JP5641226B2 - Wireless communication system, repeater device, and connection destination associating method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system configured using a repeater device, and a repeater device and method used in the system.

  For example, in a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) system, radio waves to be transmitted / received between a wireless communication terminal and an access point device are, as shown by dotted arrows in FIG. It may be blocked by. In addition to the case where radio waves are blocked by an obstacle as shown in FIG. 24, there is a case where it is desired to ensure that the distance that enables communication between the wireless communication terminal and the access point device matches the purpose. .

  In order to improve the communication quality between the wireless communication terminal and the access point device and to solve the communication distance problem, as shown in FIG. 24, a repeater (Repeater) is provided between the wireless communication terminal and the access point device. ) Equipment may be installed. In this case, the repeater device relays a signal transmitted in the wireless LAN. However, the repeater device may not only simply relay but also perform a process of reproducing the transmission signal (a process of reactivation such as amplification). .

  Various proposals have been made for repeater devices. For example, Patent Document 1 described later discloses an invention relating to a low-cost closed space repeater device that is low in installation cost and low in processing delay in a repeater device that is installed as a countermeasure against a non-sensing area in a closed space. Yes.

JP 2003-324383 A

  In recent years, a telephone system (wireless network system) that uses a wireless LAN system and enables a user to perform telephone communication using a portable wireless communication terminal has been established in companies and the like. It is coming. In the case of a telephone system using a wireless LAN system, connection information (setting information) such as an IP address and an SSID (Service Set Identifier) assigned to an access point device is different for each telephone system.

  For this reason, in the case of a company that is separated in location, for example, a company that builds separate telephone systems in the A building and the B building, if a repeater device is installed, the telephone system built in the A building And for the telephone system built in Building B need to be provided. Especially when each wireless communication terminal of the telephone system constructed in each of the A building and the B building forms a place where it can be connected to the telephone system to which the own device belongs, a repeater device for each system is installed. There is a need to. More precisely, it may be necessary to provide a repeater device for each access point device of each telephone system.

  However, in this case, the number of repeater devices increases unnecessarily, the configuration of each wireless telephone system becomes complicated and difficult to manage, and a flexible telephone system (wireless network system) cannot be constructed at low cost.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to enable a wireless communication terminal belonging to each wireless communication system to connect to the wireless communication system to which the own device belongs without increasing the number of repeater devices.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a wireless communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
A wireless communication system including a repeater device wirelessly connected to one or more wireless communication terminals,
The repeater device
First wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more relay devices;
A connection destination storage unit that stores identification information of the relay device provided from each of the one or more relay devices connected to the communication path through the first wireless communication unit;
A second wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more of the wireless communication terminals;
Accepting means for accepting front connection destination information, which is identification information of the relay device that the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path immediately before, from the wireless communication terminal that connected the communication path through the second wireless communication means; ,
Based on the storage information of the connection destination storage means, the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal, and the received previous connection destination information, the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path and the connection destination An association means for associating the relay device to be
Wireless communication control means for controlling to perform communication between the wireless communication terminal and the relay device related by the association means,
The wireless communication terminal is
Wireless communication means for communicating with the relay device or the repeater device;
The identification information of the relay device that performs communication through the wireless communication unit is retained, and when a communication path is newly connected through the wireless communication unit, the previous connection destination information is added to the connection destination of the communication path. And providing means for providing.

  According to the wireless communication system of the first aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication terminal, the communication path is connected to the relay device or the repeater device through the wireless communication means. In the wireless communication terminal, the previous connection destination information which is the identification information of the relay device to which the wireless communication terminal has connected the communication path immediately before is held, and this is for the other party who connected the communication path. Provided through the providing means.

  On the other hand, in the repeater apparatus, identification information of one or more relay devices connected to the communication path through the first wireless communication unit is stored in the connection destination storage unit. In the repeater device, when the communication path is connected to the wireless communication terminal through the second wireless communication unit, the pre-connection destination information provided from the wireless communication terminal is received through the receiving unit. Then, based on the storage information of the connection destination storage means, the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal, and the received previous connection destination information, the wireless communication in which the communication path is connected by the association means The terminal and the relay device to be connected are related. Thereafter, control is performed by the wireless communication control means so that communication can be performed between the associated wireless communication terminal and a predetermined communication destination.

  Thus, each of the one or more wireless communication terminals and the one or more relay devices can communicate with each other with an appropriate counterpart via one repeater device. Therefore, without increasing the number of repeater devices, even in a portion where communication areas of different wireless communication systems overlap, wireless communication terminals belonging to the respective wireless communication systems appropriately connect to and communicate with the wireless communication system to which the own apparatus belongs. To be able to.

A radio communication system according to the invention described in claim 3
A wireless communication system including a repeater device wirelessly connected to one or more wireless communication terminals,
The repeater device
First wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more relay devices;
A second wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more of the wireless communication terminals;
Setting information storage means for previously storing association information including identification information for associating each of the one or more relay devices with each of the one or more wireless communication terminals;
When the wireless communication terminal connects the communication path through the second wireless communication means, the wireless communication terminal is connected to the wireless communication terminal based on the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal and the stored information of the setting information storage means. An association means for associating the communication terminal with the relay device;
Wireless communication control means for controlling to perform communication between the wireless communication terminal and the relay device related by the association means,
The wireless communication terminal is
Wireless communication means for communicating with the relay device or the repeater device;
When providing a communication path between the relay device or the repeater device through the wireless communication means, the information providing means for providing identification information of the own device to a connection destination of the communication path is provided.

  According to the wireless communication system of the third aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication terminal, the communication path is connected to the relay device or the repeater device through the wireless communication means. In this case, the identification information of the own device is provided to the other party connected to the communication path through the information providing means.

  On the other hand, in the repeater device, a communication path can be connected to one or more relay devices that can be connected through the first wireless communication means, and one or more wireless communication terminals can be connected through the second wireless communication means. It is possible to connect a communication path between the two. In the repeater device, the association information including the identification information for associating each of the one or more relay devices connectable to the own device with each of the one or more wireless communication terminals is set information storage means in advance. Is stored (set).

  In the repeater device, when a communication path is connected to the wireless communication terminal through the second wireless communication means, the identification information of the wireless communication terminal provided from the wireless communication terminal and the storage information of the setting information storage means Based on the above, the association means associates the wireless communication terminal with the relay device. Thereafter, the relay is controlled by the wireless communication control means so that communication can be performed between the wireless communication terminal and the relay device associated therewith.

  Thus, each of the one or more wireless communication terminals and the one or more relay devices can communicate with each other with an appropriate counterpart via one repeater device. Therefore, without increasing the number of repeater devices, even in a portion where communication areas of different wireless communication systems overlap, wireless communication terminals belonging to the respective wireless communication systems appropriately connect to and communicate with the wireless communication system to which the own apparatus belongs. To be able to.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately connect a wireless communication terminal belonging to each wireless communication system to the wireless communication system to which the wireless communication terminal belongs without increasing the number of repeater devices. A wireless network system that is simple in configuration and easy to manage can be constructed.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structural example of the telephone system of embodiment. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the access point apparatus 1 used with the telephone system of embodiment. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the repeater apparatus 2 used with the telephone system of embodiment. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the radio | wireless communication terminal 3 used with the telephone system of embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the case where 3 A of wireless communication terminals roam from the access point apparatus 1A to the repeater apparatus 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting information of the memory of the terminal information management part 118 updated whenever the other party which connects a communication path changes in the access point apparatus 1A. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting information of the memory of the terminal information management part 238 updated whenever the other party which connects a communication path changes in the repeater apparatus 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating address setting about each apparatus in 3 A of radio | wireless communication terminals when the radio | wireless communication terminal 3A roams. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram following FIG. 5 for explaining a case where the wireless communication terminal 3B roams from the access point device 1B to the repeater device 2. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting information of the memory of the terminal information management part 118 updated whenever the other party which connects a communication path changes in the access point apparatus 1B. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting information of the memory of the terminal information management part 118 and 238 updated whenever the other party which connects a communication path in the repeater apparatus 2 changes. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the case where 3 A of radio | wireless communication terminals are connected to the repeater apparatus 2 initially. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting information of the memory of the terminal information management part 118 updated whenever the other party which connects a communication path changes in access point apparatus 1A, 1B. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting information of the memory of the terminal information management part 238 updated whenever the other party which connects a communication path changes in the repeater apparatus 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a connection process executed immediately after power-on in the wireless communication terminal 3; 6 is a flowchart for explaining a roaming process executed when searching for the next connection destination in the wireless communication terminal 3; 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed in the repeater apparatus 2; It is a figure for demonstrating the connection information set to each of access point apparatus 1A, 1B, radio | wireless communication terminal 3A, 3B, and repeater apparatus 2 of 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the case where 3 A of radio | wireless communication terminals of 2nd Embodiment roam from the access point apparatus 1A to the repeater apparatus 2. FIG. FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram subsequent to FIG. 19 for illustrating a case where the wireless communication terminal 3B of the second embodiment roams from the access point device 1B to the repeater device 2. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process performed in the repeater apparatus 2 of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st example in case connection information etc. differ for every apparatus connected to the repeater apparatus 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd example in case connection information etc. differ for every apparatus connected to the repeater apparatus 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structural example of the conventional wireless LAN system.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a system, apparatus, and method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, a case where the system, apparatus, and method of the present invention are applied to a telephone system formed using a wireless LAN will be described as an example. Further, the wireless LAN used in the telephone system described below is, for example, one that can comply with the IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b / g standards, or one that can correspond to the successor standards. .

[Outline of telephone system]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration example of a telephone system according to an embodiment described below. A telephone system according to an embodiment described below is composed of a wireless network A and a wireless network B as shown by being surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. The wireless network A is a part formed by connecting an access point device (described as AP in FIG. 1) 1A to the server 10 via a hub HB. The wireless network B is a part formed by connecting an access point device (indicated as AP in FIG. 1) 1B to the server 10 via the hub HB and the router 20.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, the server 10 is connected to another IP (Internet Protocol) network and is used as a default gateway of the wireless network A. The default gateway realizes a function representative of an “entrance / exit” used when accessing outside the network to which the default gateway belongs. That is, the server 10 serves as an entrance when the wireless network A accesses another network.

  The hub HB is a so-called concentrator in a wireless network. The router 20 is a device that relays a signal flowing through the wireless network B to another wireless network (in this embodiment, the wireless network A). Therefore, in the telephone system shown in FIG. 1, the router 20 functions as a default gateway of the wireless network B.

  Each of the access point device 1A of the wireless network A and the access point device 1B of the wireless network B communicates with the wireless terminal device, so that the wireless terminal device belongs to the wireless network to which each access point device belongs. To connect to. That is, each of the access point devices 1A, 1B realizes a function as a relay device (radio wave relay device) that connects a wireless network to which the own device belongs and a wireless terminal device.

  In addition, as will be described in detail later, the wireless terminal devices 3A and 3B function as portable voice terminal devices for enabling telephone communication. As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication terminal 3 </ b> A can be connected to the access point device 1 </ b> A of the wireless network A. The wireless communication terminal 3B is connectable to the access point device 1B of the wireless network B.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in this example, the IP address of the server 10 is “192.168.1.1”, and the IP address of the access point device 1A connected to the server 10 via the hub HB is “192.168.1.XXX”. The IP address of the wireless terminal device 3A connected to the wireless network 1 through the access point device 1A is also “192.168.1.XXX”. In this embodiment, the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the access point device 1A is “00: 00: 00: 00: 11”, and the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3A is “00:00: 00: 00: AA ".

