Communication device and communication system

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is provide a communication device capable of switching to an appropriate communication means.　The present invention comprises: a Wi-Fi communication unit 101 for making calls by wireless communication over the Internet; and a wireless communication unit 102 using a mobile communication network. A control unit 105 comprises a Wi-Fi telephone application 103 and a cellular telephone application 104 so that a call is made using one communication unit among the Wi-Fi communication unit 101 and the wireless communication unit 102 on the basis of call quality information indicating call quality.　As a result, a mobile terminal 100 can make a call using an appropriate communication unit in accordance with call quality.

Description

Communication device and communication system

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication device and a communication system that utilizes multiple communication means.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes that a communication terminal switches between a mobile communication network and a wireless LAN based on factors such as congestion and call quality.

[0003] JP 2017-55240 A

[0004] In recent years, the area where cellular phones can be used has expanded dramatically, and the quality has improved, but there are still areas or spots where cellular signals are difficult to reach. Even in such places, communication via Wi-Fi is possible, and in such cases, telephones using Wi-Fi signals may have better call quality.

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, the communication means is not switched taking into consideration the call. In particular, there is a problem that when a call is received, the user cannot select the communication means.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a communication device and a communication system that can switch to an appropriate communication means taking into consideration the quality of communication.

[0007] The communication device of the present invention comprises a first call unit that makes calls by wireless communication via the Internet, a second call unit that uses a mobile communication network, and a control unit that causes one of the first and second call units to make a call based on call quality information indicating the call quality.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a call with good call quality.

[0009] 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a communication system including a mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a communication system using the mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of a telephone number DB 302. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the system when the mobile terminal 100a makes a call to a telephone number of a cellular telephone application 104. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing sequence of the mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 100, PUSH server 201, and call processing server 301 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] The present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.

[0011] 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of a communication system including a mobile terminal 100 according to the present disclosure. As shown in the diagram, the system includes a mobile terminal 100, a mobile terminal 100a, and the Internet 200 and a mobile communication network 300 that are communicatively connected to each other.

[0012] The mobile terminal 100 is a terminal on the receiving side, and the mobile terminal 100a is a terminal on the calling side. The NW equipment 250 is composed of the Internet 200 and a mobile communication network 300. The Internet 200 is provided with a push server 201 for the Wi-Fi phone application 103, and the mobile communication network 300 is provided with a call processing server 301 for establishing a communication connection using the mobile communication network, and a telephone number DB 302 for performing destination resolution.

[0013] The push server 201 is a server for realizing so-called internet telephony, and enables calls between terminals via the internet. The call processing server 301 and the telephone number DB 302 enable calls using a mobile communication network. The mobile terminal 100a performs outgoing call processing using the internet 200 or the mobile communication network 300.

[0014] The mobile terminal 100 receives a call made from the mobile terminal 100a using the Internet 200 or the mobile communication network 300. When processing the incoming call, the mobile terminal 100 can switch to either the Internet 200 or the mobile communication network 300 based on the call quality, etc., to make the call.

[0015] 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, mobile terminal 100 includes Wi-Fi communication unit 101, wireless communication unit 102, Wi-Fi telephone application 103 (hereinafter referred to as Wi-Fi telephone app), cellular telephone application 104 (hereinafter referred to as cellular telephone app), control unit 105, and radio wave status acquisition unit 106.

[0016] The Wi-Fi communication unit 101 is a part that communicates with a Wi-Fi access point 200a to establish a communication connection to an external network such as the Internet.

[0017] The wireless communication unit 102 is a part that establishes a communication connection to the mobile communication network 300 by communicating with the base station 300a.

[0018] The Wi-Fi phone application 103 is an application for making calls via the Wi-Fi communication unit 101. This Wi-Fi phone application 103 can make calls by identifying a communication destination using a user ID and sending and receiving packetized voice data via the Internet.

[0019] The cellular telephone application 104 is an application for making a call by connecting to a mobile communication network via the wireless communication unit 102. The cellular telephone application 104 can make a call by identifying a communication partner using a telephone number via the mobile communication network and sending and receiving packetized voice data.

