JP2002016539A - Electronic device with wireless communication fault detecting function and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a device that can easily recognize degree of discreteness between electronic devices that mutually wirelessly communicate with each other. SOLUTION: This electronic device system with a wireless communication fault detection function notifies a fault in wireless communication from a notification means, provided in a 1st or 2nd electronic device and notifies the fault of wireless communication, when the reception quality of a signal transmitted from the 1st electronic device provided with a wireless communication function is lower than a preset reception quality level.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having a wireless communication abnormality detection function using short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (Bluetooth).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the miniaturization of electronic devices, personal computers (PCs) and mobile phones, HDDs, CD-ROMs
Opportunities to connect and use such external connection devices are increasing. In addition, opportunities to go out while wearing portable electronic devices such as handy type PCs are increasing.

In addition, the number of cases where not only one electronic device but also a plurality of electronic devices are carried at the same time is increasing. Conventionally, when a plurality of electronic devices are used in conjunction with each other, the electronic devices are mainly connected by a wired cable.

[0004] Recently, a system for performing wireless electrical connection has been proposed. For example, there is BlueTooth.
This is a method of connecting electronic devices to each other within a range of about 10 m or less. By using this method, data signals, control signals, and the like can be transmitted and received wirelessly.

On the other hand, in the case of wired connection, since the connection is made mechanically in addition to the electrical connection, the connected devices are separated from each other. Equipment (eg, PC, mobile phone, etc.)
It is unlikely that subordinate electronic devices (peripheral devices such as a CD-ROM drive and a DVD drive) are taken away or lost against the user's intention or unconsciously.

However, in the case of wireless connection,
Since there is no mechanical connection between electronic devices, they can easily be separated.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a system and a device which can easily recognize the discreteness between electronic devices performing wireless communication with each other. Aim.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a Bluetooth device.
When a reception quality of a transmitted signal falls below a predetermined reception quality level using a short-range wireless communication method such as oth (BT: Bluetooth), notification of a wireless communication abnormality provided in the electronic device is performed. An electronic device system with a wireless communication abnormality detection function, wherein a wireless communication abnormality is reported from a reporting unit.

That is, a first communication function for performing wireless communication with an external device (for example, a wireless telephone such as a PDC system or a CDMA system) and a second communication function having a smaller transmission output than the first communication function (for example, BT)
And the first electronic device in response to the second communication function.
Wireless communication function (for example, B
A second electronic device comprising T); when the reception quality of a signal transmitted during communication between the first and second electronic devices falls below a predetermined reception quality level, An electronic device system with a wireless communication abnormality detection function, wherein a wireless communication abnormality is notified from a notification unit provided in the first or second electronic device for notifying wireless communication abnormality.

[0010] The notification means may be mounted on each of the first and second electronic devices that perform communication by the short-range wireless communication system of the Bluetooth standard, or may be provided on either one of them.

When the first electronic device is mainly used (for example, a personal computer (PC), a PHS, a mobile phone, etc.), the second electronic device may be an electronic device specialized in the notification means.

That is, between a first electronic device having a first communication function for performing wireless communication with an external device and a second communication function having a smaller transmission output than the first communication function,
An electronic device having a wireless communication function of performing communication in response to the second communication function; when it is determined that the reception quality of a signal transmitted from the electronic device has fallen below a preset reception quality level; An electronic device comprising a notification unit for notifying a wireless communication abnormality.

For example, the electronic device can be used in the form of a card and put in another article (bag, wallet, etc.) as it is. In addition, if an attachment portion such as a clip is provided, attachment to other articles becomes easy. That is, a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with another electronic device (first electronic device); a power supply unit that supplies power to the wireless communication unit; and an abnormality in wireless communication with the other electronic device. A notification unit (for example, a buzzer) that reports an abnormality when it occurs; a mounting unit (clip-shaped, pin-shaped, adhesive tape-shaped such as Magic Tape (registered trademark), etc.) for mounting the electronic device itself to another article And an electronic device with a wireless communication abnormality detection function.

The wireless communication targeted by the present invention is preferably a relatively short distance wireless communication of about several tens of meters. That is, it is assumed that the user uses a plurality of electronic devices around the user.

In order to detect a radio communication abnormality, the reception electric field strength,
A reception quality level such as a reception bit error rate, a frame error rate, and a reception signal S / N can be used.

The wireless communication abnormality notification unit can notify the user by various means such as visual, auditory, and tactile (vibration, heat, etc.). For example, display means such as a liquid crystal display (LCD); sounding means such as a buzzer and a speaker; and vibration means such as a vibrator can be used.

