Communication device, computer-readable storage medium, communication system, and communication method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11240862-B2
Application number	US-202016821968-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2020
Priority date	Mar 27, 2019
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

Provided is a communication device capable of performing Internet communication by any of a first wireless communication method and a second wireless communication method. The communication device comprises a communication performing unit for performing the Internet communication by combined communication in combination of the first wireless communication method and the second wireless communication method, in accordance with establishment of a predetermined condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A communication device capable of performing Internet communication by any of a first wireless communication method and a second wireless communication method, the communication device comprising:
a communication performing unit for performing the Internet communication by combined communication of the first wireless communication method and the second wireless communication method, in accordance with establishment of a predetermined condition, wherein in a case where a combination permission setting is enabled,
the communication performing unit performs the Internet communication by the combined communication when a communication speed of the Internet communication performed by the second wireless communication method is slower than a predetermined speed, and
the communication performing unit performs the Internet communication by the second wireless communication method when the communication speed of the Internet communication performed by the second wireless communication method is faster than the predetermined speed.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein
when performing the Internet communication by the combined communication, the communication performing unit transmits base station identification information for identifying a wireless base station, whose coverage area the communication device is located in, to a core network to which the wireless base station belongs, via the Internet communication by the second wireless communication method.

3. The communication device according to claim 2 , wherein communication cost per unit traffic by the first wireless communication method is higher than communication cost per unit traffic by the second wireless communication method.

4. The communication device according to claim 2 , wherein the first wireless communication method is a wireless communication method for using a licensed band, and
the second wireless communication method is a wireless communication method for using an unlicensed band.

5. The communication device according to claim 2 , wherein the first wireless communication method is a wireless communication method for using a cellular communication method, and
the second wireless communication method is a wireless communication method for using a WiFi communication method.

6. The communication device according to claim 5 , wherein when performing the Internet communication by the combined communication, the communication performing unit separately transmits a plurality of packets by the first wireless communication method and the second wireless communication method.

7. The communication device according to claim 2 , wherein the communication performing unit performs the Internet communication by the combined communication when the Internet communication can be performed using the second wireless communication method and the combination permission setting is enabled.

8. The communication device according to claim 2 , wherein the communication performing unit performs the Internet communication by the second wireless communication method when the combination permission setting is disabled.

9. The communication device according to claim 2 , further comprising a determination unit for determining, by inquiring the user, whether to perform the Internet communication by the second wireless communication method, when the combination permission setting is enabled and when the communication speed of the Internet communication performed by the second wireless communication method is faster than the predetermined speed,
wherein when it is determined by the determination unit that the Internet communication is to be performed by the second wireless communication method, the communication performing unit performs the Internet communication by the second wireless communication method.

10. The communication device according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined speed is a communication speed of the Internet communication performed by the combined communication.

11. The communication device according to claim 2 , further comprising a setting reception unit for receiving a setting for the Internet communication,
wherein the setting reception unit receives the combination permission setting set by the user.

12. The communication device according to claim 2 , wherein in a case where the combination permission setting and a speed priority setting for giving priority to a communication speed are enabled, the communication performing unit performs the Internet communication by the second wireless communication method when the communication speed of the Internet communication performed by the second wireless communication method is faster than the predetermined speed, and performs the Internet communication by the combined communication when the communication speed of the Internet communication performed by the second wireless communication method is slower than the predetermined speed.

13. The communication device according to claim 2 , wherein when the second wireless communication method cannot be performed, the communication performing unit performs the Internet communication by the first wireless communication method.

14. A communication device capable of performing Internet communication by any of a first wireless communication method and a second wireless communication method, the communication device comprising:
a communication performing unit for performing the Internet communication by combined communication of the first wireless communication method and the second wireless communication method, in accordance with establishment of a predetermined condition, wherein
when performing the Internet communication by the combined communication, the communication performing unit transmits base station identification information for identifying a wireless base station, whose coverage area the communication device is located in, to a core network to which the wireless base station belongs, via the Internet communication by the second wireless communication method, and
the communication performing unit performs the Internet communication by the combined communication when a combination permission setting for permitting a user of the communication device to perform the combined communication is enabled,
the communication device further comprising a setting reception unit for receiving a setting for the Internet communication, and a setting recommendation unit for recommending the combination permission setting to the user when a communication speed of the Internet communication performed by the second wireless communication method is slower than a predetermined speed, wherein
the setting reception unit receives the combination permission setting set by the user, and
the setting reception unit receives the combination permission setting set by the user in accordance with the combination permission setting recommended by the setting recommendation unit.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a program stored thereon, the program causing a computer capable of performing Internet communication by any of a first wireless communication method and a second wireless communication method to function as:
a communication performing unit for performing the Internet communication by combined communication of the first wireless communication method and the second wireless communication method, in accordance with establishment of a predetermined condition, wherein in a case where a combination permission setting is enabled,
the communication performing unit performs the Internet communication by the combined communication

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Otaka Masaru
• Suzuki Hiroyuki

Classifications

• H04M15/00

  Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication {; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP} · CPC title

• H04M15/8055

  Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service · CPC title

• H04L45/124

  using a combination of metrics · CPC title

• H04W88/06

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title

• H04W76/16 Primary

  Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer · CPC title