[0020] The control unit 105 is a part that determines the surrounding radio wave conditions and selectively switches between a call via Wi-Fi (Internet 200) and a call via the mobile communication network 300 to control the call.

[0021] The radio wave condition acquisition unit 106 is a part that acquires the radio wave condition around the mobile terminal 100. For example, the radio wave condition acquisition unit 106 acquires the radio wave strength (RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)) of the Wi-Fi communication unit 101 and the wireless communication unit 102. The radio wave condition acquisition unit 106 also acquires the radio wave condition by checking the line speed in the Wi-Fi communication unit 101 and the wireless communication unit 102. Here, the radio wave condition acquisition unit 106 instructs the Wi-Fi communication unit 101 and the wireless communication unit 102 to output a ping to a predetermined server or the like, and checks the line speed based on the result.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the processing flow of a communication system using a mobile terminal 100 according to the present disclosure. In this diagram, the communication system is composed of a mobile terminal 100, a network facility 250, and a mobile terminal 100a. The mobile terminal 100 is a terminal on the receiving side, and the mobile terminal 100a is a terminal on the calling side. Like the mobile terminal 100, the mobile terminal 100a also has a Wi-Fi telephone application 103 and a cellular telephone application 104, and can determine which application to use to make a call depending on the user's operation. The network facility 250 is composed of a push server 201 for the Wi-Fi telephone application 103, a call processing server 301 for establishing a communication connection using a mobile communication network, and a telephone number DB 302 for performing destination resolution.

[0023] The mobile terminal 100a makes a call using a Wi-Fi phone application. In the figure, the mobile terminal 100a sends a call signal (including the Wi-Fi phone application number) to the push server 201 (S101).

[0024] The push server 201 transmits a push signal for checking the NW quality status to the mobile terminal 100 determined according to the Wi-Fi phone application number (user ID) (S102).

[0025] When the mobile terminal 100 (Wi-Fi phone application 103) receives a PUSH signal, the control unit 105 checks the network quality status of each base station and Wi-Fi access point of the mobile communication network 300 based on the ping value, communication speed, etc., and notifies the PUSH server 201 of the network with the best communication quality (S103). The determination of the network quality status will be described later.

[0026] The push server 201 notifies the call processing server 301 of the fact that a cellular call should be made based on the information received from the mobile terminal 100, and also notifies the Wi-Fi phone application number (S104).

[0027] The call processing server 301 refers to the telephone number DB 302 and searches for a telephone number from the Wi-Fi telephone application number (S105).

[0028] Then, the call processing server 301 makes a call to the mobile terminal 100 based on the searched telephone number (S106).

[0029] By performing such processing, the mobile terminal 100 can make a call using a communication means suitable for its own network environment when a call arrives.

[0030] Here, the telephone number DB 302 will be described. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of the telephone number DB 302. As shown in the figure, the telephone number DB 302 stores Wi-Fi phone application numbers and cellular telephone (mobile communication network) telephone numbers in association with each other. This telephone number DB 302 is preferably arranged as a facility of the mobile communication network.

[0031] Here, the process of checking the network quality status will be described. In the present disclosure, in the mobile terminal 100, the radio wave status acquisition unit 106 acquires the state of the surrounding radio waves at the time of an incoming call, and the control unit 105 automatically determines whether to receive the call using the cellular phone application 104 or the Wi-Fi phone application 103, and switches between them.

[0032] As described above, the radio wave condition acquisition unit 106 acquires radio wave conditions such as radio wave strength or communication line speed, and the control unit 105 can switch the communication means accordingly. The communication line speed may be acquired on a spot basis (periodically).

[0033] It should be noted that a method of acquiring the comfort level of the Wi-Fi radio waves and the mobile communication network from a source other than the radio wave strength and line speed of the Wi-Fi communication unit 101 and the wireless communication unit 102 may also be considered.

[0034] For example, if the mobile terminal 100 is connected to a Wi-Fi access point 200a that has been connected to many times in the past or a pre-designated Wi-Fi access point 200a, it may be determined that the mobile terminal 100 is connected to a stable Wi-Fi environment, and the Wi-Fi phone app 103 may be used.

