JP2011211613A - Radio access point apparatus, access point control method, and access point control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively reduce power consumption required for communicating operations in a radio access point.SOLUTION: The radio access point apparatus includes a baseband processor 6 having a transmission circuit operation inhibition function and a transmission circuit activation control function. In the former function, communicating operation in the transmission circuit of radio communication part is stopped by control when the operation mode of the radio communication part in the radio access point apparatus is set to the power saving mode, while in the latter function, connection response is transmitted by activating the transmission circuit when a connection request from the radio client terminal is detected.

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for reducing power consumption of a wireless access point as a parent device that performs wireless communication with a child device.

  With the development of broadband communication, a continuous connection has become common in the communication connection environment from a general home to the Internet. In addition, a scene in which a wireless access point device (hereinafter referred to as “wireless access point”) is used as a communication device for the Internet and as a communication device for a home LAN (Local Area Network) has become common.

  The wireless access point is normally in a state where the wireless access point used for home LAN (Local Area Network) communication is always turned on even when the user does not perform network communication, that is, does not use the Internet line. Even when the wireless client is in a power-off state, the wireless access point that is the parent device continues to output a beacon signal for scanning the client terminal (child device).

The wireless access point generally has a passive scan method (FIG. 3) for starting communication connection processing by transmitting a beacon signal from a wireless access point as a method of a wireless communication connection procedure with a wireless client, and communication from a wireless client. Supports two types of active scan method (Fig. 4) that starts Tsu-kind processing upon connection request.
In particular, even when there is no wireless client in the wireless communication range, the wireless access point has a disadvantage that unnecessary power consumption is consumed because the beacon signal is transmitted by broadband at regular time intervals. .

  On the other hand, when the terminal client moves while switching the wireless communication connection to a different wireless access point, the destination wireless access point detects the movement of the terminal client based on the wireless communication signal, and based on this Further, related technology for realizing power saving as a whole wireless communication system by switching from the power saving mode to the normal mode and conversely automatically switching the movement source wireless access point from the normal mode to the power saving mode is disclosed ( Patent Document 1).

  In addition, as a related technology, when there are a large number of wireless clients such as offices, when wireless access points are connected with each other via a wired network, and a small number of wireless clients can be processed by one wireless access point, Control all the wireless circuits of the additional wireless access points to stop so that unnecessary power is not consumed, and additional access when there are too many wireless clients and processing becomes impossible with one wireless access point A wireless LAN system in which a wireless circuit is set to an ON state via a wired LAN at a point is disclosed (Patent Document 2).

  Furthermore, as a related technology, there is a system for performing power saving by executing an inquiry scan for searching for a device in Bluetooth communication and setting the power supply of the Bluetooth module to an OFF state when there is no service protocol or profile. (Patent Document 3).

  In addition, as a related technology, when a wireless telephone terminal is set to a power saving mode, the wireless access point reduces the power consumption of the wireless terminal by transmitting wirelessly only when a certain time has passed. (Suppressed) is disclosed (Patent Document 4).

  Furthermore, as a related technology, when a scan of a wireless CH that can be used in a wireless communication device is not detected for a certain period of time, the wireless LAN module operation mode is shifted to a power saving mode and the power supply of the wireless unit is stopped. Thus, a system that suppresses wasteful power consumption is disclosed (Patent Document 5).

  In addition, as a related technology, when a multicast packet is transmitted from the main unit to the access point regarding the relay device of the wireless access point and the wireless telephone terminal, it is confirmed whether there is a terminal under the own group and whether it is a necessary packet. However, there is disclosed a technique for reducing battery consumption of a wireless telephone terminal by not outputting a wireless signal to the wireless telephone terminal when the packet is unnecessary (Patent Documents 6 and 7).

  Furthermore, as a related technique, a system is disclosed in which a wireless slave unit stores a beacon transmission interval of an access point in advance and receives a beacon signal by starting a timer to reduce power consumption (Patent Document 8).

  In addition, as a related technology, it is confirmed by transmitting a system information stop signal whether or not a slave that is a communication partner is present within a certain range in a wireless area. An access point device that reduces power consumption by stopping signal transmission is disclosed (Patent Document 9).

