JP4736855B2 - Mobile communication system, base station, and communication mode switching method used therefor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is a mobile communication system, a base station and a communication mode switching method and relates to the program, in particular mobile communications (mobile phone) mode or a wireless LAN [wireless LAN (Local Area Network )] plurality of communication modes such as the mode used in their The present invention relates to a method for switching a communication mode in a portable terminal equipped with the above.

  In recent years, mobile terminals such as mobile phones have mobile communication modes and mobile communication modes such as PDC (Personal Digital Cellular), W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access), and PHS (Personal Handy-phone System). Some have a wireless LAN mode for performing wireless LAN communication (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  When performing communication using the mobile terminal described above, when entering a wireless LAN application cell, the communication mode may be switched so as to start wireless LAN communication. There is no established opportunity for switching. Therefore, even if the user of the portable terminal enters the wireless LAN area during communication, it cannot be immediately switched to communication by wireless LAN.

JP 2004-125499 A

  Currently, when a mobile terminal user who is in an outdoor communication environment moves to a specific area such as in a train or a hospital, there is no restriction on outgoing calls from the fixed base station to the mobile terminal. That is, if the radio wave from the fixed base station can be received, the mobile terminal can perform normal outgoing / incoming calls.

  For this reason, unless the user of the mobile terminal consciously sets the offline mode and refrains from communication, there is a possibility of adversely affecting a medical device such as a piece maker due to the use of the mobile terminal.

  In addition, when a user of a portable terminal capable of switching the communication mode enters the wireless LAN area, the communication mode may be switched so as to start the wireless LAN communication. There is no established opportunity for switching.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, a mobile communication system, a base that can automatically perform a communication mode without a user operation and can avoid adverse effects on medical devices. to provide a station and a communication mode switching method and a program used in them.

A mobile communication system according to the present invention includes a mobile terminal having a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication function, a base station that controls mobile communication between the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal. A mobile communication system including a wireless LAN base station for controlling wireless LAN communication,
The portable terminal has means for acquiring position information of the terminal itself and notifying the base station;
The base station is configured to approximate a time for the mobile terminal to enter a wireless LAN communication area managed by the wireless LAN base station based on position information from the mobile terminal, and based on the approximate result, the mobile terminal. Means for instructing the portable terminal to switch between the communication mode using the mobile communication function and the communication mode using the wireless LAN communication function when it is determined that the time of entering the wireless LAN communication area is near ,
The base station approximates an approach time of the mobile terminal to a wireless LAN communication area adjacent to a predetermined specific area of the wireless LAN communication area .

A base station according to the present invention is a mobile communication system including a mobile terminal having a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication function, and a wireless LAN base station for controlling wireless LAN communication between the mobile terminal. A base station that controls mobile communication with the mobile terminal,
Means for approximating the entry time of the portable terminal to the wireless LAN communication area managed by the wireless LAN base station based on the position information from the portable terminal, and the wireless LAN communication of the portable terminal based on the estimated result A means for instructing the portable terminal to switch between a communication mode using the mobile communication function and a communication mode using the wireless LAN communication function when it is determined that the time of entering the area is near ;
The approach time of the portable terminal to the wireless LAN communication area adjacent to a predetermined specific area in the wireless LAN communication area is estimated .

A communication mode switching method according to the present invention is provided between a mobile terminal having a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication function, a base station that controls mobile communication between the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal. A communication mode switching method used for a mobile communication system including a wireless LAN base station for controlling wireless LAN communication of
The mobile terminal acquires its own terminal location information and notifies the base station,
A process in which the base station estimates an approach time of the mobile terminal to a wireless LAN communication area managed by the wireless LAN base station based on position information from the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal based on the approximate result the wireless LAN the entry timing of the communication area is determined as close to the communication mode of using the mobile communication function with respect to the mobile terminal using wireless LAN communication function to execute the processing for instructing the switching of the communication mode ,
The base station approximates an approach time of the mobile terminal to a wireless LAN communication area adjacent to a predetermined specific area of the wireless LAN communication area .

A program according to the present invention includes a mobile terminal having a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication function, a base station that controls mobile communication between the mobile terminal, and a wireless LAN between the mobile terminal a program to be executed by Oite the base station computer to a mobile communication system including a wireless LAN base station for controlling communications,
A process of approximating the entry time of the portable terminal into the wireless LAN communication area managed by the wireless LAN base station based on position information from the portable terminal, and the wireless LAN communication of the portable terminal based on the approximate result When it is determined that the time to enter the area is near, a process of instructing the portable terminal to switch between a communication mode using the mobile communication function and a communication mode using the wireless LAN communication function ,
An approach time of the mobile terminal to a wireless LAN communication area adjacent to a predetermined specific area among the wireless LAN communication areas is estimated .