For example, it is assumed that the first (main) electronic device is held by the user himself, and the second (secondary) device is not directly held.

In this case, contrary to the intention of the user himself, the second
When the (subordinate) electronic device moves out of the communication range, for example,
The first (main) electronic device notifies the communication abnormality of the second (secondary) electronic device moving out of the service area. in this case,
The user will notice some abnormality in the second (secondary) electronic device (for example, it has been removed by a third party, dropped, etc.).

Further, if the abnormality notification is performed on the second (secondary) electronic device side, if a third party holds the second electronic device, it can be surprised by the abnormality notification. A person in the vicinity of the third party can be notified that something is happening, and as a result, theft can be prevented.

Considering the case of loss, the lost second
Because the (subordinate) electronic device itself generates, for example, an abnormal sound,
The user can easily find the second electronic device.

Further, not only the theft / loss, but also the fact that the second (secondary) electronic device has moved out of the communicable range, the user is returned to the communicable range or the second (secondary) electronic device is moved out of the communicable range. Accordingly, the electronic device can be returned to the range.

It should be noted that in normal wireless communication,
Momentary disconnection of the wireless communication line can occur. Therefore, it is also possible to provide a determination criterion for performing the abnormality notification, and to set the abnormality notification to be performed when the criterion falls below a predetermined standby time.

The short-range communication system used in the present invention includes Bluetooth (BlueTooth), IrDA using infrared rays, and IEEE80 which is a wireless LAN system.
2.11 SWAP (Shar
ed Wireless Access Protocol
ol) can be used.

The electronic device includes various devices such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, and a mobile terminal, and can be applied to any device capable of realizing short-range wireless communication.

In addition to the similar electronic devices, various peripheral devices such as HDDs, CD-ROMs, and DVDs can be used. Further, a wireless communication function (for example, Blu
A tag-like form that realizes only the eTooth function) and the abnormality notification function may be used.

Assuming a tag-like electronic device (called an electronic tag), the object to be mounted by a mounting portion (pin, clip, adhesive tape, etc.) provided on the tag must be an electronic device. Disappears. For example, baggage (bags,
By attaching this tag to an umbrella, a wallet, or the like, and using a mobile terminal (a mobile phone, a portable PC, or the like) as a main electronic device, baggage can be prevented from being stolen.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

The first (main) electronic device is a mobile phone, and the second (secondary) electronic device is an electronic tag. FIG. 1 shows a schematic system of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a second electronic device.

The first electronic device (mobile phone) has a transmission / reception function as a normal mobile phone, and additionally has BlueTooth.
(BT) communication function, the second electronic device (electronic tag) includes a BT communication function unit (RF (wireless) processing unit,
A BB (baseband) processing unit and a control unit (such as a CPU) for driving the BB processing unit, a power supply (such as a battery) for supplying power thereto, an antenna for transmitting an output from the BT communication function unit, A notification unit for notifying a communication error is provided, and an error is notified by a signal from the control unit.

The second electronic device is called B
It is provided with a mounting portion (for example, a clip) for mounting on an object to be monitored for movement out of the T communication range (shown in a schematic side view in FIG. 1). Note that the first electronic device has a BT communication function unit similar to the second electronic device.

The mobile phone and the electronic tag are connected by the BT, and the mobile phone measures the electric field strength received from the electronic tag to detect an abnormal communication state such as outside the BT communication area. Then, when the communication abnormal state is detected, the abnormality is reported on the mobile phone side.

FIG. 3 shows a processing flow of the abnormality notification.

The criterion is the received field strength (RSSI). When the received electric field strength (RSSI) at the time of BT wireless communication is smaller than the limit value (RSSImin), a process of notifying an abnormality of wireless communication, such as sound emission and display, is executed.

First, the received electric field strength (RSSI) is measured (step 1), and a predetermined threshold value (RSSIm
in) is determined (step 2), and if it is less than this, an abnormality notification is executed (step 3).

It is preferable to execute the communication abnormality detection intermittently at an appropriate timing from the viewpoint of reducing power consumption. In consideration of the monitoring function, it is preferable to perform the detection at regular time intervals after the BT communication function of the second electronic device is turned on.

If the change is remarkable in accordance with the decrease of the RSSI, it is possible to make a change such as shortening the detection interval. (Standby time) In the case of wireless communication, the wireless communication state is temporarily deteriorated due to an instantaneous interruption or the like, and the reception quality level such as the received electric field strength may be lowered.

