KR20110048896A - Mehtod for managing status in communication terminal having voip function and communication terminal therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A communication terminal for a terminal state management method is provided to prevent unnecessary VoIP call receiving process to a communication terminal which escaped a WLAN service area. CONSTITUTION: A WLAN(Wireless Local Area Network) module(150) performs a local communication with a WLAN AP(Access Point). A WLAN connection manager(130) manages a connection between the WLAN module and the WLAN access point. When a signal strength of the WLAN access point gets smaller than a first threshold value, the WLAN connection manager informs the signal strength. If the notification is received, a VoIP client(140) cancels a VoIP registration with the communication network.

Description

METHOD FOR MANAGING STATUS IN COMMUNICATION TERMINAL HAVING VoIP FUNCTION AND COMMUNICATION TERMINAL THEREFOR}

The present invention relates to a communication terminal providing a VoIP call function, and more particularly, to a method for managing a state of a communication terminal providing a VoIP call function in a fixed mobile convergence (FMC) service and a communication terminal therefor.

Wired communication networks are developing into IP-based NGN (Next Generation Network) networks, and wireless communication networks are also developing into IP-based wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) networks. Accordingly, wired and wireless communication networks, which have been developed so far, are being integrated on an IP basis, and this integration technology is called fixed mobile convergence (FMC). With the development of wired / wireless integrated technology, multi-band multi-mode terminals can use IP-based Internet telephony (VoIP) by connecting to a wired communication network, and at the same time, can use ordinary mobile communication services by connecting to a mobile communication network such as WCDMA. Is being developed.

In the use of such a multi-band multi-mode terminal, a typical mobile communication service has its service area expanded to a nationwide range, so that call disconnection does not almost occur when making a voice call. However, when using an internet phone using a multi-band multi-mode terminal, the Wi-Fi network is connected to a Wi-Fi network through a nearby wireless LAN. The Wi-Fi network has a very limited service area and a narrow service radius. This happens very frequently.

In particular, in the case of an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) based Internet telephony service, a VoIP client of a multiband multimode terminal basically uses an Internet telephony service after registering a service with an IMS system. When the wireless environment is drastically degraded and the multi-band multi-mode terminal suddenly leaves the service area, the VoIP client frequently fails to release the service registration to the IMS system.

Therefore, in the IMS system, even though the multi-band multi-mode terminal leaves the service area, the terminal continuously manages the state of the terminal as a service registration state. Accordingly, when an incoming call flows in, an incoming call announcement cannot be provided to the calling party. Incoming call processing increases the dissatisfaction with the call service, and also causes a problem that wrong information is delivered in providing presence information such as a login, a screen name, an available service, and the like.

The present invention has been proposed to improve the above problems, and relates to a terminal state management method for accurately reflecting the VoIP service state in a communication network in a communication terminal providing a VoIP call service in a WLAN communication environment and a communication terminal for the same will be.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be described below and will be appreciated by the practice of the invention. Further, objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and the combination shown in the appended claims.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a communication terminal includes: a WLAN module for performing short-range communication with a WLAN access point; A WLAN connection manager managing a connection between the WLAN module and the WLAN access point, the WLAN connection manager notifying when a signal strength of the WLAN access point is less than a first threshold; And a VoIP client performing Voice over IP (VoIP) registration to a communication network through the WLAN module and performing a VoIP call, and upon receiving notification of the WLAN connection manager, releases the VoIP registration to the communication network (De -registration) VoIP client.

In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a terminal state management method of a communication terminal providing a VoIP call function, the step of accessing the WLAN access point; Performing VoIP registration to a communication network through the WLAN access point; Monitoring signal strength of the WLAN access point to determine whether it is less than a first threshold; And de-registration of the VoIP registration to the communication network through the WLAN access point when the signal strength becomes smaller than the first threshold.

The present invention as described above, by accurately synchronizing the VoIP service status information of the communication terminal managed by the VoIP service server of the communication network and the actual communication terminal state to enable efficient presence service, and also the communication terminal leaving the WLAN service area This improves the satisfaction of VoIP service by preventing unnecessary VoIP call call processing.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: There will be. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail. Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the communication terminal 100 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 110, a wireless LAN connection manager 130, a VoIP client 140, a wireless LAN module 150, and a mobile communication client 160. It includes a mobile communication module 170.

The controller 110 controls the overall operation of the communication terminal 110 and includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes static memory such as flash RAM or ROM and dynamic memory such as DRAM. The memory stores operating system programs.

