Radio communication apparatus and method

Abstract

A radio communication apparatus compatible with a plurality of communication systems and application services comprises a radio transmitting/receiving unit for transmitting and receiving a radio signal, signal processing circuit for executing part of digital signal processing which may be executed when a radio signal is transmitted or received, first processors connected to the signal processing circuit for at least executing communication control related to connection between the radio communication apparatus and the communication systems, and an application program related to the application services, and second processors connected to the signal processing circuit for at least executing another part of the digital signal processing, and control of the signal processing circuit, the amount of processing of the second processors being greater than the amount of processing of the first processors, the processing concerning the executing unit.

1 . A radio communication method for use in a radio communication apparatus compatible with a plurality of communication systems and a plurality of application services, the radio communication method comprising:
 executing a first part of a digital signal processing which is executed in response to a radio signal;   executing a second part of the digital signal processing, and executing a first part of a communication control processing related to a connection between the radio communication apparatus and one of the communication systems, and processing at least one application program related to the application services;   executing a second part of the communication control processing, wherein an amount of processing when executing the second part of the communication control processing being greater than an amount of processing when executing the second part of the digital signal processing and executing the first part of the communication control processing, the processing concerning the digital signal processing; and   executing a third part of the digital signal processing, wherein an amount of processing when executing the third part being greater than an amount of processing when executing the second part of the communication control processing, the processing concerning the digital signal processing.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of contents of processing when executing the second part of the digital signal processing and executing the first part of the communication control processing, a plurality of contents of processing when executing the second part of the communication control processing, and a plurality of contents of processing when executing the third part are changed, depending on which of the communication systems is connected to the radio communication apparatus. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising preparing a cache memory used when executing the second part of the digital signal processing and executing the first part of the communication control processing. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 preparing a data memory formed of a DRAM and used when executing the second part of the digital signal processing and executing the first part of the communication control processing;   and preparing an instruction memory formed of a flash memory.   
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein handover processing between the communication systems is executed, the handover processing being related to the communication control processing,
 wherein the handover processing including:   (a) detecting whether a request for a connection to a second of the communication systems occurs, in response to one of a connection of the radio communication apparatus to the one of the communication systems and loading of a first communication program for communication with the one of the communication systems,   (b) downloading and compiling of a second communication program for communication with the second of the communication systems in response to the request for the connection to the second of the communication systems, and   (c) connecting the radio communication apparatus to the second of the communication systems based on a compiling result of the second communication program.   
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 preparing an executing unit configured to execute the first part of the digital signal processing;   preparing a first processor connected to the executing unit, executing the second part of the digital signal processing, and executing the first part of the communication control processing, the first processor being further capable of processing at least one application program related to the application services;   preparing a second processor connected to the executing unit, executing the second part of the communication control processing, and controlling the executing unit; and   preparing a third processor connected to the executing unit and executing the third part of the digital signal processing,   wherein the first processor, the second processor and the third processor employ respective software pieces of different layers.   
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 preparing an executing unit configured to execute the first part of the digital signal processing;   preparing a first processor connected to the executing unit, executing the second part of the digital signal processing, and executing the first part of the communication control processing, the first processor being further capable of processing at least one application program related to the application services;   preparing a second processor connected to the executing unit, executing the second part of the communication control processing, and controlling the executing unit; and   preparing a third processor connected to the executing unit and executing the third part of the digital signal processing,   wherein the first processor has a first characteristic capability regarding a frequency and response speed of signal exchange with the executing unit, the second processor has a second characteristic capability regarding a frequency and response speed of signal exchange with the executing unit, and the third processor has a third characteristic capability regarding a frequency and response speed of signal exchange with the executing unit, wherein the first characteristic capability being lower than the second characteristic capability, and the second characteristic capability being lower than the third characteristic capability.