Radio communication system for notifying incommunicable state, and device and method used for the system

• US 7,076,269 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• 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: Konishi, Toshiyuki, Nakao, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Doris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Tan
• Application Number:
  US10/436,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/422, 455/500, 455/507, 455/41.1, 455/519, 455/411, 455/410, 455/517, 455/412.1
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• 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 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A communication system includes: a server for transmitting a connection request to a cellular phone through a cellular phone network when receiving the connection request from a communication station to the cellular phone; the cellular phone for establishing a Bluetooth communication channel between the cellular phone and a hot spot computer located around the cellular phone in response to the connection request received from the server; and the hot spot computer for transmitting data received from the cellular phone to the server through a network via the Bluetooth communication channel so as to communicate the cellular phone with the communication station. When the communication channel between the cellular phone and the hot spot computer cannot be established, the cellular phone transmits information which represents a reason that the communication channel cannot be established, to the communication station through the server.

Claims

1. A radio communication system comprising:

a plurality of first communication devices;

a second communication device; and

a portable terminal holding radio communication with one of said first communication devices and said second communication device, wherein

said second communication device includes;

first communication means for communicating with one of said first communication devices;

second communication means for communicating with said portable terminal; and

third communication means for communicating with a communication device other than the communication device communicating with the first communication means; and

control means for controlling said first communication means, said second communication means and said third communication means,

said control means includes;

means for controlling said third communication means so as to receive a connection request to said portable terminal from said other communication device; and

means for controlling said second communication means so as to transmit said connection request to said portable terminal,

said portable terminal includes;

first communication means for communicating with said first communication device;

second communication means for communicating with said second communication device;

search means for searching for the communicable first communication device from said plurality of first communication devices in response to the connection request from said second communication device; and

control means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means, said control means including means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means so as to selectively execute one of a first communication mode for communicating with said other communication device via said second communication device and a second communication mode for communicating with said other communication device via said communicable first communication device and said second communication device on the basis of a search result of said search means,

said first communication device includes;

first communication means for communicating with said portable terminal;

second communication means for communicating with said second communication device; and

control means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means,

said control means includes;

means for controlling said first communication means so as to transmit information representing that communication can be held, to said portable terminal in response to the search result of said search means; and

means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means so as to hold communication between said portable terminal and said second communication device when said second communication mode is selected,

the control means of said portable terminal further includes means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means so as to hold communication between said first communication device and said second communication device when said second communication mode is selected, and

the control means of said second communication means further includes;

means for controlling said second communication means and said third communication means so as to hold communication between said portable terminal and said other communication device when said first communication mode is selected; and

means for controlling said first communication means and said third communication means so as to hold communication between said first communication means and said other communication device when said second communication mode is selected.

2. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the control means of said portable terminal includes means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means so as to selectively execute said second communication mode in response to the search result of said search means that the communicable first communication device is searched.

3. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the control means of said portable terminal includes means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means so as to selectively execute said first communication mode in response to the search result of said search means that the communicable first communication means is not searched.

4. The radio communication system according to claim 3, wherein

the control means of said portable terminal further includes means for controlling said second communication means so as to execute said first communication mode and to transmit information representing a reason that the communicable first communication device is not searched by said search means to said second communication device, and

the control means of said second communication device further includes means for controlling said third communication means so as to transmit said information representing said reason to said other communication device.

5. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said second communication device further includes storage means for storing a communication history of the communication between said portable terminal and said first communication device, and

the control means of said second communication device further includes means for controlling said first communication means so as to communicate with the first communication device included in the communication history stored in said storage means on the basis of the communication history.

6. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said first communication device further includes storage means for storing a keyword and information corresponding to said keyword,

the control means of said second communication device further includes means for controlling said second communication means so as to transmit the keyword to said portable terminal,

the control means of said portable terminal further includes means for controlling said first communication means so as to transmit said keyword received from said second communication device to one of said first communication device,

said first communication device further includes read means for reading the information corresponding to said received keyword from said storage means in response to reception of said keyword from said portable terminal, and

the control means of said first communication device further includes means for controlling said first communication means so as to transmit said corresponding information to said portable terminal.

7. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein

authentication for connection between said portable terminal and said first communication device is made using authentication information,

said second communication device further includes creation means for creating the authentication information,

the control means of said second communication device further includes:

means for controlling said first communication means so as to transmit said authentication information to said first communication device; and

means for controlling said second communication means so as to transmit said authentication information to said portable terminal,

the control means of said portable terminal further includes means for controlling said first communication means so as to communicate with said first communication device on the basis of the authentication information received from said second communication device, and

the control means of said first communication device further includes means for controlling said first communication means so as to communicate with said portable terminal on the basis of the authentication information received from said second communication means.

8. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein

authentication for connection between said portable terminal and said first communication device is made using authentication information,

said portable terminal further includes creation means for creating the authentication information,

the control means of said portable terminal further includes means for controlling said second communication means so as to transmit said authentication information to said second communication device,

the control means of said second communication device further includes means for controlling said first communication means so as to transmit said authentication information to said first communication device,

the control means of said portable terminal further includes means for controlling said first communication means so as to communicate with said first communication device on the basis of the authentication information created by said creation means, and

the control means of the first communication devices further includes means for controlling said first communication means so as to communicate with said portable terminal on the basis of the authentication information received from said second communication device.

9. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein

authentication for connection between said portable terminal and said first communication device is made using authentication information,

said first communication device further includes creation means for creating the authentication information,

the control means of said fist communication device further includes means for controlling said second communication means so as to transmit said authentication information to said second communication device,

the control means of said second communication device further includes means for controlling said second communication means so as to transmit said authentication information to said portable terminal,

the control means of said portable terminal further includes means for controlling said first communication means so as to communicate with said first communication device on the basis of the authentication information received from said second communication device, and

the control means of said first communication device further includes means for controlling said first communication means so as to communicate with said portable terminal on the basis of the authentication information created by said creation means.

10. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said portable terminal further includes switch means for switching a state of said first communication means to an operating state when said first communication means is in a non-operating state, in response to reception of the connection request from said second communication device.

11. A first communication device used in a radio communication system comprising:

a plurality of first communication devices;

a second communication device; and

a portable terminal holding radio communication with one of said first communication devices and said second communication device, wherein

said second communication device receives a connection request from the other communication device to said portable terminal, and transmits the connection request to said portable terminal,

said portable terminal searches for the communicable first communication device from said plurality of first communication devices in response to reception of the connection request from said second communication device, and selectively executes a first communication mode for communicating with a communication device other than the communicable first communication device via said second communication device and a second communication mode for communicating with said other communication device via said communicable first communication device and said second communication device on the basis of a search result,

said first communication device includes;

first communication means for communicating with said portable terminal;

second communication means for communicating with said second communication device; and

control means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means, and

said control means includes;

means for controlling said first communication means so as to transmit information representing that communication can be held, to said portable terminal in response to the fact that the communicable first communication device is searched by said portable terminal; and

means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means to hold communication between said portable terminal and said second communication device when said second communication mode is selected.

12. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein

said first communication device further includes storage means for storing a keyword and information corresponding to said keyword,

said second communication device transmits the keyword to said portable terminal and said portable terminal transmits said received keyword to said first communication device,

said first communication device further includes read means for reading the information corresponding to said received keyword from said storage means in response to reception of said keyword from said portable terminal, and

said control means further includes means for controlling said first communication means to transmit said corresponding information to said portable terminal.

13. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein

authentication for connection between said portable terminal and said first communication device is made using authentication information,

said first communication device further includes creation means for creating the authentication information,

said control means further includes means for controlling said second communication means to transmit said authentication information to said second communication device,

said second communication device transmits said authentication information to said portable terminal, and

said control means further includes means for controlling said first communication means to communicate with said portable terminal on the basis of the authentication information created by said creation means.

