JPH11252661A - Portable telephone communication changeover system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continue communication even when a portable telephone set is at the outside of a service area covered by an exchange of a base station side and to automatically switch from packet communication into non-telephone data communication. SOLUTION: A data terminal 1 receives/output data, and a portable telephone set 2 sends digital data by a radio signal. Base stations 3, 4 receive a call from the portable telephone set 2. A packet communication enabled mobile communication network exchange station 5 applies exchange connection to packet data from the base station 3. A packet gateway 6 has a gateway function of packet data. An internet 12 is connected to the packet gateway 6. A mobile communication network exchange station 7 applies exchange connection to non-packet data from the base station 4. A MODEM 9 makes transmission reception of data to/from a public line network 8. A communication destination server 11 conducts data exchange/processing. A communication management server 10 is connected to a line to manage communication of the data terminal 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable telephone communication switching system, and more particularly to a portable telephone communication switching system capable of continuing data communication even when moving outside a base station area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, there are packet communication and non-telephone data communication services as forms of data communication serviced in a digital mobile communication network, but these communications are out of an area covered by a base station exchange. If the communication is continued when the communication is started, the communication method and frequency are different between the packet communication service and the non-telephone data communication service.To switch between these communication services, the communication must be disconnected once and then re-communicated. Must.

[0003] In particular, FTP (File Transfer)
If the communication is disconnected during the file transfer using the protocol, etc., the file must be transferred again from the beginning.

[0004] By the way, there are an analog portable telephone which directly transmits analog data such as voice and a digital portable telephone which can transmit digital data in such a communication system of the portable telephone. Since transmission is not possible, interface conversion is required by using a modem or the like. As an example of a portable telephone which can easily switch between the analog system and the digital system, a "mobile data communication system" described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-46566 is known.

This publication describes a technique for automatically switching data communication by connecting an information processing apparatus and a digital mobile phone without limiting to an analog mobile phone system or a digital mobile phone system.

[0006]

In the above-described conventional cellular telephone communication switching system, regardless of the analog system or the digital system, communication is cut off when the mobile station is out of the service area covered by the base station-side exchange. It has a disadvantage that stable communication cannot be continued.

When switching to non-telephone data communication during packet communication in the digital system,
Since the communication method and the frequency are different, there is a disadvantage that the communication must be disconnected once and then re-communicated.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide continuous communication without disconnecting communication even when a user goes out of the service area range covered by the base station exchange, and to switch from a packet communication service to a non-telephone data communication service. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile telephone communication switching system capable of automatically switching.

[0009]

According to a portable telephone communication switching method of the present invention, a data terminal for inputting / outputting data, a portable telephone for wirelessly transmitting data of the data terminal, and communication management between the data terminal are provided. A communication management server that performs communication service switching based on whether or not a communication service switching function is used and preferentially uses the communication service switching function based on various information of a wireless area where the mobile phone is currently located, obtained by the data terminal. It is characterized by having a function that can set the type of.

A data terminal for inputting / outputting data, a portable telephone connected to the data terminal and wirelessly transmitting the data, a first base station and a second base station for receiving a call from the portable telephone; A first mobile communication network exchange that exchanges and connects packet data from the first base station; a packet gateway that connects to the first mobile communication network exchange and has a gateway function of the packet data; A network connected to a packet gateway, a second mobile communication network switching station for switching connection of non-packet communication data from the second base station,
A public line network connected to a mobile communication network exchange, a modem for establishing a link with a communication destination and transmitting and receiving data to and from the public line network, and a communication destination server for exchanging and processing the packet data and the communication data And a communication management server that is connected to the network and the modem and that manages communication between the communication destination server and the data terminal.

The communication management server negotiates with the data terminal at the start of data communication,
It is characterized in that it has a function of deciding the destination of communication data to be performed thereafter, and preliminarily determining the operation when the communication is disconnected.

[0012] The communication management server is characterized in that communication middleware in which a protocol enabling accumulation, retransmission and reconnection of communication data with the data terminal is installed is incorporated.

The communication management server negotiates communication start, communication stop, and communication end, retransmits unreached data, and transmits communication data to the communication destination server through.

The communication destination server has the function of the communication management server, and the communication destination server and the communication management server are integrated.

[0015]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a portable telephone communication switching system according to the present invention.

In this embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a data terminal 1 for inputting / outputting data, a portable telephone 2 connected to the data terminal 1 for wirelessly transmitting digital data, and receiving a call from the portable telephone 2 Base station 3 and base station 4
A mobile communication network switching center 5 capable of switching and connecting packet data from the base station 3, a packet gateway 6 having a packet data gateway function,
Internet 12 connected to packet gateway 6
A mobile communication network exchange 7 for exchanging and connecting conventional communication data which is not a packet from the base station 4;
And a modem 9 for establishing a link with a communication destination and transmitting and receiving data, and a communication destination server 1 for exchanging and processing data.
1 and a communication management server 10 which is connected to the Internet 12 and the modem 9 and manages communication with the data terminal 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, it is communication management server 10 that directly communicates with data terminal 1. Negotiation is performed between the data terminal 1 and the communication management server 10 at the start of data communication, a destination of communication data to be performed thereafter is determined, and an operation when communication is disconnected is determined in advance. Both the data terminal 1 and the communication management server 10 need to incorporate communication middleware for performing negotiation.