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the IP address of the router 20 is “192.168.2.1”, and the IP address of the access point device 1B connected to the router 20 is “192.168.2.XXX”. " Furthermore, the IP address of the wireless terminal device 3B connected to the wireless network 1 through the access point device 1B is also “192.168.2.XXX”. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the MAC address of the access point device 1B is “00: 00: 00: 00: 22”, and the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3B is “00: 00: 00: 00”. : BB ".

  Note that the “XXX” portion of the IP address described above can be changed depending on the access point device or the wireless terminal device. Further, in FIG. 1, the character strings shown below the IP address “192.168.1.XXX” of the access point apparatus 1A and below the IP address “192.168.2.XXX” of the access point apparatus 1B. “255.255.255.0” indicates the subnet mask of the access point.

  In this example, the subnet mask recognizes the front 24 bits of the IP address as a network address and the rear 8 bits as a host address. Therefore, taking the case of the access point 1A as an example, out of the IP address “192.168.1.XXX”, the portion up to the “192.168.1” portion of the front 24 bits is the network address, and the back 8 The “XXX” part of the bit is recognized as the host address.

  In addition, as shown by a dotted line block in FIG. 1, a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server is provided for each wireless network, thereby giving information such as an IP address to an access point device or a wireless terminal device. You can also The DHCP server is a server device having a function of automatically assigning necessary information such as an IP address to a device temporarily connected to a network. However, in the telephone system of this embodiment, in order to simplify the description, an IP address prepared in advance by the server 10 or the router 20 is not used by a DHCP server, for example, an access point device or a wireless terminal device. It will be described as being given to.

  In the telephone system according to the embodiment described below, a repeater device 2 that can be shared by the wireless network A and the wireless network B is provided as shown in FIG. Usually, a repeater device used in a wireless network is provided for each wireless network, and enables communication between an access point device belonging to the wireless network and a wireless communication terminal.

  However, as shown in FIG. 1, the repeater device 2 according to this embodiment can connect a wireless communication path between the access point device 1A of the wireless network A and the access point device 1B of the wireless network B. It is. Then, the repeater device 2 connects the communication path to the wireless communication terminal 3A of the wireless network A that is enabled to connect the communication path to the access point device 1A, and the access point device 1A and the wireless communication terminal Enable relaying to and from 3A. Further, the repeater device 2 connects the communication path to the wireless communication terminal 3B of the wireless network B that is enabled to connect the communication path to the access point device 1B, and the access point device 1B and the wireless communication terminal Relaying with 3B is also possible.

  As described above, the repeater device 2 of this embodiment establishes a wireless communication path with each of a plurality of access point devices of different wireless networks and a plurality of wireless communication terminals of different wireless networks. Then, an access point device and a wireless communication terminal belonging to the same wireless network are associated with each other so that communication can be performed between them.

  In the wireless LAN system, it is necessary to prevent an unlimited number of wireless communication terminals of different wireless networks from being connected to an access point device of a certain wireless network. For this reason, predetermined connection information is set in advance in each access point device and wireless communication terminal so that a communication path can be connected only between devices having the same connection information. The connection information includes SSID, security information (information indicating an encryption method), an encryption key, and the like.

  Accordingly, connection information such as SSID is different between the wireless network A and the wireless network B shown in FIG. However, the same connection information including the same SSID is set in the access point device 1A and the wireless communication terminal 3A in the wireless network A. Also, the same connection information including the same SSID is set in the access point device 1B and the wireless communication terminal 3B in the wireless network B. Further, in order to enable connection to the wireless network A and the wireless network B, both the connection information such as the SSID used in the wireless network A and the connection information such as the SSID used in the wireless network B are set in the repeater device 2. Is done.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and basic operation of the access point devices 1A and 1B, the repeater device 2, and the wireless communication terminals 3A and 3B that constitute the telephone system described with reference to FIG. 1 will be described. In the telephone system shown in FIG. 1, each of the access point devices 1A and 1B has the same configuration and realizes the same function. For this reason, in the following, unless otherwise indicated, the access point devices 1A and 1B are collectively referred to as the access point device 1. Similarly, each of the wireless communication terminals 3A and 3B has the same configuration and realizes the same function. For this reason, in the following, unless otherwise indicated, the wireless communication terminals 3A and 3B are collectively referred to as the wireless communication terminal 3.

[Configuration and Operation Overview of Access Point Device 1]
First, a configuration example and operation of the access point device 1 will be described. As described above, the access point device 1 realizes a function as a relay device for connecting a wireless communication terminal to a wireless network to which the own device belongs.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the access point device 1 used in the telephone system of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the access point device 1 of this embodiment includes a connection terminal 101 to a wired LAN connected to a default gateway (server 10 or router 20), and a wired LAN interface (hereinafter, wired LAN I / F). 102, a transmission processing circuit 103, a reception processing circuit 104, a transmission amplifier 105, a reception amplifier 106, an antenna duplexer 107, a transmission / reception antenna 108, and a control unit 110. Yes.

  The connection terminal 101 constitutes a connection end to the wired LAN. The wired LAN I / F 102 converts a signal addressed to the own device supplied through the wired LAN and received through the connection terminal 101 into a signal in a format that can be processed by the own device, and supplies the signal to the control unit 110. The wired LAN I / F 102 converts a signal to be transmitted supplied from the control unit 110 into a signal in a format to be transmitted to the wired LAN, and transmits this to the wired LAN.

  The transmission / reception antenna 108 is for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the wireless communication terminal 3 that is wirelessly connected. The antenna duplexer 107 is for preventing the signal transmitted from the own device and the signal received by the own device from affecting each other. The reception amplifier 106 amplifies the received packet to a predetermined level and supplies it to the reception processing circuit 104. The reception processing circuit 104 converts the received packet into a packet in a format that can be processed by itself, and supplies the packet to the control unit 110. Also, the transmission processing circuit 103 forms a transmission packet in a format that is actually transmitted from the packet from the control unit 110. The transmission amplifier 105 amplifies the transmission packet to a predetermined level.

  In the access point device 1, the transmission system from the server 10 obtained through the connection terminal 101 and the wired LAN I / F 102 functions in accordance with the control of the control unit 110 and wirelessly transmits to the wireless communication terminal 3. . Here, the transmission system is a part including the transmission processing circuit 103, the transmission amplifier 105, the antenna duplexer 107, and the transmission / reception antenna 108.

  Further, a signal from the wireless communication terminal 3 or the like is received through the reception system of the access point device 1 and supplied to the control unit 110. Here, the reception system is a part including a transmission / reception antenna 108, an antenna duplexer 107, a reception amplifier 106, and a reception processing circuit 104. The control unit 110 sends the received packet to the wired LAN through the wired LAN I / F 102 and the connection terminal 101, and transmits the packet to the server 10 and the router 20.

  The control unit 110 is configured by a microcomputer, and is configured as shown in FIG. 2, for example. That is, a ROM (Read only Memory) 113, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 114, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) 115, and a packet decomposition are performed via a system bus 111 to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 112. / Generation unit 116, setting information management unit 117, terminal information management unit 118, and wired connection I / F 119 are connected. The wired connection I / F 119 is connected to the external connection terminal 120.

  Here, the CPU 112 executes a program stored in the ROM 113 to generate a control signal for controlling each unit and supply the control signal to each unit or process information from each unit. . As described above, the ROM 113 stores and holds various programs executed by the CPU 112 and various data necessary for processing.

  The RAM 114 is mainly used as a work area, such as temporarily storing intermediate results of processing. The EEPROM 115 is a so-called nonvolatile memory, and stores and holds data that should be retained even when the power is turned off, for example, various setting parameters and new programs provided for function enhancement. Have been able to.

  The packet disassembly / generation unit 116 disassembles packets addressed to the own device received through the connection terminal 101 and the wired LAN I / F 102 and packets addressed to the own device received through the reception system, and controls the control unit 110 and a terminal information management unit described later. Make it available at 118 etc. The packet disassembly / generation unit 116 has a function of generating a packet to be transmitted by packetizing data to be transmitted from the own device. Note that packets transmitted and received between the server 10 and the wireless communication terminal 3 are basically relayed without being decomposed or generated.

  The setting information management unit 117 includes a non-volatile memory, and stores security information indicating an SSID, an encryption method, connection information including an encryption key used for encryption and decryption, and other various setting information related to communication. Maintain and manage. Note that the setting information itself may be stored in, for example, the EEPROM 115 and managed by the setting information management unit 117.

  The terminal information management unit 118 includes a memory, and stores and manages a MAC address or the like of a device that is configured to connect a communication path with the access point device 1. Specifically, the terminal information management unit 118, when a connected device such as the repeater device 2 or a device serving as a subordinate terminal such as the wireless communication terminal 3 connects a communication path to the access point device 1, It manages identification information such as the MAC address of each device.

  The wired connection I / F 119 and the connection terminal 120 are for directly connecting an external device to the access point device 1 by wire. That is, the wired connection I / F 119 converts the data from the external device connected through the connection terminal 120 into a format that can be processed by the own device, or receives the data that the own device should transmit to the external device. The data is converted into data in a format to be transmitted to the external device and provided to the external device. Under the control of the control unit 110, communication is performed between the server 10 and the external device through the above-described wired LAN I / F 102 or the like, or between the wireless communication terminal 3 and the external device through the above-described transmission system or reception system. You can also communicate.

  As other functions, the control unit 110 determines whether the received packet is multicast or unicast, determines the type of received packet (voice information, data, control information, etc.), and sets the respective data. Can be handled properly.

  Then, the access point device 1 connects the communication path with the subordinate radio communication terminal 3 directly or via the repeater device 2 described later, and between the radio communication terminal 3 and the server 10 or the router 20. A function to relay communication is realized.

[Configuration and operation overview of repeater device 2]
Next, a configuration example and operation of the repeater device 2 will be described. As described above, the repeater device 2 establishes a wireless communication path with each of a plurality of access point devices of different wireless networks and a plurality of wireless communication terminals of different wireless networks. Then, an access point device and a wireless communication terminal belonging to the same wireless network can be related and relayed so that communication can be performed between them. Thus, the repeater device 2 relays between the access point device 1 and the wireless communication terminal 3, but is called a repeater device in order to distinguish from the access point device 1.

  The repeater device 2 wirelessly connects a communication path with the access point device 1 and the wireless communication terminal 3. For this reason, the repeater device 2 can be connected to the access point device 1 and the wireless communication terminal 3 by providing a single wireless communication unit including a transmission system and a reception system. However, in the following, for simplicity of explanation, the repeater device 2 includes a first wireless communication unit 210 for performing wireless communication with the access point device 1 and a first wireless communication unit 3 for performing wireless communication with the wireless communication terminal 3. It is assumed that the wireless communication unit 220 has two wireless communication units 220.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the repeater device 2 used in the telephone system according to the embodiment described below. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the repeater device 2 includes a first wireless communication unit 210 that performs wireless communication with the access point device 1, a second wireless communication unit 220 that performs wireless communication with the wireless communication terminal 3, and a control unit. 230.

  The first wireless communication unit 210 includes a transmission processing circuit 211, a reception processing circuit 212, a transmission amplifier 213, a reception amplifier 214, an antenna duplexer 215, and a transmission / reception antenna 216. The second wireless communication unit 220 includes a transmission processing circuit 221, a reception processing circuit 222, a transmission amplifier 223, a reception amplifier 224, an antenna duplexer 225, and a transmission / reception antenna 226.

