Mobile communication device and method

• US 7,203,751 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Yasushi, Mitsuo, Yanagidaira, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Winder; Patrice
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US09/961,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20020046258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,023 Days
• Field of Search: 709/250, 709/227, 709/225, 709/220, 709/238, 709/222, 710/8, 370/216, 370/252
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A mobile communication device which selects one of a plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices different at least in data communication speed from one another in accordance with the type of data to be transmitted or received, and controls a data communication by the selected one radio transmitting/receiving device.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device for communicating a data signal through a predetermined network line, comprising:

a plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices which are different at least in data communication speed from one another;

setting means for setting an access point for each of said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices in accordance with a current position of a mobile unit;

first determining means for determining whether the data signal is to be transmitted or not as a periodically transmitted data signal due to a lapse of a predetermined period of time from a preceding update time;

selecting means for selecting one having a higher communication speed of said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices when said first determining means determines that the data signal is to be transmitted as a periodically transmitted data signal;

second determining means for determining whether a communication by the one radio transmitting/receiving device is available through the access point set by said setting means or not; and

control means for controlling a data communication by the one radio transmitting/receiving device selected by said selecting means when said second determining means determines that a communication by said one radio transmitting/receiving device is available through the access point set by said setting means.

2. A mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein said selecting means selects a radio transmitting/receiving device having a higher data communication speed from said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices as said one radio transmitting/receiving device when the data signal to be transmitted or received has a relatively large data size.

3. A mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein said selecting means selects a radio transmitting/receiving device which is relatively available for communication at all times from said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices as said one radio transmitting/receiving device when the data signal to be transmitted or received indicates emergency information which should be urgently communicated.

4. A mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein said selecting means selects a radio transmitting/receiving device which is relatively available for communication at all times from said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices instead of said radio transmitting/receiving device having a higher data communication speed, as said one radio transmitting/receiving device, when said periodically transmitted data signal cannot be transmitted for a predetermined time period.

5. A mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein said setting means sets a travel route from a current position to a destination of said mobile unit, and sets an access point located at the shortest distance from the current position of said mobile unit on the travel route for each of said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices.

6. A mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein in a case that data transmission or reception is requested in accordance with a manipulation, said selecting means selects a radio transmitting/receiving device having a higher data communication speed as said one radio transmitting/receiving device when the radio transmitting/receiving device having a higher data communication speed is available for communication within said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices, and said selecting means selects a radio transmitting/receiving device which is relatively available for communication at all times from said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices as said one radio transmitting/receiving device when said radio transmitting/receiving device having a higher data communication speed is not available for communication.

7. A mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined network line is the Internet.

8. A mobile communication device according to claim 2, wherein said radio transmitting/receiving device having a higher data communication speed within said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices is a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver.

9. A mobile communication device according to claim 3, wherein said radio transmitting/receiving device which is relatively available for communication at all times within said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices is a mobile telephone.

10. A mobile communicating method for communicating data through a predetermined network line, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a data signal is to be transmitted or not as a periodically transmitted data signal due to a lapse of a predetermined period of time from a preceding update time;

selecting one having a higher communication speed of a plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices which are different at least in data communication speed from one another when it is determined that the data signal is to be transmitted as a periodically transmitted data signal;

setting an access point for each of said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices in accordance with a current position of a mobile unit;

determining whether a communication by the one radio transmitting/receiving device is available though the set access point or not;

controlling a data communication by the selected one radio transmitting/receiving device when it is determined that a communication by said one radio transmitting/receiving device is available through the set access point.

11. A mobile communicating method according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined network line is the Internet.

12. A mobile communication method according to claim 10, wherein said radio transmitting/receiving device having a higher data communication speed within said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices is a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver.

13. A mobile communication device for communicating data through a predetermined network line, comprising:

a plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices which are different at least in data communication speed from one another;

a first circuit which sets an access point for each of said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices in accordance with a current position of a mobile unit;

a second circuit which determines whether a data signal is to be transmitted or not as a periodically transmitted data signal due to a lapse of a predetermined period of time from a preceding update time;

a third circuit which selects one having a higher communication speed of said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices when said second circuit determines that the data signal is to be transmitted as a periodically transmitted data signal;

a fourth circuit which determines whether a communication by the one radio transmitting/receiving device is available through the access point set by said first circuit or not; and

a fifth circuit which controls a data communication by the one radio transmitting/receiving device selected by said third circuit when said fourth circuit determines that a communication by said one radio transmitting/receiving device is available through the set access point.

14. A mobile communication device according to claim 13, wherein said third circuit which selects one of said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices selects a radio transmitting/receiving device having a higher data communication speed from said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices as said one radio transmitting/receiving device when the data signal to be transmitted or received has a relatively large data size.

15. A mobile communication device according to claim 13, wherein said third circuit which selects one of said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices selects a radio transmitting/receiving device which is relatively available for communication at all times from said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices as said one radio transmitting/receiving device when the data signal to be transmitted or received indicates emergency information which should be urgently communicated.

16. A mobile communication device according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined network line is the Internet.

17. A mobile communication device according to claim 14, wherein said radio transmitting/receiving device having a higher data communication speed within said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices is a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver.

18. A mobile communication device according to claim 15, wherein said radio transmitting/receiving device which is relatively available for communication at all times within said plurality of radio transmitting/receiving devices is a mobile telephone.