  That is, in the mobile communication system of the present invention, a mobile terminal that is moving in a specific area such as in a train or a hospital, position information and speed by GPS (Global Positioning System) in which a fixed base station is notified from the mobile terminal. By using geographic information such as information and moving direction, it is determined whether or not the situation is moving within a specific area.

  The fixed base station notifies the wireless LAN [wireless LAN (Local Area Network)] base station of the information of the corresponding mobile terminal, and notifies the mobile terminal of the information of the base station of the neighboring wireless LAN. A standby instruction for LAN communication is issued, and a handover is performed to the wireless LAN cell.

  The mobile terminal is automatically switched to a no-communication state where transmission is restricted without the user manually changing the communication mode / service setting upon completion of movement into the wireless LAN area. Switching to service is performed. During wireless LAN communication, the portable terminal is limited to communication with a wireless LAN base station, and does not communicate with other base stations. As a result, since the portable terminal only needs to communicate with a nearby wireless LAN base station, unnecessary message transmission within the wireless LAN area can be suppressed. When going out of the wireless LAN area, the fixed base station allows the communication service to be continued by handover from the wireless LAN cell.

  In the mobile communication system of the present invention, a mobile terminal is entering an area with a wireless LAN environment, such as a train, a bus, a hospital, or a movie theater, by using geographical information such as the moving speed and moving direction of the mobile terminal. It becomes possible for the fixed base station to detect this in advance. Accordingly, in the mobile communication system of the present invention, the fixed base station issues an instruction to wait for wireless LAN communication to the mobile terminal, and the user does not operate the mobile terminal when entering the wireless LAN area. The communication mode is automatically switched from communication with a fixed base station to wireless LAN communication with a wireless LAN base station, enabling continuous communication in consideration of the surrounding situation (medical devices such as piece makers). It becomes.

  At present, since the mobile terminal does not automatically change the communication mode, user operation is required. However, in the mobile communication system of the present invention, it is detected that the mobile terminal enters a specific area using geographic information. By automatically making a call to the wireless LAN environment, no user operation is required, and it is possible to automatically switch from communication with an outdoor base station to indoor wireless LAN communication. It is possible to avoid adverse effects on medical devices.

  By adopting the above-described configuration and operation, the present invention can automatically perform the communication mode without any operation by the user, and can avoid the adverse effects on the medical device. It is done.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a mobile terminal 1, a fixed base station 2 that manages a voice / packet communication area A, and a wireless LAN (wireless LAN (Local Area Network)) communication area B. It comprises a wireless LAN base station (access point) 3 to be managed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the mobile terminal 1 of FIG. In FIG. 2, the portable terminal 1 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 11, a main memory 12 that stores a control program 12a executed by the CPU 11, and a memory that holds information used when the CPU 11 executes the control program 12a. A wireless LAN communication control unit 15 that controls wireless LAN communication between the device 13, a GPS (Global Positioning System) function 14 for acquiring position information of the terminal itself, a wireless LAN base station 3, and a fixed base station 2 and a mobile communication control unit 16 that controls mobile communication with the mobile phone 2.

  In the mobile terminal 1, the CPU 11, the main memory 12, the storage device 13, the GPS function 14, the wireless LAN communication control unit 15, and the mobile communication control unit 16 are connected to the internal bus 110. The storage device 13 is a wireless LAN base station information holding area 131 that holds information of the wireless LAN base station 3 sent from the fixed base station 2 and geographical information (position) calculated based on the position information acquired by the GPS function 14. Information, speed information, moving direction, etc.).

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the fixed base station 2 of FIG. In FIG. 3, the fixed base station 2 includes a CPU 21, a main memory 22 that stores a control program 22a executed by the CPU 21, a storage device 23 that holds information used when the CPU 21 executes the control program 22a, and an RNC. (Radio Network Controller: radio network controller) and other communication control unit 24 that controls communication with a host device, and radio communication control unit 25 that controls mobile communication with the mobile terminal 1 Yes.

  In the fixed base station 2, the CPU 21, the main memory 22, the storage device 23, the communication control unit 24, and the wireless communication control unit 25 are connected to the internal bus 210. The storage device 23 includes a specific area information holding area 231 for holding information on a specific area with a wireless LAN environment such as a preset train, bus, hospital, movie theater, and the like, and a wireless LAN base station 3 in the vicinity of the specific area. A wireless LAN base station information holding area 232 for holding information and a mobile terminal information holding area 233 for holding information of the mobile terminal 1 located in the voice / packet communication area A are provided.