  The transmission / reception antenna 216 of the first wireless communication unit 210 is for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the wirelessly connected access point device 1. The transmission / reception antenna 226 of the second wireless communication unit 220 is for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the wireless communication terminal 3 that is wirelessly connected. The corresponding parts of the first wireless communication unit 210 and the second wireless communication unit 220 realize the same function.

  That is, the antenna duplexers 215 and 225 are for preventing the signal transmitted from the own device and the signal received by the own device from affecting each other. The reception amplifiers 214 and 224 amplify the received packet to a predetermined level and supply it to the corresponding reception processing circuits 212 and 222. The reception processing circuits 212 and 222 convert the received packet into a packet in a format that can be processed by the own device, and supplies the packet to the control unit 230. Further, the transmission processing circuits 211 and 221 form a transmission packet in a format that is actually transmitted from the packet from the control unit 230. The transmission amplifiers 213 and 223 amplify the transmission packet to a predetermined level.

  In the first wireless communication unit 210, a part including the transmission processing circuit 211, the transmission amplifier 213, the antenna duplexer 215, and the transmission / reception antenna 216 constitutes a transmission system of the first wireless communication unit. Further, a part including the transmission / reception antenna 216, the antenna duplexer 215, the reception amplifier 214, and the reception processing circuit 212 constitutes a reception system of the first wireless communication unit 210. Similarly, in the second wireless communication unit 220, a part including the transmission processing circuit 221, the transmission amplifier 223, the antenna duplexer 225, and the transmission / reception antenna 226 constitutes a transmission system of the second wireless communication unit. Further, a part including the transmission / reception antenna 226, the antenna duplexer 225, the reception amplifier 224, and the reception processing circuit 222 constitutes a reception system of the second wireless communication unit 220.

  In the repeater device 2, the transmission packet from the access point device 1 obtained through the reception system of the first wireless communication unit 210 is transmitted to the transmission system of the second wireless communication unit 220 according to the control of the control unit 230. Functions and wirelessly transmits to the wireless communication terminal 3. In the repeater device 2, the transmission packet from the wireless communication terminal 3 obtained through the reception system of the second wireless communication unit 220 is transmitted by the transmission system of the first wireless communication unit 210 in accordance with the control of the control unit 230. Functions and wirelessly transmits to the access point apparatus 1.

  The control unit 230 is configured by a microcomputer, and is configured as shown in FIG. 3, for example. That is, the ROM 233, RAM 234, EEPROM 235, AP (Access Point) information control unit 236, setting information management unit 237, terminal information management unit 238, and wired connection I are connected to the CPU 232 via the system bus 231. / F239 is connected. The wired connection I / F 239 is connected to the external connection terminal 240.

  Here, the CPU 232 executes a program stored in the ROM 233 to generate a control signal for controlling each unit and supply the control signal to each unit or process information from each unit. . As described above, the ROM 233 stores and holds various programs executed by the CPU 232 and various data necessary for processing.

  The RAM 234 is mainly used as a work area, such as temporarily storing intermediate results of processing. The EEPROM 235 is a so-called nonvolatile memory, and stores and holds data that should be retained even when the power is turned off, for example, various setting parameters and new programs provided for function enhancement. Have been able to.

  The AP information control unit 236 realizes different functions in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described later. That is, although the AP information control unit 236 will be described in detail later, in the first embodiment, the AP of the access point device 1 to which the wireless communication terminal 3 transmitted from the wireless communication terminal 3 was connected immediately before is transmitted. Based on the previous AP information that is identification information, the wireless communication terminal 3 and the access point device 1 are associated with each other.

  The AP information control unit 236, as will be described in detail later, in the second embodiment, setting information for associating the access point device 1 set in the repeater device 2 with the wireless communication terminal 3 Based on the identification information provided from the wireless communication terminal 3, the wireless communication terminal 3 and the access point device 1 are associated with each other.

  The setting information management unit 237 includes a nonvolatile memory, and stores security information indicating an SSID, an encryption method, connection information including an encryption key used for encryption and decryption, and other various setting information related to communication. Maintain and manage. The setting information itself may be stored in, for example, the EEPROM 235 and managed by the setting information management unit 237.

  The terminal information management unit 238 includes a memory, and stores and manages a MAC address or the like of a device that is configured to connect a communication path to the repeater device 2. Specifically, the terminal information management unit 238, when a connected device such as the access point device 1 or a subordinate terminal such as the wireless communication terminal 3 connects a communication path to the repeater device 2, Manages identification information such as MAC addresses.

  The wired connection I / F 239 and the connection terminal 240 are for directly connecting an external device to the repeater device 2 with a wired connection. In other words, the wired connection I / F 239 converts the data from the external device connected through the connection terminal 240 into a format that can be processed by the own device, or receives the data that the own device should transmit to the external device. The data is converted into data in a format to be transmitted to the external device and provided to the external device. Then, under the control of the control unit 230, communication is performed between the access point device 1 and the external device through the first wireless communication unit 210 described above, or with the wireless communication terminal 3 through the second wireless communication unit 220 described above. It is also possible to communicate with external devices.

  The repeater device 2 having such a configuration relays communication between the access point device 1 and the wireless communication terminal 3. Then, the repeater apparatus 2 mainly uses the function of the AP information control unit 236 to connect a plurality of wireless communication terminals 3 belonging to different wireless network systems to the wireless to which the wireless communication terminals 3 belong, as described with reference to FIG. Appropriate connections can be made to the access point device 1 of the network system.

[Configuration and operation overview of wireless communication terminal 3]
Next, a configuration example and operation of the wireless communication terminal 3 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the radio communication terminal 3 used in the telephone system according to the embodiment described below. As shown in FIG. 4, the wireless communication terminal 3 includes a transmission / reception antenna 301, an antenna duplexer 302, a reception amplifier 303, a reception processing circuit 304, a transmission as a part that performs communication with the access point device 1 and the repeater device 2. A processing circuit 305 and a transmission amplifier 306 are provided.

  Here, the antenna duplexer 302 is for preventing the signal transmitted from the own device and the signal received by the own device from affecting each other. The reception amplifier 303 amplifies the packet received through the transmission / reception antenna 301 and the antenna duplexer 302 to a predetermined level and supplies it to the reception processing circuit 304. The reception processing circuit 304 converts the packet from the reception amplifier 303 into a packet in a format that can be processed by itself, and supplies the packet to the control unit 320.

  In addition, the transmission processing circuit 305 forms a transmission packet in a format to be actually transmitted from the packet from the control unit 320, and supplies this to the transmission amplifier 306. The transmission amplifier 306 amplifies the transmission packet from the transmission processing circuit 305 to a predetermined level. The packet amplified by the transmission amplifier 306 is transmitted through the antenna duplexer 302 and the transmission / reception antenna 301.

  The wireless communication terminal 3 includes a voice data input / output interface (hereinafter abbreviated as a voice data input / output I / F) 307, a receiver amplifier 308, a receiver (speaker) 309, and a transmitter as parts where a user makes a call. A microphone (microphone) 310 and a transmission amplifier 311 are provided.

  Further, the wireless communication terminal 3 includes a control unit 320. The control unit 320 is configured by a microcomputer, and is configured as shown in FIG. 4, for example. That is, the ROM 323, the RAM 324, the EEPROM 325, the packet decomposition / generation unit 326, the setting information management unit 327, and the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328 are connected to the CPU 322 via the system bus 321. .

  The CPU 322 executes a program stored and held in the ROM 323 to generate a control signal for controlling each part and supply the control signal to each part, or process information from each part. As described above, the ROM 323 stores and holds various programs executed by the CPU 322 and various data necessary for processing. The RAM 324 is mainly used as a work area, such as temporarily storing intermediate results of processing.

  The EEPROM 325 is a so-called non-volatile memory, and can store and hold data that should be retained even when the power is turned off, such as various setting parameters and new programs provided for function enhancement. Has been.

  The packet disassembly / generation unit 326 disassembles the packet addressed to itself received through the reception system, and makes it usable in the control unit 320 or the like. Here, the reception system is a part including a transmission / reception antenna 301, an antenna duplexer 302, a reception amplifier 303, and a reception processing circuit 304. The packet disassembly / generation unit 326 has a function of generating a packet that is packetized from its own device and transmitted.

  The setting information management unit 327 includes a nonvolatile memory, and stores security information indicating an SSID, an encryption method, connection information including an encryption key used for encryption and decryption, and other various setting information related to communication. Maintain and manage. Note that the setting information itself may be stored in, for example, the EEPROM 325 and managed by the setting information management unit 327.

  The previous AP information transmission processing unit 328 includes a memory, stores and holds previous AP information that is identification information (MAC address) of the access point device 1 connected immediately before, and newly accesses the access point device 1 and the repeater device 2. A message is sent to notify this. The message is packetized by the packet disassembly / generation unit 362 and transmitted to the connection destination of the communication path through the transmission system. Here, the transmission system is a part including a transmission processing circuit 305, a transmission amplifier 306, an antenna duplexer 302, and a transmission / reception antenna 301. In the case of the second embodiment to be described later, since the previous AP information is not used, it is necessary to provide the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328 enclosed by a dotted line in FIG. Not to be.

  In addition, a key operation unit 331, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) control unit 332, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) control unit 334, and an audio processing unit 336 are connected to the control unit 320 as components constituting a user interface. . An LED group 333 is connected to the LED control unit 332, an LCD 335 is connected to the LCD control unit 334, and a speaker 337 is connected to the audio processing unit 336.

  Here, the key operation unit 331 includes a so-called numeric keypad (numeric key), a plurality of function keys, and the like, and receives an operation input from the user. The LED group 333 includes a plurality of LEDs, and indicates an off-hook state, a utilization state of an external line accommodated in the server 10, and other various states in accordance with the control of the LED control unit 332. The LCD 335 displays the other party's telephone number when receiving an incoming call, displays the other party's telephone number when making a call, or displays the call time according to the control of the LCD control unit 334. In addition, the LCD 335 displays various information such as displaying the current time provided by a clock circuit (not shown) when in the standby state under the control of the LCD control unit 334. The speaker 337 can receive the analog audio signal processed by the audio processing unit 336 and emit a sound (ringing tone or alarm sound) corresponding to the analog audio signal.

  Packets from the access point device 1 and the repeater device 2 are supplied to the control unit 320 through the reception system. The control unit 320 decomposes the packet from the access point device 1 or the repeater device 2 in the packet decomposition / generation unit 326 and grasps the contents. When the packet from the access point device 1 or the repeater device 2 is voice data from a communication partner, the control unit 320 supplies this to the voice data input / output I / F 307.

  The audio data input / output I / F 307 forms an analog audio signal from the audio data supplied thereto, and supplies this to the speaker 309 through the reception amplifier 308. As a result, a sound corresponding to the sound data from the other party is emitted from the speaker 309 so that the user of the wireless communication terminal 3 can listen to the sound.

  On the other hand, the voice uttered by the user of the wireless communication terminal 3 is collected by the microphone 310 and supplied to the voice data input / output I / F through the transmission amplifier 311 as an analog voice signal. The audio data input / output I / F 307 converts the analog audio signal supplied thereto into digital audio data, and supplies this to the control unit 320.

  The control unit 320 packetizes the audio data from the audio data input / output I / F 307 in the packet decomposition / generation unit 326 and transmits the packetized data to the access point device 1 and the repeater device 2 through the transmission system. Thus, the voice packet is transmitted from the access point device 1 or from the repeater device 2 and the access point device 1 to the server 10 and transmitted to the other party of the call through the server 10.

