The present application relates to a wireless communication system, and in particular, to control of a communication path of a mobile station.
A mobile station such as a mobile router or a smartphone having a tethering function is well known. Such a mobile station operates as a bridge or a router for transferring data of another wireless terminal. Such a mobile station is connected to a mobile network (e.g., a cellular network or a public wireless LAN (Local Area Network)) that is provided by a mobile operator (a wireless service provider) and also connected to another wireless terminal using another wireless technology such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a wireless PAN (Personal Area Network). In this way, the mobile station enables another wireless terminal to perform a communication with an end node through a mobile network. Note that the end node is, for example, a server computer or a personal computer that is disposed in an external network (e.g., a packet data network, an IP (Internet Protocol) network, or the Internet) or another mobile station that is connected to a mobile network. Further, the communication with the end node is, for example, internet access, a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) call, a voice chat, a video chat, video streaming, or an online game.
Patent Literature 1 discloses control of a communication path when a wireless terminal communicates with an end node via a mobile station. In a wireless communication system disclosed in Patent Literature 1, each of a plurality of mobile stations can establish a wireless connection to a wireless terminal and also to a mobile network. Further, the plurality of mobile stations can communicate with each other in order to evaluate which one of the mobile stations can provide the most appropriate wireless network connection (a connection to the mobile network). As an example, one of the plurality of mobile stations evaluates which one of the mobile stations can provide the most appropriate wireless network connection (the connection with the mobile network). As another example, the mobile network evaluates which one of the mobile stations can provide the most appropriate network connection (a connection to the mobile network). In this case, the mobile network can request the plurality of mobile stations to send their respective network connectivity capabilities.
Patent Literature 1: International Patent Publication No. WO 03/039178
The present inventors have investigated control for selecting a communication path of a mobile station (referred to as a first mobile station) which has a function for communicating with an end node via a direct wireless connection to a mobile network and also a function for communicating with the end node via another mobile station (a second mobile station) such as a mobile router or a smartphone having a tethering function. An example of the first mobile station is a multi-mode terminal that supports both a wireless access technology of a cellular network (e.g., UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network), E-UTRAN (Evolved UTRAN), GERAN (GSM EDGE Radio Access Network), or WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)) and a wireless access technology of a wireless LAN or a wireless PAN. The first mobile station as a multi-mode terminal can establish a direct wireless connection to a base station in a cellular network and also a wireless connection to the second mobile station using the wireless access technology of the wireless LAN or wireless PAN. Another example of the first mobile station is a wireless LAN terminal. The wireless LAN terminal can be connected to a plurality of wireless LANs with SSIDs (Service Set Identifiers) different from each other. Specifically, the first mobile station as a wireless LAN terminal can establish a direct wireless connection to a base station (e.g., an access point) in a mobile network (e.g., a public wireless LAN service) and also establish a wireless connection to another mobile station that functions as a mobile router.
The present inventors have found a problem in regard to a selection of a communication path for the above-mentioned first mobile station to communicate with an end node. In order to communicate with the end node, the first mobile station can use both a first path through the mobile network, to which the first mobile station can establish a direct wireless connection, and a second path via the second mobile station. Most simply, it is possible for the first mobile station to compare qualities of two wireless connections in order to decide on the communication path. That is, the first mobile station may compare a quality of a first wireless connection to the mobile network and a quality of a second wireless connection to the second mobile station and may use the wireless connection with the better quality for a communication with the end node.
However, when the second mobile station is a mobile router, a smartphone or the like having a tethering function, generally one user has and uses both the first and second mobile stations. In such a case, the quality of the second wireless connection is almost always better than the quality of the first wireless connection. Thus, the first mobile station always selects the communication path that is via the second mobile station. However, even when the quality of the short-distance wireless connection between the first and second mobile stations is good, the quality of the communication from the second mobile station to the end node is not necessarily good.
Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus, a communication method, a program, and a distribution server that contribute to an efficient selection of a communication path of a mobile station that can use both a first communication path via a direct first wireless connection to a mobile network and a second communication path via a second wireless connection to another mobile station.
In a first exemplary aspect, a communication apparatus, capable of communicating by a plurality of wireless access technologies, includes a first communication unit, a second communication unit, and a control unit. The first communication unit is configured to be wirelessly connected to a first network. The second communication unit is configured to be wirelessly connected to another communication apparatus that is wirelessly connected to a second network. The control unit operates to perform control on whether to use either the first communication unit or the second communication unit in accordance with the network selected from the first and second networks based on information regarding the second network.
