a2) United States Patent
`US 7,505,755 B2
`(0) Patent No.:
`Taniguchietal.
`Mar. 17, 2009
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US007505755B2
`
`(54)
`
`DATA COMMUNICATION RESTRICTION
`METHOD, DATA COMMUNICATION
`RESTRICTION SYSTEM AND MOBILE
`TERMINAL
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Hirohito Taniguchi, Settsu (JP);
`Yoshitoki Asano, Tokyo (JP)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: NTT DoCoMo,Inc., Tokyo (JP)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 417 days.
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 11/329,035
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 11, 2006
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`2003/0084184 Al
`2004/0148273 Al*
`2005/0020290 Al*
`2007/0037600 Al*
`
`5/2003 Eggleston etal.
`7/2004 Allenetal. oe 7107/2
`. 455/500
`1/2005 Arataetal.
`....
`
`2/2007 Fukuda ...... ee 455/522
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`CH
`EP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`WO
`
`1179220 A
`1032 236 Al
`2001-78260
`2001-224073
`2004-23648
`02004297247
`WO 97/22936
`
`4/1998
`8/2000
`3/2001
`8/2001
`1/2004
`* 10/2004
`6/1997
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Danh C Le
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Oblon, Spivak, McClelland,
`Maier & Neustadt, P.C.
`
`US 2006/0171350 Al
`
`Aug. 3, 2006
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`12, 2005
`
`(TP)
`
`eeeceseeteetceteeteeeeeees 2005-005684
`
`Int. Cl.
`
`(2006.01)
`HO4M 11/00
`US. C1. cece 455/405; 455/407; 455/418;
`379/121 .02; 370/328
`................. 455/405,
`Field of Classification Search.
`455/407, 418; 370/328; 379/121.02
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`A data communicationrestriction method forflat rate users is
`disclosed. The data communicationrestriction method com-
`prises the steps of: monitoring data communication status of
`a flat rate user, and determining whether the number of
`request or communication quantity during a predetermined
`period exceeded a predetermined threshold (S9); setting the
`flat rate user as a communication restricted object whenit is
`determinedthat the threshold was exceeded (S10); and trans-
`mitting a communication restriction signal including com-
`munication restriction period information to a mobile termi-
`nal of the restricted flat rate user, whenthe restricted flat user
`requested access again (S11); whereby data communication
`of the mobile terminal of the restricted flat rate user is
`
`restricted during the communication restriction period.
`
`6,188,883 Bl *
`2001/0023181 Al
`
`2/2001 Takemura ...........c cee 455/411
`9/2001 Savolainen
`
`6 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`(65)
`
`(30)
`Jan.
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`(IP-SCP)
`COMMUNICATION
`RESTRICTION TIME
`MANAGER
`COMMUNICATION
`RESTRICTION
`THRESHOLD MANAGER
`COMMUNICATION
`RESTRICTION USER
`
`51
`
`CUSTOMER INFORMATION
`MANAGING SYSTEM
`(ALADIN)
`
`52
`
`53
`
` MANAGING SERVER
`MANAGER
`
`COMMUNICATION
`RESTRICTION SIGNAL
`MANAGER
`GENERAL
`DE-RESTRICTION
`MANAGER
`
`54
`
`55
`
`
`
`3
`
`RELAY BASE STATION
`
`MOBILE
`
`
`
`
`TERMINAL5
`[Ben
`—y
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`
`RESTRICTION
`
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`
`Z
`
`
`
`
`(W/XPCG)
`2
`REQUEST/
`EXCHANGE
`COMMUNICATION
`we QUANTITY MONITOR
`DETECTOR FOR
`DETECTING
`RE-ACCESS DURING
`RESTRICTION
`COMMUNICATION
`
`31
`
`EXTERNAL
`
`NETWORK
`CRONTROL
`EXTERNAL
`
`SYSTEM(GIRGUS)
`NETWORK
`(INTERNET)
`
`LG 1008
`
`1
`
`LG 1008
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
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`US 7,505,755 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 17, 2009
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 17, 2009
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`Sheet 3 of 4
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`US 7,505,755 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 2009
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 7,505,755 B2
`
`FIG.O
`
`ACCESS LATER.
`
`YOUR ACCESSIS
`RESTRICTED NOW.
