(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2005/0070290 A1
`BaggStrom et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 31, 2005
`
`US 2005.0070290A1
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`ACHIEVING GOOD USABILITY FOR
`NETWORKED APPLICATIONS IN MULTI
`MODE MOBILE TERMINALS
`
`(76)
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`(21)
`(22)
`
`(51)
`
`Inventors: Stefan Baggstrom, Tampere (FI); Kari
`Heikkila, Tampere (FI)
`Correspondence Address:
`WARE FRESSOLAWAN DER SLUYS &
`ADOLPHSON, LLP
`BRADFORD GREEN BUILDING 5
`755 MAIN STREET, PO BOX 224
`MONROE, CT 06468 (US)
`Appl. No.:
`10/673,059
`
`Filed:
`
`Sep. 26, 2003
`
`Publication Classification
`
`7
`Int. Cl.' ....................................................... H04Q 7/20
`
`52) U.S. C.
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............................................................. 455,445
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method (and corresponding equipment) for use by a
`device (10) in establishing a network connection on behalf
`of an application (14a-d) hosted by the device (10), includ
`ing: a step (23.b) of obtaining information about currently
`active cellular network Systems, which may include infor
`mation about connections currently in use; and a step (24) of
`deciding whether to allow establishing the connection based
`on factors including the information about currently active
`cellular network Systems. The information about connec
`tions currently in use may include identifiers for applications
`using the connections currently in use. The factors can also
`include the identity of the application making the request
`and the identities of the applications using connections
`currently in use, So as to make the decision as to whether or
`not to allow establishing the connection after taking into
`account the importance and type of the different applications
`contending for the network resources (connections).
`
`
`
`23a
`
`21
`
`
`
`22
`
`IP stack (14a) or AT
`command interpreter
`(14c) receives from an
`application (14a-d) an
`indication of an attempt
`to establish a network
`Connection.
`
`IP stack (14a) or AT
`Command interpreter
`(14c) provides a request
`for the connection to the
`network control module
`(11a), along with an
`identifier corresponding
`to the application
`requesting the network
`Connection.
`
`Cellular network
`information server (12)
`obtains info about all
`currently active cellular
`network systems.
`
`Network resource Control
`module (11a) obtains
`from Cellular network
`information server (12)
`information about all
`currently active cellular
`network systems.
`
`Network resource Control
`module (11a) determines
`whether to allow
`establishing connection,
`
`
`
`Establish connection?
`
`25
`
`Network resource Control
`module (11a), after possibly
`signalling one or more other
`applications to disconnect,
`allows application to
`proceed establishing
`connection (via IP stack or
`AT command interpreter),
`
`Network resource Control
`module (11a) signals
`application that the
`Connection cannot be
`established.
`
`ZTE, Ex. 1010
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 31, 2005 Sheet 1 of 3
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 31, 2005 Sheet 2 of 3
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 31, 2005 Sheet 3 of 3
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`US 2005/0070290 A1
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`US 2005/0070290 A1
`
`Mar. 31, 2005
`
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACHIEVING
`GOOD USABILITY FOR NETWORKED
`APPLICATIONS IN MULTI MODE MOBILE
`TERMINALS
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`0001. The present invention pertains to the field of wire
`leSS telecommunication networks. More particularly, the
`present invention pertains to a communication terminal,
`Such as a mobile terminal, establishing connections to Such
`networks (i.e. through Such networks to Some other com
`munication terminal including e.g. another mobile terminal
`or a server in a computer network).
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`0002 Mobile terminals today typically have the capabil
`ity to create a connection to a network, e.g. a mobile
`terminal (Such as a mobile phone) can create a speech call,
`a circuit-Switched data call or a packet data connection. A
`mobile terminal may Support all or only Some of these
`connections types. Even if all connection types are Sup
`ported, the ability at any particular time to use the different
`connection types depends on the State of the mobile terminal
`at the time; i.e. the ability to use a certain connection type
`depends on the existence of the other possible connections.