JP 2006-332844 A JP 2008-118433 A JP 2008-118433 A JP 2008-118433 A JP 2008-118433 A JP 2009-094788 A JP 2008-118433 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-072677 JP 2003-348104 A

However, in the content combining the related techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 9, the power saving operation in which the communication terminal device and the wireless access point (wireless relay device) operate with reduced power consumption from the normal operation state There is a disadvantage that a time lag occurs in shifting to the mode, and power consumption cannot be effectively reduced.
[Object of invention]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless access point device, an access point control method, and an access point control program that can improve the disadvantages of the related art and can effectively reduce power consumption for wireless communication operation. To do.

  To achieve the above object, a wireless access point device according to the present invention includes a wireless communication unit that establishes a wireless communication connection with a wireless client and performs wireless communication, and a communication control that controls a wireless communication operation of the wireless communication unit. A wireless access point device comprising: a transmission circuit that performs a process of transmitting communication data to the wireless client; and a receiver that performs a process of receiving communication data from the wireless client The communication control unit is configured to monitor a connection request from the wireless client via the reception circuit, and an operation state of the wireless communication unit is set in a power saving mode in advance. A transmission circuit operation suppression function that controls to stop communication operation in the transmission circuit, and when the connection request is detected It has taken a configuration in which a transmission circuit activation control function of transmitting a connection response to the connection request to the wireless client by activating the transmission circuit.

  The access point control method according to the present invention includes a transmission circuit that performs a process of transmitting communication data to a wireless client, and a reception circuit that performs a process of receiving communication data from the wireless client. And a communication control unit that controls a wireless communication operation in the wireless communication unit, wherein the wireless access point control performs control for suppressing power consumption of the wireless communication operation in the wireless communication unit When the operation state of the wireless communication unit is set to a preset power saving mode, the communication control unit performs control to stop the communication operation in the transmission circuit, and The communication control unit monitors a connection request from the wireless client via the reception circuit and detects the connection request. The Start transmitting circuit, is characterized by transmitting a connection response preset transmitted following transmission level output to the connection request from the wireless client to.

  An access point control program according to the present invention includes a transmission circuit that performs processing for transmitting communication data to a wireless client and a reception circuit that performs processing for receiving communication data from the wireless client. And a wireless access point device including a communication control unit that controls a wireless communication operation in the wireless communication unit, the wireless access for performing control to suppress power consumption for the wireless communication operation in the wireless communication unit Transmission that is a point control program, and the communication control unit performs control to stop communication operation in the transmission circuit when the operation state of the wireless communication unit is set to a preset power saving mode An operation suppression function and a connection request monitor for monitoring a connection request from the wireless client via the reception circuit And a transmission level suppression control function that activates the transmission circuit when detecting the connection request and transmits a connection response to the connection request from the wireless client at a transmission output equal to or lower than a preset transmission level. It is characterized by being executed.

  Since the present invention is configured and functions as described above, according to this, when the operation mode of the wireless communication unit in the wireless access point device is set to the power saving mode, the communication operation in the transmission circuit is stopped. By having a configuration including a transmission circuit operation suppression function for performing control and a transmission circuit activation control function for transmitting a connection response by activating a transmission circuit when a connection request from a wireless client terminal is detected, It is possible to provide a wireless access point device, an access point control method, and an access point control program that can effectively reduce power consumption for wireless communication operation with a wireless client terminal (child device).

It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the internal structure of the wireless access point apparatus by this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a communication connection relationship between the wireless access point device disclosed in FIG. 1 and a wireless client terminal installed in advance. 2 is a sequence chart showing a communication connection sequence when wireless connection is started by a passive scan method between a wireless access point device disclosed in FIG. 1 and a wireless client installed in advance. 3 is a sequence chart showing a communication connection sequence when a wireless connection is started between the wireless access point device disclosed in FIG. 1 and a wireless client by an active scan method. 2 is a flowchart showing overall operation processing steps in the wireless access point device disclosed in FIG. 1. It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment (modification) of the internal structure of the wireless access point apparatus by this invention. 7 is a flowchart showing overall operation processing steps in the wireless access point device disclosed in FIG. 6.

[Embodiment]
A wireless access point (wireless access point device) 200 as an embodiment according to the present invention establishes a wireless communication connection with each of wireless client terminals (21 to 23: FIG. 2) installed in advance, and this wireless client terminal And a radio communication unit (RF circuit 8) for performing radio communication with each other, and a communication control for controlling a radio communication operation in the radio communication unit and performing a frequency spreading process of a communication signal and a process of creating and decomposing a radio communication frame (Baseband processor 6).
Thereby, it is assumed that the wireless access point device 200 can establish wireless communication with each of the wireless client terminals (21 to 23) as shown in FIG.