14. A second communication device used in a radio communication system, the radio communication system comprising:

a plurality of first communication devices;

the second communication device; and

a portable terminal holding radio communication with one of said first communication devices and said second communication device, wherein

said portable terminal searches for the communicable first communication device from said plurality of first communication devices in response to reception of a communication request from said second communication device, and selectively executes a first communication mode for communicating with a communication device other than the communicable first communication device via said second communication device and a second communication mode for communicating with said other communication device via said communicable first communication device and said second communication device on the basis of a search result,

said first communication device transmits information representing that communication can be held to said portable terminal in response to the fact that the communicable first communication device is searched by said portable terminal, to said portable terminal,

said second communication device includes;

first communication means for communicating with said first communication device;

second communication means for communicating with said portable terminal;

third communication means for communicating with the other communication device; and

control means for controlling said first communication means, said second communication means, and said third communication means,

said control means includes;

means for controlling said third communication means to receive a connection request to said portable terminal from said other communication device;

means for controlling said second communication means to transmit said connection request to said portable terminal;

means for controlling said second communication means and said third communication means to hold communication between said portable terminal and said other communication device when said first communication mode is selected; and

means for controlling said first control means and said third communication means to hold communication between said first communication device and said other communication device when said second communication mode is selected.

15. The communication device according to claim 14, wherein

said second communication device further includes storage means for storing a communication history for communication between said portable terminal and said one communication device, and

said control means further includes means for controlling said first communication means to communicate with the first communication device included in the communication history stored in said storage means on the basis of said communication history.

16. The communication device according to claim 14, wherein

authentication for connection between said portable terminal and said first communication device is made using authentication information,

said second communication device further includes creation means for creating the authentication information, and

said control means further includes:

means for controlling said first communication means to transmit said authentication information to said first communication device; and

means for controlling said second communication means to transmit said authentication information to said portable terminal.

17. A portable terminal used in a radio communication system, the radio communication system comprising:

a plurality of communication devices;

a second communication device; and

the portable device holding radio communication with one of said first communication devices and said second communication device, wherein

said second communication device receives a connection request from a communication device other than said second communication device to said portable terminal, and transmits said received connection request to said portable terminal,

said portable terminal includes;

first communication means for communicating with said first communication device;

second communication means for communicating with said second communication device;

search means for searching for the communicable first communication device from said plurality of first communication devices in response to reception of the connection request from said second communication device; and

control means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means,

said control means includes;

means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means to selectively execute a first communication mode for communicating with said other communication device via said second communication device and a second communication mode for communicating said other communication device via said communicable first communication device and said second communication device on the basis of a search result of said search means; and

means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means to hold communication between said first communication device and said second communication device when said second communication mode is selected.

18. The portable terminal according to claim 17, wherein

said control means includes means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means to hold the communication between said first communication device and said second communication device when said second communication mode is selected.

19. The portable terminal according to claim 17, wherein

said control means includes means for controlling said first communication means and said second communication means to selectively execute said first communication mode in response to the fact that no communicable first communication device is searched by said search means.

20. The portable terminal according to claim 19, wherein

said control means further includes means for controlling said second communication means to execute said first communication mode and to transmit information representing a reason that no communicable first communication device is searched by said search means, to said second communication device.

21. The portable terminal according to claim 17, wherein

authentication for connection between said portable terminal and said first communication device is made using authentication information,

said portable terminal further includes creation means for creating the authentication information,

said control means further includes means for controlling said second communication means to transmit said authentication information to said second communication device, and

said second communication device transmits said authentication information to said first communication device.

22. The portable terminal according to claim 17, wherein

said portable terminal further includes switch means for switching a state of said first communication means to an operating state when said first communication means is in a non-operating state, in response to reception of the communication request from said second communication device.

