Mobile communication device, mobile network sharing method and electronic device

• US 8,953,572 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Matthew W., Chueh, Hsin-Ti, Chen, Chia-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): SMARTH, GERALD A
• Application Number:
  US13/111,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20120051344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention discloses a mobile communication device, an electronic device and a mobile network sharing method between these two devices. The mobile communication device includes a communication module and a control unit. The communication module includes a mobile communication unit and a local communication unit. The mobile communication unit is used for connecting to a mobile communication network. The local communication unit has an active mode and a passive mode. The control unit is coupled to the communication module. When a trigger signal from an electronic device is received by the local communication unit under the passive mode, the control unit switches the local communication unit into the active mode, so as to connect the electronic device to the mobile communication network via the local communication unit and the mobile communication unit.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a communication module comprising;

a mobile communication unit for connecting to a mobile communication network; and

a local communication unit, having a passive mode and an active mode, the local communication unit in the passive mode operating to be connected to the Internet through other devices, the local communication unit in the active mode operating to be connected to the Internet directly; and

a control unit coupled with the communication module, after a trigger signal from an electronic device other than the mobile communication device is received by the local communication unit under the passive mode and the local communication unit under the passive mode directly communicates with the electronic device, the control unit switching the local communication unit into the active mode, so as to connect the electronic device to the mobile communication network through the local communication unit and the mobile communication unit, wherein the mobile communication device establishes a point-to-point connection to the electronic device according to a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the electronic device.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the local communication unit under the passive mode receives the trigger signal from the electronic device via the point-to-point connection.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the point-to-point connection comprises an Ad Hoc connection.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication network is based on 2G mobile communication technology, 3G mobile communication technology, 3.5 mobile communication technology or 4G mobile communication technology.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the local communication unit is based on Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication technology.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 5, wherein the trigger signal is a Wi-Fi packet, and the Wi-Fi packet comprises a specific Service Set Identifier (SSID).

7. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is equivalently served as a wireless access point (AP) when the local communication unit is under the active mode.

8. A mobile network sharing method, suitable for a mobile communication device comprising a communication module, the mobile network sharing method comprising:

activating, by a control unit coupled with the communication module, a local communication unit under a passive mode, the local communication unit in the passive mode operating to be connected to the Internet through other devices;

judging, by the control unit, whether a trigger signal from an electronic device is received through the local communication unit under the passive mode, wherein the local communication unit under the passive mode directly communicates with the electronic device;

linking, by a mobile communication unit, to a mobile communication network and switching, by the control unit, the local communication unit into an active mode when the trigger signal is received, the local communication unit in the active mode operating to be connected to the Internet directly; and

connecting, by the control unit, the electronic device to the mobile communication network through the local communication unit, wherein a point-to-point connection to the electronic device is established according to a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the electronic device.

9. The mobile network sharing method of claim 8, wherein in the step of receiving the trigger signal through the local communication unit, the mobile communication device receives the trigger signal via the point-to-point connection.

10. The mobile network sharing method of claim 9, wherein the point-to-point connection comprises an Ad Hoc connection.

11. The mobile network sharing method of claim 8, wherein the mobile communication network is based on 2G mobile communication technology, 3G mobile communication technology, 3.5 mobile communication technology or 4G mobile communication technology.

12. The mobile network sharing method of claim 8, wherein the local communication unit is based on Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication technology.

13. The mobile network sharing method of claim 8, wherein the trigger signal is a Wi-Fi packet, and the Wi-Fi packet comprises a specific Service Set Identifier (SSID).