  The wireless access point 200 includes a wireless communication (RF) circuit unit 8 that performs transmission and reception of wireless communication with a wireless client terminal, a baseband processor 6 that controls the operation of the RF circuit 8, and an RF circuit for the baseband processor 6. 8 includes a setting INF unit 9 for inputting control content (control policy) 8 and a wireless unit state control table storage unit 5 for storing information indicating the input operation control content.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the RF circuit unit 8 of the wireless access point 200 includes a front-end module (hereinafter referred to as “FEM”) 81 that performs wireless communication via a pre-installed antenna, and wireless that is performed via the FEM 81. A transmission RF means (hereinafter referred to as “transmission RF”) 82 for performing modulation / demodulation processing of a transmission signal in communication; a reception RF means (hereinafter referred to as “reception RF”) 83 for performing modulation / demodulation processing of a reception signal received via the FEM 81; Prior to signal transmission in the transmission RF 82, a D / A conversion means (D / A conversion) 84 for performing digital / analog conversion of the transmission signal and an A / D conversion means 85 for performing analog / digital conversion of the signal received by the reception RF 83 are provided. I have.

  The FEM 81 has an analog switch (operation mode setting means) that switches between a transmission operation state and a reception operation state in the wireless communication state of the FEM 81, and a transmission power that adjusts a transmission level of a transmission signal under the control of the baseband processor 6. It has a configuration in which an amplifier and a reception low noise amplifier that adjusts noise by filtering the received signal are integrated.

  In addition, the wireless access point 200 includes a wireless MAC termination unit (hereinafter referred to as “Wireless MAC”) 7 that performs processing for terminating wireless communication (MAC) performed via the RF circuit unit 8, and an RF circuit unit (radio unit). A wireless unit state control table storage unit (hereinafter referred to as “wireless unit state control table”) 5 that stores the operation mode setting in FIG. 8 as a wireless unit state control table, and a user interface for setting the operation mode of the wireless unit ( A setting INF unit (hereinafter referred to as “setting INF”) 9 is provided.

The setting INF9 may be a physical switch provided on the outer surface of the wireless access point device 200.
The setting INF9 that is a trigger for switching the operation mode of the wireless communication state is a setting that uses software such as firmware set for setting the operation mode of the wireless unit in the wireless access point device. Also good.
In this case, when the baseband processor 6 executes the operation mode setting software, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for inputting the operation mode setting of the wireless unit is output and displayed using, for example, a browser And
Thereby, the user can control the setting input of the operation mode of the wireless unit and the switching of the operation mode via the GUI displayed and displayed.

The wireless unit in the wireless access point 200 according to the present embodiment includes an RF circuit 8, a baseband processor 6, and a wireless MAC (termination unit) 7.
A transmission circuit for transmitting a transmission signal is composed of an FEM 81, a transmission RF 82, and a D / A conversion 84, and a wireless circuit for receiving a communication signal is composed of an FEM 81, a reception RF 83, and an A / D conversion 85. To do.

  When the baseband processor unit (communication control unit) 6 detects a connection request from the wireless client terminal via the RF circuit 8 (connection request monitoring function), a power saving mode is set as an operation state of the wireless communication unit. Transmission circuit operation suppression function for performing control to suppress communication operation (signal transmission operation) in the transmission circuit when the wireless unit state control table stores setting information indicating the power saving mode. It has.

  The baseband processor unit (communication control unit) 6 activates a transmission circuit when a connection request from a wireless client terminal is detected by the connection request monitoring function, and a connection response to the detected connection request is set in advance. And a transmission circuit activation control function for transmitting to the wireless client terminal at a transmission level suppressed to a level below the specified level.

  Further, the baseband processor unit 6 executes a preset program, thereby scanning and detecting a wireless client terminal (slave unit) in a wireless connection area that transmits a connection request from the wireless access point device. It has a function of executing two types of wireless connection establishment processing: an active scan method for performing wireless connection with a client device, and a passive scan method for starting wireless connection based on a connection request from a wireless client terminal.

