Mobile Communication Device, Mobile Network Sharing Method and Electronic Device
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(19) & (11) EP 2 424 308 A1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 29.02.2012 Bulletin 2012/09 H04W 48/18 (2009.01) (21) Application number: 11174794.5 (22) Date of filing: 21.07.2011 (84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB • Taylor, Matthew W. GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO Bellevue, WA Washington 98005 (US) PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR • Chueh, Hsin-Ti Designated Extension States: 330 Taoyuan City, Taoyuan County (TW) BA ME • Chen, Chia-Wei 330 Taoyuan City, Taoyuan County (TW) (30) Priority: 27.08.2010 US 377794 P 19.05.2011 US 111238 (74) Representative: 2K Patentanwälte Blasberg Kewitz & Reichel (71) Applicant: HTC Corporation Partnerschaft Taoyuan County 330 (TW) Corneliusstraße 18 60325 Frankfurt am Main (DE) (54) Mobile communication device, mobile network sharing method and electronic device (57) The invention discloses a mobile communica- mode. The control unit is coupled to the communication tion device, an electronic device and a mobile network module. When a trigger signal from an electronic device sharing method between these two devices. The mobile is received by the local communication unit under the communication device includes a communication mod- passive mode, the control unit switches the local com- ule and a control unit. The communication module in- munication unit into the active mode, so as to connect cludes a mobile communication unit and a local commu- the electronic device to the mobile communication net- nication unit. The mobile communication unit is used for work via the local communication unit and the mobile connectingto a mobile communication network. The local communication unit. communication unit has an active mode and a passive EP 2 424 308 A1 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 2 424 308 A1 2 Description on network sharing function manually, such that the Wi- Fi function of the mobile communication device is RELATED APPLICATIONS switched to operate under an active wireless AP mode. Afterward, the user may need to manipulate on the inter- [0001] This application claims priority to US Provision- 5 face of the notebook computer for completing the network al Application Serial Number 61/377,794, filed August configuration. The whole setup procedure is complex, 27, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference. time-consuming and not friendly to a common user. BACKGROUND SUMMARY 10 Field of Invention [0007] In order to solve the aforesaid problem, this dis- closure discloses a mobile communication device, an [0002] The present disclosure relates to a mobile com- electronic device and a mobile network sharing method munication device. More particularly, the present disclo- in between. When user demands for wireless network sure relates to a mobile communication device, an elec- 15 access, the user may manipulate the electronic device, tronic device and a mobile network sharing method in e.g. a notebook computer, a handheld smart device or a between. tablet computer, for sending a specific trigger signal to the mobile communication device via a local communi- Description of Related Art cation network. When the mobile communication device 20 receives the trigger signal, the mobile communication de- [0003] Recently, the mobile communication device vice is switched into an active mode for sharing the band- has become a necessary in our daily life, e.g. cellar width of its mobile communication network with the elec- phone, personal digital assistant, tablet computer, inter- tronic device. Accordingly, the network sharing configu- net computer, notebookcomputer, etc.With therocketing ration can be switched easily. In an embodiment, all of development of the digital communication technology, 25 the configuration setting can be completed on the elec- users usually utilize mobile communication device to tronic device remotely without involving any manipulation browse websites, share files, or send multimedia mes- on the mobile electronic device. sages through a mobile network or a wireless communi- [0008] Therefore, an aspect of the invention is to pro- cation system. vide a mobile communication device, which includes a [0004] Besides, people usually utilize the mobile com- 30 communication module and a control unit. The commu- munication device to serve as a mobile network station. nication module includes a mobile communication unit The mobile network sharing function of the mobile com- and a local communication unit. The mobile communica- munication device is switched on, so as to share the mo- tion unit is usedfor connecting to a mobile communication bile network bandwidth of the mobile communication de- network. The local communication unit has a passive vice with other electronic devices. These electronic de- 35 mode and an active mode. The control unit is coupled vices may connect to the mobile communication device with the communication module. When a trigger signal via a local network connection (e.g. Wi-Fi connection) from an electronic device is received by the local com- and utilize the mobile communication device as a redi- munication unit under the passive mode, the control unit rect-gateway for connecting to the internet. The band- switches the local communication unit into the active width sharing technology enables the mobile communi- 40 mode, so as to connect the electronic device to the mobile cation device to serve as a portable wireless access point communication network through the local communica- (AP). The bandwidth sharing technology is popular tion unit and the mobile communication unit. among consumers because it is user friendly, affordable [0009] According to an embodiment of the invention, and free from carrying extra wireless network adaptor or the local communication unit under the passive mode router. 45 receives the trigger signal from the electronic device via [0005] However, the mobile communication device in a point- to-point connection. In the embodiment, the point- general does not stay in wireless AP mode over a long to-point connection includes an Ad Hoc connection. In time. Otherwise, the electricity of the mobile communi- addition, the mobile communication device may establish cation device would be consumed quickly, such that the the point-to-point connection to the electronic device ac- battery durability of the mobile communication device 50 cording to a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the would be reduced. electronic device. [0006] In other words, the Wi- Fi function of the mobile [0010] According to an embodiment of the invention, communication device operates under a passive client the mobile communication network can be based on 2G mode in default. When user demands for wireless net- mobile communication technology, 3G mobile commu- work access (e.g. user wants to connect their notebook 55 nication technology, 3.5 mobile communication technol- computer to the internet through the mobile communica- ogy or 4G mobile communication technology. tion device), the user needs to enter the configuration [0011] According to an embodiment of the invention, interface on the mobile communication device and switch the local communication unit can be based on Wireless 2 3 EP 2 424 308 A1 4 Fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication technology. In the em- mobile communication device according to a Media Ac- bodiment, the trigger signal is a Wi-Fi packet, and the cess Control (MAC) address of the mobile communica- Wi-Fi packet comprises a specific Service Set Identifier tion device. (SSID). [0019] According to an embodiment of the invention, [0012] According to an embodiment of the invention, 5 the trigger signal is a Wi-Fi packet, and the Wi-Fi packet the mobile communication device is equivalently served comprises a specific Service Set Identifier (SSID). as a wireless access point (AP) when the local commu- nication unit is under the active mode. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] Another aspect of the invention is to provide a mobile network sharing method, which is suitable for a 10 [0020] The invention can be more fully understood by mobile communication device. The mobile network shar- reading the following detailed description of the embod- ing method includes steps of: activating a local commu- iment, with reference made to the accompanying draw- nication unit under a passive mode; judging whether a ings as follows: trigger signal from an electronic device is received through the local communication unit under the passive 15 Fig. 1 is a function block diagram illustrating a mobile mode; linking to a mobile communication network and communication device according to an embodiment switching the local communication unit into an active of the invention; modewhen the trigger signal isreceived; and, connecting Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a mobile network the electronic device to the mobile communication net- sharing method according to an embodiment of the work through the local communication unit. 20 invention; [0014] According to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a function block diagram illustrating an elec- in step of receiving the trigger signal through the local tronic device according to an embodiment of the in- communication unit, the mobile communication device vention; and receives the trigger signal via a point-to- point connection. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow chart In the embodiment, the point-to-point connection in- 25 applied on the electronic device in a practical appli- cludes an Ad Hoc connection. In addition, the point-to- cation. point connection to the electronic device is established according to a Media Access Control (MAC) address of DETAILED DESCRIPTION the electronic device. [0015] According to an embodiment of the invention, 30 [0021] In this disclosure, a mobile communication de- the mobile communication network is based on 2G mo- vice, an electronic device and a mobile network sharing bile communication technology, 3G mobile communica- method in between are disclosed.