Terminal apparatus and communication system

• US 8,160,541 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Shintai, Tatsuya, Koie, Yoshio, Matsui, Ryohei
• Primary Examiner(s): BALAOING, ARIEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/657,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20100190465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/435.1, 455/556.1, 701/36, 379/45
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A terminal apparatus for communicating with an information center via a network includes: a memory for storing current and new connection destination information when the apparatus receives the new connection destination information from the center; a first trial element for trying communication connection to the center based on the new connection destination information after the center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information; and a second trial element for trying communication connection to the center based on the current connection destination information when the first trial element fails to perform the communication connection. The memory maintains to store the current connection destination information until the first connection trial element succeeds to perform the communication connection.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus as a terminal apparatus for telematic service, which performs data communication with an information center via a wireless communication network wherein the terminal apparatus receives a notice of connection destination information for communicating and connecting with the information center by the data communication, and the terminal apparatus stores the connection destination information received in the notice, the communication apparatus comprising:

a connection destination information storing device storing new connection destination information in addition to current connection destination information, which is preliminary stored in the connection destination information storing device, when the terminal apparatus receives the new connection destination information from the information center, wherein the new connection destination information is to be switched with the current connection destination information;

a first connection trial device trying communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information after the information center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information; and

a second connection trial device trying communication connection to the information center based on the current connection destination information when the first connection trial device tries and fails to perform the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information,

wherein the connection destination information storing device maintains the current connection destination information in storage without deleting until the first connection trial device succeeds in performing the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection destination information storing device further stores switching date information when the terminal apparatus receives a notification of the switching date information showing a switching date, at which the new connection destination information is to be switched from the current connection destination information, together with the new connection destination information to be switched from the current connection destination information, from the information center;

and

wherein the first connection trial device performs a process and determines that the information center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information when the switching date has passed.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a stored information deleting device deleting the current connection destination information stored in the connection destination information storing device when the communication apparatus succeeds in performing the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information.

4. A communication system for telematics service, comprising:

the terminal apparatus according to claim 1; and

the information center,

wherein the terminal apparatus performs data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network.

5. The communication system according to claim 4,

wherein the information center is an emergency call center for handling emergency call.

6. The communication system according to claim 4,

wherein the terminal apparatus is an in-vehicle communication module, which solely performs the data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network.

7. The communication system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a communication terminal for solely performing the data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network,

wherein the communication terminal is capable of executing the data communication with the terminal apparatus in a wired or wireless manner, and

wherein the terminal apparatus is an in-vehicle terminal, which is capable of performing the data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network and the communication terminal.

8. A communication apparatus as a terminal apparatus for telematic service, which performs data communication with an information center via a wireless communication network wherein the terminal apparatus receives a notice of connection destination information for communicating and connecting with the information center by the data communication, and the terminal apparatus stores the connection destination information received in the notice, the communication apparatus comprising:

a connection destination information storing device storing new connection destination information in addition to current connection destination information, which is preliminary stored in the connection destination information storing device, when the terminal apparatus receives the new connection destination information from the information center, wherein the new connection destination information is to be switched with the current connection destination information;

a first connection trial device trying communication connection to the information center based on the current connection destination information after the information center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information; and

a second connection trial device trying communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information when the first connection trial device tries and fails to perform the communication connection to the information center based on the current connection destination information,

wherein the first connection trial device retries the communication connection to the information center based on the current connection destination information when the second connection trial device tries and fails to perform the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information, and

wherein the connection destination information storing device maintains the current connection destination information in storage without deleting until the second connection trial device succeeds in performing the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the connection destination information storing device further stores switching date information when the terminal apparatus receives a notification of the switching date information showing a switching date, at which the new connection destination information is to be switched from the current connection destination information, together with the new connection destination information to be switched from the current connection destination information, from the information center;

and

wherein the first connection trial device performs a process and determines that the information center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information when the switching date has passed.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a stored information deleting device deleting the current connection destination information stored in the connection destination information storing device when the communication apparatus succeeds in performing the communication connection to the information center based on the new connection destination information.

11. A communication system for telematics service comprising:

the terminal apparatus according to claim 8; and

the information center,

wherein the terminal apparatus performs data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network.

12. The communication system according to claim 11,

wherein the information center is an emergency call center for handling emergency call.

13. The communication system according to claim 11,

wherein the terminal apparatus is an in-vehicle communication module, which solely performs the data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network.

14. The communication system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a communication terminal for solely performing the data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network,

wherein the communication terminal is capable of executing the data communication with the terminal apparatus in a wired or wireless manner, and

wherein the terminal apparatus is an in-vehicle terminal, which is capable of performing the data communication with the information center via the wireless communication network and the communication terminal.