Wireless communication system, management server, wireless terminal, and network selection method in which networks that satisfy condition requested by wireless terminal that has requested a connection based on network information including a latest transmission speed is selected

A wireless terminal that can connect to a plurality of networks makes a request for a connection to a management server. The management server holds network information about unchanging service characteristics of a plurality of networks constituting a wireless communication area. The management server selects networks satisfying a request condition of a wireless terminal that has requested a connection based on the network information and notifies the selected networks, as candidates for connection, to the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal measures changing service characteristics of the candidates for connection notified from the management server, selects a network from the candidates for connection based on a measurement result, and connects to the selected network.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priorities from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2008-254756 filed on Sep. 30, 2008, and No. 2009-174172 filed on Jul. 27, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system that can select a network for connecting a wireless terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is a wireless communication system that covers communication areas by cells formed by wireless base stations to allow a wireless terminal to communicate in the communication areas. For example, in WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), cells cover communication areas to allow communications in various places.

Providers construct networks, such as a WiMAX network, respectively. Therefore, communication areas of networks may overlap in the same area. The provider of each network independently sets the service area, provided services, fee, etc. Therefore, the service area, provided services, fee, etc., may differ in each network. The communication quality of the wireless line may also be different from one network to another network even in the same location since the arrangements of the wireless base stations are different from one network to another network.

However, the user usually subscribes to the network of a provider. Therefore, the wireless terminal connects to the subscribed network when the user is at a location where the communication areas of networks overlap. Therefore, the wireless terminal does not always connect to the network most suitable for the requested conditions. For example, the wireless terminal may not be able to connect to a network having a lower fee, a network that provides a user's desired service, or a network in which the communication quality of the wireless line is excellent.

Consequently, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2005-318235 and 2008-131346 disclose techniques of a communication terminal that selects and connects to an optimal network among networks.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-318235 describes that a communication terminal stores the contents of communication services of IP (Internet Protocol) phones and selects a communication service having the lowest price based on the fee per packet, etc.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-131346 describes that a monitoring control server arranged separately from the communication terminal always changes the communication path. According to the technique, the monitoring control server includes: test packet transmission instructing means for transmitting a test packet transmission instruction; transmission quality measuring means for receiving the reception result of a test packet to obtain transmission qualities of communication paths; communication path selecting means for selecting a communication path based on the transmission qualities of the communication paths; and communication path instructing means for transmitting a communication path setting instruction. The communication terminal includes: test packet transmitting means for transmitting a test packet; test packet reception result transmitting means for transmitting a reception result of the test packet; and communication path setting means for setting a communication path.

However, the techniques described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2005-318235 and 2008-131346 do not take into consideration the fact that the indexes for selecting a network include indexes that always change, such as the transmission quality of the communication line, and indexes that rarely change, such as service areas and the fee per packet. Therefore, a network may not be appropriately selected in a method corresponding to the properties of the indexes.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-318235, the communication terminal stores the contents of communication services and selects a communication service based on the fee per packet, etc. However, a change in the setting of network services, such as service area and fee per packet, cannot be easily notified to all communication terminals in real time. Therefore, the technique of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-318235 does not select a network based on an appropriate method according to the indexes, and the communication terminal cannot appropriately select a network after the setting of the network services changes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can determine a network selection based on an appropriate method according to indexes.

To attain the object, an exemplary aspect of the invention provides a wireless communication system comprising:

a management server that holds network information about unchanging service characteristics of each of a plurality of networks constituting a communication area by wireless; and

a wireless terminal that can connect to the plurality of networks, wherein

the management server that selects networks satisfying a condition that is requested by a wireless terminal that has requested a connection based on the network information and that notifies the selected networks as candidates for connection to the wireless terminal, and the wireless terminal requests a connection to the management server, measures changing service characteristics of the candidates for connection notified from the management server, selects a network from the candidates for connection based on a measurement result, and connects to the selected network.

An exemplary aspect of the invention provides a management server comprising:

storage means for holding network information about unchanging service characteristics of each of a plurality of networks constituting a communication area by wireless;

selecting means for selecting networks satisfying a condition that is requested by a wireless terminal that has requested a connection based on the network information held by the storage means; and

notification means for notifying the networks selected by the selecting means as candidates for connection to the wireless terminal.