Here, the communication middleware is client / server type communication software that implements a protocol that enables storage, retransmission, reconnection, and the like of communication data. As a feature of this communication middleware, the communication middleware mounted on the data terminal 1 acquires and manages various kinds of information on the wireless area where the mobile phone 2 currently held inside the mobile phone is present, and selects an optimal wireless communication service. It has a function that enables it. In addition, whether or not the communication service switching function is used, the type of communication service to be used preferentially, and the like can be set.

The communication management server 10 negotiates the start / stop / end of communication and retransmits unreached data, and the communication data is transmitted to the destination server 11 through.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data flow of the mobile telephone communication switching system.

It indicates which layer and protocol each communication data and communication management data are communicating with, and indicates the flow of data between the data terminal 1 and the communication destination server 11 in a layer hierarchy. ing.

In FIG. 2, the term "wireless communication" means a wireless communication section between the portable telephone 2, the mobile communication network exchange 7 and the mobile communication network exchange 5 capable of packet communication. The communication between the section and the wireless communication section and the communication management server 10 is basically performed by wire.

For example, “communication data” is transmitted from the communication software of the data terminal 1 through the communication middleware, the layer 2 / layer 1 and the wireless section. During that time, information necessary for each protocol is added. Management server 1
0, the information added in each layer of the communication destination server 11 is deleted, and is finally recognized and processed by the communication software of the communication destination server 11. The “communication management data” also passes from the communication middleware of the data terminal 1 through the layer 2/1 and the wireless section, but is finally recognized and processed by the communication middleware of the communication management server 10.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a data flow during packet communication.

First, data communication using the packet communication service is started. After recognizing the establishment of packet communication,
The data terminal 1 negotiates with the communication management server 10 information such as the start of data communication, the presence or absence of a communication service switching function, and the server name of the communication destination, and starts data transfer by communication software.

Data transfer is performed between the data terminal 1 and the communication destination server 11 via the communication management server 10. Thereafter, if the communication is cut off for some reason or if the location is outside the packet communication service area, the data communication by the non-telephone data communication is performed by the mobile phone 2.
After the non-telephone data communication is established, a request to restart the communication is made to the communication management server 10, the number of received data is notified each other, and the data not received is retransmitted.

That is, referring to FIG. 3, after recognizing the establishment of the packet communication, the communication middleware sends a data communication start request (FIG. 3) to determine whether the data terminal 1 has the communication service switching function and the communication destination. The server name is notified to the communication management server 10. The communication middleware on the communication management server 10 analyzes and manages the data, and transmits a data communication start response (FIG. 3) to determine whether the mobile communication network side supports the communication service switching function. Notify to

After the negotiation between the communication middlewares is completed, the data transfer is started. It is the communication management server 10 that directly receives the communication data via the wireless section, but the communication destination server 11 notified from the data terminal 1.
Deliver the data to

The data transmitted from the communication destination server 11 is transmitted to the data terminal 1 via the wireless section (communication data 1 to 5 in FIG. 3). Thereafter, if the communication is cut off for some reason (FIG. 3), the wireless area where the data terminal 1 is currently located is out of the packet communication service area area based on the information on the wireless area managed by the communication middleware on the data terminal 1 side. If it is determined that the data communication by non-telephone data communication is requested to the mobile phone 2 and the non-telephone data communication is established (FIG. 3), a data communication start request is transmitted to the communication management server 10 ( FIG.
), Notification of communication restart and the number of received communication data. The communication management server 10 also reports the number of received communication data to the data terminal 1 by a data communication start response (FIG. 3), and restarts data communication.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a data flow during non-telephone data communication.

In consideration of the description shown in FIG. 3, when switching to the non-telephone data communication service and then moving into the packet communication service area again, the communication software of the data terminal 1 and the communication destination server 11 maintains the communication state. It is also possible to switch the communication service to the packet communication service while keeping the communication service.

Regardless of the communication state, information on the wireless area where the data terminal 1 is currently located is notified from the portable telephone 2 to the data terminal 1 as needed (FIG. 4). When the packet communication service is used preferentially, a temporary interruption of data communication is notified to the communication management server 10 by a data communication stop request (FIG. 4) in order to switch the communication service. The communication middleware on the side of the communication management server 10 responds to the data communication stop response (FIG.
The notification is made to the data terminal 1 at ()). Thereafter, the communication middleware on the data terminal 1 side causes the mobile phone 2 to perform operations for disconnecting non-telephone data communication and establishing packet communication (FIG. 4).

