JP2003309500A - Communication system, repeater, method thereof and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a repeater capable of obtaining a stable high relay characteristic by adapting the repeater itself to the position of communication equipment for performing radio communication. <P>SOLUTION: This repeater has a first antenna 20 and a second antenna 21 which have directivities different from each other, a transmission and reception processing part 24 for specifying an antenna for reception and an antenna for transmission between the first and second antennas 20 and 21 on the basis of antenna management data AMD obtained by regulating the antennas used to relay the radio communication by radio communication equipment about each of a plurality of radio communication equipment in accordance with the position of the radio communication equipment, and transmitting a radio signal received by the specified antenna for reception and subjected to prescribed relay processing from the specified antenna for transmission, and a control circuit 27. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a communication system for relaying wireless communication using a single channel, a relay device, a method thereof, and a program thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art UWB (Ultra Wide Ba) that spreads signals directly over a wide band of 1 GHz or more and wirelessly transmits the signals.
nd) There is communication. In the UWB communication, since the signal is spread spectrum in the ultra-wide band, it is possible to perform communication with a small transmission power, and there is an advantage that it does not interfere with other communication systems. On the other hand, in the UWB communication, in order to reduce the transmission power in this way, when used as a personal area network in a home, sufficient communication quality can be obtained between rooms partitioned by walls or between different floors. There is a problem that there is no.

In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, a relay device for relaying a radio signal has been used in radio communication. In the conventional relay device, the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna are fixed and defined. That is, the transmitting antenna is not used for receiving, and the receiving antenna is not used for transmitting.

[0004]

However, when the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna used for relaying are fixed and defined as in the above-described conventional relay apparatus, the positional relationship between the relay apparatus and the wireless communication apparatus causes a problem. However, there is a problem that the relay characteristic of the wireless signal by the relay device may be significantly lowered. The above-mentioned problem becomes particularly serious when the terminal device for wireless communication is movable. Note that, as in the case of UWB, where a wide frequency band is used, it is difficult to provide a plurality of channels on the frequency axis.
The systems disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 000-124874 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-36794 have the problems described below.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a communication system, a relay device, and a communication system capable of obtaining stable and high relay characteristics in conformity with the position of a communication device for wireless communication. To provide a method and its program.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a communication system according to a first aspect of the present invention has a plurality of communication devices for performing wireless communication, and a relay device for relaying the wireless communication. The relay device has a plurality of antennas having mutually different directivities, and management data that defines, for each of the plurality of communication devices, the antenna used for relaying the wireless communication by the communication device according to the position of the communication device. Based on, to identify the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna from the plurality of antennas, the wireless signal received by the specified receiving antenna and subjected to a predetermined relay process, from the identified transmitting antenna And a control means for transmitting.

The operation of the first communication system is as follows. The source communication device transmits a wireless signal. The radio signal is received by the receiving antenna specified by the control unit among the plurality of antennas of the relay device under the control of the control unit of the relay device, and after the predetermined relay processing is performed, the control is performed. It is transmitted from the transmitting antenna specified by the means. At this time, the control means, for each of the plurality of communication devices, based on management data that defines the antenna used for relaying the wireless communication by the communication device based on the position of the communication device,
The receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna are specified from the plurality of antennas.

A relay apparatus of the second invention is a relay apparatus for relaying the wireless communication when a plurality of communication apparatuses perform wireless communication, and a plurality of antennas having directivities different from each other and the plurality of antennas. For each of the communication devices, a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna are selected from the plurality of antennas based on management data that defines the antenna used for relaying the wireless communication by the communication device according to the position of the communication device. And a control means for transmitting, from the specified transmission antenna, a radio signal received by the specified reception antenna and subjected to a predetermined relay process.

The operation of the relay apparatus of the second invention is the same as the operation of the relay apparatus of the communication system of the first invention described above.

The relay apparatus of the second invention preferably further comprises an electromagnetic shield located between the plurality of antennas. In the relay apparatus of the second invention, preferably, the control unit has, for each of the plurality of communication apparatuses, an antenna having the highest communication sensitivity in wireless communication with the communication apparatus among the plurality of antennas. Is specified, and the management data is generated or updated based on the specified result. Further, in the relay device of the second invention, preferably, the control means performs wireless communication with the communication device using each of the plurality of antennas, detects communication quality of the wireless communication, and performs the detection. Based on the result, the antenna with the highest communication sensitivity is specified. Further, in the relay device according to the second aspect of the invention, preferably, the control means relays the wireless communication on condition that the specified receiving antenna and the specified transmitting antenna are different. Further, in the relay device according to the second aspect of the invention, preferably, the control means further specifies communication antenna control data that defines the communication device of the transmission source and the transmission destination to specify the reception antenna and the transmission antenna.

In the relay apparatus of the second invention, preferably, the plurality of communication apparatuses perform wireless communication using a single channel, and each of the plurality of communication apparatuses uses the single channel for wireless communication. Communication period is allocated in time division,
When the communication device performs transmission using the wireless communication period assigned to the communication device, the control means defines the communication control data defining the source and destination communication devices for each of the wireless communication periods. To use. Further, in the relay device of the second invention, preferably, the antenna is
Receiving a communication frame in which packet data transmitted and received during the wireless communication period as well as data for synchronization acquisition are stored,
The control means performs a synchronization process based on the synchronization acquisition data. Further, the relay device of the second invention is preferably
The control means may include a second synchronization acquisition data corresponding to the first synchronization acquisition data in the communication frame received by the reception antenna.
The communication frame including the data for synchronous acquisition of is transmitted from the transmitting antenna. The relay device of the second invention is
Preferably, demodulation means for demodulating a radio signal received by the reception antenna to generate a baseband signal, and a radio for transmission by modulating the baseband signal processed as necessary. And modulation means for generating a signal. Further, in the relay device according to the second aspect of the invention, preferably, the control means uses transmission power used for wireless communication with the communication device based on data obtained by wireless communication with the communication device. To control.