  The wireless LAN base station 3 refers to an access point that controls wireless LAN communication, and since the access point is known, description of its configuration and operation is omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the mobile communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the mobile communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, an operation for automatically starting wireless LAN communication when the mobile terminal 1 holding wireless resources outdoors enters the indoor wireless communication LAN area B will be described. In FIG. 4, the processing operation of the mobile terminal 1 is realized by the CPU 11 executing the control program 12a, and the processing operation of the fixed base station 2 is realized by the CPU 21 executing the control program 22a.

  When the mobile terminal 1 is in a normal standby state (see a1 in FIG. 4), the GPS function 14 acquires position information, and the CPU 11 uses the position information to provide geographical information (position information, speed information, moving direction, etc.). Is calculated and held in the geographic information holding area 132 (acquisition completion of position information).

  While the user of the mobile terminal 1 is moving within the voice / packet communication area A, the mobile terminal 1 acquires the geographic information (position information, location information, (Speed information, moving direction, etc.) are transmitted to the fixed base station 2 by a Measurement Report message (see a2, a3, a5, a6 in FIG. 4).

  The fixed base station 2 determines the time until the mobile terminal 1 enters the neighboring wireless LAN communication area B based on the geographical information transmitted from the mobile terminal 1 and the content held in the wireless LAN base station information holding area 232. Approximate (see a4 in FIG. 4). It should be noted that the calculation of the time until the mobile terminal 1 enters the neighboring wireless LAN communication area B by the fixed base station 2 is calculated particularly in the specific area (for example, the mobile terminal 1 and the fixed base) held in the specific area information holding area 231. It can be set only when an approach to a prohibited area for mobile communication with the station 2 is detected.

  When the approximate time of entry to the wireless LAN communication area B by the fixed base station 2 decreases for each measurement report of the mobile terminal, the fixed base station 2 determines that the entry time to the wireless LAN communication area B is near (See a7 in FIG. 4).

  The fixed base station 2 sends information about the mobile terminal 1 entering the wireless LAN communication area B to the neighboring wireless LAN base station 3 [IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) / TMSI (Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity), Cipher Integrity key etc.] (see a8 in FIG. 4).

  The wireless LAN base station 3 completes the authentication of the mobile terminal 1 based on the information [IMSI / TMSI, Cipher key, Integrity key, etc.] of the mobile terminal 1 sent from the fixed base station 2 (a9 in FIG. 4). Reference), and notifies the fixed base station 2 of its own wireless LAN base station information (see a10 in FIG. 4).

  The fixed base station 2 transmits information (such as RNC-ID) of the wireless LAN base station 3 to the mobile terminal 1 and instructs standby for detection of the wireless LAN communication area B (see a11 in FIG. 4). As a result, the fixed base station 2 switches the communication mode of the portable terminal 1 from communication with its own station to wireless LAN communication with the wireless LAN base station 3.

  The portable terminal 1 starts standby for detection of the wireless LAN communication area B (see a12 in FIG. 4). The mobile terminal 1 moves into the wireless LAN communication area B by moving, and simultaneously shifts to the wireless LAN communication mode and starts wireless LAN communication via the wireless LAN base station 3 (see a13 in FIG. 4).

  At present, since the mobile terminal 1 does not automatically change the communication mode, an operation of the user of the mobile terminal 1 is necessary. However, in this embodiment, geographical information (position information, speed) from the mobile terminal 1 is necessary. By using information, moving direction, etc.), it is detected in advance that the user of the mobile terminal 1 enters a specific area, and the user of the mobile terminal 1 is not required to operate by automatically receiving the incoming call to the wireless LAN environment. In addition, since communication with the outdoor fixed base station 2 can be automatically switched to communication with the indoor wireless LAN base station 3, adverse effects on medical equipment such as piece makers can be avoided.

  In the present embodiment, the position information of the mobile terminal 1 is acquired using the GPS function 14, but if the approach of the mobile terminal 1 to the wireless LAN communication area B can be detected, the position information is obtained by another method. Information may be detected, but is not limited thereto.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile communication system by one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the portable terminal of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fixed base station of FIG. 6 is a sequence chart showing an operation of the mobile communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 mobile terminal 2 fixed base station 3 wireless LAN base station 11
11,21 CPU
12, 22 Main memory 12a, 22a Control program 13, 23 Storage device
14 GPS function
15 Wireless LAN communication control unit
16 Mobile communication control unit
24 Communication control unit
25 Wireless communication controller
231 Specific area information holding area
232 Wireless LAN base station information holding area
233 Mobile terminal information holding area 110, 210 Internal bus
131 Wireless LAN base station information holding area
132 Geographic information holding area
A Voice / packet communication area
B Wireless LAN communication area

Claims (16)