`For example, a GSM (Global System for Mobile commu
`nication) GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Class B
`phone cannot create a new packet data connection while a
`Speech call is active.
`0003. Different cellular network systems support differ
`ent combinations of concurrently active network connec
`tions. For example, a GSM network may provide different
`types of network connections than a WCDMA (Wideband
`Code Division Multiple Access) network, and so a mobile
`terminal when connected to a GSM network can have
`different types of concurrent network connections than when
`connected to a WCDMA network. Also, a mobile terminal
`may Support interSystem handover functionality between
`different networks, and so a mobile terminal may use a GSM
`network at one time, and a WCDMA network (or a
`CDMA2000 network) at another time, and the available
`network resources may therefore change dynamically, i.e.
`even during a connection. The term network resource as
`used here indicates generally connections via an operator
`network, and also indicates any Software or hardware asso
`ciated with Such connections.
`0004.
`In addition, a given cellular network system may
`Support multiple concurrent packet-Switched data connec
`tions. In case of a network according to 3GPP (Third
`Generation Partnership Program), the maximum number of
`network connections available to a mobile in communica
`tion via a cellular network system is limited by 3GPP
`Specifications, by the mobile terminal, by the network ven
`dor (by selecting which optional items from the specification
`to implement), and also by the operator (in Selecting the
`network configuration). Multiple network connections are
`required to enable concurrent access to multiple networks
`(e.g. to access an intranet and to access the Internet), and
`also to Support different levels of quality of Service for
`different network connections. The Support for multiple
`concurrent packet-Switched data connections may also vary
`in different cellular network Systems even within a Single
`operators (multi-cellular System) network; for example,
`there could be support for two connections in GSM, but only
`one in WCDMA.
`
`0005 Mobile terminals host a set of applications that use
`network connections. The types and number of applications
`vary by the mobile terminal vendor and by the mobile
`terminal model; for example, a mobile terminal can have
`traditional telephony applications (such as ability to create
`and receive speech calls), a WAP (wireless access protocol)
`browser, a MMS (multimedia message System) application
`and Support for dial-up networking. All these applications
`share the same limited network resources.
`0006 A problem faced currently is that there are not
`enough resources to allow different applications to use a
`network connection simultaneously. Thus, e.g. a user of a
`mobile terminal must wait-Sometimes for Several min
`utes-while the mobile terminal is receiving an MMS
`message before the user is able to make a voice call.
`0007. The prior art teaches having the problem solved
`manually by the end user. Thus, a user first tries to use an
`application when another application is running, and if there
`are not enough resources, the operating System issues an
`error message to the user, and it is then up to the user to Solve
`the problem. For example, if a user having a Nokia(F) 9210(R)
`communicator is accessing a network Server in a first
`intranet and needs to access a network Server in a Second
`intranet, then the user may need to close the existing
`connection (to the first intranet) before connection creation
`to the other (second) intranet is possible.
`0008 What is needed, therefore, is a way to enable users
`of mobile terminals to concurrently use multiple applica
`tions hosted by the mobile terminals. Ideally, any method
`enabling concurrent use of different applications is trans
`parent to the user, i.e. the user is not involved in resolving
`resource contentions and related problems that must be
`Solved to allow the user to run an application when another
`application is already running.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`0009. Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention, a
`method is provided for use in establishing a network con
`nection on behalf of an application hosted by a device, the
`method comprising: a step of obtaining information about
`currently active cellular network Systems, and a step of
`deciding whether to allow establishing the network connec
`tion based on factors including the information about cur
`rently active cellular network Systems.
`0010. In accord with the first aspect of the invention, the
`information about currently active cellular network Systems
`may include information about combinations of different
`kinds of connections allowed by each currently active cel
`lular network System.
`0011. Also in accord with the first aspect of the invention,
`the factors may also include information about connections
`currently in use or the information about currently active
`cellular network Systems may include information about
`connections currently in use. Further, the information about
`connections currently in use may include at least the number
`and type of connections currently in use. Further Still, the
`method may also comprise: a Step in which a request is made
`for permission to establish the network connection and the
`request includes an identifier corresponding to the applica
`tion requesting the network connection; and, in addition, the
`information about connections currently in use may include
`identifiers for applications using the connections currently in
`use, and further in addition, the factors may also include the
`identifier for the application and the identifiers for applica
`tions using the connections currently in use.
