JP2013197729A - Mobile communication terminal, roaming management server and roaming network selection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promptly select a roaming network when a mobile communication terminal uses international roaming.SOLUTION: A mobile communication terminal 1 stores roaming network information including identification information, area information and service information of a roaming business operator with which a home enterpriser cooperates, and a user request in regard to the selection of a roaming network. The mobile communication terminal 1 receives a radio wave from a GPS satellite 5 to obtain the own position information, and selects a roaming network 4 on the basis of the position information and the roaming network information.

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal, a roaming management server, and a roaming network selection method.

  In recent years, the number of users who use international roaming is increasing due to the standardization of mobile communication systems and the spread of mobile communication terminals compliant with the accompanying standards and the tie-ups between carriers. When using international roaming, a user can use a roaming partner in a second country different from the first country where the mobile communication network (hereinafter referred to as home network) of the contracted communication carrier (hereinafter referred to as home operator) exists. A user can receive a service contracted with a home provider via a mobile communication network (hereinafter referred to as roaming network) of a communication provider (hereinafter referred to as roaming provider).

  When performing roaming, the mobile communication terminal scans the frequency assigned to the roaming operator in addition to the frequency assigned to the home operator, and first detects a connectable roaming network. When a plurality of roaming networks are detected, a roaming network to be used is selected by a selection method of either automatic selection or manual selection. In the automatic selection, a roaming network to be automatically used is selected according to a priority determination method defined in the standard. In manual selection, the user selects a roaming network to be used manually.

  However, conventional mobile communication terminals scan the frequency allocated to the home business operator even though the user is in the second country. In addition, when there are a plurality of roaming operators, the number of times to scan increases. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time until the connection is completed.

  In some cases, a roaming network unintended by the user may be selected. In recent years, there is a packet communication fee flat rate service for overseas as a service provided by a home provider. In international roaming, a packet communication fee is a flat-rate service when the home carrier is connected to a roaming carrier that is affiliated with a packet communication fee flat-rate service for overseas. Therefore, if a roaming network by a roaming carrier to which the packet communication fee flat-rate service for overseas is applied is not selected and a different roaming network is automatically selected, the packet communication fee will increase. is there.

  In order to avoid this problem with the roaming network selection method, it is necessary to make a manual selection. However, for example, when traveling in multiple countries in a short period of time, such as overseas travel, the user must perform a manual selection operation each time. It must be troublesome work.

  Furthermore, it is necessary for the user to understand in advance the setting method necessary for performing manual selection and information for determining which roaming network is appropriate to select. The information for determination includes, for example, a call charge, a packet communication charge, whether or not a packet communication charge flat-rate service for overseas use is applied, and whether or not a videophone can be used.

  As a technique for dealing with such a problem, there is a roaming control method described in Patent Document 1. In this roaming control method, when roaming, the mobile communication terminal receives a radio wave from the base station to connect the mobile communication terminal to a roaming network that conforms to the user's requirements. The roaming network is detected, the information specifying the detected roaming network and the user's requirements are transmitted to the roaming control device in the home network owned by the home operator, and the roaming control device roams based on the received information Refers to a database storing information about the network, determines the priority of the roaming network to be connected, transmits the determined priority information to the mobile communication terminal, and connects based on the priority information received by the mobile communication terminal Connect to any of the possible roaming networks.

  However, in this roaming control method, the mobile communication terminal must first receive radio waves from the base station and detect a plurality of roaming networks. Also, because roaming network information is not stored, when there is a possibility of new roaming, for example, when the power is turned on or when the connected roaming network is detected as out of service area, the database related to the roaming network is updated. Even if not, the above processing is performed. Therefore, when using international roaming, there is a problem that it is not possible to easily and quickly select an appropriate roaming network according to the user's request.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to quickly select a roaming network when using international roaming by a mobile communication terminal.

  The mobile communication terminal of the present invention is a mobile communication terminal that can use international roaming, and includes location information acquisition means for acquiring its own location information without going through a base station, and a roaming operator with which a home operator is affiliated. Roaming network information storage means for storing roaming network information including area information, position information acquired by the position information acquisition means, and area information stored in the roaming network information storage means. And a roaming network selection means for selecting.

  According to the present invention, when using international roaming by a mobile communication terminal, it is possible to quickly select a roaming network.