[0035] Furthermore, if a device that generates significant microwave interference is being used near the mobile terminal 100, the mobile terminal 100 may switch to the cellular phone app 104. This is because such interference may occur with the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which is the standard for Wi-Fi. The control unit 105 may pre-register the location information of specific electronic devices, such as microwave ovens, and determine whether or not there are any inappropriate devices nearby based on the location information of the mobile terminal 100. Location information may be obtained using GPS or other means. The connection status of peripheral devices, such as Bluetooth devices, may also affect Wi-Fi connectivity, so switching may be performed taking this into consideration. This peripheral connection status is determined by an application for communicating with Bluetooth devices, based on their connection status and whether or not they are in use. The Wi-Fi app 103 or the cellular phone app 104 may also determine whether or not there is packet loss when sending a PING.

[0036] Alternatively, the user may change the connection to other Wi-Fi standards, such as 5 GHz or 6 GHz, and use the Wi-Fi phone application 103 that uses Wi-Fi radio waves.

[0037] In this way, by switching from the Wi-Fi telephone application 103 to the cellular telephone application 104, a smooth call can be realized.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the flow of processing in the system when the mobile terminal 100 a makes a call to a telephone number of the cellular telephone application 104 .

[0039] The mobile terminal 100a transmits a call signal (including a telephone number) to the call processing server 301 to issue the call to the mobile terminal 100 (cellular telephone application 104) (S201). The call processing server 301 notifies the mobile terminal 100 (cellular telephone application 104) to check the network quality status (S202).

[0040] In the mobile terminal 100, the radio wave condition acquisition unit 106 acquires the surrounding radio wave condition, and the control unit 105 checks it. Then, the control unit 105 notifies the call processing server 301 via the wireless communication unit 102 of the network with the best network quality condition (S203).

[0041] Upon receiving the notification, the call processing server 301 refers to the telephone number DB 302 to search for a Wi-Fi telephone application telephone number corresponding to the telephone number (S205).Then, the call processing server 301 requests the PUSH server 201 to control outgoing calls to the Wi-Fi telephone application number (S204).

[0042] The push server 201 makes a call to the Wi-Fi phone application number (S206).

[0043] In this way, the mobile terminal 100 on the receiving side can change the communication means (communication path) based on the surrounding radio wave conditions. As described above, the mobile terminal 100 may change the communication means based on factors other than the radio wave conditions.

[0044] 6 is a diagram showing a processing sequence of the mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure. The Wi-Fi phone application 103 receives an incoming call from the NW facility and starts up in the background (S301).

[0045] The control unit 105 determines the appropriate application based on an instruction from the Wi-Fi phone application 103 (S302). As described above, the determination is based on the signal strength, line speed, connected access point, radio interference, peripheral device connection status, or ping value.

[0046] The control unit 105 issues a switching instruction to the NW equipment 250 (PUSH server 201) (S303).

[0047] In order to call the cellular telephone application 104, the NW equipment 250 requests the call processing server 301, and the call processing server 301 performs outgoing call processing to the cellular telephone application 104 (S304). The cellular telephone application 104 performs incoming call processing (S305).

[0048] On the other hand, if the control unit 105 determines that the call can be received using the Wi-Fi telephone application 103 (determines that switching is not necessary), it controls the Wi-Fi telephone application 103 to process the call (S305a).

[0049] In this way, mobile terminal 100 can switch to an appropriate communication means when a call arrives. While Figure 6 shows the sequence for switching from a Wi-Fi phone app to a cellular phone app, switching from a cellular phone app to a Wi-Fi phone app can also be performed using a similar sequence.

[0050] Next, the effects of the mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure will be described. The mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure includes a Wi-Fi communication unit 101 that communicates by wireless communication via the Internet, and a wireless communication unit 102 that uses a mobile communication network. The control unit 105 includes a Wi-Fi telephone application 103 and a cellular telephone application 104 that selects one of the communication units, the Wi-Fi communication unit 101 or the wireless communication unit 102, to communicate based on call quality information indicating the call quality.

[0051] This allows the mobile terminal 100 to make a call using an appropriate communication unit depending on the call quality.