A relay method according to a third aspect of the present invention is a relay method performed by a relay device that relays wireless communication when a plurality of communication devices perform wireless communication, wherein the communication is performed for each of the plurality of communication devices. Based on management data that defines an antenna used for relaying the wireless communication by the device according to the position of the communication device, a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna are specified from among a plurality of antennas included in the relay device, A radio signal received by the specified receiving antenna and subjected to a predetermined relay process is transmitted from the specified transmitting antenna.

A program according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a program that is electrically read and executed by a relay device that relays the wireless communication when the plurality of communication devices perform wireless communication. For each of the above, the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna are selected from the plurality of antennas included in the relay device based on the management data that defines the antenna used for relaying the wireless communication by the communication device according to the position of the communication device. The steps to identify
And a procedure for transmitting a radio signal received by the specified receiving antenna and subjected to a predetermined relay process from the specified transmitting antenna.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communication system 1 according to this embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes, for example, a relay device 5, a base station device 6, and wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication devices 10a and 10b are connected to a room 8 in the home.
The base station device 2, the relay device 5, and the wireless communication devices 10c and 10d are installed in the room 9. Room 8
The room 9 is partitioned by the wall 4 that attenuates electromagnetic waves of a radio signal, but is transparent. Here, the wireless communication device 10a,
10b, 10c and 10d correspond to the communication device of the present invention,
The relay device 5 corresponds to the wireless device of the present invention.

In the communication system 1, the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d perform UWB communication which is wireless communication using a single channel. The UWB communication is one of wireless communication, and it is 1 GH due to spread spectrum.
Radio signals are spread and transmitted / received in a wide frequency band of z or more (for example, 2 to 3 GHz). At this time, since the transmitted / received wireless signal is as strong as noise, it does not interfere with wireless devices that use the same frequency band and consumes less power. In the communication system 1, the base station device 2 defines the communication frame shown in FIG. 2, and the data packet defined in the frame allows the wireless communication device 10a,
The wireless communication period using the above single channel is allocated to each of 10b, 10c, and 10d in a time division manner. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication frame of this embodiment includes a frame preamble P1 (first synchronization acquisition data of the present invention) located at the beginning of the communication frame and communication control data BC.
And a single or a plurality of sets of the data packet preamble P2_k and the data packet DP_k. Here, k is an arbitrary integer. Here, the communication control data BC corresponds to the communication control data of the present invention. The frame preamble P1 includes data necessary for identifying and processing the communication frame. The communication control data BC includes data that defines the wireless communication device that is the transmission source of the data transmitted and received using each data packet in the communication frame and the wireless communication device that is the transmission destination. The data BC is broadcast by the base station device 2. The data packet preamble P2_k includes data such as the packet length of the subsequent data packet DP_k. Data packet DP
_K includes a data body that is wirelessly communicated.

Radio communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, 1
0d is the data packet DP_k assigned to itself.
Use to send.

The communication system 1 is characterized by the configuration of the relay device 5. The relay device 5 has, for example, two antennas 20 and 21 having directivities different from each other, and each of the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d is used for relaying wireless communication of the wireless communication device.
0, 21 are wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, 10
Based on the antenna management data (management data of the present invention) defined according to the position of d and the communication control data BC that defines the source and destination wireless communication devices for each data packet DP_k, Identify the antenna and the antenna for transmission. Then, the relay device 5 performs a predetermined relay process on the wireless signal received by the specified receiving antenna, and transmits the relayed wireless signal from the specified transmitting antenna.

Hereinafter, each component of the communication system 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. [Base Station Device 2] As described above, the base station device 2 broadcasts the data BC, thereby defining the communication frame shown in FIG.

[Wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c,
10d] Wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d
Are, for example, television sets, telephones, printers and PCs.
(Personal Computer) or the like, and has a communication function unit for performing UWB transmission / reception. Wireless communication devices 10a, 10
UWB communication between b, 10c, and 10d is relayed by the relay device 5 as described later, if necessary. At least one of the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d is not fixed but movable.

[Relay Device 5] FIGS. 3 to 5 show the relay device 5
3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the arrangement of the antenna peripheral portion of the relay device 5, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a transmission / reception processing unit of the relay device 5 shown in FIG. It is a functional block diagram of 24.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the relay device 5
Is, for example, the first antenna 20 and the second antenna 2
1, an electromagnetic shield unit 23, a transmission / reception processing unit 24, a power supply line 25, a power supply 26, and a control circuit 27. The relay device 5 transmits and receives, for example, using the same channel before and after the relay. Here, the first antenna 20 and the second antenna 21 correspond to the plurality of antennas of the present invention, the electromagnetic shield part 23 corresponds to the electromagnetic shield of the present invention, and the control circuit 27 corresponds to the control means of the present invention. is doing. The first antenna 20 and the second antenna 21 have directivities different by 180 °, for example. The first antenna 20 and the second antenna 21 preferably have directivities different by 90 ° or more. An electromagnetic shield portion 23 is arranged between the first antenna 20 and the second antenna 21. This suppresses interference between the wireless signal transmitted / received by the first antenna 20 and the wireless signal transmitted / received by the second antenna 21. Specifically, for example,
As shown in FIG. 4, the radio signal 27 transmitted / received by the first antenna 20 does not interfere with the radio signal 28 transmitted / received by the second antenna 21.