`
`5
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`

`

`US 2005/0070290 A1
`
`Mar. 31, 2005
`
`0012. Also in accord with the first aspect of the invention,
`the factors may also include the maximum amount of
`concurrent packet Switched data allowed by the connections
`currently in use.
`0013 Sill also in accord with the first aspect of the
`invention, the active cellular network Systems may include
`at least a GSM network, a WCDMA network, or a
`CDMA2000 network.
`0.014.
`In a second aspect of the invention, a mobile
`terminal is provided including means So as to be operative
`according to the method provided according to the first
`aspect of the invention, and in particular therefore, So as to
`be equipped to establish a network connection on behalf of
`an application hosted by the mobile terminal, with the
`mobile terminal characterized in that it comprises means,
`responsive to a signal from the application to establish the
`connection, for providing a request to allow establishing the
`connection; and a network resource control module, respon
`Sive to a request to allow establishing the connection, and
`also responsive to information about currently active cellular
`Systems, for determining whether to allow establishing the
`connection based on factors including the information about
`currently active cellular network Systems. Also in particular
`and in accord with the Second aspect of the invention, the
`factors may also include information about connections
`currently in use or the information about currently active
`cellular network Systems may include information about
`connections currently in use, and the mobile terminal may be
`further characterized in that it also comprises: means for
`making a request for permission to establish the network
`connection with the request including an identifier corre
`sponding to the application requesting the network connec
`tion, wherein the information about connections currently in
`use includes identifiers for applications using the connec
`tions currently in use, and further wherein the factors also
`include the identifier for the application and the identifiers
`for applications using the connections currently in use. Still
`also in particular, and in accord with the Second aspect of the
`invention, the mobile terminal may be further characterized
`in that it also comprises a cellular network information
`Server, responsive to a request to provide the information
`about currently active cellular Systems, for providing Such
`information.
`0.015. In a third aspect of the invention, a computer
`program product is provided comprising: a computer read
`able Storage Structure embodying computer program code
`thereon for execution by a computer processor in a telecom
`munication terminal, with Said computer program code
`characterized in that it includes instructions for performing
`the Steps of a method provided according to the first aspect
`of the invention.
`0016. In a fourth aspect of the invention, a system is
`provided, comprising an operator network having at least
`one cellular System, and also comprising a mobile terminal
`according to the Second aspect of the invention.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0.017. The above and other objects, features and advan
`tages of the invention will become apparent from a consid
`eration of the Subsequent detailed description presented in
`connection with accompanying drawings, in which:
`0.018
`FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing a mobile, of
`a type in which the present invention can be implemented,
`in communication with a communication terminal via an
`operator network, and in particular, via a WCDMA cellular
`network System of the operator network.
`
`0019 FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing components
`of a mobile according to the invention, and So having a
`network resource control entity controlling applications
`(such as a WAP browser or a MMS application) using the
`network resources-such as GPRS (General Packet Radio
`Service) and CSD (circuit-switched data) services-which
`are also shown, and including a cellular network information
`module for keeping track of the currently active cellular
`network System.
`0020 FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the method by which a
`mobile terminal establishes connections to a communication
`network, according to the invention.
`
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`0021. The invention is described here first by reference to
`FIGS. 1A and 1B, and in FIG. 1B an arrow terminating a
`line connecting one module to another indicates a “use'
`relation (between different Software/firmware components),
`i.e. a relation in which the module pointed to provides
`services to the other module. (Thus, information is provided
`by the module pointed to, and So in the opposite direction as
`the arrows point in the figure.)
