Method and apparatus for controlling scanning period in a mobile communication terminal

• US 7,924,787 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Byoung-Chul
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US11/513,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20070091847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for controlling a WLAN scanning period using a velocity sensor in a mobile communication terminal are provided. The velocity of a user is measured at a predetermined period and it is determined whether the measured velocity satisfies a predetermined condition for changing the scanning period. A scanning period corresponding to the velocity is detected in a look-up table, if the velocity satisfies the predetermined condition. Scanning is performed at the detected scanning period.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a scanning period using a velocity sensor in a mobile communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

measuring, by a velocity sensor, a velocity of the mobile communication terminal;

determining, by a controller, whether the measured velocity is greater than a threshold velocity;

scanning at a default scanning period, if the velocity is not greater than the threshold velocity;

identifying, by the controller, a scanning period corresponding to the velocity in a look-up table, if the velocity is greater than the threshold velocity; and

scanning, by the controller, a neighboring access point of a wireless local area network at the identified scanning period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the default scanning period is shorter than scanning periods in the look-up table.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step is performed at a predetermined period.

4. A mobile communication terminal for controlling a scanning period using a velocity sensor comprising:

a memory for storing a look-up table; and

a controller for measuring a velocity of the mobile communication terminal, determining whether the measured velocity is greater than a threshold velocity, scanning at a default scanning period, if the velocity is not greater than the threshold velocity, identifying a scanning period corresponding to the velocity in the look-up table, if the velocity is greater than the threshold velocity, and scanning a neighboring access point of a wireless local area network at the identified scanning period.

5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 4, wherein the default scanning period is shorter than scanning periods in the look-up table.

6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 4, wherein the controller performs the measuring step at a predetermined period.