Multi-network communications system

A communication terminal comprising:

• a network interface for sending a request signal to each of a plurality of communications networks and for receiving response signals from said communications networks;
• and
• a user interface for indicating the received response signals to allow a user to enter a command signal based on the indicated response signals and selecting one of said plurality of networks according to the entered command signal;
• and
• said network interface establishing a connection to one of said plurality of networks which is selected by said user interface, wherein said response signals indicate the traffic congestion level for each of said plurality of communications networks.

A communication system comprising:

• a plurality of wireless networks, each of the wireless networks producing a response signal upon receipt of a request signal;
• and
• a wireless terminal comprising:
• a wireless interface for sending said request signal to each of said plurality of wireless networks and for receiving response signals from said wireless networks;
• a user interface for indicating the received response signals, allowing a user to enter a command signal based on the indicated response signals and selecting one of said wireless networks according to the entered command signal,
• said wireless interface establishing a connection to one of said wireless networks which is selected by said user interface, wherein said response signals indicate the traffic congestion level for each of said plurality of communications networks.

A method of performing a handover operation by a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

• said mobile terminal sending a handover request signal to each of a plurality of wireless networks;
• said mobile terminal receiving a response signal from each of said plurality of wireless networks, the response signal of each wireless network indicating traffic congestion level of the network;
• said mobile terminal selecting one of said plurality of wireless networks based on the traffic congestion level included in the response signals received from said wireless networks;
• and
• said mobile terminal establishing a connection to the selected wireless network.

A mobile terminal comprising:

• a wireless interface for sending a handover request signal to each of a plurality of wireless networks and receiving a response signal from each of said plurality of wireless networks, the response signal of each wireless network indicating traffic congestion level of the network;
• and
• control circuitry for selecting one of said plurality of wireless networks based on the traffic congestion level included in the response signals received from said networks,
• said wireless interface establishing a connection to the wireless network selected by the control circuitry.

A communication system comprising:

• a plurality of wireless networks, each of said networks producing a response signal upon receipt of a handover request signal which indicates traffic congestion level of the network;
• and
• a wireless terminal comprising:
• a wireless interface for sending said handover request signal to said wireless networks and receiving said response signals from said wireless networks;
• and
• control circuitry for selecting one of said wireless networks based on the traffic congestion level included in the received response signals,
• said wireless interface establishing a connection to one of said wireless networks which is selected by said control circuitry.

A method of establishing a connection to a selected network, comprising the steps of:

• receiving, at a first communications network, a connection request from a mobile terminal;
• sending a request signal from said first communications network to a traffic management center if said connection request encounters a traffic congestion;
• and
• sending a rerouting message from the center to said mobile terminal via said first communications network for identifying a second communications network whose congestion level is lower than a predefined threshold level to thereby allow a user of said mobile terminal to send a connection request to said second communications network.

A communication system comprising:

• a traffic management center;
• and
• a plurality of communications networks, a first one of the communications networks receiving a connection request from a mobile terminal and sending a request signal to said traffic management center when a traffic congestion is encountered in said first communications network and receiving a rerouting message from said center, and sending the received rerouting message to said mobile terminal to allow a user of said mobile terminal to establish a connection to a network identified by the rerouting message,
• said traffic management center responding to said request signal by returning said rerouting message to said first communications network, the rerouting message identifying a second one of said networks whose congestion level is lower than a predefined threshold level.