To resume data communication after the establishment of packet communication, a request for starting data communication between communication middlewares,
A negotiation based on the data communication start response is performed (FIG. 4), and the data transfer is restarted.

As described above, the portable telephone 2 notifies the data terminal 1 whenever there is a change in the presence or absence of the communication service. If the user enters the packet communication service area during the non-telephone data communication, the temporary interruption of the data communication is notified to the communication management server 10 (data communication stop request, data communication stop), and the non-telephone data communication disconnection processing is performed. After performing the packet communication, the packet communication is established, and the communication management server 10 is notified of the restart of the data communication (data communication start request, data communication restart), thereby returning to the data communication using the packet communication service. It is.

In the communication middleware incorporated in the data terminal 1, it is possible to set whether or not a communication service switching function is used, a service type to be used preferentially, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a case where the communication middleware is mounted on a communication destination server.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a system configuration corresponding to FIG. 2 and FIG. FIG. 6A corresponds to FIG.
(B) corresponds to FIG.

In FIG. 6A, the communication management server 10 performs communication with the mobile communication network switching center 5 and the mobile communication network switching center 7 capable of performing packet communication, and controls the communication service switching function. The communication management server 10
It is.

However, in the case of FIG. 6B, FIG.
The communication destination server 11, 11a, 11b is provided with a communication management function to control a direct communication service switching function. With this configuration, the communication management server 10 becomes unnecessary and the capital investment cost is reduced. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when there are a plurality of communication destination servers 13, 13a, 13b with a communication management server function. In addition, it is necessary to incorporate communication middleware into all the communication destination servers 13, 13a, 13b with a communication management server function.

That is, the communication destination server 11 and the communication management server 10 can be integrated.

[0042]

As described above, according to the portable telephone communication switching system of the present invention, a communication management server for managing communication with a data terminal is installed and communication is automatically switched. There is an effect that communication can be performed continuously without disconnection of communication, and automatic switching from packet communication to non-telephone data communication is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a mobile phone communication switching system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data flow of a mobile phone communication switching system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data flow during packet communication.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data flow during non-telephone data communication.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a case where communication middleware is implemented in a communication destination server.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a system configuration corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Data terminal 2 Mobile telephone 3, 4 Base station 5 Mobile communication network exchange office capable of packet communication 6 Packet gateway 7 Mobile communication network exchange office 8 Public line network 9 Modem 10 Communication management server 11, 11a, 11b Communication destination server 12 Internet 13 , 13a, 13b Communication destination server with communication management server function

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 26, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0009]

According to a portable telephone communication switching method of the present invention, a data terminal for inputting / outputting data, a portable telephone for wirelessly transmitting data of the data terminal, and communication management between the data terminal are provided. performing a communication management server, the communication management server, from the various information of the wireless area to the current location of the mobile telephone in which the data terminal is acquired, including the ability to set the presence or absence of use of the communication service switching function It is characterized by that.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04Q 7/34 H04Q 7/04 C

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A data terminal for inputting / outputting data,
A mobile phone for wirelessly transmitting the data of the data terminal;
A communication management server that performs communication management with the data terminal, wherein the communication management server obtains, from the various types of information on the wireless area where the mobile phone is currently located, obtained by the data terminal,
A mobile phone communication switching system, comprising a function for setting whether to use a communication service switching function and a type of communication service to be used preferentially. 2. A data terminal for inputting / outputting data, a mobile phone connected to the data terminal and wirelessly transmitting the data, a first base station and a second base for receiving a call from the mobile phone. A first mobile communication network exchange that exchanges and connects packet data from the first base station; and a packet gateway that connects to the first mobile communication network exchange and has a gateway function for the packet data. A network connected to the packet gateway, a second mobile communication network exchange for exchanging communication data that is not a packet from the second base station, and a public line connected to the second mobile communication network exchange A modem for establishing a link with a communication destination and transmitting and receiving data to and from the public line network; and exchange and processing of the packet data and the communication data A mobile phone communication switching system, comprising: a communication destination server for performing communication with the network and the modem; and a communication management server for performing communication management between the communication destination server and the data terminal. 3. The communication management server has a function of performing negotiation with the data terminal at the time of starting data communication, deciding a destination of communication data to be performed thereafter, and preliminarily determining an operation at the time of communication disconnection. 3. The mobile telephone communication switching method according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The communication management server according to claim 2, wherein the communication management server incorporates communication middleware that implements a protocol that enables storage, retransmission, and reconnection of communication data with the data terminal. Mobile phone communication switching method. 5. The communication management server according to claim 1, wherein the communication management server negotiates a communication start, a communication stop, and a communication end, retransmits unreached data, and transmits the communication data to the destination server through. Item 2. A mobile telephone communication switching method according to Item 2. 6. The communication destination server has the function of the communication management server, and the communication destination server and the communication management server have an integrated structure. Mobile phone communication switching method described in the above.