The power supply line 25 supplies power to the first antenna 20 under the control of the control circuit 27. In addition,
A power supply line (not shown) that supplies power to the second antenna 21 under the control of the control circuit 27 is provided.

The transmission / reception processing unit 24 includes the first antenna 20.
Then, a transmission / reception process using the second antenna 21 is performed.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the transmission / reception processing unit 24 includes, for example, the switch 30, the amplifier 31, the despreading circuit 32, and the spreading circuit 3.
3, an amplifier 34, a synchronizing circuit 35, a switch 40, an amplifier 41, a despreading circuit 42, a spreading circuit 43, an amplifier 44, a synchronizing circuit 45, a selecting circuit 50 and a selecting circuit 51. Here, the despreading circuit 32 and the despreading circuit 42 correspond to the demodulating means of the present invention, and the spreading circuit 33 and the spreading circuit 43 correspond to the modulating means of the present invention. The constituent elements of the transmission / reception processing unit 24 may be provided in a single housing or may be provided separately in a plurality of housings.

When the switch 30 receives a reception waiting instruction from the control circuit 27, the switch 30 receives the first antenna 20 and the amplifier 3.
1 is connected to the first antenna 20 and the amplifier 34.
And are disconnected. In addition, when the transmission instruction is input from the control circuit 27, the first antenna 20 and the amplifier 31 are disconnected, and the first antenna 20 and the amplifier 34 are connected. The amplifier 31 includes the first antenna 20.
The wireless signal received by is input from the switch 30, amplified, and output to the despreading circuit 32 and the synchronizing circuit 35. The despreading circuit 32 performs despread spectrum processing on the radio signal input from the amplifier 31, generates a baseband signal, and outputs this to the selection circuit 50 and the control circuit 27. The processing of the despreading circuit 32 is performed according to the timing defined by the synchronizing signal input from the synchronizing circuit 35. Although the same spreading code is used in the despreading circuit 32, the spreading circuit 33, the despreading circuit 42, and the spreading circuit 43 in the present embodiment, different spreading codes may be used in the present invention. The spread circuit 33 performs spread spectrum processing on the baseband signal input from the selection circuit 51 to generate a radio signal and outputs the radio signal to the amplifier 34. The processing of the spreading circuit 33 is performed according to the timing defined by the synchronizing signal input from the synchronizing circuit 35. Amplifier 3
4 amplifies the radio signal input from the spreading circuit 33 and outputs it to the switch 30. The synchronization circuit 35 detects the frame preamble P1 and the data packet preamble P2 shown in FIG. 2 in the radio signal input from the amplifier 31, and outputs the synchronization signal generated based on the detected timing to the despreading circuit 32 and Output to the diffusion circuit 43.

When the switch 40 receives the reception waiting instruction from the control circuit 27, the switch 40 receives the second antenna 21 and the amplifier 4.
1 is connected to the second antenna 21 and the amplifier 44.
And are disconnected. Further, when the transmission instruction is input from the control circuit 27, the second antenna 21 and the amplifier 41 are disconnected, and the second antenna 21 and the amplifier 44 are connected. The amplifier 41 uses the second antenna 21.
The wireless signal received by is input from the switch 40, amplified, and output to the despreading circuit 42 and the synchronizing circuit 45. The despreading circuit 42 performs despread spectrum processing on the radio signal input from the amplifier 41 to generate a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the selection circuit 51 and the control circuit 27. The processing of the despreading circuit 42 is performed according to the timing defined by the synchronizing signal input from the synchronizing circuit 45. The spreading circuit 43 performs spread spectrum processing on the baseband signal input from the selection circuit 50 to generate a radio signal, and outputs the radio signal to the amplifier 44. The processing of the spreading circuit 43 is performed according to the timing defined by the synchronizing signal input from the synchronizing circuit 45. The amplifier 44 amplifies the wireless signal input from the spreading circuit 43 and outputs it to the switch 40. The synchronization circuit 45 detects the frame preamble P1 and the data packet preamble P2 shown in FIG. 2 in the radio signal input from the amplifier 41, and outputs the synchronization signal generated based on the detected timing to the despreading circuit 42 and Output to the diffusion circuit 33.

The selection circuit 50 receives the new frame preamble P1 (second synchronization acquisition data of the present invention) and the data packet preamble P2 input from the control circuit 27, and the radio signal input from the despreading circuit 32. One of them is switched under the control of the control circuit 27 and is output to the spreading circuit 43 as a radio signal. As a result, the frame preamble P1 and the data packet preamble P2 in the communication frame are updated to appropriate ones by the relay process by the relay device 5, and the synchronization detection is properly performed in the reception process in the relay destination wireless communication device. Done. The selection circuit 51 switches one of the new frame preamble P1 and data packet preamble P2 input from the control circuit 27 and the radio signal input from the despreading circuit 42 based on control from the control circuit 27. And outputs it to the spreading circuit 33 as a radio signal.
As a result, the frame preamble P1 and the data packet preamble P2 in the communication frame are updated to appropriate ones by the relay processing by the relay device 5,
The synchronization detection is appropriately performed in the reception process in the relay destination wireless communication device.

