Mobile radio communication apparatus for selecting a high priority system at the time of turning power on

• US 7,532,886 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Toshiba Mobile Communications Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishikura, Akira, Aoki, Ippo
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daniel, Jr.; Willie J
• Application Number:
  US11/218,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/435.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a mobile radio communication apparatus, wherein priority data items representing the priorities of base stations are stored. The SID of the base station seized when the apparatus was turned off last is stored in the apparatus, too. When the apparatus is turned on, it may identify a base station of higher priority than the base station it seized when it was turned off. In this case, the apparatus seizes the base station of higher priority and goes into an idle state. Thus, the apparatus that can seize a base station of high priority even if it seized a base station of low priority when it was turned off last and if it now exits in an area formed by the overlapping of the two service areas in which the low-priority base station and the high-priority base station operate, respectively.

Claims

1. A mobile radio communication apparatus for use in a mobile radio communication system which includes base stations, mobile radio communication apparatuses to be connected to the base stations over radio channels, and in which each of the base stations broadcasts a system ID number for identifying the base station, said apparatus comprising:

first memory means for storing system ID numbers and priority data items, each item associated with each of the system ID numbers and representing priority assigned to each base station, so as to be used to seize one base station;

first seizing means for receiving the broadcast system ID number in accordance with the priority data item stored in said first memory means, for seizing the base station having the system ID number received, and for setting the apparatus in an idle state;

second memory means for storing the system ID number of the seized base station when a user operates the apparatus and inputs a turn-off instruction for turning off the apparatus, while the apparatus remaining the idle state;

third memory means for storing channel numbers in the order of acquisition indices;

second seizing means for receiving a control signal using the stored channel number in accordance with the acquisition indices stored in said third memory means; and

control means

for turning off the apparatus in response to the turn-off instruction,

for determining whether a system ID number that the apparatus receives by referring to the contents of said second memory means is stored in the first memory means, in response to the turn-on instruction,

for determining whether the apparatus receives the system ID number of higher priority than the system ID number stored in said second memory means when the received system ID number is stored in the first memory means,

for seizing the base station having the system ID number of higher priority than the system ID number stored in said second memory means and setting the apparatus in the idle state when the apparatus receives the system ID number of higher priority,

for detecting a system ID number from a received control signal having a received strength equal to or greater than a prescribed value when the received system ID number is not stored in the first memory means, and

for seizing the base station having the detected system ID number and setting the apparatus in the idle state when the apparatus receives the detected system ID numbers,

wherein said control means operates such that a geographical area into which the apparatus has moved is identified, said first seizing means receives one of the broadcast system ID numbers in accordance with the geographical area identified, and seizes a base station having the one of the system ID number received by said first seizing means and sets the apparatus in the idle state.

2. A mobile radio communication apparatus which is connectable to base stations over radio channels, each of the base stations broadcasting a system ID for identifying the base station, said apparatus comprising:

a first memory for storing a system ID and a frequency of a base station acquired by the apparatus when the apparatus is switched off;

first means for acquiring the acquired base station using the stored frequency when the apparatus is switched on;

a second memory for storing system IDs with priority, the priority being assigned to each base station;

first means for determining whether the system ID of the acquired base station is stored in the second memory;

a third memory for storing system ID and a frequency of a home base station;

second means for acquiring the home base station using the frequency stored in the third memory when the system ID of the acquired base station is not stored in the second memory;

a fourth memory for storing frequencies in the order of acquisition indices;

means for receiving a control signal using the frequencies stored in the fourth memory in accordance with the stored acquisition indices when the apparatus does not acquire the home base station;

means for obtaining a system ID from the received control signal of which received strength is greater than a prescribed value;

second means for determining whether a system ID associated with a priority higher than that of the obtained system ID is stored in the second memory; and

third means for acquiring a base station of a system ID associated with the higher priority when the system ID associated with the higher priority is stored in the second memory.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, the first memory stores the system ID of the base station acquired by the apparatus when the apparatus is switched off when the system ID is stored in the second memory.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the system ID stored in said second memory is written into said first memory if the system ID is not stored in said first memory.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising receiving means for receiving the broadcast system ID and writing the received system ID into said first memory when the received broadcast system ID is different from any one of the system IDs stored in said first memory.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

first memory means for storing system IDs and priority data items, each item associated with each of the system IDs and representing priority assigned to each base station, so as to be used to seize one base station;

first seizing means for receiving the broadcast system ID in accordance with the priority data item stored in said first memory means, for seizing the base station having the system ID received, and for setting the apparatus in an idle state;

second memory means for storing the system ID of the seized base station when a user operates the apparatus and inputs a turn-off instruction for turning off the apparatus, while the apparatus remaining in the idle state;

second seizing means for seizing the base station having the system ID stored in said second memory means and setting the apparatus in an idle state when the apparatus is turned on; and

control means for determining whether the apparatus receives a system ID of higher priority than the system ID of the base station seized by said second seizing means, by referring to the contents of said first memory means, and for seizing the base station having the system ID of higher priority and setting the apparatus in the idle state when the apparatus receives the system ID of higher priority.