  Further, as described above, when the packet received by the own device and decomposed by the packet disassembly / generation unit 326 of the control unit 320 is control information addressed to the own device, the control unit 320 Each part is controlled according to. For example, when the control information from the access point device 1 or the repeater device 2 is a notification of the usage status of the external line of the server 10, the control unit 320 controls the LED control unit 332 to use the external line used. Processing such as turning on the LED corresponding to is performed. When the control information from the access point device 1 or the repeater device 2 is to notify the incoming call to the own device, the control unit 320 controls the LCD control unit 334 to call the LCD 335. The original telephone number is displayed, or ring tone data is supplied to the voice processing unit 336, and the ring tone is emitted from the speaker 337.

  When the user receives an incoming call and the user performs an off-hook operation through the key operation unit 331, the control unit 320 forms a response message. The response message is packetized by the packet disassembly / generation unit 326 and transmitted to the access point device 1 through the access point device 1 and the repeater device 2 through the transmission system. Then, the response message is transmitted from the access point device 1 to the server 10 and transmitted from the server 10 to the terminal of the transmission source so that the communication line is connected. As described above, voice packets are transmitted and received. I was made to talk.

  When the other party's telephone number is input through the key operation unit 331 and a call is made from the own apparatus, the control unit 320 generates a call message including the other party's telephone number. The call message is packetized by the packet disassembly / generation unit 326 and transmitted to the access point device 1 through the transmission system or to the access point device 1 through the repeater device 2.

  The call message is transmitted from the access point device 1 to the server 10, and is transmitted from the server 10 to the destination terminal of the destination. Then, when the other user performs an off-hook operation to respond to the incoming call, a response message is transmitted. In response to this, the wireless communication terminal 3 and the access point device 1 further connect the communication line by interposing the repeater device 2 between the wireless communication terminal 3 and the access point device 1. Thereby, as described above, voice packets are transmitted and received to make a call.

  As described above, the control unit 320 manages the state of the own device and controls the functions such as a terminal state management unit for controlling calls and incoming / outgoing calls, LED (lamp) control, LCD display control, alarm sound, It also realizes a function as a terminal control unit that performs output control of voice messages.

  Then, it is assumed that the wireless communication terminal 3 of this embodiment roams to another access point device 1 or repeater device 2 as a user having the wireless communication terminal 3 moves. In this case, the wireless communication terminal 3 according to the first embodiment described below transmits the previous AP information, which is identification information of the access point apparatus 1 that has been connected to the communication path, to the new connection destination. When the connection destination is the repeater device 2, the access point device 1 to be the connection destination is notified. Further, the wireless communication terminal 3 according to the second embodiment described below transmits its own identification information (such as a MAC address) to a new connection destination, and when the connection destination is the repeater device 2, In the repeater device 2, the access point device 1 to be a connection destination can be specified in consideration of the setting information of the repeater device 2.

  The first and second embodiments will be described below as more specific embodiments. In the first and second embodiments described below, as shown in FIG. 1, wireless network systems A and B, which are telephone systems, are formed adjacent to each other and belong to the wireless communication terminals 3A and 3B, respectively. However, the case of roaming from the access point devices 1A and 1B to the repeater device 2 will be described as an example. In the roaming, the wireless communication terminal 3 changes the access point device 1 or the repeater device 2 to which the communication path is connected, that is, the wireless communication terminal 3 can walk between the access point devices 1 in the same system. Means function.

  In the first and second embodiments described below, the access point device 1, the repeater device 2, and the wireless communication terminal 3 basically have the configurations described with reference to FIGS. Is. However, as will be described later, the wireless communication terminal 3 according to the second embodiment does not include the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328 shown by the dotted line in FIG.

[First Embodiment] (FIGS. 5 to 17)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the repeater apparatus 2 is based on the previous AP information that is the identification information of the access point apparatus 1 to which the wireless communication terminal 3 connected immediately before is provided from the wireless communication terminal 3. The wireless communication terminal 3 and the access point device 1 are associated with each other.

  In the following, first, the case where the wireless communication terminal 3A belonging to the wireless network system A roams from the access point device 1A to the repeater device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. Thereafter, a case where the wireless communication terminal 3B belonging to the wireless network system B roams from the access point device 1B to the repeater device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Roaming of wireless communication terminal 3A]
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining a case where the wireless communication terminal 3A belonging to the wireless network system A roams from the access point device 1A to the repeater device 2 in the first embodiment. 6 and 7 show setting information (connection destination information) set in the memories of the terminal information management units 118 and 238 that are updated each time the other party to which the communication path is connected in the access point device 1A and the repeater device 2 changes. It is a figure for demonstrating. FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing address setting for each device in the wireless communication terminal 3A when the wireless communication terminal 3A roams.

  In the first embodiment, as shown on the upper left side of FIG. 5, first, the access point device 1A and the repeater device 2 are brought into a wireless connection state. In this case, in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1A, the identification information (MAC address) of the repeater device 2 connected to the communication path as a connected device as shown in the setting A-1 in FIG. ) Is set. Further, the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 of the repeater device 2 stores the access point device 1A as relay device (AP) information indicating the connected access point device as shown in the setting 2-1 of FIG. The MAC address (00: 00: 00: 00: 11) is set.

  In this specification, in order to simplify the explanation, when explaining the processing of the repeater apparatus 2 and the like, as shown in FIG. 7, the actual MAC address of the device connected to the repeater apparatus 2 and its Use the abbreviation of the device. Here, for example, the abbreviations of the devices are “AP1A” for the access point device 1A and “terminal 3A” for the wireless communication terminal 3A. Further, when the processing in the access point devices 1A and 1B is described, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, description of actual MAC addresses of the repeater device 2 and the wireless communication terminal 3 is omitted, and the name of the device. And only abbreviations.

  Furthermore, as shown in the upper right end side of FIG. 5, the access point device 1B and the repeater device 2 are also in a wireless connection state. In this case, a communication path is connected to the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1B as a connected device, as will be described later, as in the case of the access point device 1A shown in FIG. The identification information (MAC address) of the repeated repeater device 2 is set. Further, the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 of the repeater device 2 stores the access point device 1B as relay device (AP) information indicating the connected access point device as shown in the setting 2-2 in FIG. 7B. The MAC address (00: 00: 00: 00: 22) is set in addition to the MAC address of the access point device 1A already in the wireless communication state.

  As shown in the setting 2-2 in FIG. 7B, the repeater device 2 is connected to the access point devices 1A and 1B of the different wireless networks A and B, and the wireless connection state between these devices. This is managed by the function of the terminal information management unit 238.

  The connection processing between the access point devices 1A and 1B and the repeater device 2 is connected through a connection sequence similar to that in the case of connecting a communication path between the access point device 1A and the wireless communication terminal 3A described later. The Although the details will be described later, basically, the communication information is obtained by using the connection information such as SSID set in advance for each of the devices connected to the communication channel, and verifying whether or not the devices are mutually connectable. Is connected.

  As another connection method, a mutual MAC address is registered between devices that can connect a communication path, and authentication is performed using the MAC address to determine whether the device is connectable. It is also possible to connect the roads. However, in this specification, in order to simplify the explanation, the former method of connecting a communication path using connection information such as SSID is used, and the communication path is connected between the devices, and the wireless connection state is established. Shall be.

  Then, as shown in the upper left of FIG. 5, a predetermined connection sequence is executed between the wireless communication terminal 3A and the access point device 1A, and the wireless communication terminal 3A and the access point device 1A are in a wireless connection state. Suppose that In this case, in the predetermined connection sequence, the wireless communication terminal 3A as a client first transmits a probe request including the SSID set in the own device, and the same SSID located in the vicinity is set. Obtain the response from the access point device. In contrast, when the access point device 1A having the same connection information such as the SSID transmits a probe response, the wireless communication terminal 3A confirms the presence of the connectable access point device 1A located in the vicinity. Can be recognized.

  After that, between the wireless communication terminal 3A that has transmitted the probe request and the access point device 1A that has transmitted the probe response, information including connection information such as SSID is transmitted and received to be mutually authenticated. To. If the outline of the authentication process is shown, the wireless communication terminal 3A and the access point apparatus 1A have the same SSID, and determine whether or not the wireless communication terminal 3A and the access point apparatus 1A can be connected to each other. .

  When mutual authentication is obtained, the wireless communication terminal 3A transmits a connection request (Association Request) including the SSID and the like to the access point device 1A. In response to this, when the access point device 1A permits the connection of the wireless communication terminal 3A, it transmits a connection response (Association Response) including the SSID and the like to the wireless communication terminal 3A. Thereby, a communication path is connected between the access point device 1A and the wireless communication terminal 3A, and a wireless connection state is established. In this specification, a series of connection processes (connection procedures) such as probe → authentication → association are referred to as a predetermined connection sequence.

  In this way, when the access point device 1A and the wireless communication terminal 3A are in a wireless connection state, the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1A has a setting A-2 shown in FIG. 6B. As the connected device, identification information (MAC address) of the wireless communication terminal 3A connected to the communication path is set. Therefore, the access point device 1A can grasp and manage that the communication path is connected to the repeater device 2 and that the communication path is also connected to the wireless communication terminal 3A. .

  Then, the address setting in the wireless communication terminal 3A in the wireless connection state with the access point device 1A is set as shown in the address setting 1 in FIG. That is, the destination address is an actual destination address (IP address or the like) that is a communication partner. The source address is the address (IP address or the like) of the wireless communication terminal 3A. The BSSID becomes the address (MAC address) of the access point device 1A constituting the BSS (Basic Service Set) with the wireless communication terminal 3A when the wireless communication terminal 3A is wirelessly connected. Note that the destination address and the source address are opposite between the source and the destination.

  In this case, the wireless communication terminal 3A uses the BSSID (here, the MAC address of the access point device 1A) as the previous AP information (previous connection destination information), for example, in the memory in the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328. Hold. That is, in FIG. 5, the access point apparatus that is currently wirelessly connected in the wireless communication terminal 3A is the access point apparatus 1A, as indicated by “previous AP” next to the block of the wireless communication terminal 3A. Is grasped and managed. In this way, immediately before the previous AP information held in the memory in the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328 connects the communication path immediately before the wireless communication terminal 3A disconnects the communication path with the access point device 1A. This is information indicating (identifying) the access point device 1 that has been used.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the user having the wireless communication terminal 3A moves, and the wireless communication terminal 3A deviates from the range in which it can communicate with the access point device 1A (becomes out of the communication range of the access point device 1A). It is assumed that the mobile device has moved to an area that can communicate with the device 2 (the communication area of the repeater device 2).

  In this case, as the wireless communication terminal 3A moves away from the access point device 1A, the communication sensitivity between the wireless communication terminal 3A and the access point device 1A connected to the communication path gradually decreases. Then, the wireless communication terminal 3A performs roaming when the communication sensitivity (for example, the received electric field strength) is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. At this time, the wireless communication terminal 3A transmits a communication disconnection message (Deauthentication) to the access point device 1A. As a result, the communication path between the access point device 1A and the wireless communication terminal 3A is disconnected. Then, in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1A, the identification information (MAC address) of the wireless communication terminal 3A set as the connected device as shown in the setting A-3 in FIG. Deleted. Therefore, in this case, only the repeater apparatus 2 is connected to the communication path with the access point apparatus 1A.