In a second exemplary aspect, a communication method performed by a communication apparatus including a first communication unit capable of being wirelessly connected to a first network and a second communication unit capable of being wirelessly connected to another communication apparatus that is wirelessly connected to a second network is provided. The communication method includes: performing control on whether to use either the first communication unit or the second communication unit in accordance with the network selected from the first and second networks based on information regarding the second network; and communicating through the first network or the second network.
In a third exemplary aspect, a communication apparatus, capable of communicating by a plurality of wireless access technologies, includes a first communication unit, a second communication unit, and a control unit. The first communication unit is configured to be wirelessly connected to a first network. The second communication unit is configured to be wirelessly connected to another communication apparatus that is wirelessly connected to a second network. The control unit operates to select either of the first network or the second network to be used by the another communication apparatus based on information regarding the second network.
In a fourth exemplary aspect, a communication method performed by a communication apparatus including a first communication unit capable of being wirelessly connected to a first network and a second communication unit capable of being wirelessly connected to another communication apparatus that is wirelessly connected to a second network is provided. The communication method includes: selecting either of the first network or the second network to be used by the another communication apparatus based on information regarding the second network; and communicating through the selected network.
In a fifth exemplary aspect, a program causes a communication apparatus to execute a process. The communication apparatus includes a first communication unit capable of being wirelessly connected to a first network and a second communication unit capable of being wirelessly connected to another communication apparatus that is wirelessly connected to a second network. The process includes performing control on whether to use either the first communication unit or the second communication unit in accordance with the network selected from the first and second networks based on information regarding the second network.
In a sixth exemplary aspect, a program causes a communication apparatus to execute a process. The communication apparatus includes a first communication unit capable of being wirelessly connected to a first network and a second communication unit capable of being wirelessly connected to another communication apparatus that is wirelessly connected to a second network. The process includes selecting either of the first network or the second network to be used by the another communication apparatus based on information regarding the second network.
In a seventh exemplary embodiment, a distribution server operates to distribute the program according to the above-mentioned fifth exemplary aspect to the communication apparatus.
In an eighth exemplary embodiment, a distribution server operates to distribute the program according to the above-mentioned sixth exemplary aspect to the communication apparatus.
According to the above-mentioned exemplary aspects, it is possible to provide a communication apparatus, a communication method, a program, and a distribution server that contribute to an efficient selection of a communication path of a mobile station that can use both a first communication path via a direct first wireless connection to a mobile network and a second communication path via a second wireless connection to another mobile station.
Hereinafter, specific exemplary embodiments shall be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings, and repeated explanations will be omitted as necessary for clarity of the explanation.
The mobile station 4 is configured to establish a third wireless connection to the base station 2 that is included in the mobile network 6 and also to transfer data of the mobile station 3 to the mobile network 6, in order to contribute to communications between the mobile station 3 and the end node. That is, the mobile station 4 operates as a bridge or a router in order to transfer the data of the mobile station 3. The wireless access technology that is used in the third wireless connections may be the same as or different from that used in the second wireless connection. The mobile station 4 is, for example, an apparatus such as a mobile router, smartphone or the like having a tethering function that can establish a connection to the mobile network 6 and a connection to the mobile station 3 at the same time. The mobile station 4 as a mobile router (or a smartphone having a tethering function) may establish a wireless connection to the base station 2 by the wireless access technology (e.g., URAN, E-UTRAN, GERAN, or WiMAX) of the cellular network. Meanwhile, the mobile station 4 as a mobile router may establish a wireless connection to the mobile station 3 by the wireless access technology of the wireless LAN or the wireless PAN.
The mobile network 6 is typically a network to which the mobile station 3, which is capable of being connected to the mobile network 5, cannot directly access. As an example, two mobile networks 5 and 6 may be networks that are operated by mobile network operators (wireless service providers) different from each other. At least one of the mobile network operators may be an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). In this case, by the limitation of the service use contract, the mobile station 3 cannot access the mobile network 6. As another example, the two mobile networks 5 and 6 may be different cellular wireless systems that are operated by the same or different mobile network operators. The different cellular wireless systems generally request the mobile stations to support different wireless access technologies or different NAS protocols. Accordingly, in this case, the mobile station 3 cannot access the mobile network 6 due to a technical limitation.