[0052] In the present disclosure, the call quality information is based on at least one of the signal strength around the mobile terminal 100, the line speed of the communication line being used, radio wave interference, the access point connection history, the peripheral device connection status, and the ping value. This information is related to line quality and is therefore linked to call quality, allowing for appropriate judgment of call quality.

[0053] In addition, in the mobile terminal 100, when an incoming call is received at either the Wi-Fi communication unit 101 or the wireless communication unit 102, the control unit 105 determines whether it is necessary to switch to the other communication unit based on the call quality information from each communication unit, and if it is necessary to switch, sends an incoming call request to a call processing server located on the network that performs incoming call processing for that communication unit.

[0054] As a result, when the mobile terminal 100 receives an incoming call via a certain communication means, it can switch based on the call quality, such as the surrounding radio wave strength. Normally, the mobile terminal 100 on the receiving side is passive and cannot select the communication means by itself, but according to the present disclosure, it can appropriately request switching.

[0055] For example, in the mobile terminal 100, when a call is received by the Wi-Fi communication unit 101, the control unit 105 determines based on the call quality information that it is necessary to switch to the wireless communication unit 102, and notifies the call processing server 301 located in the mobile communication network to receive the call on the wireless communication unit 102.

[0056] In addition, when the control unit 105 determines that it is necessary to switch to the Wi-Fi communication unit 101 based on the call quality information when the wireless communication unit 102 receives an incoming call, it notifies the PUSH server 201 located on the network to receive the call to the Wi-Fi communication unit 101.

[0057] The communication system of the present disclosure also includes a mobile terminal 100, a PUSH server 201 which is an Internet telephone server that performs Internet telephone communications, and a call processing server 301 that performs communications using a mobile communications network.

[0058] The PUSH server 201 or the call processing server 301 checks the call quality before making a communication connection request to the mobile terminal 100. That is, it sends a notification to the mobile terminal 100 to check the NW quality status. Then, either the PUSH server 201 or the call processing server 301 performs communication connection processing for the mobile terminal 100 according to the check result.

[0059] For example, the communication system further includes a telephone number DB 302 that associates a Wi-Fi application telephone number, which is destination information for an Internet telephone call, with a telephone number. The PUSH server 201 or the call processing server 301 accesses the telephone number DB 302 and performs a switching process of the Wi-Fi communication unit 101 (first call unit) or the wireless communication unit 102 (second call unit) in the mobile terminal 100 according to the association.

[0060] This telephone number DB 302 may be configured to be accessible from the call processing server 301. In this case, when switching between the Wi-Fi communication unit 101 and the wireless communication unit 102, the call processing server 301 refers to the telephone number DB 302 to obtain destination information or a telephone number to be switched to. The communication device and communication system of the present invention have the following configuration. [1] A communication device comprising: a first call unit that makes a call by wireless communication via the Internet; a second call unit that uses a mobile communication network; and a control unit that causes one of the first call unit and the second call unit to make a call based on call quality information indicating call quality. [2] The communication device according to [1], wherein the call quality information is based on at least one of radio wave strength, line speed, radio wave interference, access point connection history, peripheral device connection status, or ping value. [3] The communication device according to [1] or [2], wherein the control unit, when an incoming call is received by either the first call unit or the second call unit, determines whether switching to the other call unit is necessary based on speech quality information from the call unit, and if switching is necessary, sends an incoming call request to a server located in the network that processes the incoming call for the call unit. [4] The communication device according to [3], wherein, when an incoming call is received by the first call unit, if the control unit determines, based on speech quality information, that switching to the second call unit is necessary, it notifies a call processing server located in the mobile communication network to accept the incoming call to the second call unit. [5] The communication device according to [3], wherein, when an incoming call is received by the second call unit, if the control unit determines, based on speech quality information, that switching to the first call unit is necessary, it notifies a server located in the network to accept the incoming call to the first call unit.[6] A communication system including a communication device, an Internet telephone server that performs Internet telephone communications, and a call processing server that performs communications using a mobile communications network, wherein the communication device comprises: a first call unit that performs calls by wireless communication via the Internet, a second call unit that uses the mobile communications network, and a control unit that causes one of the first and second call units to perform a call based on call quality information indicating call quality, wherein the Internet telephone server or call processing server checks the call quality of the call prior to a communication connection request for the communication device, and either the Internet telephone server or the call processing server performs communication connection processing for the communication device depending on the check result. [7] The communication system described in [6] further comprises a database that associates destination information for the Internet telephone calls with telephone numbers, and the Internet telephone server or call processing server accesses the database and performs switching processing of the first call unit or the second call unit in accordance with the association. [8] The communication system according to [7], wherein the database is configured to be accessible from the call processing server, and the call processing server refers to the database to obtain destination information or telephone number to be switched to.

