DE19924718A1 - Mobile communications unit can switch between different networks to optimize call costs - Google Patents

Abstract

The mobile communications unit (1,2) can set up links to different fixed (3,4) or radio (5,6) networks and switch between them automatically or manually to optimize call costs.

Description

The invention is based on a mobile communication device Transmission and reception of in particular voice and data with which one first and second mutually independent connection can be established and by a method for the mobile transmission of in particular voice and data, in which a first and second independent connection is established.

Generic communication devices are known as mobile telephones. With these phones it is now possible to establish multiple connections, for example for a so-called three-way conference circuit. The phones are  can be operated on a radio or landline network, with a separate one for each of the networks Telephone is required.

The invention is based on the problem, the mobile generic Develop communication device such that a comfortable and making calls from anywhere possible. Furthermore, a method for mobile transmission of voice and data in particular.

The problem of the communication device is compounded by the features of the Claim 1 solved, that of the method by the features of Claims 10 and 17 respectively.

The communication device is for transmission and reception various data and language provided. The way the data or the language transmitted is immaterial to the invention and that Known specialist. Insofar as data is mentioned below, this includes any transferable information.

First and second connections can be established. The connections are independently of each other. This means that each of the two connections transferable data can be transmitted independently of the other connection. A coupling of the connections is not provided. The two connections can be set up via different connection paths. Under connecting routes are different constructions of a connection to understand different requirements for the establishment of the connection and / or Differences in connection quality, etc. The difference in the Connection quality can, for example, in the speed of the Data transport or through different connection costs consist. A switch is provided, with which the transmission from the one connection can be switched to the other connection. It is therefore the Possibility given with one and the same communication device that for example, can be designed as a portable phone, from one to the  switch another connection. It can thus, for example cheapest active connection can be selected.

One connection can be made via a landline network and the other connection via a Radio network can be built. Have mobile, landline-operated phones usually sufficient reception quality within a radio cell, while there is no reception outside the radio cell. On the other hand the call costs incurred are relatively low. Is now on the verge of Radio cell of the fixed network, the transmission quality bad, can be a second Connection can be established via a radio network. In this case, the second connection switched. The switchover can be automatic and / or done manually.

The switch can make the first connection after establishing the second Disconnect. This is especially true with regard to those Call costs advantageous.

The switch can be arranged and designed such that the The connection is switched over without interrupting the transmission. Thereby can continue a current transfer of data even during the switchover take place without fear of data loss.

To prevent data loss, the switch can have a buffer be assigned in which the language and / or the data and / or the Number of the existing connection in the time range of the switchover are storable. If the switchover fails, the data can be found under which also understand language etc. from the buffer again to be restored. The original - still active - connection then becomes used.

A preferred connection path can be assigned to the switch. This can also be made variable, for example by a possibility of  Programming. A query would also be possible. With that the respective Conditions of the user are taken into account.

A level measurement device can be provided, in which case the Switching depending on a signal level value of the Level measurement device can take place. Is a connection through the preferred connection path open, d. H. switched, and takes the quality and In this case, the signal level value can be changed to the other Connection initiated. Conversely, with an open connection via a not preferred connection path, the switch to the preferred connection path to be made over the other connection as soon as one corresponding signal level value is reached.

A limit signal level value at which the switchover takes place can be predeterminable. If only a low line quality is required, you can use the appropriate Variation of the limit signal level value the preferred connection path longer be maintained.

A warning device can be provided which, in the event of failure Switching to the second connection is activated. A deteriorating one Connection via the landline network due to increasing distance from one Base station can thus be counteracted.

A plurality of criteria can be specified or specified, in which case the switchover takes place depending on the criteria. The switchover can thus can be customized.

In a method for the mobile transmission of in particular voice and A first connection is established for data via a first connection path. A second connection is established via a second connection path, the two connections being kept open parallel to one another as long as possible until the transfer from the first connection to the second connection  is switched. After successfully switching to the second connection then the first connection is interrupted.

The invention is further explained using an exemplary embodiment.

They show in a highly schematic representation

Fig. 1a shows a communication device in different radio cells and

FIG. 1b, the variation of a signal level value over time.

