In-vehicle wireless communication device, roaming list updating system, and method for updating roaming list

• US 8,219,081 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kondo, Hiromasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, NATHAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/588,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20100144342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/415, 455/412.1
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

A wireless communication unit performs wireless communication with a network of a carrier and receives a roaming list transmitted from the network. A control unit causes a storing unit to store the transmitted roaming list. The control unit sets the stored roaming list to be workable when completing updating of the roaming list and traces a communicable wireless communication system using the workable roaming list. The control unit causes the wireless communication unit to transmit an update request to the network when reception of the transmitted latest roaming list is unsuccessful in the course of the reception and when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The network transmits a latest roaming list to the wireless communication unit in response to reception of the update request.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle wireless communication device configured to perform wireless communication with a network of a carrier, the network configured to transmit a latest roaming list to the in-vehicle wireless communication device in response to reception of an update request from the in-vehicle wireless communication device, the in-vehicle wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with the network and receive a roaming list transmitted from the network;

a storing unit configured to store the roaming list received by the wireless communication unit;

a control unit configured to;

cause the storing unit to store the roaming list transmitted from the network when the wireless communication unit receives the roaming list;

set the roaming list stored in the storing unit to be workable in response to a determination that a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

trace a wireless communication system, which the wireless communication unit is communicable with, using the roaming list, which is set to be workable;

an updating state storing unit configured to store an updating state, which is in;

a completed mode in which reception of a latest roaming list, which is transmitted from the network, is successful to an end of the reception, and updating of the roaming list stored in the storing unit is completed;

or

a non-completed mode in which reception of the latest roaming list, which is transmitted from the network, is unsuccessful in the course of the reception, and the roaming list stored in the storing unit is in the course of updating,

wherein the control unit is configured to determine the updating state stored in the updating state storing unit when the predetermined condition is satisfied, and

the control unit is configured to;

set the roaming list stored in the storing unit to be workable when determining that the updating state is in the completed mode; and

cause the wireless communication unit to transmit an update request to the network, when determining that the updating state is in the non-completed mode, to thereby cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit;

wherein the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for obtaining failure information from the network, the control unit is further configured to obtain failure information in response to the request for obtaining failure information;

the control unit is further configured to cause the wireless communication unit to transmit the update request and the obtained failure information to the network in response to the request to the network, when determining that the updating state is in the non-completed mode;

the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for updating the roaming list, which is transmitted from the network in response to the update request and the obtained failure information; and

the wireless communication unit is further configured to transmit a roaming list updating response to the request to the network thereby to cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit.

2. The in-vehicle wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to set the roaming list stored in the storing unit to be workable when determining that the updating state is in the completed mode, and subsequently, the control unit is configured to cause the wireless communication unit to transmit an update request to the network when a present date and time reaches a predetermined regular date and time.

3. The in-vehicle wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied in response to change in a state of an apparatus from a low-power-consumption state to a normal operation state, the change being caused by activation of a de-activated predetermined switch.

4. An in-vehicle wireless communication device configured to perform wireless communication with a network of a carrier, the network configured to transmit a latest roaming list to the in-vehicle wireless communication device in response to reception of an update request from the in-vehicle wireless communication device, the in-vehicle wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with the network and receive a roaming list transmitted from the network;

a storing unit configured to store the roaming list received by the wireless communication unit;

a control unit configured to;

cause the storing unit to store the roaming list transmitted from the network when the wireless communication unit receives the roaming list;

set the roaming list stored in the storing unit to be workable in response to a determination that a predetermined condition is satisfied;

and trace a wireless communication system, which the wireless communication unit is communicable with, using the roaming list, which is set to be workable,

an updating state storing unit configured to store an updating state, which is in;

a completed mode in which reception of a latest roaming list, which is transmitted from the network, is successful to an end of the reception, and updating of the roaming list stored in the storing unit is completed;

or a non-completed mode in which reception of the latest roaming list, which is transmitted from the network, is unsuccessful from the beginning of the reception, and the roaming list stored in the storing unit is not updated,

wherein the control unit is configured to determine the updating state stored in the updating state storing unit when the predetermined condition is satisfied,