[0061] The block diagrams used to explain the above embodiments show functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of hardware and / or software. Furthermore, the method for realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using a single device that is physically or logically coupled, or may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are connected directly or indirectly (e.g., via wire, wirelessly, etc.) and these multiple devices. The functional block may also be realized by combining the single device or multiple devices with software.

[0062] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, determination, assessment, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, selection, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, consideration, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocating, mapping, and assignment. For example, a functional block (component) that performs transmission is called a transmitting unit or transmitter. As mentioned above, there are no particular limitations on how these functions are implemented.

[0063] For example, the mobile terminal 100, the push server 201, the call processing server 301, etc. according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that performs processing of the communication method of the present disclosure. Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 100, the push server 201, and the call processing server 301 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The mobile terminal 100, the push server 201, and the call processing server 301 described above may be physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, etc.

[0064] In the following description, the term "apparatus" can be interpreted as a circuit, a device, a unit, etc. The hardware configurations of the mobile terminal 100, the PUSH server 201, and the call processing server 301 may be configured to include one or more of the apparatuses shown in the drawings, or may be configured to exclude some of the apparatuses.

[0065] Each function of the mobile terminal 100, the PUSH server 201, and the call processing server 301 is realized by loading specified software (programs) onto hardware such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, causing the processor 1001 to perform calculations, control communication by the communication device 1004, and control at least one of reading and writing data in the memory 1002 and the storage 1003.

[0066] The processor 1001 controls the entire computer by running, for example, an operating system. The processor 1001 may be configured by a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control device, an arithmetic unit, a register, etc. For example, the above-mentioned control unit 105 and the like may be realized by the processor 1001.

[0067] The processor 1001 also reads programs (program codes), software modules, data, etc. from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002 and executes various processes in accordance with these. The programs used are those that cause a computer to execute at least some of the operations described in the above-described embodiments. For example, the control unit 105 may be implemented by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and running on the processor 1001, and similar implementations may be made for other functional blocks. While the above-described various processes have been described as being executed by a single processor 1001, they may also be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The programs may also be transmitted from a network via a telecommunications line.

[0068] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be configured by, for example, at least one of a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory (primary storage device), etc. The memory 1002 can store executable programs (program codes), software modules, etc. for implementing a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0069] Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be composed of at least one of, for example, an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magnetic strip, etc. Storage 1003 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned storage medium may be, for example, a database, a server, or other appropriate medium including at least one of memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0070] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also referred to as, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, or a communication module. The communication device 1004 may be configured to include a high-frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, etc. to realize at least one of frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD). For example, the above-mentioned Wi-Fi communication unit 101 and wireless communication unit 102 may be realized by the communication device 1004. The communication unit may be implemented as a transmission unit and a reception unit that are physically or logically separated.

[0071] The input device 1005 is an input device (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that receives input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (e.g., a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. Note that the input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (e.g., a touch panel).

[0072] Furthermore, each device, such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or may be configured using different buses between each device.

[0073] Furthermore, the mobile terminal 100 may be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these pieces of hardware.

[0074] The notification of information is not limited to the aspects / embodiments described in the present disclosure and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information may be performed by physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI) and Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, broadcast information (Master Information Block (MIB) and System Information Block (SIB))), other signals, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the RRC signaling may be referred to as an RRC message, and may be, for example, an RRC Connection Setup message, an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message, or the like.

[0075] The order of the procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be changed unless it is consistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

[0076] Input and output information may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory) or may be managed using a management table. Input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added to. Output information may be deleted. Input information may be sent to another device.