FIG. 4 illustrates a processing flow for performing an abnormality notification when the threshold value is below a predetermined time.

In the processing shown in FIG. 4, a timer is started once the value falls below the threshold value, and RS is continuously executed for a predetermined time.
When the SI falls below the RSSImin, the abnormality notification process is performed for the first time.

First, the received electric field strength (RSSI) is measured,
The process up to the point of comparison with the threshold (RSSImin) is the same as the flow shown in FIG. However, the initial value of the counter is set to 0.

As a result of the comparison, if RSSI <RSSImin, 1 is added to the counter and the RSSI is measured again. Here, if the RSSI exceeds the threshold, the counter is reset and the process returns to the initial routine.

In the RSSI measurement again, RSSIm
If the value falls below “in”, a counter is added and compared with the set value of the standby time (Tth).

Here, when the counter value exceeds the standby time, an abnormality notification is executed. If the standby time has not been reached, the RSSI measurement is performed again.

According to such a routine, abnormal notification is not performed for a very short period of time when the received electric field intensity is reduced, and it is possible to prevent an excessive reaction due to a mere environmental change.

Although the desired setting of the standby time is possible, the RSSI measurement itself is not continuous, but is a sampling at a certain cycle or timing. Therefore, it is possible to set an appropriate value in consideration of this. preferable. (Warning) It is also possible to perform abnormality notification in two stages. That is, RSSImin1 and RSSImin2 (R
SSImin1) is set, and RS
A warning is issued when the value falls below SImin1, and R
When the value is lower than SSImin2, the abnormality notification is set.

FIG. 5 shows a processing flow in the case of two-stage notification.

First, the received field strength (RSSI) is measured and compared with a threshold value (RSSImin1). As a result of the comparison, if the RSSI is greater than RSSImin1, the wireless communication is normal, and the communication abnormality detection processing ends.

If the RSSI is smaller than RSSImin1, a warning is issued when it is determined that there is a possibility of a communication error (or the communication error will develop in the future). This warning can be issued in the same manner as the abnormality notification. However, it is necessary to be able to distinguish it from the subsequent abnormality notification.
When the notification is made by a buzzer sound or the like, the length is changed, and when the abnormality notification is made by sound, a screen is displayed.

After issuing the warning, the RSSI is measured again. Here, the RSSI is RSSmin2 (<RSSImi
If the value falls below n1), it is determined that a communication abnormality has occurred, and abnormality notification is performed. If the value does not fall below RSSImin2, the routine returns to the above-described routine of the warning determination.

Note that it is also possible to perform RSSI detection for comparison with RSSImin2 after a certain time after comparison with RSSImin1. RSSmin2
RSS in comparison with RSSImin1 after comparison with
The same applies to the detection of I. If detection is performed continuously, R
This is because the SSI may not change. It should be noted that the time until the RSSI is detected again can be appropriately changed so as to respond to a change in a short time. (Individual setting) In the BlueTooth technology, a plurality of slaves (slaves) can be connected to one master (main) using unique IDs. Not all individual devices are at the same distance, nor are they always close.

Therefore, if it is possible to individually set the threshold value at which the communication abnormality is to be notified, it is possible to change the abnormality notification level according to the characteristics of the device.

In this case, assuming that an abnormality is notified by the main device, signal processing is easier if the threshold value is constant. It is preferable to control the transmission power of each device.

That is, those which should always be kept at a close distance,
Set the transmission power low for items that you want to have, and increase the transmission power for items that can be kept a little far away or that are less likely to be removed (such as those that do not require theft detection). And the sensitivity to RSSImin may be set low.

Such a setting of the transmission power can be set to a large value if the wireless connection is difficult to be disconnected, and set to a small value if the transmission power is not so important. Since communication abnormality detection can be performed with other than the received power,
When it is desired to prioritize a device having a large transmission power as a device subject to communication abnormality detection, another parameter may be used. Also, individual threshold settings can be used.

It is preferable that such setting can be selected / set by a user through a menu of the mobile phone (first electronic device). For example, the allowable distance to the second electronic device may be set, and the transmission power setting and the like may be automatically calculated by the control unit (CPU).

Of course, instead of changing the transmission power, the setting may be such that the threshold value of the RSSI is individually changed.

When further selecting from the menu,
The distance may be selected, and the threshold value may be automatically set according to the selected distance. (Return) If the communication is restored after the abnormality notification,
It is also possible to design to perform return notification.

That is, the radio communication abnormality detection routine is continued even after the abnormality is detected, and when the received electric field strength exceeding RSSImin is detected, the communication recovery is notified.

