Terminal device, program and center device

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a technique for efficiently performing data communication using wireless LAN and mobile communication.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, Internet connection by mobile communication means such as PHS and mobile phones has become widespread. In addition, services that allow you to connect to the Internet via wireless LAN on the streets and in stores have appeared.

【0003】

Internet connection by PHS or mobile phone has a wide coverage area and can be used anytime and anywhere, but the communication speed is slow and the communication fee is expensive. On the other hand, wireless LAN services provide extremely high communication speeds (1 to 50 Mbps) and low communication charges. However, the service area is narrow and local (within a radius of 100 m), and access points are scattered in multiple predetermined locations.

【0004】

[Patent Document 1]

JP-A-2002-236632 [0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

There is a growing need for low-priced, high-speed Internet communication when going out, but as mentioned above, wireless LAN has a local service area and scattered access points, so high-speed Internet To communicate, you must know the location of the access point and move to it.

【0006】

However, if you do not know the location of the access point in advance, you cannot move there, and even if you know the location of the access point in advance, you do not know how to get to that location from your current location. In some cases, there is a problem that the service area cannot be moved immediately and the wireless LAN service cannot be used. Further, when there is no user in the wireless LAN service area, there is a problem that data communication cannot be performed by a terminal having only a wireless LAN function as a data communication function.

【0007】

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to easily use the data communication service even when the wireless LAN is not available, and to guide the user to a nearby wireless LAN access point. The purpose is to provide the technology to do.

【0008】

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention solves the above problems by displaying the means of acquiring position information and transmitting it to the center device, the means of acquiring the information of the wireless LAN access point from the center device, and the information of the wireless LAN access point, and performing the wireless LAN. This is solved by a terminal device having a means for selecting whether or not to perform data communication by means of data communication and a means for starting data communication by mobile communication when data communication by wireless LAN is not performed.

【0009】

According to the present invention, data communication by mobile communication can be performed even when data communication by wireless LAN cannot be performed, and it is possible to easily move to the wireless LAN access point by displaying the information of the wireless LAN access point. ..

【0010】

The means for selecting is to display the names of a plurality of wireless LAN access points within a predetermined range from the position of the terminal device on the terminal device, and access one wireless LAN from the plurality of wireless LAN access point names. It includes a means for selecting a point name, which enables data communication with a desired wireless LAN access point.

【0011】

Further, when data communication by wireless LAN is selected, parameters necessary for using wireless LAN can be acquired from the center device and set in the terminal device. As a result, the labor of the user can be greatly reduced, and the wireless LAN can be easily used.

【0012】

Further, a map near the wireless LAN access point, a route to the wireless LAN access point, or a mark near the wireless LAN access point may be acquired and displayed on the terminal device, whereby the user can easily obtain the wireless LAN. You can reach the access point.

【0013】

Further, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by the name of the wireless LAN access point within a predetermined range from the terminal device from the means for acquiring the position information of the terminal device, the information of the wireless LAN access point and the received position information. It can also be solved by a center device having a means for acquiring the above and a means for transmitting the acquired wireless LAN access point name to the terminal device.

【0014】

According to the present invention, since the information of the nearby wireless LAN access point can be provided to the terminal device, the user can easily move to the wireless LAN access point. The information of the wireless LAN access point includes parameters necessary for using the wireless LAN, and when a specific wireless LAN access point is selected from the terminal device, the parameter corresponding to the wireless LAN access point is set to the terminal. It may have means to transmit to the device. Further, it may have a means for transmitting the acquired map near the wireless LAN access point, the route to the wireless LAN access point, or the mark near the wireless LAN access point to the terminal device.

【0015】

The present invention also includes mobile communication means and wireless LAN communication means for mounting the above problems on a computer having a connection program for performing data communication by mobile communication or data communication by wireless LAN. It can also be solved by using a card-type wireless device. The computer equipped with the card-type wireless device displays the procedure for acquiring wireless LAN access point information from the center device and the information of the wireless LAN access point on the terminal device, and whether or not to perform data communication by wireless LAN. Execute the procedure to select the method and the procedure to start the data communication by mobile communication when the data communication by wireless LAN is not performed and to execute the data communication by wireless LAN when the data communication by wireless LAN is possible. It is possible.

【0016】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the term "mobile" is used to include PHS and mobile phones. In addition, "data communication" is used in the sense of including Internet communication.