`0022 Referring now to FIG. 1A, a mobile terminal 10
`(mobile terminal can be e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
`with WLAN card etc.) adapted So as to operate according to
`the invention as described below is shown in communication
`with a communication terminal 19 via an operator network
`17 including both a WCDMA cellular network system 17a
`and a GSM cellular network system 17b, and also via
`possible intermediate routers 18 (including perhaps a plain
`old telephone System, or perhaps the Internet).
`0023 Referring now to FIG. 1B, the mobile terminal 10
`is shown as including a network resource control module
`11a of a resource manager 11. According to the invention, an
`application-Such as a WAP (wireless access protocol)
`browser 14a, a JAVA virtual machine 14b, a MMS (multi
`media Subsystem) application 14c, or a dial-up networking
`application 14d-obtains permission from the network
`resource control module 11a to establish a network connec
`tion (i.e. to use a resource) before proceeding to actually
`establish the network connection, but the application is not
`itself in any way modified by the invention except possibly
`to provide an identifier for identifying itself in its request for
`permission to establish the connection, the identifier Suffi
`cient to enable the network resource control module 11a to
`determine the type of application making the request for
`permission to establish the connection and So providing a
`basis for the resource control module 11a to determine the
`importance of the application relative to any other applica
`tions already using resources. Besides adapting the applica
`tions 14a-d to possibly provide identifiers, the mobile ter
`minal 10 is So adapted that when an application 14a-d
`attempts to establish a network connection, either an IP
`(internet protocol) stack 11b or (in case of dial-up network
`ing) an AT command interpreter 11c (for So-called Hayes
`modem AT commands) requests permission from the net
`work resource control module 11a on behalf of the appli
`cation to establish the network connection. More specifi
`cally, when an application attempts to make a network
`connection, the IP Stack or AT command interpreter obtains
`permission to use a specific bearer connection for providing
`the network connection, and the network connection is then
`either provided (by the network resource control module
`11a), depending on predetermined factors and rules.
`
`6
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`

`

`US 2005/0070290 A1
`
`Mar. 31, 2005
`
`0024. Still referring to FIG. 1B, in establishing a con
`nection (i.e. to grant the use of a resource) the mobile
`terminal 10 uses a call server 15 to create and deactivate
`circuit Switched data (CSD) calls, and uses a general packet
`data Server 16 to create and deactivate packet Switched data
`(PSD) connections. In addition, the network resource control
`11a uses a cellular network information server 12 for
`obtaining information about the currently active cellular
`network System(s)-in particular, information Such as
`whether an active cellular network system is a GSM or
`WCDMA network, what types of connections are allowed
`including what combinations of concurrent connections are
`allowed. In deciding whether to grant permission to estab
`lish the requested connection, the network resource control
`Sometimes bases its decision on what connections are cur
`rently in use, information that either the network resource
`control 11a maintains for itself, or that the network resource
`control 11a obtains from the cellular network information
`server 12 as part of the information about the currently
`active cellular network System(s), or that is in part main
`tained by the network resource control 11a and in part
`provided as part of the information about the currently active
`cellular network System(s).
`0.025
`Also, the network resource control module 11a
`uses the call Server 15 and the general packet radio Server 16
`to monitor the Status of the resources, i.e. to monitor if there
`are active calls or packet-Switched connections.
`0026. In some embodiments, the network resource con
`trol module 11a is implemented as a Software component
`separate from the IP stack module 11b and AT command
`interpreter module 11c, although it is also possible to imple
`ment all three modules (i.e. the entire resource manager
`module 11) as a single Software component.
`0027 As noted above, in obtaining permission (as
`described above) to use a network resource (i.e. to establish
`a network connection) before actually establishing a net
`work connection, the invention provides in Some embodi
`ments that an application 14a-d identify itself to the network
`resource control module 11a. To this end, in Some embodi
`ments, applications are each assigned an identifier So that the
`network resource control module 11a can identify which
`application (and also what type of application) is using
`which resource/connection. The request, actually made to
`the network resource control module 11a by either the IP
`stack 11b or the AT command interpreter 11c, includes the
`application identifier because the IP stack 11b and AT
`command interpreter 11c are each adapted to obtain and
`provide the identifiers. The network resource control then
`makes a decision on allowing the use of the requested
`resource based on possibly Several different factors: pre
`defined or dynamic rules, the current use of the network
`resources, typically including e.g. how many connections
`are in use and the type of each connection in use, and also
`typically including the applications currently using the net
`work resources already in use; and also the information
`about the currently active cellular network System(s) (which,
`as noted above, may or may not include information about
`the connections currently in use). Only if the network
`resource control module 11a grants permission does the
`application proceed to establish the network connection.