In the present invention, the control unit 110 receives an input such as a VoIP call, a wireless LAN connection, or a general mobile communication call from a user through input means such as a keypad or a touch pad, and transmits a control signal according to the wireless LAN connection manager 130. ) To the VoIP client 140 and the mobile communication client 160.

The WLAN connection manager 130 is driven according to a control signal transmitted from the controller 110 to perform ON / OFF of the WLAN module 150, a connection process with the access point, and profile management of the access point. In addition, the WLAN connection manager 130 checks the state of the WLAN connection according to the control signal transmitted from the controller 110 and notifies the VoIP client 140 of this information.

The VoIP client 140 is a program for executing a VoIP call. The VoIP client 140 is driven under the control of the controller 110 and connected to the Internet through the WLAN module 150 to perform VoIP registration and then perform a VoIP call. Place a call or handle a VoIP call. At this time, the VoIP client 140 checks the wireless LAN connection state according to the information notified from the wireless LAN connection manager 130 and performs VoIP registration and outgoing call processing.

The WLAN module 150 includes a wireless modem to communicate with an access point using the wireless modem according to the instruction of the WLAN connection manager 130. An example of a method in which the WLAN module 150 communicates with an access point may include a wireless personal area network (WPAN) technology such as WiFi or Bluetooth.

The mobile communication client 160 accesses the mobile communication network through the mobile communication module 170 and performs location registration under the control of the controller 110, and then transmits a mobile communication call or receives a call.

The mobile communication module 170 includes a wireless communication modem such as a CDMA modem or a WCDMA modem to communicate with a base station of a mobile communication network to perform a circuit switched based call through the mobile communication network. The mobile communication network is a CDMA system, a WCDMA system, a GSM system, and the like. In the present invention, the mobile communication is a communication for performing a voice or video call while moving through a mobile communication network such as a CDMA system, a WCDMA system, or a GSM system.

In the present invention, when the connection to the access point is completed through the WLAN module 150, the WLAN connection manager 130 measures the strength of a signal received through the access point, and the strength of the signal is first. If it is lowered below (or below) the threshold, the VoIP client 140 notifies it. Here, the first threshold is a signal strength that is likely to leave the service area of the WLAN access point, and this value may be determined by an iterative experiment.

The VoIP client 140 accesses the Internet network through the WLAN module 150 and performs VoIP registration based on the notification of the WLAN connection manager 130 as the WLAN environment becomes poor. Release it. That is, if the VoIP client 140 is notified of the possibility of leaving the access point service area from the WLAN connection manager 130 after registering the VoIP with the VoIP server of the Internet through the WLAN module 150, Perform VoIP de-registration. Accordingly, the terminal may suddenly leave the service area of the access point to solve the problem that the VoIP deregistration is not normally performed.

In addition, the WLAN connection manager 130 measures the strength of the signal received through the access point during the voice call through the VoIP client 140, and the strength of the signal is less than (or less than) the second threshold. If the call quality is low and the call quality is low, the user may be notified of the call through sound or vibration. This moves the user to an area with good call quality.

Here, it is preferable that the first threshold for deregistering VoIP and the second threshold for informing the call quality are different from each other. More preferably, the second threshold for informing call quality is greater than the first threshold for VoIP deregistration. While the second threshold for informing call quality is a value for the minimum call quality acceptable to the user, the first threshold for VoIP deregistration is related to the service radius of the WLAN access point irrelevant to the call quality. to be.

In addition, the WLAN connection manager 130, when the user does not move to a region where the WLAN environment is good and enters an area where the WLAN environment is worse, that is, when the signal strength of the access point is smaller than the third threshold value. For example, the call may be forcibly terminated and the user may be informed that the call is terminated because the WLAN environment is not good. Alternatively, the WLAN connection manager 130 may warn that the call may be disconnected by a sound or vibration of a pattern different from the sound or vibration according to the second threshold without forcibly interrupting the call.

In addition, when the terminal is disconnected from the access point because the terminal deviates from the service radius of the access point, the WLAN connection manager 130 searches for a neighboring access point through the WLAN module 150. In this case, the WLAN connection manager 130 searches for a neighboring access point only for a time set by the user, and when the time set by the user elapses, turns off the WLAN module 150 to consume power. prevent.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing terminal state information in a communication terminal providing a VoIP service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the communication terminal 100 providing a VoIP service receives an input related to a VoIP call (eg, a VoIP turn-on input) from a user through an input means (S201). As a method of input, a menu associated with a VoIP call may be selected by input via a hotkey (e.g., a hot key) or by searching a menu.