An exemplary aspect of the invention provides a wireless terminal that can connect to a plurality of networks constituting a communication area by wireless, the wireless terminal comprising:

requesting means for transmitting a connection request to a management server that holds network information about the unchanging service characteristics of the plurality of networks;

measuring means for measuring changing service characteristics of candidates for connection selected by the management server based on the unchanging service characteristics of the network information in response to the connection request; and

connecting means for selecting a network from the candidates for connection based on a measurement result by the measuring means and for connecting to the selected network.

An exemplary aspect of the invention provides a network selection method of selecting a connection of a wireless terminal from a plurality of networks constituting a communication area by wireless, the network selection method comprising:

a management server holding, in advance, network information about unchanging service characteristics of the plurality of networks;

the wireless terminal requesting a connection to the management server;

the management server selecting networks satisfying a condition that is requested by the wireless terminal based on the network information and notifying the selected networks, as candidates for connection, to the wireless terminal; and

the wireless terminal measuring changing service characteristics of the notified candidates for connection and selecting a connection from the candidates for connection based on a measurement result.

An exemplary aspect of the invention provides a management server program causing a computer to execute procedures of:

holding network information about unchanging service characteristics of each of a plurality of networks constituting a communication area by wireless;

selecting networks satisfying a condition requested by a wireless terminal that has requested a connection based on the held network information; and

notifying the selected networks, as candidates for connection, to the wireless terminal.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with references to the accompanying drawings which illustrate examples of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

A wireless communication system of the exemplary embodiment is a communication system that selects a network for connecting a wireless terminal among networks. An example of the networks includes a WiMAX network. In the exemplary embodiment, a wireless terminal and a management server share the operation of selecting a network. The management server makes a selection based on unchanging service characteristics of networks, and the wireless terminal further makes a selection based on changing service characteristics.

The service characteristics including unchanging and changing service characteristics are characteristics of network services serving as indexes for selecting a network for connecting a wireless terminal. To which network the connection will be made is determined based on the service characteristics and conditions that are requested by the wireless terminal.

The unchanging service characteristics are determined by network configuration, setting, contract, etc., and are service characteristics that do not change during communication. Examples of the unchanging service characteristics include service area, provided services, data capacity, delay level, fluctuation level, fee setting, and contract coverage.

The service area is information of an area where the services of a WiMAX network can be used. For example, the information indicates whether the service can be used nationwide, or whether the service can be used only in a specific area. The data capacity indicates the data capacity of communication line or the transmission speed. The delay level is an index indicating how much delay is expected in the communication line. The fluctuation level is an index indicating how much change is expected in the effective transmission speed, or how stable the transmission speed is.

The fee setting is an index of fees, such as the fee per packet. The management server may determine that the requested conditions are satisfied if the index value of fee is below a threshold.

If the wireless terminal or the contract by the user limits the networks that can be connected, the connection needs to be selected from the limited networks.

The changing service characteristics are service characteristics that may change during communication. Examples of the changing service characteristics include effective transmission speed, error rate, throughput, transmission delay, and other qualities of communication.

According to the exemplary embodiment, management server11makes a selection based on the unchanging service characteristics with relatively fixed properties determined by the network configuration, setting, etc, and wireless terminal12makes a selection based on the changing service characteristics requested following a change. Therefore, a determination of the network selection can be made based on an appropriate method according to the indexes.

FIG. 1is a block diagram of a configuration of a wireless communication system of the exemplary embodiment. According toFIG. 1, the wireless communication system of the exemplary embodiment includes management server11and wireless terminal12. A plurality of wireless terminals12actually exist.

Management server11is connected to networks13A to13C constituting a wireless communication area and holds network information that is information of the unchanging service characteristics of networks13A to13C. An example of networks13A to13C of the exemplary embodiment includes WiMAX networks managed by different providers.