  Thereafter, when the wireless communication terminal 3A entering the communication range of the repeater device 2 transmits a probe request, the repeater device 2 transmits a probe response. Therefore, as shown in the lower right side of FIG. 5, the wireless communication terminal 3 </ b> A now executes the predetermined connection sequence described above with the repeater device 2 and connects the communication path to the repeater device 2. Then, a wireless connection state is established.

  Then, the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 of the repeater apparatus 2 stores the MAC address (3A) of the wireless communication terminal 3A as terminal information indicating the wireless communication terminal 3A connected as shown in the setting 2-3 of FIG. 00: 00: 00: AA) is set in addition to the MAC addresses of the access point apparatuses 1A and 1B that are already in the wireless communication state. In this case, in the repeater device 2, the wireless communication terminal 3A is managed by the terminal information as a connection terminal, not an access point device.

  That is, the repeater apparatus 2 can distinguish and manage whether the other party that has connected the communication path to the own apparatus is an access point apparatus or a wireless communication terminal. The distinction is that the partner that sent the probe request from its own device and connected the communication path is a server-side device such as an access point device, and the partner that received the probe request and connected the communication channel It can be distinguished as a wireless communication terminal on the client side.

  As another distinction method, when information indicating the type of device is included in the transmitted / received data, it is also possible to distinguish based on information indicating the type of the device. Further, by setting the MAC address and device type of each device in the repeater device 2 in advance, the device type is determined by the setting information and the MAC address transmitted from the device connected to the communication path. It can also be configured to discriminate.

  Then, the address setting in the wireless communication terminal 3A in the wireless connection state with the repeater device 2 is set as shown in the address setting 2 in FIG. 8B. That is, the destination address is an actual destination address (IP address or the like) that is a communication partner. The source address is the address (IP address or the like) of the wireless communication terminal 3A. The BSSID becomes the address (MAC address) of the repeater device 2 that constitutes the BSS (Basic Service Set) with the wireless communication terminal 3A when the wireless communication terminal 3A is wirelessly connected. Note that the destination address and the source address are opposite between the source and the destination.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 5, the repeater device 2 is in a wireless connection state with both the access point device 1 </ b> A of the wireless network A and the access point device 1 </ b> B of the wireless network B. For this reason, the repeater device 2 cannot specify whether the wireless communication terminal 3A in the wireless connection state is connected to the access point device 1A or the access point device 1B.

  Therefore, in this first embodiment, when the wireless communication terminal 3A roams itself and changes the connection destination of the communication path, the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328 holds it in its own memory. The previous AP information being transmitted is transmitted to the repeater device 2. That is, when the wireless communication terminal 3A connects the communication path to the repeater device 2 and enters the wireless connection state, as shown by the double line arrow in FIG. 5, the previous AP information (in this case, the access point) The MAC address of the device 1A) is transmitted to the repeater device 2. As a result, the repeater device 2 is the access point device 1A of the wireless network A. Can be identified (recognized).

  In this case, in the repeater device 2, the AP information control unit 236 functions to associate the identified access point device 1A with the wireless communication terminal 3A. Specifically, the AP information control unit 236 controls the terminal information management unit 238 to relate the wireless communication terminal 3A as a terminal under the access point device 1A as shown in setting 2-4 in FIG. Change the setting so that it is attached. That is, the AP information control unit 236 changes the setting information in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 from the setting 2-3 state shown in FIG. 7C to the setting 2-4 state shown in FIG. To change.

  Thereby, in the repeater device 2, the wireless communication terminal 3A newly in a wireless connection state with the repeater device 2 can be recognized as a terminal under the access point device 1A of the wireless network A. Then, the repeater device 2 receives the data transmitted from the wireless communication terminal 3A based on the terminal information shown in FIG. 7D of the terminal information management unit 238 as shown in the lower end side of FIG. Relay control can be performed so as to transmit to the apparatus 1A.

  In this case, in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1A, based on the notification information from the repeater device 2, as shown in the setting A-4 of FIG. Identification information (MAC address) is set. Thereby, also in the access point device 1A, it is understood that the subordinate radio communication terminal 3A is connected via the repeater device 2.

  Then, the address setting in the repeater device 2 that associates the access point device 1A with the wireless communication terminal 3A is set as shown in the address setting 3 of FIG. That is, the destination address is an actual destination address (IP address or the like) that is a communication partner. The source address is the address (IP address or the like) of the wireless communication terminal 3A. The destination of the relay device is the address (MAC address) of the access point device 1A, and the transmission source of the relay device is the address (MAC address) of the repeater device 2.

  As described above, the repeater device 2 according to the first embodiment has a communication path connected to the access point device 1A and is also wirelessly connected to the access point device 1B. In addition, the wireless communication terminal 3A can be appropriately connected to the access point apparatus 1A after roaming. The repeater apparatus 2 can appropriately relay data transmitted / received between the access point apparatus 1A and the wireless communication terminal 3A.

[Roaming of wireless communication terminal 3B]
Next, as described above, after the wireless communication terminal 3A roams from the access point apparatus 1A to the repeater apparatus 2, this time, the case where the wireless communication terminal 3B roams from the access point apparatus 1B to the repeater apparatus 2 will be described. .

  FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram for explaining a case where the wireless communication terminal 3B belonging to the wireless network system B roams from the access point device 1B to the repeater device 2 in the first embodiment. It is a continuation of the sequence diagram shown. 10 and 11 show setting information (connection destination information) set in the memories of the terminal information management units 118 and 238 that are updated each time the other party to which the communication path is connected in the access point device 1B and the repeater device 2 changes. It is a figure for demonstrating.

  As described with reference to FIG. 5, after the wireless communication terminal 3A roams from the access point device 1A to the repeater device 2, this time, as shown in the upper right side of FIG. It is assumed that the terminal 3B starts a predetermined connection sequence with the access point device 1B. In this case, since the access point device 1B belongs to the wireless network B, a communication path is connected between the access point device 1B and the wireless communication terminal 3B, and a wireless connection state is established.

  In addition, as described above with reference to FIG. 5, a communication path is already connected between the repeater device 2 and the access point device 1B, and both devices are already in a wireless connection state. For this reason, as described above and as shown in the setting B-1 in FIG. 10A, the identification information (MAC) of the repeater device 2 as a connected device is stored in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1B. Address) is set. This time, the access point device 1B and the wireless communication terminal 3B are in a wireless connection state. For this reason, in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1B, as shown in the setting B-2 in FIG. 10B, the identification information (MAC) of the wireless communication terminal 3B connected to the communication path as a connected device. Address) is set. Thereby, the access point device 1B can grasp and manage that the communication path is connected to the repeater device 2 and the communication path is also connected to the wireless communication terminal 3B. it can.

  Then, the address setting in the wireless communication terminal 3B that is in a wireless connection state with the access point device 1B is set in the same manner as the address setting 1 shown in FIG. Is as follows. In this case, the destination address is the address (IP address or the like) of the actual destination that is the communication partner, the transmission source address is the address (IP address or the like) of the wireless communication terminal 3B, and the BSSID is the address of the wireless communication terminal 3B. This is the address (MAC address) of the wirelessly connected access point device 1B. Note that the destination address and the source address are opposite between the source and the destination.

  Therefore, in the wireless communication terminal 3B, the BSSID (here, the MAC address of the access point device 1B) is held as previous AP information (previous connection destination information), for example, in a memory in the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328. That is, in FIG. 9, the access point apparatus that is currently wirelessly connected in the wireless communication terminal 3B is the access point apparatus 1B, as indicated by “previous AP” next to the block of the wireless communication terminal 3B. Is grasped and managed. In this way, the previous AP information held in the memory in the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328 connects the communication path immediately before the wireless communication terminal 3B disconnects the communication path with the access point device 1B. This is information indicating (identifying) the access point device 1 that has been used.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, the user having the wireless communication terminal 3B moves, and the wireless communication terminal 3B is out of the communication range with the access point device 1B (becomes out of the communication range of the access point device 1B). It is assumed that the mobile device has moved to an area that can communicate with the device 2 (the communication area of the repeater device 2).

  In this case, as in the case of the wireless communication terminal 3A described above, the wireless communication terminal 3B performs roaming when the communication sensitivity (for example, the received electric field strength) is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. A message (Deauthentication) is transmitted to the access point apparatus 1B. As a result, the communication path between the access point device 1B and the wireless communication terminal 3B is disconnected. Then, in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1B, the identification information (MAC address) of the wireless communication terminal 3A set as the connected device as shown in the setting B-3 in FIG. Deleted. Therefore, in this case, only the repeater device 2 is connected to the communication path with the access point device 1B.

  Thereafter, when the wireless communication terminal 3B transmits a probe request, since the wireless communication terminal 3B has entered the communication range of the repeater device 2, the repeater device 2 transmits a probe response. It will be. Therefore, as shown in the lower left side of FIG. 9, the wireless communication terminal 3B performs the predetermined connection sequence described above with the repeater device 2 and connects the communication path to the repeater device 2 this time. The wireless connection state is established.

  Then, the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 of the repeater apparatus 2 stores the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3B as terminal information indicating the wireless communication terminal 3B connected as shown in setting 2-5 of FIG. 00: 00: 00: BB) is set in addition to the MAC addresses of the access point devices 1A and 1B and the wireless communication terminal 3A that are already in the wireless communication state. In this case, as described above, the access point device 1A and the wireless communication terminal 3A are already associated and managed. Then, in the repeater device 2, as in the case of the wireless communication terminal 3A, the wireless communication terminal 3B is managed not by an access point device but by a terminal information as a connection terminal.

  Then, the address setting in the wireless communication terminal 3B that is in a wireless connection state with the repeater device 2 is set in the same manner as the address setting 2 in FIG. 8 (b). become that way. That is, the destination address is the address (IP address or the like) of the actual destination that is the other party of communication, the transmission source address is the address (IP address or the like) of the wireless communication terminal 3B, and the BSSID is wireless by the wireless communication terminal 3B. This is the address (MAC address) of the connected repeater device 2. Note that the destination address and the source address are opposite between the source and the destination.

  Also in the wireless communication terminal 3B, as in the case of the wireless communication terminal 3A described above, when the own device roams and the connection destination of the communication path is changed, the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328 The previous AP information held in the memory is transmitted to the repeater device 2. That is, when the wireless communication terminal 3B connects the communication path to the repeater device 2 and enters the wireless connection state, as shown by the double line arrow in FIG. 9, the previous AP information (in this case, the access point) The MAC address of the device 1B) is transmitted to the repeater device 2. Thereby, the repeater device 2 specifies (recognizes) that the access point device to which the wireless communication terminal 3B that is in a wireless connection state with the own device is connected immediately before is the access point device 1B of the wireless network B. )can do.

  In this case, in the repeater device 2, the AP information control unit 236 functions and associates the identified access point device 1B with the wireless communication terminal 3B. Specifically, the AP information control unit 236 controls the terminal information management unit 238 to relate the wireless communication terminal 3B as a terminal under the access point device 1B, as indicated by setting 2-6 in FIG. Change the setting so that it is attached. That is, the AP information control unit 236 changes the setting information in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 from the setting 2-5 state illustrated in FIG. 11A to the setting 2-6 state illustrated in FIG. To change.

  As a result, in the repeater device 2, the wireless communication terminal 3B newly in a wireless connection state with the repeater device 2 can be recognized as a terminal under the access point device 1B of the wireless network B. Then, as shown at the lower end side in FIG. 9, the repeater device 2 can perform relay control so that the data transmitted from the wireless communication terminal 3B is transmitted to the access point device 1B.