[0077] The determination may be made based on a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0078] The aspects / embodiments described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the implementation. Notification of predetermined information (e.g., notification that "X is true") is not limited to explicit notification, but may be implicit (e.g., not notifying the predetermined information).

[0079] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present disclosure.

[0080] Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0081] Software, instructions, information, etc. may also be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and / or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave), then these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0082] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0083] Note that terms described in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of a channel and a symbol may be a signal (signaling). Furthermore, a signal may be a message. Furthermore, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, etc.

[0084] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, may be expressed using relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or may be expressed using other corresponding information. For example, a radio resource may be indicated by an index.

[0085] The names used for the above-described parameters are not intended to be limiting in any way. Furthermore, the mathematical expressions using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure. The various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements may be identified by any suitable names, and therefore the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0086] In this disclosure, the terms "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," "terminal," and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0087] A mobile station may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable terminology.

[0088] As used in this disclosure, the terms "determining" and "determining" may encompass a wide variety of actions. "Determining" and "determining" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiring (e.g., searching in a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, and the like. "Determining" and "determining" may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), and the like. Furthermore, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc. as having been "judged" or "decided." In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding some action as having been "judged" or "decided." Furthermore, "judgment (decision)" can be interpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc.

[0089] The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connected" may be read as "access." As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using one or more wires, cables, and / or printed electrical connections, as well as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency range, microwave range, and optical (both visible and invisible) range, as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

[0090] As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0091] As used in this disclosure, any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc. does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must in some way precede the second element.

[0092] When the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are used in this disclosure, these terms are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when the term "or" is used in this disclosure, it is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0093] In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0094] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different."

[0095] 100...Mobile terminal, 100a...Mobile terminal, 200...Internet, 300...Mobile communication network, 103...Wi-Fi telephone application, 201...PUSH server, 301...Call processing server, 302...Telephone number DB, 101...Wi-Fi communication unit, 102...Wireless communication unit, 103...Wi-Fi telephone application, 104...Cellular telephone application, 105...Control unit, 106...Radio wave status acquisition unit, 200a...Fi access point, 300a...Base station, 250...NW equipment.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising: a first call unit that makes a call via wireless communication over the Internet; a second call unit that uses a mobile communication network; and a control unit that causes a call to be made on either one of the first call unit and the second call unit based on call quality information indicating call quality.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the call quality information is based on at least one of radio wave intensity, line speed, radio wave interference, connection history of an access point, connection status of peripheral devices, or ping value.

3. When there is an incoming call to either one of the first call unit and the second call unit, the control unit determines whether it is necessary to switch to the other call unit based on the call quality information of the call unit, and if switching is required, the control unit performs an incoming call process on the call unit and makes an incoming call request to a server arranged in the network. The communication device according to claim 1.

4. When the first call unit receives an incoming call and determines based on the call quality information that a switch to the second call unit is required, the control unit notifies a call processing server arranged in the mobile communication network to make an incoming call to the second call unit. The communication device according to claim 3.

5. When the second call unit receives an incoming call and determines based on the call quality information that a switch to the first call unit is required, the control unit notifies a server arranged in the network to make an incoming call to the first call unit. The communication device according to claim 3.

6. In a communication system including a communication device, an Internet telephone server that communicates with an Internet telephone, and a call processing server that communicates using a mobile communication network, the communication device includes: a first call unit that makes a call via wireless communication over the Internet; a second call unit that uses a mobile communication network; and a control unit that causes a call to be made on either one of the first call unit and the second call unit based on call quality information indicating call quality. The Internet telephone server or the call processing server confirms the call quality prior to a communication connection request to the communication device, and depending on the confirmation result, either the Internet telephone server or the call processing server performs a communication connection process to the communication device. Communication system.

7. The communication system according to claim 6, further comprising a database in which destination information for the Internet phone and a phone number are associated with each other, wherein the Internet phone server or the call processing server accesses the database and performs switching processing of the first call unit or the second call unit according to the association.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the database is configured to be accessible from the call processing server, and the call processing server refers to the database to obtain destination information or a phone number for a switching destination.

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