When an input related to a VoIP call is received, the controller 110 of the communication terminal 100 transmits the control signal according to the WLAN connection manager 130 and the VoIP client 140. Then, the VoIP client 140 waits for the access point connection, and the WLAN connection manager 130 drives the WLAN module 150 to access the access point (S203).

After being connected to the WLAN access point as described above, the WLAN connection manager 130 notifies the VoIP client 140 of the WLAN access point connection. Accordingly, the VoIP client 140 transmits a registration request message to the VoIP server of the Internet through the WLAN module 150 to perform registration (S205). According to the above procedure, the communication terminal 100 completes the preparation for the VoIP call.

On the other hand, the WLAN connection manager 130 of the communication terminal 100 measures the signal strength of the access point received through the WLAN module 150 in real time or at a predetermined period (S207), so that the signal strength of the access point is greater than the threshold value. Check whether it is small (S209).

If the signal strength of the access point is smaller than the threshold, the WLAN connection manager 130 notifies the VoIP client 140 of this information. Accordingly, the VoIP client 140 transmits a de-registration request message to the VoIP server of the Internet through the WLAN module 150 to release the VoIP service registration (S209).

The signal strength of the access point being smaller than the threshold means that the communication terminal 100 has entered the weak field region of the access point, which means that the connection with the access point may be lost. Therefore, by canceling the VoIP registration in advance before the connection with the access point is lost, the connection with the access point is suddenly disconnected to prevent the status from being reflected in the VoIP server of the Internet network.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing terminal state information in a communication terminal providing a VoIP service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment with reference to FIG. 3, it is assumed that WLAN access and VoIP registration are separate operations. That is, the communication terminal 100 equipped with the WLAN may use the WLAN only for VoIP calls, or use the WLAN for data communication as well as VoIP calls. In the former case, the communication terminal 100 includes only an input for a VoIP call, and in the latter case, the input for a VoIP call and an input only for a WLAN connection are distinguished from each other. 3 is a case of the latter, when the user inputs only for wireless LAN connection.

Referring to FIG. 3, the communication terminal 100 providing a VoIP service receives an input related to a WLAN connection from a user through an input means (S301). As a method of input, a menu related to a WLAN connection may be selected by inputting via a shortcut key (for example, a hot key) or searching a menu.

When an input related to a WLAN connection is received, the control unit 110 of the communication terminal 100 transmits a control signal according to the WLAN connection manager 130, and accordingly, the WLAN connection manager 130 transmits the WLAN module. The wireless modem of 150 is driven to connect to the access point (S303).

After being connected to the WLAN access point as described above, the WLAN connection manager 130 checks whether the connection with the access point is lost through the WLAN module 150 (S305). As a cause of disconnection with the access point, traffic may be congested in the access point, thereby causing a forced connection blocking by the access point, or may occur when the communication terminal 100 leaves the service radius of the access point.

When the connection with the access point is terminated as described above, the WLAN connection manager 130 instructs the WLAN module 150 to search for a neighboring access point (S307). In this case, the WLAN module 150 searches for signals of the neighboring access points at predetermined intervals or continuously.

In this process, the WLAN connection manager 130 checks whether the neighbor access point search time has elapsed by driving a timer (S309). The preset time may be a time set by a user or a time set as a default. For example, it may be set to search for 5 minutes after being disconnected from the access point.

If the neighbor access point search time has elapsed, the WLAN connection manager 130 turns off the wireless modem of the WLAN module 150 (S311). Accordingly, the WLAN module 150 stops the neighboring access point search operation. Therefore, the WLAN module 150 may prevent battery consumption caused by indiscriminately and repeatedly searching for neighboring access points.

Although the above-described embodiment of FIG. 3 described only WLAN access irrespective of VoIP registration, the main configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 3 refers to searching for a neighboring access point only for a predetermined time after disconnection with the WLAN access point. In order to prevent power consumption, the same applies to the case where the connection with the WLAN access point is disconnected after the WLAN connection and the VoIP registration are made as in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing terminal state information in a communication terminal providing a VoIP service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the communication terminal 100 providing a VoIP service receives an input related to a VoIP call from a user through an input means (S401). As a method of input, a menu associated with a VoIP call may be selected by input via a hotkey (e.g., a hot key) or by searching a menu.

When an input related to a VoIP call is received, the controller 110 of the communication terminal 100 transmits the control signal according to the WLAN connection manager 130 and the VoIP client 140. Then, the VoIP client 140 waits for access to the access point, and the WLAN connection manager manager 130 drives the WLAN module 150 to access the access point (S403).