By performing such processing, it is possible to search for a second electronic device that has once left the hand. (Remaining Battery Power) In addition, it may be set so that the communication abnormality is distinguished from the case where the remaining battery power is insufficient, that is, the battery is exhausted.

That is, when the anti-theft effect is considered,
Since it is not necessary to notify the communication abnormality due to the battery exhaustion, it is possible to provide a routine for confirming the remaining battery level before the abnormality notification in the processing routine.

FIG. 6 shows a processing routine including a process for running out of remaining battery power.

First, the received electric field strength (RSSI) is measured, and a judgment is made as to a predetermined threshold value (RSSImin). For example, it is sufficient to detect whether the voltage has dropped below a predetermined voltage by measuring the battery voltage. If the remaining charge is insufficient, the battery is notified of the insufficient remaining charge, and the routine ends. If it is determined that the remaining amount is not insufficient, the processing flow is to execute the abnormality notification.

Further, it goes without saying that the dead battery itself may be a notification target. In this case, the notification expression may be the same as the communication abnormality, or the notification method may be changed so as to notify that the battery is dead.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

Once the communication abnormality notification is performed, the abnormality notification may continue to be performed. However, after a certain period of time, it is assumed that the function of the abnormality notification has been fulfilled and the routine for terminating the abnormality notification is employed. It is also possible. It may be performed automatically by setting a timer, or may be manually forcibly terminated. Further, it is also possible to continue performing the abnormality notification until the abnormality recovery.

In the above embodiment, the case where the second electronic device (electronic tag) is provided with the notifying means has been described. However, it is needless to say that the first electronic device (mobile phone) may be provided with the notifying means. No. Naturally, both may be provided.
In this case, since the mobile phone is originally provided with a sound generating means (speaker), it is not necessary to newly provide a notifying means by sharing the sound generating means.

If one of the mobile phones is a mobile phone as in the above-described embodiment, the main communication function (CD) of the mobile phone is used for notifying the abnormality notification not only between the electronic devices communicating with the BT or the like.
It is also possible to notify other devices using MA or the like. That is, the first electronic device (such as a mobile phone) that has detected a communication abnormality with the second electronic device (such as an electronic tag)
Using the mobile phone function, it is possible to notify another terminal located at a long distance via the mobile phone base station of the communication abnormality between the first and second electronic devices.

According to such a system, the first electronic device (such as a mobile phone) is regarded as a local base station, and this local base station is used as a plurality of second electronic devices (such as electronic tags).
It is also possible to construct a long-distance monitoring system in which the remote monitoring is performed and another terminal in a remote place performs centralized monitoring / remote monitoring.

In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the combination of the mobile phone / electronic tag.
It can be used in various combinations such as a mobile phone, a mobile phone / PC, a PC / HDD, and a PC / audio device. The present invention can be realized if at least one of the devices that communicate with each other includes a notification unit.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a system and a device that can easily recognize the discreteness between electronic devices that perform wireless communication with each other.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5K042 DA13 DA19 DA27 FA08 FA11 FA15 GA01 HA13 JA01 5K067 AA34 BB04 DD28 DD30 DD43 DD44 DD45 DD46 EE02 EE25 EE35 FF16 FF17 FF19 FF20 FF23 FF25 FF27 FF28 HH22 KK17

Claims (3)

[Claims] A first electronic device having a first communication function for performing wireless communication with an external device and a second communication function having a smaller transmission output than the first communication function; A second electronic device having a wireless communication function for performing communication with the first electronic device in response to a communication function; and transmitting during communication between the first and second electronic devices. When the reception quality of the received signal falls below a preset reception quality level, the wireless communication abnormality notification is provided from the wireless communication abnormality notification means provided in the first or second electronic device. An electronic device system with a wireless communication abnormality detection function. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first electronic device includes a first communication function for performing wireless communication with an external device and a second electronic function having a second communication function having a smaller transmission output than the first communication function. An electronic device having a wireless communication function of performing communication in response to the second communication function; when it is determined that the reception quality of a signal transmitted from the electronic device has fallen below a predetermined reception quality level, An electronic device, comprising: a notifying unit that notifies a wireless communication abnormality. 3. A wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication with another electronic device; a power supply unit for supplying power to the wireless communication unit; and when an abnormality occurs in wireless communication with the other electronic device. An electronic device with a wireless communication abnormality detection function, comprising: a notification unit that reports an abnormality; and an attachment unit that attaches the electronic device itself to another article.