Apparatus and method for deciding access system based on WLAN signal strength in WLAN/mobile network interworking system, and mobile terminal therefor

• US 7,324,478 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SK Telecom Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SK Telecom Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Phang, Chan-Jeom, Lee, Dong-Hahk, Park, Seong-Soo, Lee, Sang Shin, Shin, Yong-Sik
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Chirag G.
• Application Number:
  US10/425,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20040044887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/142 over the same radio air interface technology
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6408 Supports or covers specially adapted for use in microwave heating apparatus

Abstract

The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for deciding an access system based on WLAN signal strength in a WLAN/mobile phone network interworking system, and a mobile terminal therefor. The method for deciding the access system based on the WLAN signal strength in the WLAN/mobile phone network interworking system includes an initialization step for performing an initialization process on a WLAN driver module and a mobile phone network driver module, and measuring and displaying WLAN signal strength, a service decision step for selecting a WLAN service or mobile phone network service according to the measured WLAN signal strength, and a service access step for enabling the corresponding driver module to access the service decided in the service decision step. The apparatus and method for deciding the access system based on the WLAN signal strength provide a roaming service by efficiently interworking a WLAN which provides a high speed internet access service based on hot spots and a mobile phone network which provides a national communication service, to facilitate activation of the wireless internet service.

Claims

1. A method for deciding an access system based on WLAN signal strength in a WLAN/mobile phone network interworking system, comprising:

an initialization step for performing an initialization process on a WLAN driver module and a mobile network driver module, and measuring and displaying WLAN signal strength;

a service decision step for selecting a WLAN service or mobile phone network service according to the measured WLAN signal strength; and

a service access step for enabling the corresponding driver module to access the service decided in the service decision step, wherein the service decision step comprises;

a first step for deciding whether the measured WLAN signal strength, value is greater than a reference value for setting a WLAN mode; and

a second step for enabling a WLAN driver module and disabling a mobile phone network driver, module when the measured value is greater than the reference value in the first step, and disabling the WLAN driver module and enabling the mobile network driver module when the measured value is smaller than the reference value;

wherein, in the service access step, when a communication mode of a terminal is a WLAN mode, if an average of N WLAN signal strength values measured for a predetermined period is smaller than a reference value, or if N1 (>

=N) WLAN signal strength values are all smaller than the reference value, the WLAN mode is converted into a mobile phone network mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the initialization step defines a number (N) of the measured WLAN signal strength values, and resets the number in every communication initialization or communication mode variation.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service access step decides a communication mode on the basis of the WLAN signal strength measured for a predetermined time, enables the driver module corresponding to the succeeding service, and disables the driver module of the current service, to prevent the communication mode from being frequently changed due to rapid variations of the WLAN signal strength.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the service access step, when a communication mode of a terminal is a WLAN mode, if an average of a predetermined number (N) of WLAN signal strength values measured for a predetermined period is smaller than a reference value, the WLAN mode is converted into a mobile phone network mode.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the service access step, when a communication mode of a terminal is a WLAN mode, if N1 (>

=N) WLAN signal strength values measured for a predetermined period are all smaller than a reference value, the WLAN mode is converted into a mobile phone network mode.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the service access step, when a communication mode of a terminal is a mobile phone network mode, if an average of a predetermined number (N) of WLAN signal strength values measured for a predetermined period is greater than a reference value, the mobile phone network mode is converted into the WLAN mode.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the service access step, when a communication mode of a terminal is a mobile phone network mode, if N1 (>

=N) WLAN signal strength values measured for a predetermined period are all greater than a reference value, the mobile phone network mode is converted into the WLAN mode.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the service access step, when a communication mode of a terminal is a mobile phone network mode, if an average of N WLAN signal strength values measured for a predetermined period is greater than a reference value, or if N1 (>

=N) WLAN signal strength values are all greater than the reference value, the mobile phone network mode is converted into the WLAN mode.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service decision converts a communication mode to either a (mobile phone network mode or WLAN mode) of a terminal, when the measured WLAN signal strength values are detected to be continuously changed before a predetermined number (N) of values defined in the initialization step are all measured.