Communication method, communication apparatus and communication system

• US 7,949,339 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Hamano, Yuichiro, Higuchi, Mamoru, Hayashi, Ritsuo, Noda, Yukihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUONG, DAI
• Application Number:
  US12/022,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 455428-439
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00692 using simultaneous multiple data streams, e.g. cooperative multipoint [CoMP], carrier aggregation [CA] or multiple input multiple output [MIMO] allocation of physical resources in CoMP or in CA H04L5/0035
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/144 over a different radio air interface technology
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/249 according to timing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A communication method enabling communication on a predetermined mobile communication network and communication on a predetermined wireless communication network different from the predetermined mobile communication network, includes the step of: switching, means for carrying out predetermined data transfer while maintaining a communication channel on the predetermined mobile communication network, between communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and communication on the predetermined wireless communication network, or activating or deactivating a part concerning the predetermined wireless communication included in a mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A communication method enabling communication on a predetermined mobile communication network and communication on a predetermined wireless communication network different from the predetermined mobile communication network, comprising the steps of:

switching, for predetermined packet communication, between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network, and activating or deactivating a part concerning the predetermined wireless communication included in a mobile terminal, wherein the switching is made only for user data, and a control signal is transmitted always via the predetermined mobile communication network;

monitoring a radio link band usage condition concerning the predetermined mobile communication network or the predetermined wireless communication network;

carrying out the switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the radio link band usage condition corresponds to a predetermined condition as a result of the monitoring;

sending, via the mobile communication network, an instruction to activate a function of the mobile terminal concerning the communication on the wireless communication network;

the mobile terminal requesting via the predetermined wireless communication network for an address, and the address being then obtained by said mobile terminal via the predetermined wireless communication network in response thereto; and

confirming that the mobile terminal is in an environment such that communication on the predetermined wireless communication network is available when said address is included in a report from said mobile terminal.

2. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

based on the radio link band usage condition, said switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network is carried out.

3. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said monitoring step and said step of switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network resulting from the monitoring are carried out by a control part which carries out communication control of said predetermined mobile communication network.

4. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said monitoring step is carried out by the mobile terminal; and

the mobile terminal determines, for the switching, the communication channel as a result of the monitoring, and provides an instruction for the switching to a control part which carries out communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network.

5. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

operating by a user of the mobile terminal, to said mobile terminal, for the switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network.

6. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a remaining battery power of the mobile terminal; and

carrying out switching into the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network when the remaining battery power falls below a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring during the communication using the predetermined wireless communication network.

7. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a remaining battery power of the mobile terminal; and

when the remaining battery power falls from a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring, the activating of the part concerning the predetermined wireless communication network is not carried out by the mobile terminal.

8. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

when the mobile terminal provides an instruction to switch into the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network, the part concerning the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network is deactivated.

9. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

when it is determined that the mobile terminal does not carry out the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network, the part concerning the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network is deactivated.

10. The communication method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the step of:

deactivating the part concerning the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when switching into the communication on the wireless communication network could not be carried out after an elapse of a predetermined time since the part concerning the communication on the wireless communication network included in the mobile terminal was activated.

11. A communication method enabling communication on a predetermined mobile communication network and communication on a predetermined wireless communication network different from the predetermined mobile communication network, comprising the steps of:

switching, for predetermined packet communication, between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network, and activating or deactivating a part concerning the predetermined wireless communication included in a mobile terminal, wherein the switching is made only for user data, and a control signal is transmitted always via the predetermined mobile communication network;

monitoring a radio link band usage condition concerning the predetermined mobile communication network or the predetermined wireless communication network;

carrying out the switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when the radio link band usage condition corresponds to a predetermined condition as a result of the monitoring;

activating, in response to a user'"'"'s operation, a function of the mobile terminal concerning the communication on the wireless communication network;

the mobile terminal requesting via the predetermined wireless communication network an address, and the address being then obtained by said mobile terminal via the predetermined wireless communication network in response thereto; and

confirming that the mobile terminal is in an environment such that communication on the predetermined wireless communication network is available when said address is included in a report from said mobile terminal.

12. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

based on the radio link band usage condition, said switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network is carried out.

13. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said monitoring step and said step of switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network resulting from the monitoring are carried out by a control part which carries out communication control of said predetermined mobile communication network.

14. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said monitoring step is carried out by the mobile terminal; and

the mobile terminal determines, for the switching, a communication channel as a result of the monitoring, and provides an instruction for the switching to a control part which carries out communication control of the predetermined mobile communication network.

15. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step of:

operating by a user of the mobile terminal, to said mobile terminal, for the switching between the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network and the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network.

16. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a remaining battery power of the mobile terminal; and

carrying out switching into the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network when the remaining battery power falls below a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring during the communication using the predetermined wireless communication network.

17. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a remaining battery power of the mobile terminal; and

when the remaining battery power falls from a predetermined threshold as a result of the monitoring, the activating of the part concerning the predetermined wireless communication network is not carried out by the mobile terminal.

18. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

when the mobile terminal provides an instruction to switch into the communication on the predetermined mobile communication network, the part concerning the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network is deactivated.

19. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

when it is determined that the mobile terminal does not carry out the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network, the part concerning the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network is deactivated.

20. The communication method as claimed in claim 11, comprising the step of:

deactivating the part concerning the communication on the predetermined wireless communication network when switching into the communication on the wireless communication network could not be carried out after an elapse of a predetermined time since the part concerning the communication on the wireless communication network included in the mobile terminal was activated.