Wireless LAN that controls wireless LAN communication between a mobile terminal having a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication function, a base station that controls mobile communication between the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal A mobile communication system including a base station,
The portable terminal has means for acquiring position information of the terminal itself and notifying the base station;
The base station is configured to approximate a time for the mobile terminal to enter a wireless LAN communication area managed by the wireless LAN base station based on position information from the mobile terminal, and based on the approximate result, the mobile terminal. the have a means for instructing the switching of the communication mode using the wireless LAN the mobile communication mode using a communication function with the wireless LAN communication function entry and timing is determined to be close to the mobile terminal to the communication area of ,
The mobile communication system , wherein the base station estimates an approach time of the mobile terminal to a wireless LAN communication area adjacent to a predetermined specific area of the wireless LAN communication area .   The mobile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal calculates at least speed information and a moving direction based on the acquired position information, and notifies the base station together with the position information as geographic information.   The mobile communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the portable terminal acquires position information of the terminal using GPS (Global Positioning System). The mobile communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the specific area is a prohibited area for mobile communication between the mobile terminal and the base station. The base station notifies the wireless LAN base station of information on the corresponding mobile terminal, notifies the mobile terminal of information on a nearby wireless LAN base station, and issues a standby instruction for the wireless LAN communication. The mobile communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein handover is performed to the wireless LAN communication area. 6. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal is limited to communication with the wireless LAN base station during the wireless LAN communication and does not perform communication with other base stations. Mobile communication system. A mobile communication system including a mobile terminal having a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication function, and a wireless LAN base station that controls wireless LAN communication between the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal. A base station that controls mobile communication,
Means for approximating the entry time of the portable terminal to the wireless LAN communication area managed by the wireless LAN base station based on the position information from the portable terminal, and the wireless LAN communication of the portable terminal based on the estimated result Means for instructing the portable terminal to switch between the communication mode using the mobile communication function and the communication mode using the wireless LAN communication function when it is determined that the time to enter the area is near,
A base station that estimates an approach time of the portable terminal to a wireless LAN communication area adjacent to a predetermined specific area of the wireless LAN communication area. The base station according to claim 7, wherein the specific area is a prohibited area for mobile communication between the mobile terminal and the base station. Notifying the wireless LAN base station of the information of the corresponding mobile terminal, notifying the mobile terminal of information of a nearby wireless LAN base station, issuing a standby instruction for the wireless LAN communication, and the wireless LAN communication 9. The base station according to claim 7, wherein the base station is handed over to an area. Wireless LAN that controls wireless LAN communication between a mobile terminal having a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication function, a base station that controls mobile communication between the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal A communication mode switching method used in a mobile communication system including a base station,
The mobile terminal acquires its own terminal location information and notifies the base station,
A process in which the base station estimates an approach time of the mobile terminal to a wireless LAN communication area managed by the wireless LAN base station based on position information from the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal based on the approximate result When it is determined that the time for entering the wireless LAN communication area is near, a process for instructing the portable terminal to switch between a communication mode using the mobile communication function and a communication mode using the wireless LAN communication function is executed. ,
The communication mode switching method, wherein the base station estimates an approach time of the mobile terminal to a wireless LAN communication area adjacent to a predetermined specific area of the wireless LAN communication area. The communication mode switching method according to claim 10, wherein the mobile terminal calculates at least speed information and a moving direction based on the acquired position information and notifies the base station as geographic information together with the position information. The communication mode switching method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the portable terminal acquires position information of the terminal using GPS (Global Positioning System). The communication mode switching method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the specific area is a prohibited area for mobile communication between the mobile terminal and the base station. The base station notifies the wireless LAN base station of information on the corresponding mobile terminal, notifies the mobile terminal of information on a nearby wireless LAN base station, and issues a standby instruction for the wireless LAN communication. 14. The communication mode switching method according to claim 10, wherein the wireless LAN communication area is handed over. 15. The mobile terminal according to claim 10, wherein the portable terminal is limited to communication with the wireless LAN base station during the wireless LAN communication and does not perform communication with other base stations. Mobile communication system. Wireless LAN that controls wireless LAN communication between a mobile terminal having a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication function, a base station that controls mobile communication between the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal A program to be executed by a computer of the base station in a mobile communication system including a base station,
A process of approximating the entry time of the portable terminal into the wireless LAN communication area managed by the wireless LAN base station based on position information from the portable terminal, and the wireless LAN communication of the portable terminal based on the approximate result When it is determined that the time to enter the area is near, a process of instructing the portable terminal to switch between a communication mode using the mobile communication function and a communication mode using the wireless LAN communication function,
The program which makes approximate the approach time of the said portable terminal to the wireless LAN communication area adjacent to the predetermined specific area among the said wireless LAN communication areas.

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