It is a figure which shows the use environment of the mobile communication terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile communication terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the roaming network information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the user request | requirement which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the roaming management server which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the basic roaming network selection flow based on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a roaming network selection flow when updating a user request and outputting information of a selected roaming network in the embodiment of the present invention. In embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows the procedure in which a mobile communication terminal acquires roaming network information manually. In embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows the procedure in which a mobile communication terminal acquires roaming network information manually. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for automatically acquiring roaming network information when a mobile communication terminal receives an update notification from a roaming management server in the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Use environment of mobile communication terminal>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a use environment of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, a mobile communication terminal 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided in a first country and provided in a home network 3 having a roaming management server 2 and a second country different from the first country. A roaming network 4 and a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite 5 can be used.

  Although not shown, the home network 3 and the roaming network 4 include equipment for performing conventional mobile communication such as a base station. The mobile communication terminal 1 and the roaming management server 2 constitute a mobile communication system.

  The home network 3 is a communication network possessed by a home operator that is a communication operator with whom the user of the mobile communication terminal 1 makes a contract, and the roaming management server 2 is connected to other devices such as the mobile communication terminal 1 via the home network 3. And exchange information.

  The roaming network 4 is a network owned by a roaming operator who is a communication operator with whom the home operator has a roaming alliance. Then, a plurality of roaming networks 4a and 4b by a plurality of different roaming operators may cover the same area. Roaming network information, which is information related to the roaming network 4, is managed by the roaming management server 2.

The GPS satellite 5 communicates with the mobile communication terminal 1 and provides information for the mobile communication terminal 1 to acquire its own position information.
Details of the mobile communication terminal 1 and the roaming management server 2 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The following explanation is based on the situation where international roaming is used. In this case, as shown in the figure, it is assumed that the mobile communication terminal 1 exists in the roaming network 4 in a second country different from the first country in which the home network 3 exists.

<Configuration of mobile communication terminal>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile communication terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The mobile communication terminal 1 includes a location information acquisition unit 11, a storage unit 12, a roaming network selection unit 13, a roaming network information acquisition unit 14, a communication unit 15, an input unit 16, and an output unit 17 as its constituent elements.

  The position information acquisition unit 11 is means for acquiring the position information of the mobile communication terminal 1 using, for example, the GPS satellite 5 without going through the base station of the home network 3 or the roaming network 4. Thereby, the latitude and longitude information where the mobile communication terminal 1 is located can be obtained.

  The storage unit 12 is means for storing roaming network information, various information including user requests for selection of the roaming network 4, various programs, and the like, and includes, for example, a RAM and a ROM.

Here, roaming network information and user requests will be described.
The roaming network information is a list including identification information, area information, and service information for a roaming company with which the home company is affiliated, and indicates which roaming company provides what service to which area.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of roaming network information according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, roaming company name as identification information, country name as area information, service information, communication method and whether or not flat-rate packet communication service for overseas use, videophone availability, call charge and packet communication charge And the size of the coverage area in the country described in the area information. And the roaming network information acquisition part 14 can also acquire and update the roaming network information in the memory | storage part 21 of the roaming management server 2 shown in FIG.

  The user request indicates a priority condition that is a reference for the user of the mobile communication terminal 1 to select the roaming network 4. Furthermore, the user request indicates a request for service information of roaming network information. If there is an instruction to the user request from the input unit 16, the content of the user request can be updated and stored.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a user request according to the embodiment of the present invention. The content of the user request includes, for example, a request item and a priority order for the request item. The request item and the priority order for the roaming network information as shown in FIG. , Video phone, speed, call charge, packet communication charge, cover area and ranking for each item.

  Here, overseas packet communication flat-rate is applicable to packet communication flat-rate service for overseas, video phone is available for video phone, and speed corresponds to communication method with high transfer rate. The call charge means that the call charge is low, the packet communication charge means that the packet communication charge is low, and the cover area means that the cover area is wide. In the case of this figure, in order from the highest priority when selecting a roaming network, the overseas packet communication charge flat rate> cover area> speed> call charge> TV phone> packet communication charge.

  Returning to the description of FIG. When the mobile communication terminal 1 uses roaming, the roaming network selection unit 13 selects the roaming network 4 based on the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit 11, the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 12, and a user request. It is means to do. The roaming network selection flow will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The roaming network information acquisition unit 14 is means for acquiring roaming network information managed by the roaming management server 2 and updating the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 12. The roaming network information acquisition flow will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The communication unit 15 is a means for the base station and the mobile communication terminal 1 to perform wireless communication, and the mobile communication terminal 1 exchanges information with the roaming management server 2 and other mobile communication terminals via the base station.

