile terminal as the destination thereof includes the steps of

reading from said management table the second information corresponding to the first identification information,

comparing the read second identification information and the prestored information specifying the home network, and

sending the remainder of said data and information to the communication device in the network identified by the read second identification information when the read second identification information and the information specifying the home network differ from one another.

19. The communication method according to claim 17,

wherein said server is connected to another network not included in said plurality of networks and

said server receives said data and the information indicating the specified mobile terminal as the destination of the remainder of the data and information from a device connected to said another network.

20. The communication method according to claim 19,

wherein said another network is the Internet, and

said server is connected to the Internet via a public network.

21. A computer readable recording medium for use in recording a program for implementing a communication method of a server in a system including a server and a plurality of networks separately connected to said server,

wherein each said network includes

at least one mobile terminal primarily assigned to said network as its home network that receives preselected data from said server and outputs the received preselected data, said at least one mobile terminal being movable from its primarily assigned network to another of said plurality of networks,

a communication device that sends said preselected data received from said server to any of said at least one mobile terminal primarily assigned to any of said plurality of networks located within a range of communication of said communication device wirelessly, and

a detection device that detects any of said at least one mobile terminal primarily assigned to any of said plurality of networks present within said range of communication of said communication device by detecting said output of said received preselected data therefrom;

and

wherein said communication method comprises the steps of;

storing a management table including, for each said mobile terminal, (i) information specifying the network in which that mobile terminal is currently located based on information received from said detection device and (ii) prestored information specifying the home network of each said mobile terminal;

receiving data and information indicating a specified one of said mobile terminals as the destination of the data and information, and,

sending said received data and information to the specified one of said mobile terminals based on the information concerning the specified one of the mobile terminals contained in said management table.

22. The recording medium according to claim 21,

wherein said communication device includes

a first transmission circuit that transmits inquiry information concerning whether any mobile terminal is located within the communication range of said communication device,

wherein the detection device includes

a receiving circuit that receives in-zone information output by all mobile terminals present within the communication range of the communication device in response to said inquiry information, and

a second transmission circuit connected to said receiving circuit that transmits to said server first identification information specifying the ones of the mobile terminals that transmitted said in-zone information and second identification information specifying the network in which said detection device is included,

wherein said step of storing a management table includes the step of storing a management table including, for each mobile terminal identified by the first identification information, said second identification information and said prestored information specifying said home network of each mobile terminal present within the communication range of the communication device,

wherein said data and information indicating a specified one of the mobile terminals as the destination of the remainder of the data and information is represented in the first identification information, and

wherein said step of sending the remainder of the data and information to said specified one of the mobile terminals as the destination thereof includes the steps of

reading from said management table the second information corresponding to the first identification information,

comparing the read second identification information and the prestored information specifying the home network, and

sending said remainder of said data and information to the communication device in the network identified by the read second identification information when the read second information and the information specifying the home network differ from one another.

23. The recording medium according to claim 21,

wherein said server is connected to another network not included in said plurality of networks, and

said server receives said data and the information indicating the specified mobile terminal as the destination of the remainder of the data and information from a device connected to said another network.

24. The recording medium according to claim 23, wherein

said another network is the Internet, and

said connection means includes means for connecting to the Internet via a public network.