`PLEASE REQUEST
`
`5
`
`

`

`US 7,505,755 B2
`
`1
`DATA COMMUNICATION RESTRICTION
`
`METHOD, DATA COMMUNICATION
`RESTRICTION SYSTEM AND MOBILE
`TERMINAL
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`rate users. Further, this communicationrestriction is not only
`applied to data packet communication but also applied to all
`communications.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An object of the present invention is to provide a data
`communicationrestriction system and method in which com-
`munication restriction is applied only to data communication
`such as packet communication of specific users and the com-
`munication restriction cannot be released by mobile termi-
`nals.
`
`The present invention generally relates to a data commu-
`nication restriction method, data communication restriction
`system and mobile terminal.
`Recently, the access to the Internet from mobile terminals
`The above object of the present invention is achieved by a
`such as mobile phonesis drastically increasing. In order to
`data communication restriction method for flat rate users,
`reduce chargesto users for data packet communication,a flat
`comprising the steps of: monitoring data communicationsta-
`rate service was introduced, in which communication charges
`tus ofaflat rate user, and determining whether the numberof
`are kept constant irrespective of communication quantity.
`request or communication quantity during a predetermined
`However, users utilizing this service tend to excessively con-
`period exceeded a predetermined threshold; setting the flat
`rate user as a communication restricted object when it is
`sumea lot of data communication resource, which is a prob-
`lem.
`determinedthat the threshold was exceeded; and transmitting
`acommunicationrestriction signal including communication
`restriction period information to a mobile terminal of the
`restricted flat rate user, when therestricted flat user requested
`access again; whereby data communication of the mobile
`terminalofthe restricted flat rate user is restricted during the
`communication restriction period.
`In the data communication restriction method for flat rate
`users, the threshold and the communicationrestriction period
`maybe determined for each base station.
`In the data communication restriction method for flat rate
`
`15
`
`20
`
`Theflat rate service contracts between users and providers
`allowsthe providersto limitorrestrict data communication of
`excessively usingflat rate users in order to prevent them from
`exclusively using of data communication resource. On the
`other hand, providers are obliged to guarantee communica-
`tion quality to usage basedrate users. Therefore, it is needed
`to introduce communication restriction systems for guaran-
`teeing communication quality to usage basedrate users even
`at the sacrifice of flat rate users’ communication.
`
`25
`
`30
`
`This communication restriction should be placed on data
`communication only but not on voice communication.
`Accordingly, communication restricted users can utilize
`voice communication as usual.
`
`FIG. 1 is a conception view for illustrating conventional
`communication restriction system. In normal operation, a
`mobile terminal 101 gets access to an external network like
`the Internet, via an exchange 102 anda relay basestation 103.
`Whenthe relay base station 103 detected excessive accesses
`from the mobile terminal 101, the relay base station 103 does
`not relay further access request from the mobile terminal 101
`via the exchange 102to the relay base station 103 any longer.
`Many kinds of communication restriction methods for
`dealing with communication congestion are known. One of
`them is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-
`78260. In the communicationrestriction system disclosed in
`this document, a base station always monitors communica-
`tion congestion condition in its radio area, and calculates a
`congestion level and notifies mobile terminals of the conges-
`tion level information. The mobile terminals control their
`
`access requests in accordance with the informed congestion
`level information.
`
`In the communicationrestriction system shown in FIG. 1,
`it is possible to prevent from exclusively using communica-
`tion resourceafter the relay base station 103. However, since
`all access requests (re-try requests due to accessrestriction)
`repeatedly generated by the mobile terminal 1 pass through
`the exchange 102, the load of the exchange 102 cannot be
`reduced.
`
`Onthe other hand, in the communicationrestriction system
`disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-78260,
`communication restriction is placed on many users in accor-
`dance with congestion condition in their radio area. It is
`impossibleto restrict only excessively using users amongflat
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`users, the communicationrestriction signal may be transmit-
`ted by a short messageservice.
`The data communication restriction method for flat rate
`
`users, may further comprise the step of: transmitting a de-
`restriction signal to the mobile terminal of the restricted flat
`rate user when a general de-restriction is desired, whereby
`data communication of the mobile terminaloftherestricted
`
`flat rate user can be normally operated.
`In the data communication restriction method for flat rate
`
`users, the communication de-restriction signal may be trans-
`mitted by a short messageservice.