  The input unit 16 is a means for the user to input various instructions, and is, for example, a key, a display, a microphone, or the like. By operating the input unit 16, the user can issue an instruction to acquire roaming network information, an instruction to update a user request, and the like.

  The output unit 17 is means for outputting information in the mobile communication terminal 1 to notify the user, and is, for example, a speaker or a display. In this embodiment, the selected roaming network information is also output.

<Roaming management server configuration>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the roaming management server 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The roaming management server 2 includes a storage unit 21, a roaming network information request processing unit 22, a roaming network information update notification unit 23, and a communication unit 24 as its components.

  The storage unit 21 is means for storing information for providing roaming to the mobile communication terminal 1 such as the latest roaming network information, and includes, for example, a RAM and a ROM. The roaming network information request processing unit 22 is means for transmitting roaming network information stored in the storage unit 21 to the mobile communication terminal 1 when receiving a request for obtaining roaming network information from the mobile communication terminal 1.

  The roaming network information update notification unit 23 is means for transmitting a notification of roaming network information update to the mobile communication terminal 1 when the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 21 is updated.

The communication unit 24 is means for communicating with other devices such as the mobile communication terminal 1 via the home network 3 and exchanging information.
Details of operations of the roaming network information request processing unit 22 and the roaming network information update notification unit 23 will be described later.

<Basic roaming network selection flow>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a basic roaming network selection flow according to the embodiment of the present invention. The flow in this figure is performed using the roaming network information and user request shown in FIGS.

  The mobile communication terminal 1 first acquires its own location information by the location information acquisition unit 11 (step S1). Next, roaming network information in the storage unit 12 is analyzed using the acquired position information, and a roaming network corresponding to area information including a point indicated by the position information is selected (step S2).

  For example, when the acquired location information is a point in country A, a roaming network whose area information corresponds to country A is selected, one roaming network of operator A, two roaming networks of operator B, and an operator Four roaming networks consisting of one C roaming network are selected.

  Next, it is determined whether there are a plurality of selected roaming networks (step S3). If there are a plurality of determination results (step S3: Yes), further analysis including the highest user request among the user requests stored in the storage unit 12 from the selected roaming network is performed to meet the user request. A roaming network is selected (step S4). In FIG. 4, since the request item with the highest priority is the overseas packet communication fee fixed amount, two roaming networks of the operator B whose overseas packet communication fee fixed information shown in FIG. 3 is “present” are selected. .

  After executing step S4, the process proceeds to step S3, and it is determined again whether or not there are a plurality of selected roaming networks. If there are a plurality of selected roaming networks again (step S3: Yes), the roaming network is selected based on the user request with the next highest priority (step S4).

  Step S3: Yes → Step S4 → Step S3 is repeated until one roaming network is selected (Step S3: No). In the case of FIG. 4, since the request item with the second highest priority is the cover area, the roaming network of the operator B whose cover area is “medium” is selected.

<Roaming network selection flow including user request update and output of selected roaming network information>
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a roaming network selection flow when updating the user request and outputting information on the selected roaming network.

  In the mobile communication terminal 1, when a user request update instruction is input from the input unit 16 (step S11: Yes), the user request stored in the storage unit 12 is replaced with a newly instructed user request (step S12). . For example, in FIG. 4, a case where the second priority is updated to speed and the third priority is updated to a cover area can be considered.

  When there is no user request update instruction (step S11: No), or when the user request is replaced with a newly instructed user request, the mobile communication terminal 1 acquires its position information by the position information acquisition unit 11 ( Step S13).

  Next, the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 12 is analyzed using the acquired position information, and a roaming network corresponding to the area information including the point indicated by the position information is selected (step S14). As in FIG. 6, assuming that the acquired location information is a point in country A, a roaming network whose area information corresponds to country A is selected, and one roaming network of operator A and two of operator B are selected. Four roaming networks including a roaming network and one roaming network of the operator C are selected.

