Communication terminal, mobile communication system and communication method

• US 8,565,840 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Matsumura, Takashi, Miki, Tomohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US12/088,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20090325622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,580 Days
• Field of Search: 455/522, 455/68, 455/69, 455/127.1, 455/7, 455/574, 455/343.1
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A communication terminal performs first communication with a base station and second communication with an other terminal. The communication terminal detects a battery remaining amount, and is switchable from the first communication to the second communication according to the battery remaining amount. Selection of either the first communication or the second communication to be performed is triggered by receiving data from the base station.

Claims

1. A communication terminal which is capable of performing first communication with a base station and second communication with other terminal, the communication terminal comprising:

a detection section that detects a battery remaining amount, and

a control section that selects either one of the first communication and the second communication to be performed based on the battery remaining amount, in response to the communication terminal receiving a downstream signal from the base station, and switches from the first communication to the second communication based on the selection wherein if the control section determines that the battery remaining amount in the communication terminal is less than a threshold value, the control section sends a relay request including a MAC address of the communication terminal to the second communication terminal.

2. A communication method of a communication terminal, which allows first communication with a base station and second communication with other terminal, the communication method comprising:

detecting a battery remaining amount,

selecting either one of the first communication and the second communication to be performed based on the batter remaining amount, in response to the communication terminal receiving a downstream signal from the base station, and

switching from the first communication to the second communication based on the selection if it is determined that the battery remaining amount in the communication terminal is less than a threshold value, sending a relay request including a MAC address of the communication.