Accordingly, when the operation mode of the wireless access point 200 is set to the power saving mode, the baseband processor unit 6 supports this connection method only for the passive scan method and performs wireless connection.
Thereby, when the wireless client terminal in the reach area of the beacon signal is turned off, the transmission of the beacon signal and the scanning operation of the wireless client can be suppressed. Consumption can be effectively suppressed.

Further, as described above, the user of the wireless access point selects and sets the operation mode of the wireless access point 200 to the normal mode or the power saving mode by using the setting INF9 as a switch or a switching input GUI. Shall be able to.
Thereby, information (setting state information) indicating the state set in the wireless unit state control table 5 is stored.
The wireless unit state table storage unit 5 may be configured to notify the baseband processor 6 that the setting state information has been saved.

  Here, when the setting state information is set to the normal mode, the baseband processor unit 6 transmits a beacon signal to the wireless client terminal at regular time intervals by controlling the operation of the wireless circuit. This beacon signal is transmitted from the antenna of the wireless access point 200 to the broadcast.

  The baseband processor means 6 generates a wireless packet (transmission signal) using a wireless MAC preset in the wireless MAC 7 as a source address when the transmission circuit is active (operating state). The frequency spread processing is performed, and a radio signal frame is added and output to the D / A converter 84. Then, the transmission RF unit 82 performs radio signal modulation, and transmits (outputs) a beacon signal from the FEM 81.

On the other hand, when the radio unit is set to the power saving mode, the baseband processor 6 performs a generation operation of a transmission output signal (transmission signal), a transmission RF 82 that performs radio modulation of the transmission signal, and a control to stop the transmission circuit. As a result, the output of the beacon signal (transmission processing) and the transmission of the transmission signal from the other wireless access point device 200 to the slave unit are stopped.
At this time, the RF circuit 8 is controlled by the baseband processor 6 so that only the receiving circuit operates, and is set in a state of waiting for a connection request signal sent from the slave unit.
Thereby, even if the RF circuit 8 is in a state where the wireless communication connection with the slave unit is established, if there is a setting switching input to the power saving mode via the setting INF 9, the mode is shifted to the power saving mode. The

[Description of Operation of Embodiment]
Next, an outline of the operation of this embodiment will be described.
First, the baseband processor unit 6 performs control to stop the communication operation in the transmission unit (transmission circuit) when the operation state of the wireless circuit is set to a preset power saving mode (transmission suppression control process) ).
Next, the baseband processor unit 6 monitors the connection request from the wireless client terminal 21 via the reception circuit (connection request monitoring step), and activates the transmission unit (transmission circuit) when detecting the connection request. Then, a connection response is generated in response to the connection request from the wireless client terminal, and the connection response is transmitted with a transmission output equal to or lower than a preset transmission level (connection response transmission processing step).

  Here, regarding the transmission suppression control step, the connection request monitoring step, the transmission circuit activation step, and the connection response transmission processing step, the execution contents may be programmed and executed by a computer.

  Next, the operation of the wireless access point device 200 according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the baseband processor unit 6 refers to the power setting information of the wireless unit state control table at regular intervals (step A1: power setting monitoring step), and the operation mode of the wireless unit in the wireless access point 200 is set to the normal mode. Whether the power saving mode is set or the power saving mode is set (step A2: power saving mode).

  When the operation mode of the wireless unit is set to the power saving mode (YES: Step A2), the baseband processor unit 6 sets the data communication state of the transmission circuit in the wireless unit to the stop state and the data of the reception circuit. Set the communication state to the active state.

At this time, it is assumed that the baseband processor unit 6 constantly monitors connection requests (Probe Request) from the wireless client terminals (21 to 23).
Here, when a connection request from the wireless client terminal is detected (YES: Step A4), the baseband processor unit 6 sets the transmission circuit to an operating state and also transmits a response signal (Probe Response) to the detected connection request. ) And transmitted to the wireless client terminal (step A5).

  Next, the baseband processor unit 6 executes an authentication sequence process (step A10: state 2 (FIG. 4)) and an association process (step A11: state 3 (FIG. 4)) as a wireless communication connection sequence. Data communication is performed by establishing a communication connection with a wireless client terminal (for example, 21) (step A12).

  On the other hand, when the operation mode of the radio unit is set to the normal mode (normal operation mode) (NO: Step A2), the baseband processor unit 6 puts both the transmission circuit and the reception circuit in the radio unit into an operating state. Control to set and operate is performed (step A6).