`The object of the present invention is achieved by a data
`communication restriction system, comprising: means for
`monitoring data communicationstatus of a flat rate user, and
`determining whether the number of request or communica-
`tion quantity during a predetermined period exceededa pre-
`determined threshold; meansfor setting the flat rate user as a
`communication restricted object when it is determined that
`the threshold was exceeded; and means for transmitting a
`communication restriction signal including communication
`restriction period information to a mobile terminal of the
`restricted flat rate user, when therestricted flat user requested
`access again; whereby data communication of the mobile
`terminalofthe restricted flat rate user is restricted during the
`communication restriction period.
`The object of the present invention is achieved by a mobile
`terminal comprising: means for receiving a communication
`restriction signal including communicationrestriction period
`information from a base station; and meansfor inhibiting data
`communication during the communication restriction period
`when having received the communicationrestriction signal.
`The mobile terminal may further comprise: means for
`showing on a screen that data communication is restricted,
`when having received the communicationrestriction signal.
`The mobile terminal may further comprise: means for
`restoring the data communication to normal operation status,
`whenhaving received a communication de-restriction signal.
`
`6
`
`

`

`US 7,505,755 B2
`
`3
`According to an embodimentof the present invention,it is
`possible to realize a data communication restriction system
`and method in which communication restriction is applied
`only to data communication such as packet communication of
`specific users and the communication restriction cannot be
`released by mobile terminals.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a conception view of a conventional communica-
`tion restriction;
`FIG.2 is aconception view of a communicationrestriction
`according to an embodimentof the present invention;
`FIG.3 is a block diagram of a communicationrestriction
`system according to the embodimentofthe presentinvention;
`FIG. 4 is a sequence chart illustrating operation of the
`communication restriction system shown in FIG. 3; and
`FIG.5 showsa screen ofa mobile terminal accordingto the
`embodimentof the present invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The following is a description of embodiments of the
`present invention, with reference to the accompanying draw-
`ings.
`Throughoutall the figures, members and parts having the
`same or similar functions are assigned the same or similar
`reference numerals or symbols, and redundant explanations
`are omitted.
`
`FIG.2 is a conception viewfor illustrating communication
`restriction scheme according to an embodimentofthe present
`invention. In FIG. 2, a mobile terminal 1 such as a mobile
`phone ownedbya flat rate user can normally request access to
`an external networklike the Internet via an exchange 2 anda
`relay base station 3. Whenthe relay base station 3 detects
`excessive access from the flat rate user mobile terminal1, the
`relay base station 3 sets the flat rate user as a communication
`restricted object. If the flat rate user requests access to the
`external network again,the relay base station respondsto the
`re-access and transmits a communication restriction signal
`including communication restriction period information to
`the flat rate user mobile terminal 1 via the exchange 2. There-
`fore, the mobile terminal is restricted or inhibited from get-
`ting access to the external network during the designated
`communication restriction period. As a result, no access
`request is generated from theflat rate user mobile terminal 1
`to the exchange 2 during the designated communication
`restriction period, and therefore the load of the exchange 2
`can be effectively reduced.
`FIG.3 is a block diagram of a communicationrestriction
`system according to an embodimentof the presentinvention.
`The communication restriction system comprises a mobile
`terminal 1, an exchange2, a relay base station 3, an external
`network connection control system 4, a managing server 5
`and a customer information managing system 6.
`The mobile terminal 1 has a communicating function of
`performing normal voice communication and data commu-
`nication, and a communication restriction controller 11.
`Whenit receives a communication restriction signal includ-
`ing communication restriction period information from the
`relay base station 3 via the exchange 2, the communication
`restriction controller 11 restricts or inhibits the mobile termi-
`
`nal 1 from performing data communication during a desig-
`nated communicationrestriction period, and displays notice
`that data communicationis underrestriction on a screen. The
`
`20
`
`25
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`function of the communication restriction controller 11 can
`be realized by software (computer program).
`The exchange 2 may be an RNC (Radio Network Control-
`ler), xGSN (GPRS Support Node, GPRS: General Packet
`Radio Service), or the like. The relay base station 3 may be
`W/XPCG(Wireless/eXtended wireless Protocol Conversion
`Gateway), or the like. The external network connection con-
`trol system 4 may be CiRCUS(treasure Casket of i-mode®
`service, high Reliability platform for CUStomer) commonly
`knownas the i-modecenter, or the like. The managing server
`5 may be IP-SCP (IP-based Service Control Point), or the
`like. The customer information managing system 6 may be
`ALADIN (ALI Around DoCoMo INformation system), or
`the like.