  When there are a plurality of selected roaming networks (step S15: Yes), further analysis including the highest user request among the user requests stored in the storage unit 12 from the selected roaming network is performed to determine the user request. A matching roaming network is selected (step S16). Similarly to FIG. 6, since the request item with the highest priority is the overseas packet communication fee fixed amount, the two roaming networks of the operator B whose overseas packet communication fee fixed amount information is “present” are selected.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S15, and it is determined again whether or not there are a plurality of selected roaming networks. As a result of the determination, if there are more than one again (step S15: Yes), the roaming network is selected based on the user request with the next highest priority (step S16).

  Step S15: Yes → Step S16 → Step S15 is repeated until one roaming network is selected (Step S15: No). Unlike FIG. 6, since the request item with the second highest priority is speed, the roaming network of operator B whose communication method is “HSDPA” (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) is selected.

  Information about the finally selected roaming network (roaming network information) is output from the output unit 17 (step S17). In the case of the previous example, the following information is output: Area: Country A, Roaming operator: Operator B, Communication method: HSDPA, Overseas packet communication flat rate: Yes, Video phone: Yes, Call fee 250 yen, Cover area: Small Output from the unit 17.

<Manual acquisition of roaming network information>
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a procedure for the mobile communication terminal to manually acquire roaming network information in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the mobile communication terminal 1, when the user receives an instruction to acquire roaming network information from the input unit 16 (step S21), the roaming network information acquisition unit 14 transmits a roaming network information acquisition request to the roaming management server 2 through the communication unit 15. (Step S22).

  In the roaming management server 2, the roaming network information request processing unit 22 receives the roaming network information acquisition request through the communication unit 24, and transmits the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 22 to the mobile communication terminal 1 (step S23). ).

  In the mobile communication terminal 1, the roaming network information acquisition unit 14 receives the roaming network information via the communication unit 15, and replaces the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 12 with the received roaming network information (step S24). The output unit 17 outputs the received roaming network information (step S25).

<Manually obtaining updated roaming network information>
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a procedure for the mobile communication terminal to manually acquire roaming network information in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the roaming management server 2, along with the update of the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 21, the roaming network information update notification unit 23 transmits a roaming network information update notification to the mobile communication terminal 1 through the communication unit 24 (step S31). ).

  In the mobile communication terminal 1, when the communication unit 15 receives the roaming network information update notification from the roaming management server 2, the output unit 17 outputs that the roaming network information is updated (step S32). Next, the roaming network information acquisition unit 14 transmits a roaming network information acquisition request to the roaming management server 2 through the communication unit 15 (step S33).

  In the roaming management server 2, the roaming network information request processing unit 22 receives the roaming network information acquisition request through the communication unit 24, and transmits the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 21 to the mobile communication terminal 1 (step S34).

  In the mobile communication terminal 1, the roaming network information acquisition unit 14 receives the roaming network information via the communication unit 15, and replaces the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 12 with the received roaming network information (step S35). The output unit 17 outputs the received roaming network information (step S36).

<Automatic acquisition of updated roaming network information>
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a procedure for automatically acquiring roaming network information when the mobile communication terminal receives an update notification from the roaming management server 2 in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the roaming management server 2, along with the update of the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 21, the roaming network information update notification unit 23 transmits a roaming network information update notification to the mobile communication terminal 1 via the communication unit 24 (step S41).

  In the mobile communication terminal 1, when the communication unit 15 receives the roaming network information update notification from the roaming management server 2, the output unit 17 outputs that the roaming network information is updated (step S42).

  Next, in the mobile communication terminal 1, the roaming network information acquisition unit 14 receives a roaming network information acquisition instruction from the input unit 16 by the user (step S 43), and sends a roaming network information acquisition request to the roaming management server 2 via the communication unit 15. (Step S44).

  In the roaming management server 2, the roaming network information request processing unit 22 receives the roaming network information acquisition request through the communication unit 24 and transmits the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 22 to the mobile communication terminal 1 (step). S45).

  In the mobile communication terminal 1, the roaming network information acquisition unit 14 receives the roaming network information via the communication unit 15, and replaces the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 12 with the received roaming network information (step S46). The output unit 17 outputs the received roaming network information (step S47).