Management server11selects networks13satisfying the conditions requested by wireless terminal12that has requested a connection from networks13A to13C based on the network information and notifies selected networks13as candidates for connection to wireless terminal12. In that case, management server11may use location information of wireless terminal12to select candidates for connection from networks13with service area including the location of wireless terminal12. Management server11may also set priorities to the candidates for connection. For example, higher priorities may be set to networks13that have a lower fee among networks13satisfying other requested conditions. In that case, management server11may notify the information of the candidates for connection to wireless terminal12in packets. Management server11may not manage information for allocating resources of networks13to wireless terminal12.

Management server11usually selects a plurality of networks as candidates for connection. However, if only one network13satisfies the requested conditions, only one network may serve as the candidate for connection.

Wireless terminal12or the contract by the user may limit the networks that can be connected. In that case, management server11selects candidates for connection from limited networks13.

The requested conditions are conditions required for the services used by the user of wireless terminal12. Examples of the requested conditions include service area, services for use, data capacity, delay level, fluctuation level, fee, and other requests by the user related to the service characteristics.

Management server11may determine the service area based simply on whether the service area includes the location of wireless terminal12. Alternatively, the user of wireless terminal12may specify whether to use network13that has a nationwide service area or to use network13that has a specific service area including the location of wireless terminal12. In that case, management server11can make the determination based on whether the specified conditions are satisfied. For example, if the user moves a long distance while using wireless terminal12, the user would desire network13that has a nationwide service area. If the user intends to acquire detailed local information of the current location, the user may desire network13that has a specific service area.

Wireless terminal12is a wireless terminal that can be connected to networks13A to13C. An example of wireless terminal12of the exemplary embodiment includes a communication apparatus that connects to a WiMAX network, and a communication card is used by inserting it into a personal computer. The communication card includes the main functions of wireless terminal12of the exemplary embodiment, and the personal computer operates using the functions. An input apparatus and an output apparatus may also be provided.

Wireless terminal12requests a network connection, notifies requested conditions to management server11, and receives a notification of candidates for connection from management server11. At this time, wireless terminal12may notify, to management server11, the location information indicating the location of wireless terminal12measured by a GPS as part of the requested conditions. Wireless terminal12measures the changing service characteristics of the notified candidates for connection, selects one of networks13from the candidates for connection based on the measurement result, and connects to selected network13.

The changing service characteristics can be measured by transmitting a test packet. For example, wireless terminal12may transmit the test packet to a predetermined server (not shown) in network13, and the server may measure the changing service characteristics, such as effective transmission speed, delay time, and error rate, based on the reception status of the test packet and notify the measurement result to wireless terminal12.

Wireless terminal12may set allowable levels of the changing service characteristics in advance and select network13, in which the changing service characteristics are within the allowable levels, from the candidates for connection. If priorities are set to the candidates for connection, wireless terminal12may select network13having the highest priority among networks13that satisfy the allowable levels.

While connected to and communicating with selected network13, wireless terminal12measures the changing service characteristics of the candidates for connection including network13and switches the network to be connected among the candidates for connection according to the measurement result.

FIG. 2is a sequence diagram indicating an operation by the wireless communication system of the exemplary embodiment determining the connection of the wireless terminal. As shown inFIG. 2, wireless terminal12connects to management server11through one of networks13A to13C and requests a network connection (step101). At the same time or subsequently, wireless terminal12notifies management server11of requested conditions related to the network connection (step102).

Management server11selects networks13as candidates for connection based on network information included in management server11and the requested conditions notified from wireless terminal12(step103) and notifies the selected candidates for connection to wireless terminal12(step104). It is assumed herein that networks13A to13C are the candidates for connection.

Wireless terminal12measures the line qualities of networks13A to13C that are the notified candidates for connection (step105). Wireless terminal12then selects network13that is optimal as a connection based on the measurement result and connects to selected network13(step106).FIG. 2illustrates an example in which network13A is selected.

FIG. 3is a sequence diagram of an operation of changing the connection of the wireless terminal of the exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG. 3, after wireless terminal12connects to network13A (step201), the changing service characteristics of networks13A to13C as candidates for connection are periodically measured to determine whether to change the connection (step202).

In the measurement of the changing service characteristics (step203), if the changing service characteristics of network13A, as the current connection, are reduced and do not satisfy the requested conditions, wireless terminal12switches the connection from network13A to another network13that satisfies the requested conditions (step204).FIG. 3illustrates an example in which the connection is changed from network13A to network13B.