  At this time, the wireless unit set in the normal operation mode monitors a connection request (Probe Request) sent from the wireless client terminal (child device) (step A7).

When a connection request (Probe Request) is detected from the wireless client terminal 21 (YES: Step A7), a response signal (Probe Response) to the wireless client terminal is transmitted (Step A8).
At this time, since the transmission circuit is set in an operating state in advance, a response signal can be quickly returned in response to the detected connection request.

On the other hand, when the connection request from the wireless client is being monitored (step A7) and the connection request (Probe Request) from the wireless client terminal is not detected for a certain period of time, the baseband processor unit 6 transmits a beacon signal (step A9: State 1 scanning (Figure 3)).
Note that the baseband processor unit 6 periodically transmits beacon signals at regular time intervals.

  Here, when there is a response signal (Authentication) from the wireless client terminal to the transmitted beacon signal (FIG. 4), the wireless client and the wireless access point 200 are mutually authenticated (step A10: state 2 (FIG. 3)). Then, communication connection processing is performed in accordance with the association sequence (state 3: FIG. 3) (step A11), and data communication connection is established (step A12: data communication).

[Modification]
Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the wireless access point device (300) according to the present invention is equipped with a plurality of different antennas, and each of the plurality of antennas, for example, MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) is used. The configuration may be such that the data transmission / reception band can be expanded by combining the data transmission / reception.

  In this case, the wireless access point device 300 includes different radio frequency (RF) circuits 8 and 10 corresponding to the respective mounted antennas, and each of the RF circuits 8 and 10 is similar to the above embodiment. Assume that a transmission circuit and a reception circuit are formed.

  Thereby, when the wireless unit in the wireless access point device 300 is set to the power saving mode, it is possible to reduce the power consumption for the number of mounted multi-antennas.

[Explanation of operation of modification]
Hereinafter, the operation of the wireless access point 300 in the modification will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the baseband processor unit 6 refers to the power setting information in the wireless unit state control table at regular intervals (step B1: power setting monitoring step), and the operation mode of the wireless unit in the wireless access point 200 is set to the normal mode. It is determined whether the power saving mode is set or not (step B2: power saving mode).

When the operation mode of the wireless unit is set to the power saving mode (YES: Step B2), the baseband processor unit 6 sets the data communication state of the transmission circuit in the wireless unit to the stop state and the data of the reception circuit. The communication state is set to the operating state (step B3: receiving circuit operation).
At this time, it is assumed that the baseband processor unit 6 constantly monitors connection requests (Probe Requests) from the wireless client terminals (21 to 23) (step B4).

Here, when the connection request from the wireless client terminal is detected (YES: Step B4), the baseband processor unit 6 sets the transmission levels of the transmission data transmitted from the transmission circuits of the RF circuits 8 and 10 in advance. The level is set below the set level (step B5: transmission level suppression setting).
The baseband processor unit 6 measures and monitors the connection request when the connection request from the wireless client terminal is not detected (YES: Step B4).
Next, the baseband processor unit 6 sets the transmission circuits of the RF circuits 8 and 10 to the operating state, generates a response signal (Probe Response) to the detected connection request, and suppresses the response signal as described above. Transmit to the wireless client terminal at the set transmission level (step B6).

  Next, the baseband processor unit 6 executes an authentication sequence process (step B11: state 2 (FIG. 4)) and an association process (step B12: state 3 (FIG. 4)) as a wireless communication connection sequence. Data communication is performed by establishing a communication connection with a wireless client terminal (here, for example, 21) (step B13).

  On the other hand, when the operation mode of the radio unit is set to the normal mode (normal operation mode) (NO: Step B2), the baseband processor unit 6 operates the transmission circuit and the reception circuit in the radio circuit units 8 and 10, respectively. Control to set the state and operate is performed (step B7).

  At this time, since the wireless circuit units 8 and 10 of the wireless circuit units 8 and 10 are set in the normal operation mode, the baseband processor unit 6 transmits the wireless client terminal (child device) via the wireless circuit units 8 and 10 respectively. The connection request (Probe Request) sent from the machine is monitored (step B8).