7. Method in a mobile radio communication apparatus for acquiring a base station in a mobile radio communication system in which each base station broadcasts a system ID for identifying the base station, said method comprising:

storing in a first memory a system ID and a frequency of a base station acquired by the apparatus when the apparatus is switched off;

acquiring the acquired base station using the stored frequency when the apparatus is switched on;

storing system IDs with priority in a second memory, the priority being assigned to each base station;

determining whether the system ID of the acquired base station is stored in the second memory;

storing system ID and a frequency of a home base station in a third memory;

acquiring the home base station using the frequency stored in the third memory when the system ID of the acquired base station is not stored in the second memory;

storing frequencies in the order of acquisition indices in a fourth memory;

receiving a control signal using the frequencies stored in the fourth memory in accordance with the stored acquisition indices when the apparatus does not acquire the home base station;

obtaining a system ID from the received control signal of which received strength is greater than a prescribed value;

determining whether a system ID associated with a priority higher than that of the obtained system ID is stored in the second memory; and

acquiring a base station of a system ID associated with the higher priority when the system ID associated with the higher priority is stored in the second memory.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether the system ID of the base station acquired by the apparatus when the apparatus is switched off when the system ID is stored in the second memory; and

storing in the first memory the system ID of the acquired base station when the system ID is stored in the second memory.

9. A mobile radio communication apparatus for use in a mobile radio communication system which includes base stations, mobile radio communication apparatuses to be connected to the base stations over radio channels, and in which each of the base stations broadcasts a system ID number for identifying the base station, said apparatus comprising:

a first memory configured to store system ID numbers and priority data items, each item associated with each of the system ID numbers and representing priority assigned to each base station, so as to be used to seize one base station;

a first seizing unit configured to receive the broadcast system ID number in accordance with the priority data item stored in said first memory, to seize the base station having the system ID number received, and to set the apparatus in an idle state;

a second memory configured to store the system ID number of the seized base station when a user operates the apparatus and inputs a turn-off instruction for turning off the apparatus, while the apparatus remaining the idle state;

a third memory configured to store channel numbers in the order of acquisition indices;

a second seizing unit configured to receive a control signal using the stored channel number in accordance with the acquisition indices stored in said third memory; and

a control unit

configured to turn off the apparatus in response to the turn-off instruction,

configured to determine whether a system ID number that the apparatus receives by referring to the contents of said second memory is stored in the first memory, in response to the turn-on instruction,

configured to determine whether the apparatus receives the system ID number of higher priority than the system ID number stored in said second memory when the received system ID number is stored in the first memory,

configured to seize the base station having the system ID number of higher priority than the system ID number stored in said second memory and to set the apparatus in the idle state when the apparatus receives the system ID number of higher priority,

configured to detect a system ID number from a received control signal having a received strength equal to or greater than a prescribed value when the received system ID number is not stored in the first memory, and

configured to seize the base station having the detected system ID number and to set the apparatus in the idle state when the apparatus receives the detected system ID numbers,

wherein said control unit operates such that a geographical area into which the apparatus has moved is identified, said first seizing unit receives one of the broadcast system ID numbers in accordance with the geographical area identified, and seizes a base station having the one of the system ID number received by said first seizing unit and sets the apparatus in the idle state.

10. A mobile radio communication apparatus which is connectable to base stations over radio channels, each of the base stations broadcasting a system ID for identifying the base station, said apparatus comprising:

a first memory configured to store a system ID and a frequency of a base station acquired by the apparatus when the apparatus is switched off;

a first acquiring unit configured to acquire the acquired base station using the stored frequency when the apparatus is switched on;

a second memory configured to store system IDs with priority, the priority being assigned to each base station;

a first determining unit configured to determine whether the system ID of the acquired base station is stored in the second memory;

a third memory configured to store a system ID and a frequency of a home base station;

a second acquiring unit configured to acquire the home base station using the frequency stored in the third memory when the system ID of the acquired base station is not stored in the second memory;

a fourth memory configured to store frequencies in the order of acquisition indices;

a receiving unit configured to receive a control signal using the frequencies stored in the fourth memory in accordance with the stored acquisition indices when the apparatus does not acquire the home base station;

an obtaining unit configured to obtain a system ID from the received control signal of which received strength is greater than a prescribed value;

a second determining unit configured to determine whether a system ID associated with a priority higher than that of the obtained system ID is stored in the second memory; and

a third acquiring unit configured to acquire a base station of a system ID associated with the higher priority when the system ID associated with the higher priority is stored in the second memory.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first memory stores the system ID of the base station acquired by the apparatus when the apparatus is switched off when the system ID is stored in the second memory.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the system ID stored in said second memory is written into said first memory if the system ID is not stored in said first memory.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a receiving unit configured to receive the broadcast system ID, and a writing unit configured to write the received system ID into said first memory when the received broadcast system ID is different from any one of the system IDs stored in said first memory.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a fifth memory configured to store system IDs and priority data items, each item associated with each of the system IDs and representing priority assigned to each base station, so as to be used to seize one base station;

a first seizing unit configured to receive the broadcast system ID in accordance with the priority data item stored in said fifth memory, to seize the base station having the system ID received, and to set the apparatus in an idle state;

a sixth memory configured to store the system ID of the seized base station when a user operates the apparatus and inputs a turn-off instruction for turning off the apparatus, while the apparatus remaining in the idle state;

a second seizing unit configured to seize the base station having the system ID stored in said sixth memory and to set the apparatus in an idle state when the apparatus is turned on; and

a control unit configured to determine whether the apparatus receives a system ID of higher priority than the system ID of the base station seized by said second seizing unit, by referring to the contents of said fifth memory, and to seize the base station having the system ID of higher priority and set the apparatus in the idle state when the apparatus receives the system ID of higher priority.