Wireless communication system having communication system switching function

• US 7,209,465 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Matsugatani, Kazuoki, Egawa, Masumi
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US10/024,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,952 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/351, 370/401, 455/414.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 342/357.09, 342/357.1
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/677 Multiple interfaces, e.g. multihomed nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/26 for hybrid routing by combining proactive and reactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/28 for reactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• 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 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Base stations of a communication system belong to a sub-network, which is connected to the Internet by way of a gateway. Base stations of another communication system belong to sub-network, which is connected to the Internet by way of another gateway. A mobile terminal communicates with a server by using one of the communication systems. In this case, the mobile terminal includes mobile station network interfaces which can access to the communication systems, and is designed to switch communication systems by means of a communication system switching unit.

Claims

1. A wireless system comprising:

a mobile terminal; and

a plurality of communication systems for communication with the mobile terminal, the communication systems being different in service area of cells from each other;

wherein

each of the communication systems has base stations belonging to a sub-network which is unique to the communication system, each sub-network being connected to an Internet by way of a gateway provided for the sub-network, and

the mobile terminal has a plurality of mobile station network interfaces which can access the communication systems respectively, and means for switching the communication systems accessed by the mobile station network interfaces based on cell position information of cells which are formed by the base stations of the communication systems and the present location of the mobile terminal and depending on the cell at the present location;

the mobile terminal has a navigation system which provides a routing guidance from a present location to a destination; and

the communication system switching means sets switching positions of the communication systems based on the cell position information and route information of the route guidance by means of the navigation system, and carries out switching depending on a relation between the switching positions and the present location by setting a position of switching based on the cell position information and the route information and switching the communication systems when the present location becomes the set position of switching.

2. A mobile terminal for a wireless system that has:

a plurality of communication systems for communication with the mobile terminal, the communication systems being different from each other, wherein

each of the communication systems has base stations belonging to a sub-network which is unique to the communication system, each sub-network being connected to an Internet by way of a gateway provided for the sub-network, and

the mobile terminal comprises a plurality of mobile station network interfaces which can access the communication systems respectively;

switching means for switching between the communication systems wherein the switching means switches the communication systems accessed by the mobile station network interfaces based on the cell position information of cells which are formed by the base stations of the communication systems, a current location of the mobile terminal, and depending on the cell at the current location;

wherein

the switching means switches between the communication systems based on the cell position information and route information in a case of implementation of route guidance of the mobile terminal by a navigation system, and carries out switching by comparing switching positions and the current location.

3. The mobile terminal as in claim 2, further comprising means for modifying the cell position information, wherein said means for modifying the cell position information determines before switching at a next switching position that communication by use of the communication system in current use cannot be maintained.

4. A wireless system comprising:

a mobile terminal; and

a plurality of communication systems for communication with the mobile terminal, the systems being different from each other, characterized in that

each of the communication systems has base stations belonging to a sub-network which is unique to a one of said plurality of communication systems, each of said communication systems being connected to an Internet by way of a gateway provided for the sub-network, the gateway having a router function for routing between the internet and the sub-network, and

the mobile terminal has a plurality of mobile station network interfaces, each of which can access a different one of the plurality of communication systems, and means for routing application software located between the mobile station network interfaces and a section running the application software, said means for routing the application software thereby switching the communication systems by connecting the section running the application software to any one of the mobile station network interfaces.

5. The wireless system as in claim 4, wherein each of the gateways and the means for routing the application software have routing tables used for the routing, and means for revising contents of the respective routing tables.

6. The wireless system as in claim 5 wherein said means for revising contents of the respective routing tables is responsive to a command from the mobile terminal to update said routing tables.