JP2014082587A - Communication device, control method for the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably perform radio communication after executing handover by executing the handover by using a communication system having the most stable communication quality.SOLUTION: A communication device for communicating with another communication device includes: a plurality pieces of communication means for communicating with the other communication device; reception means for receiving a request for switching from current communication using current communication means to communication using another piece of communication means from the other communication device when the current communication with the other communication device is performed, where the current communication means is one of the plurality pieces of communication means and the other communication means is also one of the plurality pieces of communication means and differs from current communication means; determination means for determining communication means having the best communication state with the other communication device of the plurality of pieces of communication means except the current communication means, when the reception means receives the request; response means for responding to the request received by the reception means with the communication means determined by the determination means; and setting means for setting communication with the other communication device by using the communication means with which the response means has responded.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a control method thereof, and a program.

  In a wireless network communication technology of short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), it is essential to execute a setting unit for performing communication. As means for executing this communication setting, standards such as Bluetooth SSP (Simple Secure Pairing) and Wi-Fi WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) are defined in the standard.

  In this SSP and WPS, a method of executing setting using NFC (Near Field Communication) is defined, and this method is generally called “handover”. As a method using handover, a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi setting is executed by bringing NFC-compatible devices into contact with each other, and thereafter, communication using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi can be performed. Is already known.

  However, in the technology using the conventional handover, for example, when a connection by handover is performed between devices having a plurality of wireless communication systems such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC, the handover is performed using any communication system. There was a problem that it was not possible to decide what to do. In recent years, wireless communication technology has been installed in various devices, and traffic has increased and wireless communication has become congested.

  For example, in a situation where a plurality of Wi-Fi network APs (Access Points) are scattered, communication cannot be performed due to radio wave interference or the like, or even if communication is performed, a sufficient communication speed is obtained. The phenomenon that communication is interrupted occurs. Due to these two factors, when a handover from NFC is executed, traffic increases, and radio waves are congested. As a result of handover to a radio communication device that is difficult to communicate, The other wireless communication device that was not congested was easily communicable, but it was handed over to the wireless communication device on the side that was difficult to communicate with due to radio wave congestion. There is a problem that communication after the handover cannot be continued.

  In Patent Document 1, if the communication function for performing the handover is not enabled, the communication function for performing the handover is enabled for the purpose of solving the problem that the handover cannot be performed. A mechanism for checking whether or not and a method for performing pairing based on handover information are disclosed. In Patent Document 1, the method of the communication standard is checked when the handover is executed. Even if the communication function of the device is effective, depending on the increase in traffic around the device and the radio wave congestion, There is a possibility that the communication becomes unstable after the handover is performed, and the problem that the communication cannot be stably performed after the handover is performed has not been solved.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and in the case where there are a plurality of wireless communication devices capable of executing handover, the communication with the most stable communication quality. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program capable of performing stable wireless communication after executing a handover by executing a handover using a method.

  In order to solve the above problem, a communication device according to the present invention described in claim 1 is a communication device that communicates with another communication device, and a plurality of communication units that communicate with the other communication device; When communicating with the other communication device using one communication means among the plurality of communication means, another communication means different from the one communication means among the plurality of communication means is used. A receiving unit that receives a switching request for switching to communication from the other communication device, and another communication that is different from the one communication unit among the plurality of communication units when the receiving unit receives the switching request. A determination unit that determines a communication unit that has the best communication state with the other communication device, and a communication unit that is determined by the determination unit with respect to the switching request received by the reception unit. And responding means for responding In using communication means in response, characterized in that it comprises a setting means for setting a communication between the other communication apparatus.

  According to the present invention, when performing a handover, the communication device confirms the communication status and then notifies the communication device of the handover information using a stable communication method. It is possible to obtain a communication apparatus capable of executing a stable handover for a device, a control method thereof, and a program.

It is a functional block diagram showing the relationship between the communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the other communication apparatus facing. It is a schematic block diagram showing the hardware constitutions of the communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence chart figure explaining the hand-over performed between the communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and an other party. It is a flowchart figure explaining a process sequence in order to determine a communication system in the communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the relationship by which the communication apparatus and auxiliary device which concern on other embodiment of this invention are arrange | positioned facing each other. It is a sequence chart figure explaining the hand-over performed between the communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, an other party apparatus, and auxiliary equipment.

  Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified thru | or abbreviate | omitted suitably. In short, the present invention prepares a wireless communication unit having a plurality of communication methods in advance, selects a wireless communication unit having a communication method capable of performing stable communication, and then selects the wireless communication unit. It is characterized by executing a handover using a communication method.

  Specifically, the communication device has, for example, three or more wireless communication methods, and performs a handover using the first communication method, the second communication method, or the third communication method. In this case, for example, it is determined whether the communication quality of any of the second wireless communication method and the third wireless communication method is stable, and based on the result, the wireless communication on the stable side is determined. The handover process is executed using the method.

  First, the relationship between the communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention and another communication device facing the communication device will be described. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a relationship between a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention and another communication device facing the communication device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the device 52 that is a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention communicates with a counter device 51 that is another communication device that is opposed to the device 52, and the device 52 and the counter device 51. Are wireless communication units 1 14, 24, 2 15, 25, 3 16, 26,..., N 1N, 2N, each of which corresponds to a plurality of communication means. 14, 2, 15, 3 16,..., N 1N to switch from communication using one wireless communication unit to communication using another wireless communication unit different from this one wireless communication unit The receiving means 31 that receives the switching request from the opposite device 51 and the reception state of this switching request, the communication state with the opposite device 51 is the best from the other wireless communication units different from one wireless communication unit. Determining means 32 for determining a wireless communication unit and the switching In response to the request, the response unit 32 that responds to the wireless communication unit determined by the determination unit 32 and the setting unit 34 that sets communication with the opposite device 51 using the wireless communication unit that responds by the response unit 32. And.

  Next, a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. A communication apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 12, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 13, and three wireless communication units (wireless communication unit 1 (NFC)). 14, a wireless communication unit 2 (Bluetooth) 15, a wireless communication unit 3 (Wi-Fi) 16), and a memory 17. Note that specific communication standard names such as NFC, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi are described in the communication device 1 in FIG. 1, but the present invention is not limited to this communication standard, and other communication Of course, a standard may be adopted.

  In FIG. 2, by reading a program to be executed by the CPU 11 from the memory 17 or the HDD 13 in which a program for executing an instruction is stored, the wireless communication unit 1 (NFC) 14 is used to wirelessly communicate with the opposite device. When performing communication and then performing handover, the wireless communication unit 2 (Bluetooth) 15 or the wireless communication unit 3 (Wi-Fi) 16 is opposed to the wireless communication unit with the stable communication quality. Hand over to the machine.

  Next, a handover operation executed between the communication device and the counterpart device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a sequence chart for explaining a handover executed between the communication apparatus and the counterpart device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the device 52 has the hardware configuration described in FIG. The opposite device 51 also has a configuration equivalent to the hardware configuration described in FIG. 2, and includes a wireless communication unit 1 (NFC) 14, a wireless communication unit 2 (Bluetooth) 15, and a wireless communication unit 3 (Wi-Fi). ) 16.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the device 52 and the opposite device 51 first perform wireless communication using the wireless communication unit 1 (NFC) 14, and perform communication using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Over sequence begins. Specifically, a step of performing a handover request, which is a signal for requesting switching from the communication using the current NFC to the communication using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, from the opposite device 51 to the device 52 (hereinafter, referred to as “transmission request”). "S") 21 is executed.

  When the device 52 receives the handover request S21 that is a switching request signal, the device S11 executes processing S22 for determining the communication method within the CPU 11, and as a result, a handover request response S23 that is a response signal to the switching request signal is generated. It is transmitted to the opposite device 51. In the example of FIG. 3, it is assumed that the wireless communication unit 3 (Wi-Fi) 16 is determined in the process for determining the communication method.

  Since the information on the wireless communication unit 3 (Wi-Fi) 16 is notified as the communication method in the handover request response S23, the opposite device 51 sets the communication using the wireless communication unit 3 (Wi-Fi) 16. The setup process for performing is performed (S24). After the setup process (S24) is executed, communication by the wireless communication unit 3 (Wi-Fi) 16 becomes possible between the counterpart device 51 and the device 52, and thereafter, the wireless communication unit 3 (Wi-Fi) 16 is changed. The used communication is performed (S25).