  In this case, in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1B, based on the notification information from the repeater device 2, as shown in the setting B-4 in FIG. Identification information (MAC address) is set. Thereby, also in the access point device 1B, it is understood that the subordinate radio communication terminal 3B is connected via the repeater device 2.

  And the address setting in the repeater apparatus 2 which linked | related the access point apparatus 1B and the radio | wireless communication terminal 3B is set in the aspect similar to the address setting 3 of FIG.8 (c). That is, the destination address is an actual destination address (IP address or the like) that is a communication partner. The transmission source address is the address (IP address or the like) of the wireless communication terminal 3B, the destination of the relay device is the address (MAC address) of the access point device 1B, and the transmission source of the relay device is the address of the repeater device 2 ( MAC address).

  As described above, when the repeater device 2 according to the first embodiment is in a wireless connection state between the access point device 1A and the access point device 1B, the repeater device 2 appropriately roams and establishes the wireless communication terminal 3B. It can be connected to the access point device 1B. The repeater apparatus 2 can appropriately relay data transmitted / received between the access point apparatus 1B and the wireless communication terminal 3B.

  In the first embodiment, the repeater device 2 has been described as being shared by two different wireless networks. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The repeater device 2 can be shared by two or more different wireless networks.

[When wireless communication terminal 3 is first connected to repeater device 2]
By the way, in the case of the telephone system of the first embodiment, the repeater device 2 transmits the previous AP information from the wireless communication terminal 3 to the repeater device 2, so that the repeater device 2 has connected to its own wireless communication terminal 3. The connection destination can be determined. For this reason, when the wireless communication terminal 3 is turned off and turned on again so that inappropriate previous AP information is not used, the previous AP information is initialized by, for example, initializing the previous AP information. Do not transmit substantially. Alternatively, immediately after the wireless communication terminal 3 is turned on, the wireless communication terminal 3 does not transmit the previous AP information.

  For this reason, since the previous AP information itself does not exist when the wireless communication terminal 3 is connected to the repeater device 2 for the first time after the power is turned on, the connection destination of the wireless communication terminal 3 in the repeater device 2 Cannot be determined. Therefore, when the previous AP information is not transmitted from the wireless communication terminal 3 that has connected the communication path with the own device, the repeater device 2 of the first embodiment receives the data from the wireless communication terminal 3. It transmits to all the access point apparatuses 1 that are in a wireless connection state with the own device. Then, the access point device 1 that responds first is specified as the connection destination of the wireless communication terminal 3.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram for explaining a case where the wireless communication terminal 3A is first connected to the repeater device 2. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate setting information set in the memories of the terminal information management units 118 and 238 that are updated each time the other party to which the communication path is connected in the access point apparatuses 1A and 1B and the repeater apparatus 2 changes. FIG.

  Also here, as shown in FIG. 12, a communication path is already connected between the repeater device 2 and the access point device 1A, and between the repeater device 2 and the access point device 1B, and the wireless connection state is established. It shall be. In this case, in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1A, the identification information (MAC address) of the repeater device 2 connected to the communication path as a connected device as shown in the setting A-1A of FIG. ) Is set. Similarly, in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1B, as shown in the setting B-1A of FIG. 13C, the identification information (MAC address) of the repeater device 2 connected to the communication path as a connected device. ) Is set.

  Also, in this case, the access point is stored in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 of the repeater device 2 as relay device (AP) information indicating the connected access point device as shown in the setting 2-1A of FIG. The MAC addresses of the devices 1A and 1B are set. In this embodiment, the MAC address of the access point device 1A is “00: 00: 00: 00: 11”, and the MAC address of the access point device 1B is “00: 00: 00: 00: 22”. .

  When the wireless communication terminal 3A is turned on and the wireless communication terminal 3A executes the predetermined connection sequence described above, there is only the repeater device 2 in the vicinity of the wireless communication terminal 3A. It is assumed that the wireless communication terminal 3A is in a wireless connection state. Therefore, in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 of the repeater apparatus 2, in addition to the MAC addresses of the access point apparatuses 1A and 1B, as shown in FIG. 14B, the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3A is stored as terminal information. be registered.

  In this case, since the wireless communication terminal 3A first enters a wireless connection state with the repeater device 2 after the power is turned on, as described above, the wireless communication terminal 3A does not transmit the previous AP information. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14B, in the repeater device 2, the wireless communication terminal 3A cannot be related to the access point device 1A that is originally connected to the wireless communication terminal 3A. For this reason, the repeater device 2 transmits data from the wireless communication terminal 3A to each of the access point devices 1A and 1B that are in a wireless connection state with the own device. The data includes information such as the SSID set in the wireless communication terminal 3A and the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3A.

  When the access point device 1A receives the data from the wireless communication terminal 3A supplied via the repeater device 2, the access point device 1A stores the data as a subordinate terminal in the memory of its own terminal information management unit 118 as shown in FIG. The MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3A is registered. Similarly, when the access point device 1B receives data from the wireless communication terminal 3A supplied via the repeater device 2, the access point device 1B stores the data in the terminal information management unit 118 of its own device as shown in FIG. The MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3A is registered as a subordinate terminal.

  Since the data from the wireless communication terminal 3A includes the SSID used in the wireless network A, the access point device 1A can determine that the terminals belong to the same wireless network. Therefore, the access point device 1A can respond to data from the wireless communication terminal 3A. Therefore, the access point device 1A transmits (replies) the data addressed to the wireless communication terminal 3A to the repeater device 2 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the access point device 1B cannot respond to the data from the wireless communication terminal 3A because the SSID included in the data from the wireless communication terminal 3A is different from the SSID set in its own device. .

  Therefore, in the repeater device 2, as shown in FIG. 14D, the AP information control unit 236 functions, and the setting information in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 is sent to the access point device 1A that has returned the data. On the other hand, the wireless communication terminal 3A is related. Then, the repeater device 2 transmits data addressed to the wireless communication terminal 3A from the access point device 1A to the wireless communication terminal 3A. Thereafter, in the repeater device 2, the control unit 230 functions based on the setting information shown in FIG. 14D set in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238, and the access point device 1A and the wireless communication terminal 3A It is possible to relay the transmission and reception of data to and from.

  As described with reference to FIG. 13D, the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3A is set as a subordinate terminal in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1B of the wireless network B. However, when the communication between the access point device 1B and the wireless communication terminal 3A is not performed for a predetermined time, the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3A in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1B is deleted ( Deleted).

  As described above, in the first embodiment, when the wireless communication terminal 3 is first connected to the repeater device 2 in a state in which appropriate pre-AP information cannot be transmitted to the repeater device 2, such as immediately after the power is turned on. The repeater device 2 searches for an access point device 1 that can communicate with the wireless communication terminal 3. Then, by associating the access point device 1 that responded first with the wireless communication terminal 3 that has entered the wireless connection state but has not transmitted the previous AP information, the wireless communication terminal 3 that has entered the wireless connection state is appropriately The access point device 1 can be related.

  In this example, since the address setting between the repeater device 2 and the wireless communication terminal 3A in the wireless communication terminal 3A is as shown in FIG. 8B, the previous AP information in this case is the repeater device. 2 MAC address. For this reason, in the repeater device 2, when the MAC address of the access point device 1 in a wireless connection state with the own device is not transmitted as the previous AP information, the processing described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14 is performed. The appropriate access point device 1 can be searched and related to the wireless communication terminal 3 that is in a wireless connection state with the repeater device 2.

[Summary of Processing (Operation) of Wireless Communication Terminal 3 of First Embodiment]
Next, processing performed by the wireless communication terminal 3 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining a connection process executed immediately after power-on in the wireless communication terminal 3 according to the first embodiment. Further, FIG. 16 is executed when searching for the next connection destination when the wireless communication terminal 3 of the first embodiment can no longer communicate with the partner in the wireless connection state. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the roaming process.

[Connection process in wireless communication terminal 3]
First, connection processing performed immediately after power-on in the wireless communication terminal 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 15 is a process executed in the control unit 320 of the wireless communication terminal 3. In this case, the control unit 320 of the wireless communication terminal 3 first executes a predetermined connection sequence using connection information such as an SSID managed by the setting information management unit 327 (step S101). As described above, the process in step S101 is a process of executing a predetermined connection sequence including probe → authentication → association.

  When the access point device 1 or the repeater device 2 that is the connection destination is searched for by the processing in step S101 and a communication path is connected to the connectable connection destination and the wireless connection state is established, the control unit 320 controls each unit. Then, transmission / reception of data and the like is started via the connection destination (step S102). Thereafter, the connection process shown in FIG. 15 is terminated, and the process returns to the main routine so that the roaming process can be performed according to the situation or the process according to the instruction from the user can be performed.

  In this connection process, as shown in FIG. 15, the previous AP information is not transmitted from the wireless communication terminal 3. Therefore, when the first connection destination of the wireless communication terminal 3 is the repeater device 2, the repeater device 2 searches for the repeater device 2 as the connection destination as described with reference to FIG. Processing associated with the communication terminal 3 is performed.

[Roaming processing in the wireless communication terminal 3]
Next, a roaming process performed when the wireless communication terminal 3 becomes unable to perform wireless communication with the connection destination will be described using the flowchart of FIG. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 16 is a process executed in the control unit 320 of the wireless communication terminal 3.

  The control unit 320 of the wireless communication terminal 3 communicates with the access point device 1 and the repeater device 2 that are in the wireless connection state through the above-described wireless communication portion including the transmission system and the reception system. When it becomes difficult, the roaming process shown in FIG. 16 is executed. In this case, the control unit 320 first controls the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328 so as to hold the MAC address of the connection destination in the wireless connection state as the previous AP information (step S201). Of course, prior to this, the MAC address of the connection destination in the wireless connection state may be held as the previous AP information.

  Thereafter, the control unit 320 forms a communication disconnection message (Deauthentication), which is packetized by the packet disassembly / generation unit 326 and transmitted to the connection destination through the transmission system so as to disconnect the connected communication path. (Step S202). Then, the control unit 320 controls the packet disassembly / generation unit 326, the transmission system, and the reception system, and executes the predetermined connection sequence described above (step S203).

  When the communication path is connected to the new connection destination by the processing in step S203 and the wireless connection state is established, the control unit 320 controls the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328, the packet disassembly / generation unit 326, and the transmission system, The previous AP information is transmitted to the new connection destination (step S204). Then, the control unit 320 controls each unit and starts data transmission / reception through a new connection destination (step S205). Thereafter, the roaming process shown in FIG. 16 is terminated, and the process returns to the main routine so that the roaming process can be performed according to the situation or the process according to the instruction from the user can be performed.

  In the roaming process, the wireless communication terminal 3 transmits the previous AP information to a new connection destination. Therefore, when the new connection destination is the repeater apparatus 2 and the AP information is the same as the MAC address of the access point apparatus 1 that is already in a wireless connection state with the repeater apparatus 2, the access point apparatus is It can be related as the connection destination of the wireless communication terminal 3.

[Summary of Processing (Operation) of Repeater Device 2 of First Embodiment]
Next, processing performed by the repeater device 2 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed in the repeater device 2 according to the first embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 17 is a process executed in the control unit 230 of the repeater apparatus 2.