`
`Therelay base station 3 has a normalrelaying function and
`further has a request/communication quantity monitor 31 and
`a detector for detecting re-access during communication
`restriction. The request/communication quantity monitor 31
`monitors data communication status of a flat rate user and
`determines whether the numberofaccess requestor the quan-
`tity of data communication during a predetermined period
`exceeds a predetermined threshold. When it exceeds the
`threshold, the request/communication quantity monitor 31
`transmits a notice to the managing server 5. The detector for
`detecting re-access during communication restriction 32
`detects that re-access was requested by the flat user that has
`been set as a communicationrestricted object and transmits a
`notice to the managing server5.
`The managing server 5 comprises a communication
`restriction time manager 51, a communication restriction
`threshold manager 52, a communicationrestriction user man-
`ager 53, a communicationrestriction signal manager 54, and
`a general de-restriction manager 55. The communication
`restriction time manager 51 individually managesanddeter-
`mines a communicationrestriction period for an area where
`the relay base station 3 exists, in accordance with congestion
`condition of data communication in the area. The communi-
`cation restriction threshold manager 52 individually manages
`and determines a threshold which is used for determining
`whether the numberofrequest or the communication quantity
`of the restricted flat rate user exceeds, in accordance with
`congestion condition of data communication in the area
`where the relay base station 3 exists. The communication
`restriction user manager 53 sets the flat rate user as a com-
`munication restricted object when it is determined that its
`number of request or communication quantity exceeds the
`predetermined threshold, and restricts the data communica-
`tion ofthe flat rate user through the relay base station 3. The
`communication restriction signal manager 54 transmits a
`communication restriction signal including communication
`restriction period information to the mobile terminal 1 of the
`flat rate user, when the flat rate user set as a communication
`restricted object requests access again. The general de-re-
`striction manager 55 generally releases the restriction or de-
`restricts for all mobile terminals and transmits a communica-
`tion de-restriction signal to the mobile terminal 1 of the
`restricted flat rate user, for example whena disaster occurred.
`FIG. 4 is a sequence chart illustrating operation of the
`above-explained embodimentof the present invention.
`First, in normaloperation, the mobile terminal 1 held by the
`flat rate user sends a request (steps S1~S8) to an external
`network such asthe Internet via the exchange 2, the relay base
`station 3 and the external network connection control4.
`
`The request/communication quantity monitor 31 of the
`relay base station 3 monitors communication status of the
`mobile terminal 1 oftheflat rate user. It is possible to know
`whetherthe user ofthe mobile terminal1 is a flat rate user, by
`acquiring contract information indirectly from the customer
`information managing system 6 via the managing server 5 or
`directly from the customer information managing system 6.
`
`7
`
`

`

`US 7,505,755 B2
`
`6
`5
`signal and the communication restriction controller 11
`The threshold for determining the excess of the number of
`restores the data communicationto the normal operation (step
`request or the communication quantity is previously notified
`$23). Therefore, the mobile terminal 1 can access to the
`by the managingserver 5.
`external network via the exchange2, the relay base station 3
`When the numberof request or the communication quan-
`and the external network connection control system 4.
`tity of the mobile terminal 1 of the flat rate user during the
`According to the embodimentofthe present invention,it is
`predetermined period exceeds the predetermined threshold,
`possible to individually place data communicationrestriction
`the request/communication quantity monitor ofthe relay base
`
`station 3 notifies the excess to the managing server 5 (step onaflat rate user whoutilized a large amount of data packet
`communication. The communication restriction can be so
`S9).
`strict that the mobile terminal 1 cannot avoid. Further the
`When the managing server 5 receives the notice of the
`restriction can be released if desired, when disaster occurred,
`excess of the numberof request or the communication quan-
`tity of the specific flat rate user from the relay base station 3,
`for example.
`it sets the flat rate user as a communication restricted object
`The present application is based on Japanese Priority
`(step S10), and transmits a notice to the relay base station 3
`Application No. 2005-005684filed on Jan. 12, 2005 with the
`that
`the communication of the flat rate user should be
`Japanese Patent Office,
`the entire contents of which are
`restricted (step S11). Then the relay base station 3 does not
`hereby incorporated by reference.
`Whatis claimedis:
`relay data communication from the mobile terminal 1 until
`the communicationrestriction fortheflat rate user is released.