The control circuit 27 uses the program P shown in FIG.
It operates based on RG (the program of the present invention) and performs the following processing and control. The control circuit 27 detects the quality of the baseband signal when communicating with each of the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d using the first antenna 20 and the second antenna 21, Based on the result of the detection, the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10
The antenna with the highest communication sensitivity is specified for each of c and 10d, and the antenna management data AMD is generated or updated based on the specified result. The control circuit 27 regularly updates the antenna management data AMD at predetermined time intervals. In this case, the control circuit 27 detects an error in the baseband signal and detects the quality of the baseband signal based on the result. Further, the quality may be detected based on the reception strength. At this time, the communication sensitivity is determined by the relay device 5
And the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, the antenna management data AMD corresponds to the positional relationship. Antenna management data AM
D is, for example, tabular data.

The antenna management data AMD uses, for each of the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d, which one of the first antenna 20 and the second antenna 21 is used for communication with the wireless communication device. Is prescribed. The control circuit 27 also holds the communication control data BC received from the base station device 2.
The control circuit 27 specifies the wireless communication device of the transmission source and the transmission destination of each data packet DP_k in the communication frame based on the communication control data BC, and then the antenna management data A
In the wireless communication by the above-described specified wireless communication device based on MD, one of the first antenna 20 and the second antenna 21 to be used as a receiving antenna and the other to be used as a transmitting antenna are specified. Then, the control circuit 27 controls the switch 30 and the switch 40 so that the radio signal received by the specified reception antenna and subjected to the predetermined relay processing is transmitted from the specified transmission antenna. Further, the control circuit 27 relays the wireless communication under the condition that the specified receiving antenna and the specified transmitting antenna are different. That is, the control circuit 27 does not relay the wireless communication when the specified receiving antenna and the specified transmitting antenna are the same antenna. Further, the control circuit 27 performs error correction of the baseband signal as needed. For error correction, for example, hard decision error correction or soft decision error correction is used.

Further, the control circuit 27 receives the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d or the base station device 2 from the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10 for example.
The wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, 10c, 10d,
It controls the transmission power when transmitting a radio signal to 10d or the operating power of the transmission / reception processing unit 24. Specifically, the control circuit 27, for example, according to the increase in the number of times the wireless communication device transmits the retransmission instruction, the transmission power at the time of transmitting a wireless signal to the wireless communication device or the transmission / reception processing unit 24. Increase operating power.

Further, the control circuit 27 puts the operation of the transmission / reception processing unit 24 into the standby state for a predetermined time when the synchronization detection is not properly performed in the synchronization circuit 35 and the synchronization circuit 45.

In the relay device 5, for example, the delay time until the wireless signal received by the receiving antenna is relayed and transmitted from the transmitting antenna is within the operating range of the Rake receiver used in the communication system 1. It has become.

Hereinafter, an operation example of the communication system 1 will be described. [First Operation Example] In the operation example, a case where the relay device 5 generates the antenna management data AMD will be described. Figure 6
3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation example. Step ST1: The relay device 5 receives the communication frame shown in FIG. 2 transmitted by the base station device 2 at the first antenna 20 and the second antenna 21. Then, the control circuit 27
Detects the synchronization signal based on the frame preamble P1 shown in FIG. 2 in the baseband signal input from the despreading circuit 32 and the despreading circuit 42. After that, the control circuit 27
Identifies the communication frame based on the detection timing of the synchronization signal. Step ST2: If the control circuit 27 determines in step ST1 that the simultaneous signal is detected, step ST3
If not, the process returns to step ST1.

Step ST3: The control circuit 27 uses the quality of the baseband signal obtained by despreading the communication frame transmitted from the base station apparatus 2 and received by the first antenna 20 and the second antenna 21. , The first antenna 2
The receiving sensitivities of the 0 and the second antennas 21 are compared with each other, and the antenna having the good receiving sensitivity is specified. Step ST4: The control circuit 27 controls the switch 30 and the switch 40 so as to receive the communication frame transmitted by the base station apparatus 2 with the antenna having the high reception sensitivity specified in step ST3. Step ST5: Based on the communication control data BC in the communication frame received in step ST4, the control circuit 27, for example, the number N of wireless communication devices managed by the base station device 2 and the data packet DP_k in the communication frame. Is used to identify the timing at which the wireless communication device transmits and receives. Step ST6: The control circuit 27 sets the variable k to the initial value “0”. Further, the wireless communication devices managed by the base station device 2 are assigned numbers 0 to "N-1".

Step ST7: The control circuit 27 is transmitted from the wireless communication device assigned with the above number "k" based on the communication control data BC and the data packet preamble P2 shown in FIG. The first antenna 2 based on the quality of the baseband signal obtained by specifying the radio signal (transmission signal) received by the first antenna 20 and the second antenna 21 and despreading the radio signal.
The receiving sensitivities of the 0 and the second antennas 21 are compared with each other, and the antenna having the good receiving sensitivity is specified. Step ST8: The control circuit 27 determines whether or not the first antenna 20 is specified in step ST7, and when it is determined that the first antenna 20 is specified, the process proceeds to step ST10, and otherwise. To step S
The process proceeds to T11.