FIG. 4is a block diagram of a configuration of management server11of the exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG. 4, management server11includes storage21, selector22, and notifier23.

Storage21holds network information about the unchanging service characteristics of networks13A to13C.

Based on the network information held in storage21, selector22selects network13satisfying the requested conditions of wireless terminal12that has requested a connection.

Notifier23notifies network13, as a candidate for connection, selected by selector22to wireless terminal12.

FIG. 5is a block diagram of a configuration of wireless terminal12of the exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG. 5, wireless terminal12includes requester31, measurer32, and connector33.

According to an operation by the user, etc., requester31transmits a connection request for requesting connection to network13to management server11.

Measurer32measures the changing service characteristics of the networks as candidates for connection selected by management server11based on the unchanging service characteristics of the network information. During communication after the connection to selected network13, measurer32periodically measures the changing service characteristics of the candidates for connection including network13.

In an example of measuring the changing service characteristics by using a test packet, measurer32may transmit the test packet to a server in network13through connector33and receive the measurement result from the server.

Connector33selects one of networks13from among the candidates for connection as a connection based on the measurement result of measurer32, connects to selected network13, and receives services from network13. Connector33also switches network13to be connected from among the candidates for connection in accordance with the measurement result by measurer32, during communication.

In requesting the network connection to management server11, the way wireless terminal12connects to management server11is not particularly limited in the exemplary embodiment. For example, wireless terminal12may connect to management server11through one of connectable networks13. In that case, the use of network13for connecting to management server11may be free of charge. Wireless terminal12may be connected to management server11through network13that the user of wireless terminal12is subscribing to.

Specific processes of apparatuses when wireless terminal12requests the network connection to management server11are not particularly limited in the exemplary embodiment. For example, the user may connect to management server11through a personal computer (wireless terminal12) connected with a communication card to activate an application on management server11. The user then inputs a user ID or a password to log in to the application and uses the application to transmit a connection request and requested conditions to management server11.

The level of user contract may also be set to the user of wireless terminal12in the exemplary embodiment. Networks13connectable by wireless terminal12may be limited by the user level. In that case, the user level belongs to the unchanging service characteristics, and management server11may determine the user level.

As in the first exemplary embodiment, a wireless communication system of a second exemplary embodiment is a communication system that selects a network for connecting a wireless terminal from among networks. An example of the networks includes a WiMAX network. In the present exemplary embodiment too, a wireless terminal and a management server share the operation of selecting a network. The management server makes a selection based on unchanging service characteristics of networks, and the wireless terminal further makes a selection based on changing service characteristics.

In the second exemplary embodiment, the changing service characteristics include the transmission speed when the wireless terminal performs data communication. The required transmission speed is predetermined for each type of data communication performed by the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal measures transmission speeds of candidates for selection and selects a network to be connected for each type of data communication from among the candidates for connection based on the transmission speed required for each type of data communication and the measured transmission speed. Examples of the types of data communications include access to data stored in a server, etc., a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), and downloading and streaming of video content.

To select a network, the wireless terminal selects a network, in which the measured transmission speed is closest to the required transmission speed, in the example of the present exemplary embodiment.

In the example of the present exemplary embodiment, to concurrently perform a plurality of types of data communications, the wireless terminal selects and connects networks according to the types of data communications and disperses the plurality of types of data communications to corresponding networks.

As in the first exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the wireless communication system according to the second exemplary embodiment includes management server11and wireless terminal12.

Management server11selects networks13satisfying a condition that is requested by wireless terminal12that has requested a connection from networks13A to13C based on the network information and notifies selected networks13as candidates for connection to wireless terminal12.

In that case, for example, management server11uses location information of wireless terminal12to select candidates for connection from networks13with service area including the location of wireless terminal12. Management server11usually selects a plurality of networks as candidates for connection.

Wireless terminal12is a wireless terminal that can be connected to networks13A to13C. Wireless terminal12requests a network connection to management server11, notifies a condition that is requested by wireless terminal12, and receives a notification of candidates for connection from management server11. Wireless terminal12may notify, to management server11, the location information indicating the location of wireless terminal12measured by a GPS as part of the requested condition.