`1. A data communication restriction method for flat rate
`Next, if the mobile terminal 1 ofthe flat rate user that is a
`users, comprising the steps of:
`communication restricted object sent a request again to the
`monitoring data communication status ofa flat rate user,
`relay base station 3 via the exchange 2 (step S12, $13), the
`and determining whether the numberof request or com-
`detector
`for detecting re-access during communication
`munication quantity during a predetermined period
`restriction 32 of the relay base station 3 detects the re-access
`exceeded a predetermined threshold;
`and notifies the re-access to the managing server 5 (step S14).
`setting the flat rate user as a communication restricted
`The managingserver 5 receivesthe notice of the re-access,
`object when it
`is determined that the threshold was
`exceeded; and
`and the communication restriction signal manager 54 trans-
`mits a communicationrestriction signal to the mobile termi-
`transmitting a communicationrestriction signal including
`nal 1 oftheflat rate user that is a communication restriction
`communication restriction period information to a
`mobile terminalofthe restricted flat rate user, when the
`object, by using the function of SMS (Short Message Service)
`for example (step S15~S17). The communication restriction
`restricted flat user requested access again;
`signal includes communication restriction period informa-
`whereby data communication of the mobile terminal ofthe
`tion managed by the communicationrestriction time manager
`restricted flat rate useris restricted during the commu-
`51.
`nicationrestriction period.
`The mobile terminal 1 receives the communicationrestric-
`2. The data communication restriction methodfor flat rate
`users as claimed in claim 1, wherein
`tion signal, and the communication restriction controller 11
`inhibits data communication during the communication
`the threshold and the communicationrestriction period are
`determined for each basestation.
`restriction period (step $18). The communicationrestriction
`3. The data communication restriction methodfor flat rate
`controller 11 displays on a screen a messagelike “Your access
`users as claimed in claim 1, wherein
`is restricted now. Please request access later” as shown in
`FIG. 5. The communication restriction period is set by the
`the communication restriction signal is transmitted by a
`managing server 5 in accordance with the congestion condi-
`short message service.
`4. The data communication restriction methodfor flat rate
`tion of data communication in the area where the relay base
`station 3 lies. For example, the communication restriction
`users as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the stepof:
`period is determined to be longer in a downtownarea that
`transmitting a de-restriction signal to the mobile terminal
`oftherestricted flat rate user
`manyusers belongto. A threshold for determining the excess
`of the number of request and the communication quantity is
`when a general de-restriction is desired,
`determined to be lower in such a downtownarea.
`whereby data communication of the mobile terminal ofthe
`During the communicationrestriction period, the mobile
`restricted flat rate user can be normally operated.
`terminal 1 cannot access to the external network. Even if the
`5. The data communication restriction methodfor flat rate
`users as claimed in claim 4, wherein
`restricted user forcibly releases the communication restric-
`tion by resetting the program,the userstill cannot access to
`the communication de-restriction signal is transmitted by a
`the network becausethe relay base station 3 does not relay the
`short message service.
`user’s request for access.
`6. A data communicationrestriction system, comprising:
`When the communicationrestriction period is over or com-
`means for monitoring data communication status of a flat
`pleted, the communication restriction controller 11 of the
`rate user, and determining whether the number of
`mobile terminal 1 restores the data communication function
`request or communication quantity during a predeter-
`to the normal operation state.
`mined period exceeded a predetermined threshold;
`On the other hand, in case where data communication
`means for setting the flat rate user as a communication
`should be generally allowed when a disaster occurred for
`restricted object whenit is determinedthat the threshold
`was exceeded; and
`example, the general de-restriction manager of the managing
`server 5 generally releases all the communicationrestriction
`meansfor transmitting a communicationrestriction signal
`(step S19). The managing server 5 deletes the communication
`including communicationrestriction period information
`to a mobile terminalofthe restricted flat rate user, when
`restricted objects in the communicationrestriction user man-
`ager 53, and transmitsa de-restriction signal (step S20~S22)
`the restricted flat user requested access again;
`to the mobile terminal1 oftheflat rate user via the relay base
`whereby data communication of the mobile terminal ofthe
`station by the SMSfunction.
`restricted flat rate useris restricted during the commu-
`The relay base station 3 receives the de-restriction signal
`nicationrestriction period.
`and releases the communication restriction from the flat rate
`*
`*
`*
`user. The mobile terminal 1 also receives the de-restriction
`
`40
`
`60
`
`*
`
`*
`
`20
`
`25
`
`45
`
`50
`
`8
`
`