When a connection request (Probe Request) is detected from the wireless client terminal 21 (YES: Step B8), a response signal (Probe Response) to the wireless client terminal is transmitted (Step B9).
At this time, since the transmission circuit is set in an operating state in advance, a response signal can be quickly returned in response to the detected connection request.

  Next, the wireless client terminal 21 and the wireless access point 200 that have received the response signal mutually follow the authentication sequence (step B11: state 2 (FIG. 4)) and the association sequence (step B12: state 3 (FIG. 4)). A communication connection process is performed to establish a data communication connection (step B13: data communication).

Further, the baseband processor unit 6 is monitoring the connection request from the wireless client (step B8), and if the connection request from the wireless client terminal (Probe Request) is not detected for a certain time (NO: step B8), the baseband processor unit 6 A signal is transmitted (step B10: state 1 scanning (FIG. 3)).
Note that the baseband processor unit 6 periodically transmits beacon signals at regular time intervals.

  Here, when there is a response signal (Authentication) from the wireless client terminal to the transmitted beacon signal, that is, when the wireless client terminal (here, 21) is scanned by the beacon signal, the wireless client and the wireless access The points 200 mutually perform communication connection processing in accordance with an authentication sequence (step B11: state 2 authentication (FIG. 3)) and an association sequence (step B12: state 3 association (FIG. 3)) to establish a data communication connection ( Step B13: Data communication).

As described above, in the present embodiment and the modifications thereof, when the operation mode of the wireless access point device is set to the power saving mode by the user, or when the wireless access point device is not used by the wireless client terminal. Suppresses the operation of the transmission circuit and sets only the operation of the wireless circuit to an active state.
As a result, power consumption in the wireless access point terminal can be reduced. Furthermore, when communication data such as packet information is transmitted to the wireless client terminal in the power saving mode setting state, the transmission level is set to a constant value. By transmitting in a lower state, power consumption for wireless communication can be effectively suppressed.

Regarding the above-described embodiment, the main points of the new technical contents are summarized as follows.
In addition, although a part or all of said embodiment is put together as follows as a novel technique, this invention is not necessarily limited to this.

(Appendix 1)
A wireless access point device comprising: a wireless communication unit that establishes wireless communication connection with a wireless client and performs wireless communication; and a communication control unit that controls a wireless communication operation of the wireless communication unit,
The wireless communication unit
A transmission circuit for performing processing for transmitting communication data to the wireless client and a reception circuit for performing processing for receiving communication data from the wireless client;
The communication control unit
A connection request monitoring function for monitoring a connection request from the wireless client via the receiving circuit;
When the operation state of the wireless communication unit is set to a power saving mode in advance, a transmission circuit operation suppression function that controls to stop the communication operation in the transmission circuit and the transmission when the connection request is detected A wireless access point device comprising: a transmission circuit activation control function for transmitting a connection response to the connection request to the wireless client by activating a circuit.

(Appendix 2)
In the wireless access point device according to attachment 1,
Transmission level suppression for controlling the transmission circuit so that the communication data is transmitted at a transmission level equal to or lower than a preset fixed value when the operation state of the wireless communication unit is set in a power saving mode in advance. A wireless access point device having a function.

(Appendix 3)
The wireless access point device according to claim 1,
The communication control unit has a power saving operation control function for operating the transmitting circuit and the receiving circuit in a state where power applied to the wireless communication is suppressed to a predetermined value or less as an operation mode of the wireless communication. A featured wireless access point device.

(Appendix 4)
In the wireless access point device according to any one of appendices 1 to 3,
A wireless access point device comprising operation mode setting means for performing switching setting between the power saving mode as an operation mode in the wireless communication unit and a normal operation mode operating in a normal operation state.

(Appendix 5)
A wireless communication unit having a transmission circuit that performs processing for transmitting communication data to a wireless client and a reception circuit that performs processing for receiving communication data from the wireless client, and controls wireless communication operations in the wireless communication unit A wireless access point control method comprising: a wireless access point device comprising: a communication control unit that performs control for suppressing power consumption for wireless communication operation in the wireless communication unit,
When the operation state of the wireless communication unit is set to a preset power saving mode, the communication control unit performs control to stop the communication operation in the transmission circuit, the communication control unit, The connection request from the wireless client is monitored via the receiving circuit, and when the connection request is detected, the transmission circuit is activated, and a connection response to the connection request from the wireless client is set in advance. A wireless access point control method, wherein transmission is performed with the following transmission output.