The external network 7 is a network with which the mobile station 3 or 4 can communicates through the mobile network 5 or 6. The external network 7 is, for example, a packet data network, an IP (Internet Protocol) network, the Internet, or another mobile network. The end node that communicates with the mobile station 3 may be, for example, a server computer, a personal computer, or a mobile station that is positioned in the external network 7. Alternatively, the end node may be another mobile station that is connected to the mobile network 5 or 6. Although a communication between the mobile station 3 and the end node is, for example, internet access, a VoIP call, a voice chat, a video chat, video streaming, or an online game, it is not limited to them.
Further, the configuration shown in
Hereinafter, a procedure for deciding on the communication path of the mobile station 3 shall be explained with reference to
In Step S102, the processing unit decides on the communication path of the mobile station 3 based on the network information regarding the two mobile networks 5 and 6. Specifically, the processing unit decides which one of the first communication path that is via the first wireless connection directly connected to the mobile network 5 and the second communication path that is via the second wireless connection connected to the mobile station 4 (e.g., a mobile router) is appropriate for the communication path of the mobile station 3. Note that the processing unit may not use the network information of both the mobile networks 5 and 6 to decide the communication path. For example, when the network information regarding one of the mobile networks 5 and 6 is obtained, the processing unit may decide the communication path based on the network information regarding this one of the mobile networks 5 and 6.
The decision on the communication path of the mobile station 3 can be made in light of various factors according to the network information to be used. The decision on the communication path of the mobile station 3 may be made, for example, in light of an improvement of a throughput. In this case, for example, the communication path that is through one of the mobile networks 5 and 6 with a better wireless quality or a smaller network load may be selected as the communication path of the mobile station 3. Alternatively, the decision on the communication path may be made in light of a reduction of the load of the mobile network 5 or 6 or an improvement of resource utilization (wireless resource utilization or network resource utilization). In this case, for example, the communication path that is through one of the mobile networks 5 and 6 with a lower load or lower utilization may be selected as the communication path of the mobile station 3.
The result of the decision on the communication path of the mobile station 3 made by the processing unit is reflected in the mobile station 3. For example, the processing unit disposed in the mobile station 3 may control circuits (e.g., a baseband processor and a wireless transceiver) inside the mobile station 3 to use the first communication path. The processing unit disposed in the mobile station 4 or the control apparatus 8 may notify the mobile station 3 of the communication path by sending a message to the mobile station 3. Further, the processing unit disposed in the mobile station 4 may stop wireless transmissions by the mobile station 4 on the second wireless connection to the mobile station 3. By doing so, the second communication path that is via the mobile station 4 changes from being available to unavailable, and the mobile station 3 can thus autonomously select the first communication path that is through the mobile network 5.
As has already been mentioned, the processing unit for deciding the communication path of the mobile station 3 is disposed in the mobile station 3, the mobile station 4, or the control apparatus 8. Hereinafter, configuration examples of the mobile station 3, the mobile station 4, and the control apparatus 8 that include the processing unit shall be explained with reference to
The processing unit for deciding on the communication path of the mobile station 3 may be implemented by using a semiconductor processing device including an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Further, the processing unit for deciding the communication path of the mobile station 3 may be implemented by causing a computer system including at least one processor (e.g., a microprocessor, an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and a CPU (Central Processing Unit)) to execute a program. More specifically, one or more programs including instructions for causing a computer to execute an algorithm related to the decision on the communication path of the mobile station 3 may be created, and the program may be supplied to the computer.
The program can be stored and provided to a computer using any type of non-transitory computer readable media. Non-transitory computer readable media include any type of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic storage media (such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives, etc.), optical magnetic storage media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory), CD-R (compact disc recordable), CD-R/W (compact disc rewritable), and semiconductor memories (such as mask ROM, PROM (programmable ROM), EPROM (erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM (random access memory), etc.). The program may be provided to a computer using any type of transitory computer readable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media include electric signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Transitory computer readable media can provide the program to a computer via a wired communication line (e.g., electric wires, and optical fibers) or a wireless communication line.
