Compound information terminal, mobile communications system and control method thereof

A mobile communications system, comprising:

• a compound information terminal that includes a plurality of different communication units, a control unit for controlling an operation of the communication units and an interface unit for receiving requests from outside to activate/deactivate the operation of at least one of a first communication unit and one or more other communication units, and a base station, wherein:
• the compound information terminal requests the base station for permission to switch the operation of a first communication unit to an operation mode in which its communication operation is deactivated at arbitrary time intervals;
• the base station sends parameter information on the operation mode to the compound information terminal in response to the permission request;
• and
• after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode according to the parameter information, the control unit makes the one or more other communication units carry out a communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated.

A mobile communications system, comprising:

• a compound information terminal that includes a plurality of different communication units, a control unit for controlling an operation of the communication units and an interface unit for receiving requests from outside to activate/deactivate the operation of at least one of a first communication unit and one or more other communication units, and a base station, wherein:
• the compound information terminal requests the base station for permission to switch the operation of the first communication unit to an operation mode on receipt of the request over the interface unit to activate the operation of the one or more other communication units;
• the base station sends parameter information on the operation mode to the compound information terminal in response to the permission request;
• and
• after the first communication unit has switched to the operation mode according to the parameter information, the control unit makes the one or more other communication units carry out a communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated.

A method for controlling a mobile communications system comprising a compound information terminal that includes a plurality of different communication units and a control unit for controlling an operation of the communication units, and a base station, comprising:

• a reception step in which the compound information terminal receives requests from outside to activate/deactivate the operation of at least one of a first communication unit and one or more other communication units;
• a first transmission step in which the compound information terminal sends a request to the base station for permission to switch the operation of the first communication unit to an operation mode for deactivating its communication operation at arbitrary time intervals;
• a second transmission step in which the base station sends parameter information on the operation mode to the compound information terminal in response to the permission request made at the first transmission step;
• a switch step in which the compound information terminal switches the operation of the first communication unit to the operation mode according to the parameter information obtained at the second transmission step;
• and
• a control step in which the compound information terminal makes the one or more other communication units carry out a communication operation while the communication operation of the first communication unit is deactivated after having been switched to the operation mode at the switch step.