Step ST9: The control circuit 27 registers the first antenna 20 as an antenna to be used in the wireless communication by the wireless communication device assigned with the number "k" in the antenna management data AMD. Step ST10: The control circuit 27 registers the second antenna 21 as an antenna used in the wireless communication by the wireless communication device assigned with the number “k” in the antenna management data AMD. Step ST11: The control circuit 27 determines whether or not the variable k is N, that is, whether or not the antenna registration is completed for all the wireless communication devices, and determines that the variable k is N. In that case, the process is terminated, and if not, the process proceeds to step ST12. Step S12: The control circuit 27 adds 1 to the variable k, and then returns to the process of step S7.

In the above-described operation shown in FIG. 6, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the radio signal transmitted by the radio communication device 10c enters the room 8 and is reflected by the second antenna via the path 1 which is reflected. In addition to being received at 21, the first antenna 20 is directly received via the path 2. In this case, since the radio signal received by the second antenna 21 is attenuated by the transmission and reflection of the wall, the quality thereof is lower than that of the radio signal received by the first antenna 20, and the wireless communication device 10c operates. First as an antenna used in wireless communication
The antenna 20 is registered in the antenna management data AMD. In this embodiment, the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 1
0c, 10d and the relay device 5 are arranged as shown in FIG. 7, the antenna management data AMD includes the first
Wireless communication devices 10c and 10d are registered as wireless communication devices using the antenna 20 of FIG. 1, and wireless communication devices 10a and 10d are used as wireless communication devices using the second antenna 21.
b is registered.

[Second Operation Example] In the operation example, as shown in FIG. 8, the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, 1 are connected.
The relay operation of the relay device 5 when a data packet is transmitted and received between 0d will be described. In this embodiment, the relay device 5
However, based on the communication control data BC in the communication frame received from the base station device 2, the wireless communication devices 10d to 10a are transmitted using the data packet DP_1 as shown in FIG.
The wireless signal transmitted to the data packet D
A case will be described where P_2 is used to relay the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless communication devices 10b to 10c, and data packet DP_3 is used to relay the wireless signal transmitted to the wireless communication devices 10a to 10b. The operation timing of the relay device 5 shown below is controlled based on the communication control data BC, the frame preamble P1 and the data packet preamble P2. 9 to 11 are flowcharts for explaining the operation example.

Step ST20: The control circuit 27 of the relay device 5 outputs a standby instruction to the switch 30. Step ST21: The switch 30 puts the first antenna 20 and the amplifier 31 into the connected state according to the standby instruction received in step 21. Step ST22: The frame preamble P1 received by the first antenna 20 is the switch 30, the amplifier 3
1 and the despreading circuit 32, and is input to the selection circuit 50 and the control circuit 27. Step ST23: The control circuit 27 outputs a transmission instruction to the switch 40. Step ST24: The switch 40 receives the transmission instruction received in step 23, and then the second antenna 21 and the amplifier 4
4 and the connection state. Step ST25: The control circuit 27 causes the step ST22
The frame preamble P1 input in step 1 is updated and output to the selection circuit 50. Then, the selection circuit 50 selects the updated frame preamble P1 and outputs it to the spreading circuit 43, and the frame preamble P1 is transmitted via the spreading circuit 43, the amplifier 44, the switch 40, and the second antenna 21. To be done.

Step ST26: The control circuit 27 of the relay device 5 outputs a standby instruction to the switch 30. Step ST27: The switch 30 puts the first antenna 20 and the amplifier 31 into the connected state according to the standby instruction received in step 26. Step ST28: The data packet preamble P2 received by the first antenna 20 is input to the selection circuit 50 and the control circuit 27 via the switch 30, the amplifier 31, and the despreading circuit 32. Step ST29: The control circuit 27 outputs a transmission instruction to the switch 40. Step ST30: The switch 40 receives the transmission instruction received in step 29, and then the second antenna 21 and the amplifier 4
4 and the connection state. Step ST31: The control circuit 27 causes the step ST28
The data packet preamble P2 input in step S1 is updated and output to the selection circuit 50. Then, the selection circuit 50
The updated data packet preamble P2 is selected and output to the spreading circuit 43, and the data packet preamble P2 is used as the spreading circuit 43, the amplifier 44, and the switch 40.
And is transmitted via the second antenna 21.

Step ST32: The control circuit 27 of the relay device 5 outputs a standby instruction to the switch 30. Step ST33: The switch 30 puts the first antenna 20 and the amplifier 31 into the connected state according to the standby instruction received in step 32. Step ST34: The data packet DP_1 received from the wireless communication device 10d at the first antenna 20 is input to the selection circuit 50 and the control circuit 27 via the switch 30, the amplifier 31, and the despreading circuit 32. Step ST35: The control circuit 27 outputs a transmission instruction to the switch 40. Step ST36: The switch 40 causes the second antenna 21 and the amplifier 4 to operate in response to the transmission instruction received in step 35.
4 and the connection state. Step ST37: The selection circuit 50 executes step ST34
The data packet DP_1 input at is selected and output to the spreading circuit 43. Then, the data packet DP_1 is transmitted to the wireless communication device 10a via the spreading circuit 43, the amplifier 44, the switch 40, and the second antenna 21.