23. A communication method for a first communication device used in a radio communication system, the radio communication system comprising:

a plurality of first communication devices;

a second communication device; and

a portable terminal holding radio communication with one of said first communication devices and said second communication device, wherein

said second communication device receives a connection request from the other communication device to said portable terminal, and transmits the connection request to said portable terminal,

said portable terminal searches for the communicable first communication device from said plurality of first communication devices in response to reception of the connection request from said second communication device, and selectively executes a first communication mode for communicating with a communication device other than the communicable first communication device via said second communication device and a second communication mode for communicating with said other communication device via said communicable first communication device and said second communication device on the basis of a search result,

said communication method comprises the steps of;

communicating with said portable terminal;

communicating with said second communication device; and

controlling the step of communicating with said portable terminal and the step of communicating with said second communication device, and

the step of controlling said communication steps includes;

controlling the step of communicating with said portable terminal to transmit information representing that communication can be held, to said portable terminal in response to the fact that the communicable first communication device is searched by said portable terminal; and

controlling the step of communicating with said portable terminal and the step of communicating with said second communication device to hold communication between said portable terminal and said second communication device when said second communication mode is selected.

24. A recording medium recording a program for realizing the communication method according to claim 23 using a computer.

25. A communication method for a second communication device used in a radio communication system, the radio communication system comprising:

a plurality of first communication devices;

the second communication device; and

a portable terminal holding radio communication with one of said first communication devices and said second communication device, wherein

said portable terminal searches for the communicable first communication device from said plurality of first communication devices in response to reception of a communication request from said second communication device, and selectively executes a first communication mode for communicating with a communication device other than the communicable first communication device via said second communication device and a second communication mode for communicating with said other communication device via said communicable first communication device and said second communication device on the basis of a search result,

said first communication device transmits information representing that communication can be held to said portable terminal in response to the fact that the communicable first communication device is searched by said portable terminal, to said portable terminal,

said communication method comprises the steps of;

communicating with said first communication device;

communicating with said portable terminal;

communicating with the other communication device; and

controlling the step of communicating with said first communication device, the step of communicating with said portable terminal, and the step of communicating with the other communication device,

the step of controlling said communication steps includes the steps of;

controlling the step of communicating with said other communication device to receive a connection request to said portable terminal from said other communication device;

controlling the step of communicating with said portable terminal to transmit said connection request to said portable terminal;

controlling the step of communicating with said portable terminal and the step of communicating with the other communication device to hold communication between said portable terminal and said other communication device when said first communication mode is selected; and

controlling the step of communicating with said first communication device and the step of communicating with the other device to hold communication between said first communication device and said other communication device when said second communication mode is selected.

26. A recording medium recording a program for realizing the communication method according to claim 25using a computer.

27. A communication method for a portable terminal used in a radio communication system, the radio communication system comprising:

a plurality of communication devices;

a second communication device; and

the portable device holding radio communication with one of said first communication devices and said second communication device, wherein

said portable device receives a connection request from a communication device other than said second communication device to said portable terminal, and transmits said received connection request to said portable terminal,

said communication method comprises the steps of;

communicating with said first communication device;

communicating with said second communication device;

searching for the communicable first communication device from said plurality of first communication devices in response to reception of the connection request from said second communication device; and

controlling the step of communicating with said first communication device and the step of communicating with said second communication device, and

the step of controlling said communication steps includes the steps of;

controlling the step of communicating with said first communication device and the step of communicating with said second communication device to selectively execute a first communication mode for communicating with said other communication device via said second communication device and a second communication mode for communicating said other communication device via said communicable first communication device and said second communication device on the basis of a search result of the step of searching for said communicable first communication device; and

controlling the step of communicating with said first communication device and the step of communicating with said second communication device to hold communication between said first communication device and said second communication device when said second communication mode is selected.

28. A recording medium recording a program for realizing the communication method according to claim 27 using a computer.