【0017】

[System configuration]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the system in the present embodiment is a user terminal 1, a wireless LAN access point 2, a mobile base station 3, the Internet 4, and a center device having a mobile data communication function and a wireless LAN function. Has 5. The network indicated by 4 is not limited to the Internet but may be another data communication network.

【0018】

The user terminal 1 performs Internet communication via the wireless LAN access point 2. In addition, the user terminal 1 can also perform Internet communication via the mobile base station 3. The center device 5 receives access from the user terminal 1 via the Internet 4 and performs data communication with the user terminal 1. In addition, the center device 5 has a database (wireless LAN access point DB) in which information on the wireless LAN access point is registered.

【0019】

Data communication using mobile systems such as PHS systems and mobile phone systems and data communication using wireless LAN are existing technologies, and as shown in the figure, mobile communication is performed with a device connected to the Internet. Accessing from user terminal 1 using or wireless LAN is an existing technology. Therefore, the detailed configuration for realizing mobile communication and data communication using wireless LAN is not shown.

【0020】

The user terminal 1 is, for example, a PC (personal computer) having a card slot. In this case, by inserting the mobile communication card and the wireless LAN card into the plurality of card slots, both the mobile communication function and the wireless LAN function can be retained. Also, if the PC has a built-in wireless LAN function, only the mobile communication card needs to be set.

【0021】

Further, a card 11 (card type wireless device) in which a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN function are mixed may be used. FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the card 11 in which such a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN function are mixedly mounted. This card 11 performs the mobile antenna 12, the wireless LAN antenna 13, the mobile communication module 14 that performs the processing necessary for realizing the mobile communication, and the processing necessary for realizing the wireless LAN communication. It has a wireless LAN communication module 15. A device having such a card configuration may be built in the PC in advance.

【0022】

The user terminal 1 is not limited to a PC, and may be any device as long as it is equipped with or can be equipped with a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN function. For example, a so-called mobile terminal can be used.

【0023】

[Operation of user terminal]

Next, the operation of the user terminal 1 will be described with reference to FIG. This operation is realized by the connection program installed in the user terminal 1.

【0024】

First, the user terminal 1 checks whether or not the wireless LAN access point (indicated as AP in the figure) can be used (step 1). This can be achieved, for example, by trying to access the wireless LAN and determining that it cannot be used if it cannot be accessed. If a wireless LAN access point is available here (YES in step 1), connect to the Internet via wireless LAN (step 2).

【0025】

If the wireless access point cannot be used, the current position of user terminal 1 is acquired by the mobile communication function (step 3). Location information can be acquired using existing location information technology in mobile communications. For example, in the case of PHS, the above position information can be obtained by receiving the base station ID of a nearby base station and acquiring the position of the base station from the base station position information DB in the PHS system. Further, by equipping the user terminal 1 (or the card inserted into the user terminal 1) with a GPS device, it is possible to acquire the position information by GPS.

【0026】

Next, the user terminal 1 accesses the center device 5 and transmits the acquired position information to the center device 5 (step 4). If the mobile system has a database that holds the current position of the mobile communication terminal including the user terminal 1, the user terminal 1 does not acquire the position information and sends it to the center device 5. The center device 5 may receive the identification information of the user terminal 1 from the user terminal 1 and acquire the location information from the above database using the identification information.

【0027】

Next, the center device 5 generates information on an access point close to the current position of the user terminal 1 from the acquired position information and the information in the wireless LAN access point DB. The details of the processing in the center device 5 will be described later. After that, the user terminal 1 acquires the information of the wireless LAN access point (step 5) and displays the information on the display of the user terminal 1 (step 6). Figure 4 shows an example of the displayed information.

【0028】

In the screen example shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of access points within a predetermined distance from the current position are displayed, and a case where a family restaurant XXXX store is selected is shown. If mobile communication is selected, the Internet connection by mobile communication is started. Furthermore, when detailed information is selected, the screen shifts to a screen that can display a map, distance, directions, landmarks, access point usage method, charges, conditions, etc. near each access point. It is also possible to display shops, events, other local information, and advertisements around the access point on the screen. By displaying such regional information and advertisements, the operator of the center device 5 can also earn income from the providers of regional information and advertisements. ..