Step ST38: The control circuit 27 of the relay device 5 outputs a standby instruction to the switch 40. Step ST39: The switch 40 puts the second antenna 21 and the amplifier 41 into the connected state according to the standby instruction received in step 38. Step ST40: The data packet preamble P2 received by the second antenna 21 is input to the selection circuit 51 and the control circuit 27 via the switch 40, the amplifier 41, and the despreading circuit 42. Step ST41: The control circuit 27 outputs a transmission instruction to the switch 30. Step ST42: The switch 30 receives the transmission instruction received in step 41, and then the first antenna 20 and the amplifier 3 are received.
4 and the connection state. Step ST43: The control circuit 27 causes the step ST40
The data packet preamble P2 input in step S1 is updated and output to the selection circuit 51. Then, the selection circuit 51
The updated data packet preamble P2 is selected and output to the spreading circuit 33, and the data packet preamble P2 is used as the spreading circuit 33, the amplifier 34, and the switch 30.
And transmitted via the first antenna 20.

Step ST44: The control circuit 27 of the relay device 5 outputs a standby instruction to the switch 40. Step ST45: The switch 40 puts the second antenna 21 and the amplifier 41 into the connected state according to the standby instruction received in step 44. Step ST46: The data packet DP_2 received from the wireless communication device 10b by the second antenna 21 is input to the selection circuit 51 and the control circuit 27 via the switch 40, the amplifier 41, and the despreading circuit 42. Step ST47: The control circuit 27 outputs a transmission instruction to the switch 30. Step ST48: The switch 30 receives the transmission instruction received in step 47, and then the first antenna 20 and the amplifier 3 are received.
4 and the connection state. Step ST49: The selection circuit 51 performs step ST46.
The data packet DP_2 input at is selected and output to the spreading circuit 33. Then, the data packet DP_2 is transmitted to the wireless communication device 10c via the spreading circuit 33, the amplifier 34, the switch 30, and the first antenna 20. Step ST50: The control circuit 27 causes the data packet D
The relay of P_3 is not performed because both the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna serve as the second antenna 21, and the P_3 is again in the waiting state for the frame preamble P1.

As described above, in the communication system 1, the relay device 5 includes the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10
The antenna having the better communication quality is registered in the antenna management data AMD by communicating with c and 10d, and the antenna to be used is selected based on the antenna management data AMD to perform the relay. Therefore, the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c,
An appropriate antenna can be selected depending on the positional relationship between 10d and the relay device 5, and the relay characteristic of the radio signal by the relay device 5 can be improved as compared with the conventional case. Further, since the antenna management data AMD is updated at predetermined time intervals, good relay characteristics can be maintained even if the positions of the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d change. Further, according to the communication system 1, since the electromagnetic shield portion 23 is provided between the first antenna 20 and the second antenna 21 of the relay device 5, the electromagnetic shield portion 23 between the reception signal and the transmission signal at the time of relay is provided. Interference can be suppressed.

Further, according to the communication system 1, since the control circuit 27 of the relay device 5 performs the error correction processing of the baseband signal generated by performing the spectrum despreading processing on the received wireless signal, the wireless communication after the relay is performed. Signal S / N deterioration can be suppressed. Further, according to the communication system 1, since the preamble in the communication frame is updated by the relay operation, it is possible to appropriately perform reception processing such as synchronization detection on the receiving side.

Further, according to the communication system 1, the control circuit 27 of the relay device 5 controls the transmission power at the time of transmitting the radio signal or the operating power of the transmission / reception processing section 24 as described above, so that the power saving is achieved. Can be achieved.

Further, according to the communication system 1, the relay device 5 can be realized with a simple structure. For example, JP 2000-
As in the system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 124874, there is a method of suppressing the above interference by using different spreading codes in the communication before and after the relay, but the relay device uses the wireless signal transmitted from the relay device. There is a problem that the S / N of the received wireless signal deteriorates, and the configuration of the relay device becomes complicated, which is not suitable for home use.

Further, according to the communication system 1, since the relay device 5 converts the received UWB radio signal into a baseband signal, an expensive amplifier having flat characteristics over a wide band is not required.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-36794,
A method of performing time-division communication from a sender to a repeater and from a repeater to a receiver has been proposed. This method is UW
It is also effective in B. However, there is a problem that the data transmission efficiency is reduced to almost half. Still another problem is whether or not the transmission from each terminal should be relayed when a plurality of terminals are communicating in a time division manner. In particular, in a bidirectional repeater having two or more transmission / reception units, it is necessary to determine which antenna receives a transmission from a certain terminal and which antenna retransmits. The communication system 1 described above can solve such a problem.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the antenna management data AMD is generated using the communication control data BC or the like from the base station apparatus 2 has been illustrated as described using steps ST1 to ST5 illustrated in FIG. The relay device 5 may transmit a polling signal to the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, receive a wireless signal as a response, and generate the antenna management data AMD.

Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the relay device 5 has the two first antennas 20 and the two second antennas 21 is illustrated, but if the relay device has a plurality of antennas. It is optional. As another example, the configuration of a relay device having three antennas is shown below. FIG. 12 is a perspective view for explaining a configuration near an antenna of a relay device having three antennas, and FIG.
FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of a transmission / reception processing unit 65 shown in FIG. 12. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the relay device illustrated in FIG. 3 includes, for example, a first antenna 60, a second antenna 61, a third antenna 62, an electromagnetic shield unit 64, and a transmission / reception processing unit 6.
5, power supply line 66, power supply 160 and control circuit 161
Have. The first antenna 60 and the second antenna 61 have directivities different by 180 °, for example. In addition, the first antenna 60 and the second antenna 61,
For example, the third antenna 62 has a directivity different by 90 °. First antenna 60 and second antenna 6
1 and between the first antenna 60 and the second antenna 61 and the third antenna 62, an electromagnetic shield portion 64 is disposed. As a result, the wireless signal transmitted and received by the first antenna 60 and the second antenna 61
Interference between the wireless signal transmitted / received by the wireless antenna and the wireless signal transmitted / received by the third antenna 62 is suppressed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the transmission / reception processing section 65 includes, for example, a switch 130, an amplifier 131, a despreading circuit 132, a spreading circuit 133, an amplifier 134, a synchronizing circuit 135, a selecting circuit 136, a switch 137 and a switch. 140, amplifier 141, despreading circuit 142, spreading circuit 1
43, amplifier 144, synchronization circuit 145, selection circuit 14
6, switch 147, switch 150, amplifier 151,
It includes a despreading circuit 157, a spreading circuit 153, an amplifier 154, a synchronizing circuit 155, a selecting circuit 156, and a switch 157.

The functions of the amplifiers 131, 141 and 151 are as follows.
It is the same as the amplifier 31 described above. Amplifiers 134 and 14
The functions of 4,154 are the same as those of the amplifier 34 described above. The functions of the despreading circuits 132, 142 and 152 are the same as those of the despreading circuit 32 described above. Spreading circuit 133,1
The functions of 43 and 153 are the same as those of the spreading circuit 33 described above.

The switch 130 connects the first antenna 60 and the amplifier 131 to each other when receiving the reception waiting instruction from the control circuit 161, and connects the first antenna 60 and the amplifier 134 when receiving the transmission instruction from the control circuit 161. To connect. When the switch 140 inputs a reception waiting instruction from the control circuit 161, it connects the second antenna 61 and the amplifier 141 to each other, and when it inputs a transmission instruction from the control circuit 161, it connects the second antenna 61 and the amplifier 144 to each other. To The switch 150 connects the third antenna 62 and the amplifier 151 when the reception waiting instruction is input from the control circuit 161, and connects the third antenna 62 and the amplifier 154 when the transmission instruction is input from the control circuit 161. To

The selection circuit 136 is based on the control signal from the control circuit 161 and the spreading circuit 133 and the switch 137.
Turn on / off between and. The selection circuit 146 turns on / off between the spreading circuit 143 and the switch 147 based on the control signal from the control circuit 161. Selection circuit 156
Turns on / off between the spreading circuit 153 and the switch 157 based on the control signal from the control circuit 161. The switch 137 inputs and selects the baseband signals from the despreading circuits 142 and 152, the switches 147 and 157 and the control circuit 161, and outputs the selected baseband signal to the selection circuit 136 and the spreading circuit 133. The switch 147 includes the despreading circuits 132 and 152 and the switch 1
37, 157 and the baseband signal from the control circuit 161 are input and selected, and the selected baseband signal is output to the selection circuit 146 and the spreading circuit 143. The switch 157 includes the despreading circuits 132 and 142 and the switch 13.
7, 147 and the baseband signal from the control circuit 161 are input and selected, and the selected baseband signal is output to the selection circuit 156 and the spreading circuit 153.

The control circuit 161 operates on the basis of a predetermined program, and performs the following processing and control. The control circuit 161 communicates with each of the wireless communication devices 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d shown in FIG. 1, for example, using the first antenna 60, the second antenna 61, and the third antenna 62. At this time, the quality of the baseband signal is detected, and based on the result of the detection, the wireless communication devices 10a, 10
The antenna with the highest communication sensitivity is specified for each of b, 10c, and 10d, and the antenna management data AMD is generated or updated based on the specified result. Control circuit 1
Reference numeral 61 identifies the wireless communication device of the transmission source and the transmission destination of each data packet DP_k in the communication frame based on the communication control data BC described above, and then the antenna management data A
Among the first antenna 60, the second antenna 61, and the third antenna 62, which is used as a receiving antenna and which is used as a transmitting antenna in wireless communication by the wireless communication device specified above based on MD. Identify as one. Then, the control circuit 161 causes the switches 137, 147, 157 and the selection circuit 136 to transmit the wireless signal received by the specified receiving antenna and subjected to the predetermined relay processing from the specified transmitting antenna.
146 and 156 are controlled. Further, the control circuit 161
The wireless communication is relayed on condition that the specified receiving antenna and the specified transmitting antenna are different. That is, the control circuit 161 does not relay the wireless communication when the specified receiving antenna and the specified transmitting antenna are the same antenna. The control circuit 161 also performs error correction on the baseband signal as necessary. For error correction, for example, hard decision error correction or soft decision error correction is used.

The relay device having the above-mentioned three antennas can also basically obtain the same effect as the relay device 5.

As described above, according to the present invention,
A communication system, a relay device, which can obtain stable and high relay characteristics in conformity with the position of a communication device that performs wireless communication.
The method and the program can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a UWB used in an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure for demonstrating the communication frame of communication.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining an arrangement of an antenna peripheral portion of the relay device shown in FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cross-section line AA shown in FIG.

5 is a functional block diagram of a transmission / reception processing unit of the relay device shown in FIG.