After being connected to the WLAN access point as described above, the WLAN connection manager 130 notifies the VoIP client 140 of the fact that the WLAN access point is connected. Accordingly, the VoIP client 140 transmits a registration request message to the VoIP server of the Internet through the WLAN module 150 to perform registration (S405).

According to the above procedure, the communication terminal 100 completes preparation for the VoIP call and starts the Internet call when an incoming telephone number is input from the user and the call button is pressed (S407).

On the other hand, the WLAN connection manager 130 of the communication terminal 100 measures the signal strength of the access point received through the WLAN module 150 during a VoIP call in real time or at a predetermined period (S409), the signal strength of the access point It is confirmed whether is smaller than the threshold (S411).

If the signal strength of the access point is smaller than the threshold, the WLAN connection manager 130 alerts the user through a sound or vibration method that the call may be disconnected (S413). This moves the user to an area with good call quality.

However, when the user does not move to an area having a good WLAN environment and enters an area where the WLAN environment is worse, that is, when the signal strength of the access point is smaller than the second threshold, the WLAN connection manager 130 calls. To forcibly terminate and notify the user that the call was terminated because the WLAN environment is not good. Alternatively, when the signal strength of the access point is smaller than the second threshold, the WLAN connection manager 130 may warn that the call may be disconnected by a sound or vibration pattern different from the step S413.

According to the present invention as described above, by accurately reflecting the VoIP call enabled state of the communication terminal 100 that provides the VoIP call function to the VoIP server of the communication network, it prevents unnecessary incoming call of the VoIP call and the accuracy of additional services such as the presence service. Increase In addition, the WLAN access point search is performed only for a certain period of time when the WLAN connection is lost, thereby reducing battery consumption and informing the user when the call quality deteriorates during the VoIP call. It can be overcome.

The method of the present invention as described above may be embodied as a program and stored in a computer-readable recording medium (such as a CD-ROM, a RAM, a ROM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk).

While the specification contains many features, such features should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention or the scope of the claims. Also, the features described in the individual embodiments herein can be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features described herein in a single embodiment may be implemented in various embodiments individually or in a suitable subcombination.

It is to be understood that, although the operations have been described in a particular order in the figures, it should be understood that such operations are performed in a particular order as shown, or that a series of sequential orders, or all described operations, . In some circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. In addition, it should be understood that the division of various system components in the above-described embodiments does not require such division in all embodiments. The above-described program components and systems can generally be implemented as a single software product or as a package in multiple software products.

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is not limited by the drawings.

The following drawings, which are attached to this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the present invention serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention, the present invention includes matters described in such drawings. It should not be construed as limited to.

1 is a block diagram of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing terminal state information in a communication terminal providing a VoIP service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing terminal state information in a communication terminal providing a VoIP service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing terminal state information in a communication terminal providing a VoIP service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (7)

A WLAN module for performing near field communication with a WLAN access point; A WLAN connection manager managing a connection between the WLAN module and the WLAN access point, the WLAN connection manager notifying when a signal strength of the WLAN access point is less than a first threshold; And A VoIP client that performs Voice over IP (VoIP) registration to a communication network and performs a VoIP call through the WLAN module, the VoIP client configured to de-registrate the VoIP registration to the communication network upon receiving the notification; Communication terminal comprising a. The method of claim 1, The wireless LAN connection manager, And displaying a guide to the user when the signal strength of the WLAN access point becomes less than a second threshold during the VoIP call of the VoIP client. The method of claim 2, The wireless LAN connection manager, Forcibly terminating the VoIP call and displaying a guide to the user when the signal strength of the WLAN access point becomes less than a third threshold (the third threshold is less than the second threshold) during the VoIP call of the VoIP client. Communication terminal, characterized in that. The method according to claim 2 or 3, The guide, Communication terminal, characterized in that any one of sound or vibration. A terminal state management method of a communication terminal providing a VoIP call function, An access step of performing a short range communication with the WLAN access point; A registration step of performing a VoIP registration to a communication network through the WLAN access point; Confirming whether the signal strength of the WLAN access point is less than a first threshold; And And de-registrating the VoIP registration to a communication network through the WLAN access point when the signal strength is lower than a first threshold. The method of claim 5, After the registration step, Making a VoIP call; And Monitoring the signal strength of the WLAN access point during the VoIP call and displaying a guide to the user when the signal strength is smaller than a second threshold value. The method of claim 6, Forcibly terminating the VoIP call and displaying a guide to the user when the signal strength of the WLAN access point is lower than a third threshold (the third threshold is less than the second threshold) during the VoIP call; Terminal state management method of a communication terminal further comprising.

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