A mobile communication device 2 designed as a telephone 1 is shown in FIG. 1 a , which is operated in a first radio cell 3 of a fixed network 4 . A second radio cell 5 of a radio network 6 is partially overlapping. FIG. 1b shows a time characteristic of a signal level value of 7 through 8 a time when the telephone 1 is moved from the first radio cell 3 in the second radio cell 5 in an open first compound 9.

At time t ₀ , the first connection 9 is established via the fixed network 4 . The telephone 2 is in the first radio cell 3 ( Fig. 1a). In an edge area 9 of the first radio cell 3 , the signal level value 7 decreases with increasing approach to a limit 10 of the first radio cell 3 and thus also the transmission quality. When a limit signal level value 11 is reached, a second connection 13 is established via the radio network 6 . Both connections remain open parallel to one another over a period of time Δt. During this period, the first connection 9 is switched to the second connection 13 . The first connection 9 is only interrupted when the second connection 13 has been completely set up and the transmission has been switched to the second connection.

When the radio cell 3 is re-entered, the switch from the second connection 13 to the first connection 9 takes place accordingly.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

1

phone

2nd

Communication device

3rd

Radio cell

4th

landline

5

Radio cell

6

Radio network

7

Signal level value

8th

time

9

connection

10th

Edge area

11

border

12th

Limit signal level value

13

connection

Claims (17)

1. Mobile communication device for transmitting and receiving, in particular, voice and data, with which a first and a second independent connection ( 9 , 13 ) can be set up, characterized in that the two connections ( 9 , 13 ) can be set up via different connection paths, and that a switch is provided with which the transmission from one connection ( 9 ; 13 ) to the other connection ( 9 ; 13 ) can be switched. 2. Mobile communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the one connection ( 9 ; 13 ) via a fixed network ( 4 ) and the other connection ( 9 ; 13 ) via a radio network ( 6 ) can be established. 3. Mobile communication device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the changeover switch interrupts the first connection ( 9 ; 13 ) after the establishment of the second connection ( 9 ; 13 ). 4. Mobile communication device according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the changeover switch is designed and arranged such that the connection ( 9 , 13 ) is switched over without transmission interruption. 5. Mobile communication device according to one or more of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the switch Buffer is assigned, and that in the buffer  Language and / or the data and / or the phone number of the existing Connection can be stored in the time range of the switchover. 6. Mobile communication device according to one or more of the Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the switch preferred connection path is assigned and / or programmable. 7. Mobile communication device according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a level measurement device is provided, and that the switching is carried out as a function of a signal level value ( 7 ) of the level measurement device. 8. Mobile communication device according to claim 7, characterized in that a limit signal level value ( 7 ) can be predetermined. 9. Mobile communication device according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a warning device is provided which is activated when the switchover to the second connection ( 9 ; 13 ) fails. 10. A method for mobile transmission of voice and data in particular, in which a first and second independent connection ( 9 , 13 ) is established, characterized in that the transmission from the first connection ( 9 ) to the second connection ( 13 ) can be switched , and that the first connection ( 9 ) via a different connection path than the second connection ( 13 ). 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that one of the connections ( 9 ; 13 ) via a fixed network ( 4 ) and the other connection ( 9 ; 13 ) via a radio network ( 6 ). 12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the switching takes place as a function of a signal level value ( 7 ). 13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the connection ( 9 ; 13 ) via the fixed network ( 4 ) is selected as the preferred connection ( 9 ; 13 ). 14. The method according to one or more of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that after establishing the second connection ( 9 ; 13 ), the first connection ( 9 ; 13 ) is interrupted. 15. The method according to one or more of claims 10 to 14, characterized characterized in that the switchover voice and / or done without data interruption. 16. The method according to one or more of claims 10 to 15, characterized characterized in that a plurality of criteria can be specified or are specified, and that the switching depending on the criteria he follows. 17. A method for mobile transmission of voice and data in particular, in which a first connection ( 9 ; 13 ) is established via a first connection path, characterized in that a second connection ( 9 ; 13 ) is established via a second connection path that the parallel to each other, both connections ( 9 , 13 ) are kept open until the transmission is switched from the first connection ( 9 ; 13 ) to the second connection ( 9 ; 13 ), and that after the successful switchover, the first connection ( 9 ; 13 ) is interrupted.