  The control unit 230 of the repeater device 2 starts the processing shown in FIG. 17 after being activated and connected to the access point device 1 of the surrounding wireless network to establish a wireless connection state. First, the control unit 230 receives a request from the wireless communication terminal 3 (step S301), and determines whether or not the received request is a probe request (step S302). When it is determined in step S302 that the request is not a probe request, the control unit 320 executes processing according to the received request (step S303) and repeats the processing from step S301. In step S303, according to the received request, various processes other than the communication path connection process, such as a data relay process and a communication path disconnection process, are performed.

  When it is determined in step S302 that the received request is a probe request, the control unit 230 executes connection processing (step S304). The connection process in step S304 is a process for performing the predetermined connection sequence described above. In the process of step S304, when a communication path is connected between the wireless communication terminal 3 that is the probe request transmission source and the repeater device 2, the terminal information management unit 238 of the control unit 230 stores the communication path in its own memory. Then, identification information of the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path is set (step S305). Specifically, in the process of step S305, as described with reference to FIG. 7C, the terminal information management unit 238 uses the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path as the terminal information of its own memory. Add to

  Thereafter, the control unit 230 receives the previous AP information from the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path (step S306), and determines whether the previous AP information has been received (step S307). If it is determined in the determination process in step S307 that the previous AP information has been received, the AP information control unit 236 controls the terminal information management unit 238 to identify the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path based on the previous AP information. The connection information is updated so as to become a terminal under the access point device 1 (step S308). That is, in step S308, the AP information control unit 236 uses the information stored in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 in the state shown in FIG. 7C as a wireless connection with a communication path as shown in FIG. The setting information is updated so that the communication terminal 3 becomes a terminal under the access point device 1 indicated by the previous AP information. In this case, the access point device 1 is limited to a wireless connection state with the repeater device 2.

  In this way, the control unit 230 associates the wireless communication terminal 3 to which the communication path is connected with the access point device 1 to which the wireless communication terminal 3 has connected the communication path immediately before, and then connects those devices. Relay of information (data) between them is started (step S309). Then, the processing from step S301 is repeated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in the determination processing in step S307 that the previous AP information from the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path has not been received, the control unit 230 uses the repeater device to transmit the data from the wireless communication terminal 3 to the repeater device. 2 to all the access point devices 1 that are in a wireless connection state (step S310). Then, the AP information control unit 236 of the control unit 230 identifies the access point device 1 that first responded to the transmission of the data as the connection destination of the wireless communication terminal 3, and the terminal information management unit 238 The setting information is updated (step S311). That is, in step S311, the AP information control unit 236 uses the information stored in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 in the state shown in FIG. 14B as the wireless information connected to the communication path as shown in FIG. The setting information (connection destination information) is updated so that the communication terminal 3 becomes a terminal under the access point device 1 that has transmitted the response.

  In this way, the control unit 230 associates the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path with the access point device 1 that should communicate with the wireless communication terminal 3, and then transmits information ( Data) relay is started (step S309). Then, the processing from step S301 is repeated.

[Effect of the first embodiment]
Thus, in the telephone system according to the first embodiment, the repeater device 2 is positioned as being shared by a plurality of neighboring wireless networks. Then, the repeater apparatus 2 basically appropriately identifies and associates the access point apparatus to which the wireless communication terminal 3 is connected based on the previous AP information from the wireless communication terminal 3, Data can be sent and received between them. In addition, when the wireless communication terminal 3 is connected to the repeater device 2 for the first time after the wireless communication terminal 3 is turned on, the repeater device 2 searches for an appropriate access point device 1 and associates it with the wireless communication terminal 3. Can do.

  Therefore, without increasing the number of repeater devices 2, wireless communication terminals belonging to the respective wireless communication systems can be connected to the wireless communication system to which the wireless communication terminals belong even in a portion where communication areas of different wireless communication systems overlap. Can be. That is, when a plurality of wireless networks are constructed adjacent to each other, the system configuration can be constructed at a lower cost without complicating the system configuration.

[Second Embodiment] (FIGS. 18 to 21)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The telephone system according to the second embodiment is also configured as described with reference to FIG. And the access point apparatus 1, the repeater apparatus 2, and the radio | wireless communication terminal 3 are also comprised similarly to what was demonstrated using FIGS. However, in the second embodiment, the wireless communication terminal 3 does not transmit the previous AP information. For this reason, the wireless communication terminal 3 used in the second embodiment does not include the previous AP information transmission processing unit 328 shown by being surrounded by a dotted line in FIG.

  And in this 2nd Embodiment, in order to connect a communication path between access point apparatus 1A, 1B and radio | wireless communication terminal 3A, 3B, the connection information set to the repeater apparatus 2 is utilized. The wireless communication terminal 3 and the access point device 1 are associated with each other. The second embodiment will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining connection information set in each of the access point devices 1A and 1B, the wireless communication terminals 3A and 3B, and the repeater device 2 in the second embodiment. As described above, in the wireless LAN system, the communication path can be connected only between devices having the same connection information so that security in each wireless LAN system can be ensured.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 18A, the access point device 1A and the wireless communication terminal 3A have, for example, an SSID “ABCDEF”, security information (encryption method) “WPA-PSK”, and an encryption key. The same connection information with “123456789” is preset. As shown in FIG. 18B, the access point device 1B and the wireless communication terminal 3B have, for example, an SSID “uvwxyz”, security information (encryption method) “WEP 64 bits”, and an encryption key “12345”. The same connection information, “(ASCII)” is preset. The connection information is set in the setting information management unit 117 in the access point device 1 and is set in the setting information management unit 327 in the wireless communication terminal 3.

  In the second embodiment, the repeater device 2 is shared by the wireless network A and the wireless network B. For this reason, both the connection information used in the wireless network A and the connection information used in the wireless network B are preset in the setting information management unit 237 of the repeater apparatus 2. That is, both of the connection information shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B are connected to the setting information management unit 237 of the repeater apparatus 2, but each connection information is set for which device. For example, the MAC address of the corresponding device is also added and set as the device ID for identifying whether or not the same.

  FIG. 18C is a diagram for explaining an example of connection information preset in the setting information management unit 237 of the repeater apparatus 2. As shown in FIG. 18C, the setting information management unit 237 of the repeater device 2 is set with information including the device ID (MAC address) of the access point device 1A and connection information set to the access point device 1A. Is done. In addition, information including a device ID (MAC address) of the access point device 1B and connection information set in the access point device 1B is set.

  As shown in FIG. 18C, the setting information management unit 237 of the repeater apparatus 2 includes information including a device ID (MAC address) of the wireless communication terminal 3A and connection information set to the wireless communication terminal 3A. Is set. Similarly, information including a device ID (MAC address) of the wireless communication terminal 3B and connection information set to the wireless communication terminal 3B is set.

  As shown in FIG. 18C, the repeater device is connected between the access point devices 1A and 1B and between the wireless communication terminals 3A and 3B based on the connection information preset in the setting information management unit 237. A communication path can be connected to the wireless connection state. The repeater apparatus 2 can also grasp what connection information is used for each device connectable to the repeater apparatus 2.

  The request and data transmitted from the wireless communication terminal 3 are also added with the MAC address as the terminal ID of the wireless communication terminal 3. Therefore, when a communication path is newly connected to any one of the wireless communication terminals 3, the control unit 230 of the repeater device 2 sets the MAC address added to the request or data from the wireless communication terminal 3. Based on this, the connection information shown in FIG. 18C of the setting information management unit 237 is referred to. Then, the control unit 230 specifies the MAC address of the access point device 1 having the same connection information as the connection information specified by the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3.

  Thereafter, the AP information control unit 236 of the control unit 230 controls the terminal information management unit 238 to set the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3 newly connected to the communication path to the MAC address of the specified access point device 1. Manage by associating. As a result, the terminal information management unit 238 associates the wireless communication terminal 3 newly connected with the repeater device 2 and the access point device 1 corresponding thereto. Then, the repeater device 2 appropriately transmits and receives data between the wireless communication terminal 3 and the access point device 1 belonging to the same wireless network based on the association information in the terminal information management unit 238.

  Note that the connection information managed by the setting information management unit 237 of the repeater device 2 is not limited to the information managed in the mode shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 18D, the device ID (MAC address) of the device for which the connection information is set may be associated with each connection information. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 18D, the connection information with the SSID “ABCDEF”, the security information (encryption method) “WPA-PSK”, and the encryption key “123456789” is the access point device 1A. And used in the wireless communication terminal 3A. Further, it is shown that the connection information having the SSID “uvwxyz”, the security information (encryption method) “WEP64 bit”, and the encryption key “12345 (ASCII)” is used in the access point device 1A and the wireless communication terminal 3A. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 18D, by managing the connection information and the device ID of the device that uses the connection information, if the terminal ID (MAC address) of the wireless communication terminal 3 is known, it is immediately The MAC address of the corresponding access point device 1 can be specified.

  Basically, all of the connection information shown in FIGS. 18C and 18D is set in advance in the memory of the setting information management unit 237 of the repeater apparatus 2. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the SSID, security information, and encryption key are set in advance. Then, the MAC address used as the terminal ID is updated to the setting information in the memory of the setting information management unit 237 with respect to the MAC address of the device that uses the same connection information such as the SSID when the communication path is connected. You may do it. In this way, when the MAC address of the device is unknown, the user's trouble can be simplified.

  Here, referring to the connection information set in advance in FIG. 18 (c) or FIG. 18 (d) using the MAC address that is the identification information from the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path, Although the access point device 1 having the same connection information is found, the present invention is not limited to this. The access point device 1 using the same SSID and connection information may be specified as the connection destination of the wireless communication terminal 3 by using, for example, the SSID and connection information itself from the wireless communication terminal 3 as identification information.

  Next, in this second embodiment, a case will be described in which the wireless communication terminals 3A and 3B roam to the repeater device 2 from a state where they are connected to the access point devices 1A and 1B of the wireless network to which the wireless communication terminals 3A and 3B belong. . Here, in addition to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 19 and 20, a specific description will be given with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, which are also used in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram for explaining a case where the wireless communication terminal 3A belonging to the wireless network system A roams from the access point device 1A to the repeater device 2 in the second embodiment. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 19 with FIG. 5 used in the description of the first embodiment, the processing shown in FIG. 19 and the processing shown in FIG. 5 are performed in substantially the same manner. However, the previous AP information notification indicated by the double-lined arrow from the wireless communication terminal 3A to the repeater device 2 on the lower side of FIG. 5 is not performed in FIG.

  That is, also in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the communication path is connected between the repeater device 2 and the access point device 1A, and between the repeater device 2 and the access point device 1B. It is assumed that the wireless connection state is established. In this case, the same setting as the setting A-1 shown in FIG. 6A is made in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point apparatus 1A. Further, the same setting as the setting B-1 shown in FIG. 10A is made in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point apparatus 1B. Then, the settings 2-1 and 2-2 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B are sequentially performed in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 of the repeater apparatus 2.

  Then, as shown in the upper left side of FIG. 19, it is assumed that a predetermined connection sequence is performed between the wireless communication terminal 3A and the access point device 1A, and a wireless connection state is established. In this case, the same setting as the setting A-2 shown in FIG. 6B is made in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point apparatus 1A. In this case, the address setting between the access point device 1A and the wireless communication terminal 3A is the address setting 1 shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, it is assumed that the wireless communication terminal 3A moves, the communication path with the access point apparatus 1A is disconnected, and roams to the repeater apparatus 2. In this case, since the communication path between the wireless communication terminal 3A and the access point device 1A is disconnected, the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1A stores the setting A− shown in FIG. The same setting as 3 is made. And also between 3 A of radio | wireless communication terminals and the repeater apparatus 2, as shown in the lower right side of FIG. 19, a predetermined connection sequence is performed, a communication path is connected and it will be in a radio | wireless connection state. In this case, the address setting between the repeater device 2 and the wireless communication terminal 3A is the address setting 2 shown in FIG.