The application processor 303 executes a system software program (OS (Operating System)) 310 and various application programs (e.g., a WEB browser and a mailer) that are read from a non-volatile storage unit 309, thereby providing various functions of the mobile station 3. The non-volatile storage unit 309 is, for example, a flash memory or a hard disk drive. The application processor 303 also executes a communication path control application 311, thereby providing the functions of the processing unit (the communication path control unit 32) that have been mentioned in this exemplary embodiment.
As mentioned above, in this exemplary embodiment, the communication of the mobile station 3, which can use both the first communication path via the first wireless connection directly connected to the mobile network 5 and the second communication path via the second wireless connection to the mobile station 4, is decided on based on the network information regarding the mobile networks 5 and 6. As mentioned above, when the mobile station 4 is a mobile router or a smartphone having a tethering function, it is considered that one user has and uses both of the mobile stations 3 and 4. In such a case, since the quality of the second wireless connection is almost always better than the quality of the first wireless connection, the communication path may not be appropriately selected by a comparison between the qualities of the first and second wireless connections. On the other hand, in this exemplary embodiment, the network information regarding the mobile networks 5 and 6 are used to decide on the communication path of the mobile station 3, it is thus possible to efficiently decide on the communication path based on factors such as an improvement of connection stability of the mobile station 3, an improvement of a throughput, a reduction of a network load, and an efficient use of network resources.
In this exemplary embodiment, a specific example of the first exemplary embodiment shall be explained. A network configuration of this exemplary embodiment may be the same as that shown in
Moreover, in response to the decision made to select the first communication path that is via the mobile network 5 as the communication path of the mobile station 3, the mobile station 4 stops wireless transmissions on the second wireless connection to the mobile station 3 (Step S203). On the other hand, in response to the decision made to select the second communication path that is via the mobile station 4 and the mobile network 6 as the communication path of the mobile station 3, the mobile station 4 initiates (or continues) the wireless transmissions for the second wireless connection to the mobile station 3. The wireless transmission may be stopped by stopping at least transmission of one of radio signals, control information, and user data through the wireless access technology used for the second wireless transmission. Alternatively, the wireless transmission may be stopped by stopping a transmission regarding a communication that is identified by a first identifier used for the second wireless connection. In this case, the mobile station 4 may continue a transmission regarding a communication that is identified by a second identifier, which is different from the first identifier. The first and second identifiers are, for example, SSIDs (Service Set Identifiers) of a wireless LAN. Therefore, the mobile station 4 can continue communications with other mobile stations while performing path control for allocating the mobile station 3 to the first communication path.
In Step S204, the mobile station 3 evaluates availability of the first and second wireless connections. When the second wireless connection is unavailable due to the transmission being stopped by the mobile station 4, the mobile station 3 communicates with the end node using the first communication path via the mobile network 5 (Step S205). Meanwhile, when the second wireless connection is available, the mobile station 3 communicates with the end node using the second communication path via the mobile station 4 and the mobile network 6 (Step S206).
As described above, the mobile station 4 (e.g., a mobile router) according to this exemplary embodiment decides on the communication path of the mobile station 3 without receiving the network information regarding the mobile network 5 from the mobile station 3 and stops the transmission on the second wireless connection so as to control the communication path of the mobile station 3. Accordingly, the mobile station 3 does not need to implement additional functions for obtaining the network information, for transmission and reception of the network information, and for deciding on the communication path. Thus, this exemplary embodiment can improve a throughput and enables an efficient use of network resources based on the control of the communication path while using an existing mobile station as the mobile station 3.
In this exemplary embodiment, a specific example of the first exemplary embodiment shall be explained. A network configuration of this exemplary embodiment may be the same as that shown in
Further, in a manner similar to that of the second exemplary embodiment, in response to the decision to select the first communication path that is via the mobile network 5 as the communication path of the mobile station 3, the mobile station 4 according to this exemplary embodiment may stop the transmission on the second wireless connection to the mobile station 3. In this case, the communication path notification sent from the mobile station 4 to the mobile station 3, which is shown in S506 of
Additionally, although in the specific examples shown in
Further, in the specific examples shown in
As explained above, the mobile stations 3 and 4 according to this exemplary embodiment measure the wireless quality and the like of the mobile network 5 or 6 which the mobile stations 3 and 4 are connected to, respectively. Next, the mobile station 3 or 4 decides on an appropriate communication path of the mobile station 3. Therefore, this exemplary embodiment can collect the network information while distributing functions necessary for the measurement to obtain the network information or while distributing loads. Thus, this exemplary embodiment can efficiently improve connection stability, improve a throughput, and efficiently use network resources based on the control of the communication path without using a high-performance mobile station.
