COMMUNICATION TERMINAL, COMMUNICATION METHOD, PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20100293253A1
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kaida, Sou
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• 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

Provided is a communication terminal which can be connected to a plurality of types of network and switching to a network appropriate for a content to be handled can be performed without forcing a user to perform the switching to a connection destination. It is also possible to provide a communication method using the communication terminal, a program, and a recording medium. The communication terminal transmits a content transmission request to an external server and receives a response to the content transmission request from the external server. The communication terminal extracts content information from the received response, selects at least one network in accordance with the extracted content information, and makes a connection to the selected network.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A communication terminal which can be connected with a plurality of types of networks, comprising:

a communication unit that transmits a transmission request of contents to an external server, and receives a response to said transmission request of contents from said external server;

an extraction unit that extracts content information from said received response; and

a control unit that selects at least one network based on said extracted content information, and makes said communication unit connect with said selected network.

18. The communication terminal according to claim 17 wherein said communication unit receives contents from said external server via said selected network;

and

said communication unit makes said control unit end said connection with said selected network when said receiving contents are completed.

19. The communication terminal according to claim 17 comprising:

a first memory that stores acquisition reservation information of contents corresponding to said transmission request of contents when said communication unit cannot connect with said selected network, wherein

said control unit makes said communication unit transmit said transmission request of contents corresponding to said acquisition reservation information of contents stored in said first memory, when said communication unit shifts from the state that cannot connect with said selected network to the state that can connect with it.

20. The communication terminal according to claim 17 further comprising:

a second memory that stores a first threshold value and a second threshold value, wherein

said extracted content information comprises a content type value and a content size value;

wherein

said control unit makes said communication unit connect with said selected network, when said content type value is identical to said first threshold value and said content size value is larger than said second threshold value.

21. The communication terminal according to claim 17 wherein said plurality of types of networks comprise a mobile telephone network and a wireless LAN;

and

when said wireless LAN is selected by said control unit based on said extracted content information while said communication unit is in the state of being connected with said mobile telephone network, said communication unit disconnects said connection with said mobile telephone network and connects with said wireless LAN.

22. The communication terminal according to claim 21 wherein said communication unit receives contents from said external server via said selected wireless LAN;

and

said communication unit ends a connection with said wireless LAN and connects with said mobile telephone network, when said receiving contents are completed.

23. A communication method using a communication terminal which can be connected with a plurality of types of network, comprising:

transmitting to an external server a transmission request of contents, receiving from said external server a response to said transmission request of said contents;

extracting content information from said received response;

selecting at least one network based on said extracted content information and connecting with said selected network.

24. The communication method according to claim 23 comprising:

receiving contents from said external server via said selected network; and

when said receiving contents are completed, ending a connection with said selected network.

25. The communication method according to claim 23 wherein said communication terminal comprises a first memory which stores acquisition reservation of contents,

when said communication terminal cannot be connected with said selected network, stores in said first memory acquisition reservation information of contents corresponding to said transmission request of contents, and

transmitting said transmission request of contents corresponding to said acquisition reservation information of contents stored in said first memory, when said communication terminal shifts from the state that cannot be connected with said selected network to the state that can connect with it.

26. The communication method according to claim 23 comprising:

extracting a content type value and a content size value as said content information; and

connecting with said selected network, when said content type value is identical to a first threshold value and said content size value is larger than a second threshold value.

27. The communication method according to claim 23, wherein said plurality of types of networks comprises a mobile telephone network and a wireless LAN;

and further comprising;

disconnecting said connection with said mobile telephone network and connecting with said wireless LAN, when said wireless LAN is selected based on said extracted content information while said communication terminal is in the state of being connected with said mobile telephone network.

28. The communication method according to claim 27 comprising:

receiving contents from said external server via said selected wireless LAN; and

ending a connection with said selected wireless LAN and connecting with said mobile telephone network, when said receiving contents are completed.

29. A recording medium which records a program that makes a computer control a communication terminal which can be connected with a plurality of types of networks, and which a computer can read, wherein

a program which makes a computer execute procedures comprising:

a procedure to transmit a transmission request of contents to an external server, a procedure to receive a response to said transmission request of said contents, a procedure to extract content information from said received response, a procedure to select at least one network based on said extracted content information and a procedure to connect with said selected network, is recorded and is readable by said computer.

30. The recording medium according to claim 29 wherein a program which further makes a computer execute procedures comprising:

a procedure to receive contents from said external server via said selected network and a procedure to end a connection with said selected network when a reception of said contents is completed, is recorded.