  Next, a procedure for determining a communication method in the communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure for determining a communication method in the communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 4, as the communication method determination process S22 described with reference to FIG. 3, first, in the process of S31, calculation of a communication rate such as a transfer rate when communication using Wi-Fi within the past one hour is performed. Is called. Next, in the process of S32, a communication rate such as a transfer rate when communication using Bluetooth within the past hour is executed.

  For example, it is assumed that the opposite device A performs communication using Wi-Fi with respect to the device 52 in FIG. 3, and 10 minutes later, the opposite device B performs communication with the device 52 using Bluetooth. Then, the communication status such as the transfer speed in the communication executed between the opposing device A and the opposing device B is accumulated in the memory 17 or the HDD 13 of the device 52, and based on the result, in the processing of S33 described below. A communication rate such as a transfer rate is calculated.

  In the process of S33, the communication rate when the communication using Wi-Fi within the past hour calculated in S31 is executed is the communication using Bluetooth within the past hour calculated in S32. It is determined whether or not the communication rate at that time has been exceeded. In the processing of S33, when it is determined that the communication rate when the communication using Wi-Fi is executed exceeds the communication rate when the communication using Bluetooth is executed (S33: Y), Transition to processing. In the processing of S33, when it is determined that the communication rate when the communication using Wi-Fi is performed does not exceed the communication rate when the communication using Bluetooth is executed (S33: N), Transition to processing.

  In the process of S34, setup information for setting communication using Wi-Fi is determined. In the process of S35, setup information for setting communication using Bluetooth is determined. In the process of S36, a handover request response that is a response signal to the switching request signal described in the process of S23 of FIG. 3 is generated.

  As described above, in FIG. 4, in the communication method determination process, the communication rate performed by the device 52 so far is calculated inside the device, and this is performed in both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication methods, and as a result. Are compared. As a result, if the Wi-Fi communication rate so far is faster than the Bluetooth communication rate, the device 52 determines that Wi-Fi is capable of stable communication, and information necessary for Wi-Fi setup. Is generated as a handover request response. When the Bluetooth communication rate is faster than the Wi-Fi communication rate, the device 52 generates information necessary for Bluetooth setup as a handover request response.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the communication rate within the past hour is adopted as the calculation target of the communication rate, but this is only an example, and the communication rate at other times is adopted as the calculation target. Of course, it is also good. Further, the communication timeout number or error number in an arbitrary past time may be used, or a communication parameter weighted according to the past time zone may be used. The Wi-Fi setup information and the Bluetooth setup information are information determined by each wireless communication method, and include information such as a PIN code and an address for uniquely identifying hardware. Since this is not an essential part of the present invention, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Next, a communication apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship in which a communication device and an auxiliary device according to another embodiment of the present invention are arranged to face each other. In FIG. 5, there is a device 52 having the configuration described in FIG. 1, and an auxiliary device 53 is provided in the vicinity thereof. The auxiliary device 53 is a device having the same configuration as the device 52 described in FIG. 1, and is equipped with a wireless communication unit 2 (Bluetooth) 15 and a wireless communication unit 3 (Wi-Fi) 16.

  Next, operations performed between the communication device, the counterpart device, and the auxiliary device according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a sequence chart illustrating a handover executed between the communication device, the counterpart device, and the auxiliary device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The device 52 transmits and receives Bluetooth heartbeats S71, S73, S75, S77, S79, and S81 to and from the auxiliary device 53, and transmits and receives Wi-Fi heartbeats S72 and S74, so that the device 52 can communicate with Bluetooth. It is confirmed whether or not wireless communication by the method or the Wi-Fi communication method is operating normally. In S76, S78, S80, and S82, since the device 52 cannot transmit and receive the Wi-Fi heartbeat, the device 52 performs wireless communication with the auxiliary device 53 using the Wi-Fi communication method. It means you can't.