`0028. Further according to the invention, the mobile
`terminal 10 is So adapted that an application 14a-d releases
`an allocated network resource whenever the network
`resource control module 11a So commands, thus allowing
`the network resource control module 11a to interrupt any
`
`ongoing use of resources to allow higher-priority use of the
`resources. In addition, an application releases any resource
`as Soon as the application is done using the resource (but
`need not notify the network control module 11a since the
`cellular network information Server 12 can determine the
`resource is no longer in use), thus allowing the network
`resource control 11a to make the resource available for
`lower priority use.
`0029. In case of an inter-system handover, the network
`resource control module 11a may either interrupt use of a
`network connection by an application, or may allow the
`application to continue using the network connection,
`depending on rules that differ for different cellular network
`Systems, Since different cellular network Systems in general
`support different combinations of different types of network
`connections, and also allow different maximum amounts of
`concurrent packet Switched data.
`0030) Referring now to FIG. 2, the invention is shown as
`including a first step 21 in which either the IP stack 14a or
`the AT command interpreter 14c receives from an applica
`tion 14a-d an indication of an attempt to establish a network
`connection, i.e. to use a network resource. In a neXt Step 22,
`the IP stack 14a or the AT command interpreter 14c provides
`to the network control module 11a a request for the con
`nection, along with an identifier corresponding to the appli
`cation requesting the network connection. In a neXt Step 23a,
`the cellular network information server 12 obtains info about
`all currently active cellular network Systems. In a neXt Step
`23b, the network resource control module 11a obtains from
`the cellular network information server 12 information about
`all currently active cellular networks (if any), which, as
`noted above, may include all or Some information about
`connections currently in use. In a neXt Step 24, the network
`resource control module 11a determines whether to allow
`establishing connection based on the various factors men
`tioned above, i.e. based on predefined or dynamic rules, the
`current use of the network resources, and the information
`about the currently active cellular network Systems.
`0031) If the decision is to allow establishing the connec
`tion, then in a neXt Step 25, the network resource control
`module 11a, after possibly signalling one or more other
`applications to disconnect, allows the application to proceed
`establishing the requested connection (via the IP stack or the
`AT command interpreter). Otherwise, in a next step 26, the
`network resource control module 11a signals the application
`that the connection cannot be established.
`0032. It should be understood from the above description
`that the intelligent use of resources by a mobile terminal as
`provided by the invention is transparent to applications
`hosted by the mobile terminal; in particular, the applications
`do not need to know about each other, and So applications
`for a mobile-terminal need be changed to Support the
`invention only So as to have the applications identify them
`Selves to the IP Stack when opening new connections.
`0033. Note that the invention is clearly of use not only in
`case of operator networks including GSM networks and
`WCDMA networks, but also other networks, Such as for
`example, CDMA2000 networks.
`0034.
`It is to be understood that the above-described
`arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the
`principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications
`and alternative arrangements may be devised by those
`skilled in the art without departing from the Scope of the
`present invention, and the appended claims are intended to
`cover Such modifications and arrangements.
`
`7
`
`

`

`US 2005/0070290 A1
`
`Mar. 31, 2005
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method for use in establishing a network connection
`on behalf of an application (14a-d) hosted by a device (10),
`the method comprising:
`a step (23b) of obtaining information about currently
`active cellular network Systems, and
`a step (24) of deciding whether to allow establishing the
`network connection based on factors including the
`information about currently active cellular network
`Systems.
`2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about
`currently active cellular network Systems includes informa
`tion about combinations of different kinds of connections
`allowed by each currently active cellular network System.