6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example when the relay device shown in FIG. 1 generates antenna management data AMD.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation example shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a relay operation of a relay device when a data packet is transmitted and received between wireless communication devices.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a relay operation of the relay device when a data packet is transmitted and received between wireless communication devices.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 9 for explaining the relay operation of the relay device when a data packet is transmitted and received between wireless communication devices.

11 is a flowchart following FIG. 10 for explaining the relay operation of the relay device when a data packet is transmitted and received between wireless communication devices.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view for explaining a configuration near an antenna of a relay device having three antennas.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of a transmission / reception processing unit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... Communication system, 2 ... Base station device, 5 ... Relay device, 1
0a, 10b, 10c, 10d ... Wireless communication device, 20 ...
1st antenna, 21 ... 2nd antenna, 23 ... Electromagnetic shield part, 24 ... Transmission / reception processing part, 25 ... Feeding line, 2
6 ... Power supply, 27 ... Control circuit, 30 ... Switch, 31 ... Amplifier, 32 ... Despreading circuit, 33 ... Spreading circuit, 34 ... Amplifier, 35 ... Synchronous circuit, 40 ... Switch, 41 ... Amplifier,
42 ... Despreading circuit, 43 ... Spreading circuit, 44 ... Amplifier, 5
0 ... Selection circuit, 51 ... Selection circuit, 52 ... Control circuit

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of communication devices that perform wireless communication, and a relay device that relays the wireless communication, wherein the relay device includes a plurality of antennas having directivities different from each other, and the plurality of communication devices. For each of the above, based on management data that defines the antenna used for relaying the wireless communication by the communication device according to the position of the communication device, a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna are specified from the plurality of antennas. A communication system comprising: a control unit configured to transmit a radio signal received by the specified receiving antenna and subjected to a predetermined relay process from the specified transmitting antenna. 2. When a plurality of communication devices perform wireless communication,
A relay device for relaying the wireless communication, comprising: a plurality of antennas having directivities different from each other; and, for each of the plurality of communication devices, the antenna used for relaying the wireless communication by the communication device. Based on the management data specified according to the position, the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna are specified from the plurality of antennas, and the wireless signal received by the specified receiving antenna and subjected to the predetermined relay processing is specified. A relay device having control means for transmitting from the specified transmitting antenna. 3. The relay device according to claim 2, further comprising an electromagnetic shield located between the plurality of antennas. 4. The control means specifies, for each of the plurality of communication devices, an antenna having the highest communication sensitivity in wireless communication with the communication device among the plurality of antennas, and the result of the specification is specified. The relay apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the management data is generated or updated based on the management data. 5. The control means performs wireless communication with the communication device using each of the plurality of antennas, detects the communication quality of the wireless communication, and determines the communication sensitivity of the highest based on the result of the detection. The relay device according to claim 4, wherein a good antenna is identified. 6. The relay apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means relays the wireless communication under the condition that the specified receiving antenna and the specified transmitting antenna are different from each other. 7. The control means further uses communication control data which defines the communication device as a transmission source and a transmission destination,
The relay device according to claim 2, wherein the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna are specified. 8. The plurality of communication devices perform wireless communication using a single channel, and a wireless communication period using the single channel is assigned to each of the plurality of communication devices in a time division manner. When performing transmission using the wireless communication period assigned to itself, the control means uses the communication control data that defines the communication device of the transmission source and the transmission destination for each of the wireless communication periods. Item 8. The relay device according to Item 7. 9. The antenna receives a communication frame in which data for synchronization acquisition and packet data transmitted and received during the wireless communication period are stored, and the control means performs synchronization processing based on the data for synchronization acquisition. The relay device according to claim 8 to perform. 10. The control means transmits from the transmitting antenna a communication frame in which synchronization acquisition data corresponding to the synchronization acquisition data in the communication frame received by the reception antenna is newly added. The relay device according to claim 9. 11. A demodulation means for demodulating a radio signal received by the receiving antenna to generate a baseband signal, and a demodulation means for modulating the baseband signal subjected to demodulation processing as necessary to transmit the baseband signal. The relay device according to claim 2, further comprising a modulation unit that generates a radio signal. 12. The control means controls transmission power used for wireless communication with the communication device, based on data obtained by wireless communication with the communication device.
The relay device described in. 13. A relay method performed by a relay device that relays the wireless communication when the plurality of communication devices perform wireless communication, wherein the wireless communication relay is performed by the communication device for each of the plurality of communication devices. Based on the management data that specifies the antenna used according to the position of the communication device, the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna are specified from the plurality of antennas of the relay device, and the specified receiving antenna is used for reception. A relay method for transmitting a radio signal that has been subjected to a predetermined relay process from the specified transmission antenna. 14. For each of the plurality of communication devices, an antenna having the highest communication sensitivity in wireless communication with the communication device among the plurality of antennas is specified, and the management data is based on the specified result. The relay method according to claim 13, wherein the relaying method generates or updates. 15. The relay method according to claim 13, wherein the wireless communication is relayed on condition that the specified receiving antenna is different from the specified transmitting antenna. 16. A program, which is electrically read and executed by a relay device that relays the wireless communication when the plurality of communication devices perform wireless communication, the communication device for each of the plurality of communication devices. Based on management data that defines the antenna used for relaying the wireless communication according to the position of the communication device, a procedure for specifying a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna from among a plurality of antennas included in the relay device, A program having a procedure of transmitting a radio signal received by the specified receiving antenna and subjected to a predetermined relay process from the specified transmitting antenna.