and the control unit is configured to;

set the roaming list stored in the storing unit to be workable when determining that the updating state is in the completed mode, and

cause the wireless communication unit to transmit an update request to the network when determining that the updating state is in the non-completed mode and when a present date and time reaches a predetermined regular date and time, to thereby cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit;

wherein the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for obtaining failure information from the network, the control unit is further configured to obtain failure information in response to the request for obtaining failure information, the control unit is further configured to cause the wireless communication unit to transmit the update request and the obtained failure information to the network in response to the request to the network, when determining that the updating state is in the non-completed mode;

the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for updating the roaming list, which is transmitted from the network in response to the update request and the obtained failure information, and the wireless communication unit is further configured to transmit a roaming list updating response to the request to the network thereby to cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit.

5. The in-vehicle wireless communication device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to set the roaming list stored in the storing unit to be workable when determining that the updating state is in the completed mode, and subsequently, the control unit is configured to cause the wireless communication unit to transmit an update request to the network when the present date and time reaches the predetermined regular date and time.

6. The in-vehicle wireless communication device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied in response to change in a state of an apparatus from a low-power-consumption state to a normal operation state, the change being caused by activation of a de-activated predetermined switch.

7. An in-vehicle wireless communication device configured to perform wireless communication with a network of a carrier, the network configured to transmit a latest roaming list to the in-vehicle wireless communication device in response to reception of an update request from the in-vehicle wireless communication device, the in-vehicle wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with the network and receive a roaming list transmitted from the network;

a storing unit configured to store the roaming list received by the wireless communication unit;

a control unit configured to;

cause the storing unit to store the roaming list transmitted from the network when the wireless communication unit receives the roaming list;

set the roaming list stored in the storing unit to be workable in response to a determination that a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

trace a wireless communication system, which the wireless communication means is communicable with, using the roaming list, which is set to be workable,

wherein the control unit is configured to cause the wireless communication unit to transmit an update request to the network in response to notification of a request for updating a roaming list from a vehicle service center, to thereby cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit;

wherein the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for obtaining failure information from the network, the control unit is further configured to obtain failure information in response to the request for obtaining failure information, the control unit is further configured to cause the wireless communication unit to transmit the update request and the obtained failure information to the network in response to the request to the network, when determining that the updating state is in the non-completed mode,

the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for updating the roaming list, which is transmitted from the network in response to the update request and the obtained failure information, and the wireless communication unit is further configured to transmit a roaming list updating response to the request to the network thereby to cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit.

8. A roaming list updating system comprising:

the in-vehicle wireless communication device according to claim 7; and

the vehicle service center configured to send the notification of the request for updating a roaming list to the in-vehicle wireless communication device.

9. The roaming list updating system according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle service center is configured to send the notification to the in-vehicle wireless communication device when acquiring failure information from the in-vehicle wireless communication device.

10. The roaming list updating system according to claim 8,

wherein the in-vehicle wireless communication device includes an updating state storing unit configured to store an updating state of a latest roaming list transmitted from the network, and

the vehicle service center is configured send the notification to the in-vehicle wireless communication device, irrespective of the updating state of the latest roaming list stored in the updating state storing unit.

11. The roaming list updating system according to claim 8,

wherein the in-vehicle wireless communication device includes an updating state storing unit configured to store an updating state of the latest roaming list transmitted from the network,

the vehicle service center is configured to send the notification to the in-vehicle wireless communication device when determining that the reception of the latest roaming list is unsuccessful in the course of the reception, and the latest roaming list stored in the updating state storing unit is in the course of updating.

12. The roaming list updating system according to claim 8,

wherein the in-vehicle wireless communication device includes an updating state storing unit configured to store the updating state of the latest roaming list transmitted from the network,

the vehicle service center is configured to send the notification to the in-vehicle wireless communication device when determining that the reception of the latest roaming list is unsuccessful from the beginning of the reception, and the latest roaming list stored in the updating state storing unit is not updated.