In this exemplary embodiment, a specific example of the first exemplary embodiment shall be explained. A network configuration of this exemplary embodiment may be the same as that shown in
Note that the control apparatus 8 may send the notification indicating the decided communication path to the mobile stations 3 and 4. Further, the control apparatus 8 may send the notification indicating the decided communication path to the mobile station 3 but not to the mobile station 4. In this case, the control apparatus 8 may notify the mobile station 4 of a stop permission regarding the second wireless connection. When the control apparatus 8 notifies the mobile station 4 of the communication path of the mobile station 3 or the stop permission regarding the second wireless connection, the mobile station 4 can easily stop the transmission on the second wireless connection (Step S203), as shown in
Note that in the specific examples shown in
As described above, in this exemplary embodiment, the most appropriate communication path of the mobile station 3 is decided on according to a load state and the like of the network apparatus. Accordingly, in this exemplary embodiment, it is possible to select the communication path of the mobile station 3 based on information of a network side that is difficult for the mobile stations 3 and 4 to measure.
In this exemplary embodiment, a specific example of the first exemplary embodiment shall be explained. A network configuration of this exemplary embodiment may be the same as that shown in
Note that in the specific examples shown in
As described above, the mobile station 3 or 4 according to this exemplary embodiment decides on the communication path of the mobile station 3 based on both the network information (e.g., a wireless quality) obtained by the mobile station 3 or 4 and the network information (e.g., a network load) obtained by the network apparatus. Accordingly, in this exemplary embodiment, a selection of the communication path of the mobile station 3 can be performed taking into account both the state of the wireless side and that of the network side.
In this exemplary embodiment, both the network information collected by the mobile stations 3 and 4 and the network information collected by the control apparatus 8 is used to decide on the communication path of the mobile station 3. As a specific decision method of deciding on the communication path, there is a method in which when the wireless quality is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the mobile network with a low network load is selected, while when the wireless quality is less than the predetermined value, the mobile network with a good wireless quality is selected. As another method, when the contract (whether it is pay-per-use or fixed-rate) on wireless services of the mobile network 5 differs from that of the mobile network 6, a communication path with a cheaper service charge or a communication path including a fixed-rate service is preferentially used. Additionally, there is another method in which when the wireless quality of the mobile network 5 or 6 through which the preferential communication path passes falls below a predetermined value or a load of the mobile network 5 or 6 through which the preferential communication passes exceeds a predetermined value, the other communication path is used.
In this exemplary embodiment, an example in which the mobile station 3 prioritizes the communication that is via the mobile station 4, and switches the communication to that with the mobile network 5 according to a state of communication between the mobile station 3 and the mobile network 6 shall be explained. This exemplary embodiment can be used, for example, when the communication charge for communicating with the mobile network 6 via the mobile station 4 is a fixed-rate regardless of the communication volume, and the communication charge for communicating with the mobile network 5 is a pay-per-use charge system according to the communication volume.
As the configurations of the mobile stations 3 and 4 are the same as those explained in the above exemplary embodiments, a specific explanation of the configurations of the mobile stations 3 and 4 shall be omitted.
Note that although
The mobile station 4 notifies the mobile station 3 of the selected communication path (S1502). Note that when the control apparatus 8 selects the communication path, the control apparatus 8 may notify the mobile station 3 of the communication path. The mobile station 3 executes a data communication through the selected communication path (S1503).
In this exemplary embodiment, a distribution server 9 for distributing, to the mobile station 3 or 4, an application (e.g., the communication path control application 311 shown in
The first to seventh exemplary embodiments can be combined as appropriate.
Although the first to seventh exemplary embodiments show a mobile router as a specific example of the mobile station 4, the mobile station 4 may be a terminal that can provide wireless access to other wireless devices, such as a smartphone, as has already been mentioned.
Moreover, the above-described exemplary embodiments are merely examples regarding application of technical concepts obtained by the present inventors. That is, it is obvious that the technical concepts are not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, and various modifications can be made.
The present application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-73856 filed on Aug. 6, 2012, the entire disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2012-173856 | Aug 2012 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2013/001526 | 3/8/2013 | WO | 00 |