`3. The method of claim 1, wherein the factors also include
`information about connections currently in use or wherein
`the information about currently active cellular network
`Systems includes information about connections currently in
`Sc.
`4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information about
`connections currently in use includes at least the number and
`type of connections currently in use.
`5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
`a step (22) in which a request is made for permission to
`establish the network connection and the request
`includes an identifier corresponding to the application
`requesting the network connection;
`and wherein the information about connections currently
`in use includes identifiers for applications using the
`connections currently in use, and further wherein the
`factorS also include the identifier for the application and
`the identifiers for applications using the connections
`currently in use.
`6. The method of claim 1, wherein the factors also include
`the maximum amount of concurrent packet Switched data
`allowed by the connections currently in use.
`7. The method of claim 1, wherein the active cellular
`network systems include at least a GSM network, a
`WCDMA network, or a CDMA2000 network.
`8. A mobile terminal (10), equipped to establish a network
`connection on behalf of an application (14a-d) hosted by the
`mobile terminal (10), characterized in that it comprises:
`means (11b 11c), responsive to a signal from the appli
`cation (14a-d) to establish the connection, for provid
`ing a request to allow establishing the connection; and
`a network resource control module (11a), responsive to a
`request to allow establishing the connection, and also
`responsive to information about currently active cellu
`lar Systems, for determining whether to allow estab
`lishing the connection based on factors including the
`information about currently active cellular network
`Systems.
`9. The mobile terminal (10) of claim 8, wherein the
`information about currently active cellular network Systems
`includes information about combinations of different kinds
`of connections allowed by each currently active cellular
`network System.
`
`10. The mobile terminal (10) of claim 8, wherein the
`factorS also include information about connections currently
`in use or wherein the information about currently active
`cellular network Systems includes information about con
`nections currently in use.
`11. The mobile terminal (10) of claim 10, wherein the
`information about connections currently in use includes at
`least the number and type of connections currently in use.
`12. The mobile terminal (10) of claim 10, further char
`acterized in that it also comprises:
`means (22) for making a request for permission to estab
`lish the network connection with the request including
`an identifier corresponding to the application request
`ing the network connection;
`wherein the information about connections currently in
`use includes identifiers for applications using the con
`nections currently in use, and further wherein the
`factorS also include the identifier for the application and
`the identifiers for applications using the connections
`currently in use.
`13. The mobile terminal (10) of claim 8, wherein the
`factorS also include the maximum amount of concurrent
`packet Switched data allowed by the connections currently in
`Sc.
`
`14. The mobile terminal (10) of claim 8, wherein the
`active cellular network systems include at least a GSM
`network, a WCDMA network, or a CDMA2000 network.
`15. The mobile terminal (10) of claim 8, further charac
`terized in that it also comprises a cellular network informa
`tion server (12), responsive to a request to provide the
`information about currently active cellular Systems, for
`providing Such information.
`16. A computer program product comprising: a computer
`readable Storage Structure embodying computer program
`code thereon for execution by a computer processor in a
`telecommunication terminal (10), with said computer pro
`gram code characterized in that it includes instructions for
`performing the Steps of the method of claim 1.
`17. A computer program product comprising: a computer
`readable Storage Structure embodying computer program
`code thereon for execution by a computer processor in a
`telecommunication terminal (10), with said computer pro
`gram code characterized in that it includes instructions for
`performing the Steps of the method of claim 5.
`18. A computer program product comprising: a computer
`readable Storage Structure embodying computer program
`code thereon for execution by a computer processor in a
`telecommunication terminal (10), with said computer pro
`gram code characterized in that it includes instructions for
`performing the Steps of the method of claim 7.
`19. A System, comprising an operator network (17) having
`at least one cellular System (17a 17b), and also comprising
`a mobile terminal (10) as in claim 8.
`20. A System, comprising an operator network (17) having
`at least one cellular System (17a 17b), and also comprising
`a mobile terminal (10) as in claim 12.
`
`8
`
`