13. A method for updating a roaming list in an in-vehicle wireless communication device via wireless communication with a network of a carrier, the method comprising:

receiving a latest roaming list from the network;

storing an updating state, which is in;

i) a completed mode in which the receiving of the latest roaming list is successful to an end of the receiving;

or

ii) a non-completed mode in which reception of the latest roaming list, which is transmitted from the network, is unsuccessful in the course of the reception;

determining whether the updating state stored is in the completed mode or the non-completed mode in response to a determination that a predetermined condition is satisfied;

setting the roaming list stored to be workable and tracing a communicable wireless communication system using the roaming list workable when determining that the updating state is in the completed mode;

and transmitting an update request to the network for receiving a latest roaming list from the network, when a result of the determining is that the updating state is in the non-completed mode, to thereby cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit;

receiving a request for obtaining failure information from the network;

obtaining failure information in response to the request for obtaining failure information;

transmitting the update request and the obtained failure information to the network in response to the request to the network, when a result of the determining is that the updating state is in the non-completed mode;

receiving a request for updating the roaming list, which is transmitted from the network in response to the update request and the obtained failure information;

and transmitting a roaming list updating response to the request to the network thereby to cause the network to transmit the roaming list.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether a state of an apparatus is changed from a low-power-consumption state to a normal operation state in response to activation of a de-activated predetermined switch; and

determining that the predetermined condition is satisfied in response to determination that the state is changed from the low-power-consumption state to the normal operation state.

15. A method for updating a roaming list in an in-vehicle wireless communication device via wireless communication with a network of a carrier, the method comprising:

receiving a latest roaming list from the network;

storing an updating state, which is in;

i) a completed mode in which the receiving of the latest roaming list is successful to an end of the receiving;

or

ii) a non-completed mode in which reception of the latest roaming list, which is transmitted from the network, is unsuccessful from the beginning of the reception, and the roaming list stored in the storing unit is not updated;

determining whether the updating state stored is in the completed mode or the non-completed mode in response to a determination that a predetermined condition is satisfied;

setting the roaming list stored to be workable and tracing a communicable wireless communication system using the roaming list workable when determining that the updating state is in the completed mode;

and transmitting an update request to the network for receiving a latest roaming list from the network, when a result of the determining is that the updating state is in the non-completed mode and when a present date and time reaches a predetermined regular date and time, to thereby cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit;

receiving a request for obtaining failure information from the network;

obtaining failure information in response to the request for obtaining failure information;

transmitting the update request and the obtained failure information to the network in response to the request to the network, when a result of the determining is that the updating state is in the non-completed mode;

receiving a request for updating the roaming list, which is transmitted from the network in response to the update request and the obtained failure information;

and transmitting a roaming list updating response to the request to the network thereby to cause the network to transmit the roaming list.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

determining whether a state of an apparatus is changed from a low-power-consumption state to a normal operation state in response to activation of a de-activated predetermined switch; and

determining that the predetermined condition is satisfied in response to determination that the state is changed from the low-power-consumption state to the normal operation state.

17. A method for updating a roaming list in an in-vehicle wireless communication device via wireless communication with a network of a carrier, the method comprising:

receiving a latest roaming list from the network;

determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied;

setting the roaming list stored to be workable and tracing a communicable wireless communication system using the roaming list workable in response to a determination that a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

transmitting an update request to the network for receiving a latest roaming list from the network in response to notification of a request for updating a roaming list from a vehicle service center, to thereby cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit;

receiving a request for obtaining failure information from the network;

obtaining failure information in response to the request for obtaining failure information;

transmitting the update request and the obtained failure information to the network in response to the request to the network, when a result of the determining is that the updating state is in the non-completed mode;

receiving a request for updating the roaming list, which is transmitted from the network in response to the update request and the obtained failure information;

and transmitting a roaming list updating response to the request to the network thereby to cause the network to transmit the roaming list.