【0029】

Then, when the user who sees the information displayed as shown in Fig. 4 uses the wireless LAN, select the wireless LAN access point he / she wants to use on the screen (step 7 in Fig. 2). When the wireless LAN access point is selected, the center device 1 sends the parameters (ESSID, WEP key, etc.) required for wireless LAN communication corresponding to the wireless LAN access point to the user terminal 1, and the user terminal 1 Sets its parameters to enable wireless LAN communication (step 8). Then, a map, directions, landmarks, etc. near the selected wireless LAN access point are displayed on the display of the user terminal 1 (step 9), and the user terminal 1 waits for entering the wireless LAN service area. When the user terminal 1 enters the wireless LAN service area, the wireless LAN access point can be used in step 1, and the Internet connection by wireless LAN is started.

【0030】

When the wireless LAN is given up in step 7 of FIG. 2 and mobile communication is used, that is, when mobile communication is selected on the screen of FIG. 4, the Internet connection by mobile communication is started (step 10).

【0031】

[Details of center device]

Next, the center device 5 will be described in detail. The center device 5 is, for example, a computer (server) equipped with database software. Figure 5 shows an example of the data in the wireless LAN access point DB that the center device 5 has.

【0032】

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the position, setting parameters, usage method of the access point, and the like are registered for each wireless LAN access point name. The position (X, Y) may be (longitude, latitude) or something like (east-west relative distance from the reference point, north-south relative distance from the reference point).

【0033】

The setting parameters are parameters required when using the wireless LAN on the user terminal 1. In addition, the usage method is information including the usage conditions and usage charges of the wireless LAN access point.

【0034】

The operation of the center device 5 using such a DB will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

【0035】

First, the location information is received from the user terminal 1 (step 21). Then, the distance between each wireless LAN access point in the DB and the user terminal 1 is calculated using the position information (step 22), and the distance is within a predetermined distance (for example, 1 km) from the current position of the user terminal 1. Obtain a wireless LAN access point and send it to user terminal 1 (step 23). Subsequently, the request from the user terminal 1 is received (step 24), and the following processing is performed in response to the request.

【0036】

When there is a request for displaying detailed information from the user terminal 1, detailed information such as a map of each wireless LAN access point is transmitted to the user terminal 1 (step 25). For detailed information such as maps and directions, a map information DB may be provided in the center device 5, and maps, directions, landmarks, etc. near the wireless LAN access point may be obtained from the map information DB, or an external map information DB. May be used. Further, detailed information may be stored in the wireless LAN access point DB for each wireless LAN access point. In addition, in order to send regional information and advertisements to user terminal 1, an external database that holds regional information and advertisements may be used, or these information may be registered in the wireless LAN access point DB. May be good.

【0037】

When the wireless LAN access point is selected, the parameters corresponding to the wireless LAN access point are transmitted to the user terminal 1 (step 26), and the user provides detailed information such as a map near the wireless LAN access point. Send to terminal 1 (step 27).

【0038】

The above operation in the center device is realized by a program mounted on the center device.

【0039】

The connection program installed in the user terminal 1 records on a computer-readable recording medium such as an FD (floppy (registered trademark) disk), MO, ROM, memory card, CD-ROM, DVD, or removable disk. It is possible to save and distribute it. The connection program can also be provided through a network such as the Internet or e-mail. Of course, the connection program may be pre-installed on the user terminal 1. The program mounted on the center device is the same as the connection program.

【0040】

According to the above embodiment, mobile communication functions such as PHS and mobile phones and wireless LAN are mixedly mounted on one user terminal, mutually complementing the coverage area, and high-speed Internet connection in places where wireless LAN can be used. In other places, mobile communication can be used to provide services that provide a low-speed but minimal Internet connection. Furthermore, by providing information on where to go in the neighborhood when wireless LAN cannot be used, users can easily use high-speed Internet communication. At the same time, it will be possible to provide users with information that depends on the location of advertisements in neighboring areas.

【0041】

Further, since the user terminal 1 can receive the wireless LAN communication parameter from the center device 1 and set it automatically, the user's labor can be greatly reduced and the wireless LAN can be easily used. Will be.

【0042】

The present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various modifications and applications can be made within the scope of the claims.

【0043】

[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, the user can easily know the nearby wireless LAN access point and can easily move to the wireless LAN access point. Further, even when data communication by wireless LAN cannot be performed, data communication by mobile communication can be easily performed.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a card in which a mobile communication function and a wireless LAN function are mixed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the user terminal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a user terminal.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data in a wireless LAN access point DB.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the center device 5.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 User terminal 2 Wireless LAN access point 3 Mobile base station 4 Internet 5 Center device 11 Card 12 Mobile antenna 13 Wireless LAN antenna 14 Mobile communication module 15 Wireless LAN communication module