As described above in detail, the mobile communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention has the following features (1) to (9).
(1) When performing international roaming, the mobile communication terminal 1 uses the GPS function to acquire its own location information without using a base station, and identifies the stored roaming business partner with the home business operator The roaming network of the roaming partner is selected based on the roaming network information, which is a list including information, area information, and service information, and the acquired location information. Since a roaming network is selected based on a user request for selection, a roaming network that matches a user's request can be quickly and easily selected when using international roaming.
(2) Since the storage unit 12 of the mobile communication terminal 1 stores a request for service information of the roaming network as a user request, the user can select a roaming network according to the service content.
(3) Since the storage unit 12 of the mobile communication terminal 1 updates the user request when there is an instruction to update the user request from the user, the user can flexibly change the user request.
(4) Since the mobile communication terminal 1 outputs the roaming network information of the selected roaming network from the output unit 17, the roaming network information of the roaming network selected by the user can be confirmed.
(5) When the roaming management server 2 receives the roaming network information acquisition request from the mobile communication terminal 1, it transmits the roaming network information stored in the storage unit 21 to the mobile communication terminal 1. The latest roaming network information can be provided upon request.
(6) When the roaming network information is updated, the roaming management server 2 notifies the mobile communication terminal 1 of the update of the roaming network information, so that the user of the mobile communication terminal 1 knows that the roaming network information has been updated. be able to.
(7) The mobile communication terminal 1 transmits a roaming network information acquisition request to the roaming management server 2 based on a user instruction, receives the roaming network information from the roaming management server 2, and stores the roaming information stored in the storage unit 12. Since the roaming network information acquisition unit 14 for replacing the network information with the received roaming network information is provided, the user can select the roaming network based on the latest roaming network information.
(8) The user of the mobile communication terminal 1 can know from the output unit 17 that the roaming network information has been updated and the updated roaming network information.
(9) The user of the mobile communication terminal 1 can arbitrarily select manual acquisition or automatic acquisition as a method for acquiring roaming network information from the roaming management server 2.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile communication terminal, 2 ... Roaming management server, 3 ... Home network, 4,4a, 4b ... Roaming network, 5 ... GPS satellite, 11 ... Location information acquisition part, 12, 21 ... Storage part, 13 ... Roaming network selection 14, roaming network information acquisition unit, 15, 24 ... communication unit, 16 ... input unit, 17 ... output unit, 22 ... roaming network information request processing unit, 23 ... roaming network information update notification unit.

Japanese Patent No. 4283818

Claims (10)

A mobile communication terminal that can use international roaming,
Position information acquisition means for acquiring own position information without going through a base station;
Roaming network information storage means for storing roaming network information including area information of roaming operators with which the home operator is affiliated;
Roaming network selection means for selecting a roaming network based on the positional information acquired by the positional information acquisition means and area information stored in the roaming network information storage means;
A mobile communication terminal comprising: In the mobile communication terminal according to claim 1,
User request storage means for storing a user request for selection of a roaming network;
The roaming network information includes service information of a roaming operator,
When there are a plurality of roaming networks in the area indicated by the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit, the roaming network selection unit selects a roaming network based on the service information and the user request. . In the mobile communication terminal according to claim 2,
A mobile communication terminal comprising means for updating a user request stored in the user request storage means in response to a user request update instruction. In the mobile communication terminal according to claim 1,
A mobile communication terminal comprising roaming network information acquisition means for acquiring the roaming network information from a roaming management server of a home network. In the mobile communication terminal according to claim 4,
The roaming network information acquisition means is a mobile communication terminal that acquires roaming network information in response to a user's acquisition instruction. In the mobile communication terminal according to claim 4,
The roaming network information acquisition means is a mobile communication terminal that acquires roaming network information in response to receiving an update notification of roaming network information from the roaming management server. In the mobile communication terminal according to claim 1,
A mobile communication terminal comprising means for outputting roaming network information of a roaming network selected by the roaming network selection means. A roaming management server that manages roaming network information for providing international roaming,
Roaming network information storage means for storing roaming network information;
Means for transmitting roaming network information stored in the roaming network information storage means to the mobile communication terminal in response to receiving a roaming network information acquisition request from the mobile communication terminal;
A roaming management server comprising: In the roaming management server according to claim 8,
A roaming management server comprising means for transmitting an update notification to the mobile communication terminal when the roaming network information is updated. A roaming network selection method in which a mobile communication terminal capable of using international roaming selects a roaming network,
A location information acquisition step in which the mobile communication terminal acquires its location information without going through a base station;
A roaming network selection step for selecting a roaming network based on the location information acquired in the location information acquisition step and the area information of the roaming operator with which the home operator has been stored in advance.
Roaming network selection method comprising:

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