18. An in-vehicle wireless communication device configured to perform wireless communication with a network of a carrier, the network configured to transmit a latest roaming list to the in-vehicle wireless communication device in response to reception of an update request from the in-vehicle wireless communication device, the in-vehicle wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with the network and receive a roaming list transmitted from the network;

a storing unit configured to store the roaming list received by the wireless communication unit;

a control unit configured to;

cause the storing unit to store the roaming list transmitted from the network when the wireless communication unit receives the roaming list;

set the roaming list stored in the storing unit to be workable in response to a determination that a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

trace a wireless communication system, which the wireless communication unit is communicable with, using the roaming list, which is set to be workable;

an updating state storing unit configured to store an updating state, which is in;

a completed mode in which reception of a latest roaming list, which is transmitted from the network, is successful to an end of the reception, and updating of the roaming list stored in the storing unit is completed;

or a non-completed mode in which reception of the latest roaming list, which is transmitted from the network, is unsuccessful in the course of the reception, and the roaming list stored in the storing unit is in the course of updating,

wherein the control unit is configured to;

set the updating state to the non-completed mode when the wireless communication unit begins receiving the roaming list transmitted from the network;

determine the updating state stored in the updating state storing unit when the predetermined condition is satisfied after the wireless communication unit begins receiving the roaming list transmitted from the network;

set the roaming list stored in the storing unit to be workable when determining that the updating state is in the completed mode;

and cause the wireless communication unit to transmit an update request to the network;

when determining that the updating state is in the non-completed mode;

wherein the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for obtaining failure information from the network, the control unit is further configured to obtain failure information in response to the request for obtaining failure information;

the control unit is further configured to cause the wireless communication unit to transmit the update request and the obtained failure information to the network in response to the request to the network, when determining that the updating state is in the non-completed mode;

the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for updating the roaming list, which is transmitted from the network in response to the update request and the obtained failure information; and

the wireless communication unit is further configured to transmit a roaming list updating response to the request to the network thereby to cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit.

19. An in-vehicle wireless communication device configured to perform wireless communication with a network of a carrier, the network configured to transmit a latest roaming list to the in-vehicle wireless communication device in response to reception of an update request from the in-vehicle wireless communication device, the in-vehicle wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with the network and receive a roaming list transmitted from the network;

a storing unit configured to store the roaming list received by the wireless communication unit;

a control unit configured to;

cause the storing unit to store the roaming list transmitted from the network when the wireless communication unit receives the roaming list;

set the roaming list stored in the storing unit to be workable in response to a determination that a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

;

wherein the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for obtaining failure information from the network, the control unit is further configured to obtain failure information in response to the request for obtaining failure information;

the control unit is further configured to cause the wireless communication unit to transmit the update request and the obtained failure information to the network in response to the request to the network, when determining that the updating state is in the non-completed mode;

the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for updating the roaming list, which is transmitted from the network in response to the update request and the obtained failure information; and

the wireless communication unit is further configured to transmit a roaming list updating response to the request to the network thereby to cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit.

20. An in-vehicle wireless communication device configured to perform wireless communication with a network of a carrier, the network configured to transmit a latest roaming list to the in-vehicle wireless communication device in response to reception of an update request from the in-vehicle wireless communication device, the in-vehicle wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with the network and receive a roaming list transmitted from the network;

a storing unit configured to store the roaming list received by the wireless communication unit;

a control unit configured to;

set the updating state to be non-workable when the wireless communication unit begins receiving the roaming list transmitted from the network;

cause the storing unit to store the roaming list transmitted from the network when the wireless communication unit receives the roaming list;

set the roaming list stored in the storing unit to be workable in response to a determination that a predetermined condition is satisfied after the wireless communication unit begins receiving the roaming list transmitted from the network;

and trace a wireless communication system, which the wireless communication means is communicable with, using the roaming list, which is set to be workable, wherein the control unit is configured to cause the wireless communication unit to transmit an update request to the network in response to notification of a request for updating a roaming list from a vehicle service center;

wherein the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for obtaining failure information from the network, the control unit is further configured to obtain failure information in response to the request for obtaining failure information;

the control unit is further configured to cause the wireless communication unit to transmit the update request and the obtained failure information to the network in response to the request to the network, when determining that the updating state is in the non-completed mode;

the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive a request for updating the roaming list, which is transmitted from the network in response to the update request and the obtained failure information;

and the wireless communication unit is further configured to transmit a roaming list updating response to the request to the network thereby to cause the network to transmit the roaming list to the wireless communication unit.