  That is, the device 52 performs wireless communication by the Bluetooth communication method and wireless communication by the Wi-Fi communication method at a certain time interval with respect to the auxiliary device 53, and transmits and receives the heartbeat signal. The device 52 confirms the communication quality of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi as to whether or not wireless communication can be actually performed.

  After S76, it is assumed that communication is temporarily congested and unstable due to an increase in wireless communication traffic using the Wi-Fi communication method, and that no Wi-Fi heartbeat signal is transmitted or received. At this time, if a handover request is generated as a signal for requesting switching from communication using NFC to communication using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi from the counterpart device 51 (S83), the device 52 is shown in FIG. In the communication method determination process described above, Bluetooth setup information is determined, and a handover request response according to the Bluetooth communication method is returned as a response signal to the switching request signal (S84). As a result, a setup process for setting wireless communication using the Bluetooth communication method is performed between the opposite device 51 and the device 52 (S85), and thereafter communication using the Bluetooth communication method is performed (S86).

  As described above, in the present invention, when performing a handover, the communication device confirms the communication status and notifies the communication device of handover information using a stable communication method. As a result, it is possible to obtain a communication apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program capable of performing a stable handover with respect to a communication device.

  The present invention has been described above by the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, various modifications and changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. is there.

1 Communication device 11 CPU
12 ASIC
13 HDD
14, 24 Wireless communication unit 1
15, 25 Wireless communication unit 2
16, 26 Wireless communication unit 3
1N, 2N Wireless communication unit N
31 Receiving means 32 Response means 33 Determination means 34 Setting means 51 Opposite device 52 Wireless communication device 53 Auxiliary device

JP 2011-151746 A

Claims (5)

A communication device that communicates with other communication devices,
A plurality of communication means for communicating with the other communication device;
When communicating with the other communication device using one communication means of the plurality of communication means, another communication means different from the one communication means among the plurality of communication means is used. Receiving means for receiving from the other communication device a switching request for switching to the existing communication;
When the receiving unit receives the switching request, the communication state with the other communication device is the best among the other communication units different from the one communication unit among the plurality of communication units. Determining means for determining means;
Response means for responding to the switching request received by the receiving means with the communication means determined by the determining means;
Setting means for setting communication with the other communication device using the communication means responding with the response means;
A communication device comprising:   The determination means is a communication means having the highest transfer rate with the other communication device within a predetermined time among other communication means different from the one communication means, and the communication state is the best. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is determined as a communication unit. An auxiliary communication device having another communication means different from the one communication means;
Before receiving the switching request, communication using another communication unit different from the one communication unit is performed with the auxiliary communication device, and the communication state with the auxiliary communication device is the best. Discrimination means for discriminating communication means;
When the switching request is received, the response means responds to the determined communication means, and the setting means sets communication with the other communication device using the determined communication means. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above. A communication device control method for communicating with other communication devices,
A plurality of communication means communicating with the other communication device;
When the receiving unit communicates with the other communication device using one communication unit among the plurality of communication units, the other communication unit is different from the one communication unit among the plurality of communication units. Receiving a switching request for switching to communication using communication means from the other communication device;
When the determining unit receives the switching request in the receiving step, the communication state with the other communication device from among the other communication units different from the one communication unit among the plurality of communication units Determining the communication means for which is best,
A response means responding to the communication means determined in the determining step in response to the switching request received in the receiving step;
A step of setting communication with the other communication device by using the communication unit that has responded in the step of responding;
The control method characterized by including. A program to be executed by a computer of a communication device that communicates with another communication device,
A process in which a plurality of communication means communicate with the other communication device;
When the receiving unit communicates with the other communication device using one communication unit among the plurality of communication units, the other communication unit is different from the one communication unit among the plurality of communication units. A process of receiving a switching request for switching to communication using a communication means from the other communication device;
When the determination unit receives the switching request in the receiving process, the communication state with the other communication device is selected from the other communication units different from the one communication unit among the plurality of communication units. Determining the communication means for which is the best,
A process in which a response means responds to the communication means determined in the determining process in response to the switching request received in the receiving process;
A process for setting communication with the other communication device using the communication means that the setting means responded in the responding process;
The program characterized by including.

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