Wireless terminal12then measures the changing service characteristics of the notified candidates for connection, selects one of networks13from among the candidates for connection based on the measurement result, and connects to selected network13.

As described, in the present exemplary embodiment, the changing service characteristics include the transmission speed when the wireless terminal performs data communication. Wireless terminal12uses a test packet to measure effective transmission speeds of the networks determined as candidates for connection. Wireless terminal12compares the required transmission speed and the measured transmission speed for each type of data communication to be executed, selects one of networks13from among the candidates for connection, and executes data communication with selected network13.

In that case, wireless terminal12can select network13, in which the measured transmission speed is closest to the required transmission speed.

To concurrently perform a plurality of types of data communications, wireless terminal12may select and connect networks13according to the types of data communications and use the corresponding networks to perform the plurality of types of data communications.

While being connected to and communicating with selected network13, wireless terminal12measures the transmission speeds of the candidates for connection including network13and changes the network to be connected from among the candidates for connection according to the measurement result.

In this case, wireless terminal12notifies the measured transmission speeds to management server11. Management server11includes and holds the latest transmission speed notified from wireless terminal12in the network information and uses the latest transmission speed to select a candidate for connection. Management server11may also notify the transmission speed of the candidate for connection when notifying the candidate for connection to wireless terminal12.

In this case, management server11further holds network information of a network of a wired line, selects network13satisfying the condition that is requested by wireless terminal12from a network of the wireless line and a network of the wired line, and notifies selected network13as a candidate for connection to wireless terminal12.

Wireless terminal12can also be connected to a network of a wired line, and when a plurality of types of data communications are concurrently performed, wireless terminal12selects a network of the wired line if the transmission speed measured in the network of the wired line included in the candidate for connection is greater than the total of the transmission speeds required in the plurality of types of data communications and uses the network of the wired line to perform the plurality of types of data communications.

An operation by the wireless communication system of the second exemplary embodiment to determine the connection of the wireless terminal is the same sequence as in the first exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 2. In the second exemplary embodiment, wireless terminal12measures the transmission speeds of networks13A to13C as the candidates for connection in step105. In step106, wireless terminal12selects network13that is optimal as a connection based on transmission speeds of networks13A to13C and connects to selected network13.

An operation of changing the connection of the wireless terminal in the second exemplary embodiment is the same sequence as in the first exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 3. In the second exemplary embodiment, wireless terminal12periodically measures the transmission speeds of networks13A to13C as candidates for connection to determine whether to switch the connection in step202. In the measurement of the transmission speeds (step203), if the transmission speed of network13A as the current connection is reduced and does not satisfy the requested condition, wireless terminal12switches the connection from network13A to another network13satisfying the requested condition (step204).

FIG. 6is a block diagram of a configuration of management server11of the second exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 6, management server11of the second exemplary embodiment further includes updater24in addition to the configuration of the first exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 4.

Storage21, selector22, and notifier23in the second embodiment are the same as in the first embodiment. Storage21holds network information including the transmission speeds of the networks. Updater24receives the transmission speed of the network notified from wireless terminal12and updates the transmission speed of the network held by storage21.

FIG. 7is a block diagram of a configuration of wireless terminal12of the second exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 7, wireless terminal12of the second exemplary embodiment further includes notifier34in addition to the configuration of the first exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 5.

Requester31, measurer32, and connector33in the second exemplary embodiment are the same as in the first exemplary embodiment. Measurer32measures the transmission speeds of the networks as candidates for connection notified from management server11. Notifier34notifies the transmission speeds of the candidates for connection measured by measurer32to management server11.

As described, according to the present exemplary embodiment, wireless terminal12makes a selection based on the transmission speed required to follow a change. Therefore, a network can be appropriately selected according to a change in the transmission speed.

Although the changing service characteristics include the transmission speed when the wireless terminal performs data communication in the present exemplary embodiment, only the transmission speed may be used as the changing service characteristics.

Management server11of the first and second exemplary embodiments can also realize by causing a computer to execute a software program defining the procedures of the components of management server13.

Although the exemplary embodiment has been described, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment, and part of the configurations may be changed within the technical concept of the present invention.