(Appendix 6)
A wireless communication unit having a transmission circuit that performs processing for transmitting communication data to a wireless client and a reception circuit that performs processing for receiving communication data from the wireless client, and controls wireless communication operations in the wireless communication unit A wireless access point apparatus comprising a communication control unit for performing control to suppress power consumption for wireless communication operation in the wireless communication unit,
When the operation state of the wireless communication unit is set to a preset power saving mode, the communication control unit performs a control to stop communication operation in the transmission circuit, and the wireless operation control function A connection request monitoring function for monitoring a connection request from a client via the reception circuit, and the transmission circuit is activated when the connection request is detected, and a connection response to the connection request from the wireless client is preset. A wireless access point control program that causes a computer to execute a transmission level suppression control function for transmitting at a transmission output equal to or lower than the transmission level.

  The present invention can be usefully applied to systems that perform maintenance management of wireless access point devices in public wireless LAN systems and high-speed mobile communication networks.

5 Wireless section state control table storage section 6 Baseband processor section 7 Wireless MAC section 8, 10 RF circuit section 9 Setting INF sections 21, 22, 23 Wireless client terminals 81, 101 FEM (front end module) means 82, 102 Transmission RF Means 83 Reception RF means 84, 104 D / A conversion means 85, 105 A / D conversion means 200, 300 Wireless access point apparatus

Claims (6)

A wireless access point device comprising: a wireless communication unit that establishes wireless communication connection with a wireless client and performs wireless communication; and a communication control unit that controls a wireless communication operation of the wireless communication unit,
The wireless communication unit
A transmission circuit for performing processing for transmitting communication data to the wireless client and a reception circuit for performing processing for receiving communication data from the wireless client;
The communication control unit
A connection request monitoring function for monitoring a connection request from the wireless client via the receiving circuit;
When the operation state of the wireless communication unit is set to a power saving mode in advance, a transmission circuit operation suppression function that controls to stop the communication operation in the transmission circuit and the transmission when the connection request is detected A wireless access point device comprising: a transmission circuit activation control function for transmitting a connection response to the connection request to the wireless client by activating a circuit. The wireless access point device according to claim 1,
Transmission level suppression for controlling the transmission circuit so that the communication data is transmitted at a transmission level equal to or lower than a preset fixed value when the operation state of the wireless communication unit is set in a power saving mode in advance. A wireless access point device having a function. The wireless access point device according to claim 1,
The communication control unit has a power saving operation control function for operating the transmitting circuit and the receiving circuit in a state where power applied to the wireless communication is suppressed to a predetermined value or less as an operation mode of the wireless communication. A featured wireless access point device. The wireless access point device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A wireless access point device comprising operation mode setting means for performing switching setting between the power saving mode as an operation mode in the wireless communication unit and a normal operation mode operating in a normal operation state. A wireless communication unit having a transmission circuit that performs processing for transmitting communication data to a wireless client and a reception circuit that performs processing for receiving communication data from the wireless client, and controls wireless communication operations in the wireless communication unit A wireless access point control method comprising: a wireless access point device comprising: a communication control unit that performs control for suppressing power consumption for wireless communication operation in the wireless communication unit,
When the operation state of the wireless communication unit is set to a preset power saving mode, the communication control unit performs control to stop the communication operation in the transmission circuit, the communication control unit, The connection request from the wireless client is monitored via the receiving circuit, and when the connection request is detected, the transmission circuit is activated, and a connection response to the connection request from the wireless client is set in advance. A wireless access point control method, wherein transmission is performed with the following transmission output. A wireless communication unit having a transmission circuit that performs processing for transmitting communication data to a wireless client and a reception circuit that performs processing for receiving communication data from the wireless client, and controls wireless communication operations in the wireless communication unit A wireless access point apparatus comprising a communication control unit for performing control to suppress power consumption for wireless communication operation in the wireless communication unit,
When the operation state of the wireless communication unit is set to a preset power saving mode, the communication control unit performs a control to stop communication operation in the transmission circuit, and the wireless operation control function A connection request monitoring function for monitoring a connection request from a client via the reception circuit, and the transmission circuit is activated when the connection request is detected, and a connection response to the connection request from the wireless client is preset. A wireless access point control program that causes a computer to execute a transmission level suppression control function for transmitting at a transmission output equal to or lower than the transmission level.

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