  In this case, in the setting information management unit 237 of the repeater device 2, for example, setting information including the device ID and the connection information illustrated in FIG. For this reason, the control unit 230 of the repeater device 2 specifies the connection information of the wireless communication terminal 3A based on the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3A added to the transmission information such as the request provided from the wireless communication terminal 3A. Then, the access point device 1 having the same connection information as the connection information is specified. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18C, since the access point device 1A has the same connection information as the wireless communication terminal 3A, the connection destination of the wireless communication terminal 3A is the access point device 1A. Is identified.

  Therefore, the AP information control unit 236 of the repeater apparatus 2 controls the terminal information management unit 238 and updates the setting information in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 as shown in FIG. That is, the terminal information management unit 238 sets the terminal setting of its own memory in accordance with the control of the AP information control unit 236, with respect to the MAC address of the access point device 1A as shown in FIG. Update so as to relate the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3A. As a result, the wireless communication terminal 3A that has connected the communication path to the repeater device 2 is related as a terminal under the access point device 1A. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the terminal information in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 of the repeater device 2 does not enter the state shown in FIG.

  Then, the control unit 230 of the repeater device 2 refers to the terminal information in the mode shown in FIG. 7D of the memory of the terminal information management unit 238, and converts the data from the wireless communication terminal 3A to the wireless data included in the data. It can be transmitted to the access point device 1 related by the MAC address of the communication terminal 3A. Conversely, the control unit 230 of the repeater device 2 refers to the terminal information in the mode shown in FIG. 7D of the memory of the terminal information management unit 238, and converts the data from the access point device 1A into the data. It can be transmitted to the wireless communication terminal 3A related by the MAC address of the included access point device 1A. In this case, the address setting between the access point device 1A and the repeater device 2 is the address setting 3 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram subsequent to FIG. 19 in the second embodiment, and illustrates a case where the wireless communication terminal 3B belonging to the wireless network system B roams from the access point device 1B to the repeater device 2. FIG. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 20 with FIG. 9 used in the description of the first embodiment, the processing shown in FIG. 20 and the processing shown in FIG. 9 are performed in substantially the same manner. However, the previous AP information notification indicated by the double-lined arrow from the wireless communication terminal 3B to the repeater device 2 on the lower side of FIG. 9 is not performed in FIG.

  Then, as shown in the upper right side of FIG. 20, it is assumed that a predetermined connection sequence is performed between the wireless communication terminal 3B and the access point device 1B and a wireless connection state is established. In this case, the same setting as the setting B-2 shown in FIG. 10B is made in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point device 1B. In this case, in the address setting between the access point device 1B and the wireless communication terminal 3B, in the address setting 1 shown in FIG. 8A, the terminal 3A becomes the terminal 3B, and the access point device 1A becomes the access point device 1B. It will be a thing.

  Thereafter, it is assumed that the wireless communication terminal 3B moves, the communication path with the access point device 1B is disconnected, and roaming to the repeater device 2. In this case, since the communication path between the wireless communication terminal 3B and the access point apparatus 1B is disconnected, the setting B− shown in FIG. 10C is stored in the memory of the terminal information management unit 118 of the access point apparatus 1A. The same setting as 3 is made. And also between 3 A of wireless communication terminals and the repeater apparatus 2, as shown to the lower left side of FIG. 20, a predetermined connection sequence is performed, a communication path is connected and it will be in a wireless connection state. In this case, the address setting between the repeater device 2 and the wireless communication terminal 3B is that in which the terminal 3A becomes the terminal 3B in the address setting 2 shown in FIG. 8B.

  In this case, in the setting information management unit 237 of the repeater apparatus 2, as described above, setting information including the device ID and the connection information illustrated in FIG. Therefore, the control unit 230 of the repeater device 2 identifies the connection information of the wireless communication terminal 3B based on the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3B added to the transmission information such as a request provided from the wireless communication terminal 3B. Then, the access point device 1 having the same connection information as the connection information is specified. As shown in FIG. 18C, it is specified that the access point apparatus 1B has the same connection information as the wireless communication terminal 3B.

  Therefore, the AP information control unit 236 of the repeater apparatus 2 controls the terminal information management unit 238 and updates the setting information in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 as shown in FIG. That is, the terminal information management unit 238 controls the terminal setting of its own memory according to the control of the AP information control unit 236 with respect to the MAC address of the access point device 1B as shown in FIG. Update so as to relate the MAC address of the wireless communication terminal 3B.

  As a result, the wireless communication terminal 3B that has connected the communication path to the repeater device 2 is related as a terminal under the access point device 1B. Further, as described above, as shown in FIG. 11B, the wireless communication terminal 3A connected to the repeater device 2 is connected as a terminal under the access point device 1A. The device 2 can appropriately associate both the wireless communication terminals 3A and 3B with the access point device 1 of the wireless network to which they belong. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the terminal information in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 of the repeater device 2 does not enter the state shown in FIG.

  Then, the repeater device 2 refers to the terminal information in the mode shown in FIG. 11B of the memory of the terminal information management unit 238, and the data from the wireless communication terminal 3B is also included in the wireless communication terminal 3B included in the data. Can be transmitted to the access point apparatus 1B related by the MAC address. Conversely, the repeater device 2 refers to the terminal information in the mode shown in FIG. 11B of the memory of the terminal information management unit 238, and converts the data from the access point device 1B to the access point included in the data. It can be transmitted to the wireless communication terminal 3B related by the MAC address of the device 1B. In this case, the address setting between the access point device 1B and the repeater device 2 is that in which the terminal 3A becomes the terminal 3B and the access point device 1A becomes the access point device 1B in the address setting 3 shown in FIG. 8C. It becomes.

[Summary of Processing (Operation) of Wireless Communication Terminal 3 of Second Embodiment]
The connection process executed in the wireless communication terminal 3 of the second embodiment is the same as the connection process executed by the wireless communication terminal 3 of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. . The roaming process executed in the wireless communication terminal 3 of the second embodiment is the same as the roaming process executed by the wireless communication terminal 3 of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. Other processes (step S201 to step S203, step S205) are similarly performed except that the previous AP information transmission process is not performed. For this reason, the description of the processing (operation) of the wireless communication terminal 3 using the flowcharts is omitted because it overlaps.

[Summary of Processing (Operation) of Repeater Device 2 of Second Embodiment]
Next, processing performed by the repeater device 2 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed in the repeater apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 21 is a process executed in the control unit 230 of the repeater apparatus 2.

  The control unit 230 of the repeater device 2 starts the process shown in FIG. 21 after being activated and connected to the access point device 1 of the surrounding wireless network to establish a wireless connection state. First, the control unit 230 receives a request from the wireless communication terminal 3 to itself (step S401), and determines whether or not the received request is a probe request (step S402). When it is determined in step S402 that the request is not a probe request, the control unit 320 executes processing according to the received request (step S403) and repeats the processing from step S401. Specifically, in step S403, various processes other than the communication path connection process, such as a data relay process and a communication path disconnection process, are performed according to the received request.

  When it is determined in step S402 that the received request is a probe request, the control unit 230 executes connection processing (step S404). The connection process in step S404 is a process for performing the above-described predetermined connection sequence. In the process of step S404, when a communication path is connected between the wireless communication terminal 3 that is the source of the probe request and the repeater device 2, the control unit 230 executes the specifying process of step S405 (step S405). S405).

  Specifically, in step S405, based on the MAC address (connection source information) included in the information from the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path this time, information in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 (for example, 18 (c)) is confirmed, and the access point device 1 related to the wireless communication terminal 3 is specified.

  Thereafter, based on the identification result in step S405, the AP information control unit 236 of the control unit 230 controls the terminal information management unit 238 to identify the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path. The connection information is updated so as to become a terminal under the control of (step S406). In this step S406, the information in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 in the state of FIG. 7B is changed from the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path to the previous AP information as shown in FIG. 7D. The setting information is updated so as to be a terminal under the access point device 1 indicated by. Alternatively, the information stored in the memory of the terminal information management unit 238 in the state of FIG. 7D is the access point that the previous AP information indicates the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path as shown in FIG. 11B. The setting information is updated so as to become a terminal under the control of the device 1. In this case, the access point device 1 is limited to a wireless connection state with the repeater device 2.

  In this way, the control unit 230 associates the wireless communication terminal 3 to which the communication path is connected with the access point device 1 to which the wireless communication terminal 3 has connected the communication path immediately before, and then connects those devices. Relay of information (data) between them is started (step S407). Then, the processing from step S401 is repeated.

[Effect of the second embodiment]
Also in the telephone system of the second embodiment, the repeater device 2 is positioned as being shared by a plurality of nearby wireless networks, as in the case of the first embodiment. Then, the repeater device 2 sets the connection information set to the own device in association with the identification information (MAC address) of the device using the connection information. By using this setting information, the repeater device 2 appropriately identifies and associates the access point device 1 that is the connection destination of the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path, and transmits and receives data between these devices. Can be done.

  Thereby, also in the case of this 2nd Embodiment, without increasing the number of repeater devices 2, even in the part where the communication areas of different wireless communication systems overlap, the wireless communication terminals belonging to the respective wireless communication systems It is possible to connect to the wireless communication system to which the own device belongs. That is, when a plurality of wireless networks are constructed adjacent to each other, the system configuration can be constructed more inexpensively without complicating the system configuration.

  Further, in the case of this second embodiment, since provision of information called previous AP information is not received from the wireless communication terminal 3 connected to the communication path, a change is caused on the wireless communication terminal 3 side. Nor.

[When connection information and the like differ for each device connected to the repeater device 2]
In the telephone system of the above-described embodiment, the repeater apparatus 2 has connection settings with the access point apparatus 1 and connection settings with the wireless communication terminal 3 for each wireless network as connection settings. Therefore, the connection setting between the access point device 1 and the repeater device 2 and the connection setting between the repeater device 2 and the wireless communication terminal 3 may be different. Even in such a case, the present invention can be applied. Two specific examples will be shown and described below.

[First example]
FIG. 22 is a diagram for describing a first example in which connection information and the like are different for each device connected to the repeater device 2. As shown in FIG. 22A, in the case of the telephone system of the above-described embodiment, the access point device 1 and the repeater device 2, the repeater device 2 and the wireless communication terminal 3, the access point device 1 and A communication path can be connected to the wireless communication terminal 3. The communication method used between these devices is assumed to be IEEE 802.11b / g as shown in FIG.

  In this case, connection information used when a communication path is connected between the access point device and each device, and connection information used when a communication path is connected between the repeater device 2 and the wireless communication terminal 3. Can be different. An example of connection information set in each device in this case is shown in FIG. The connection information includes SSID, security information (encryption method), encryption key, and the like. In FIG. 22B, description of the encryption key and the like is omitted for the sake of simplicity. .

  Then, as shown in FIG. 22B, it is assumed that the connection information set in the access point device 1 has the SSID “ABC” and the security information “WEP 128 bits”. In this case, in order to enable a communication path to be connected to the access point device 1, the repeater device 2 has the SSID “ABC” as the connection setting on the access point device 1 side (AP side), and security information. Information “WEP 128 bits” is set. Similarly, in order to enable a communication path to be connected to the access point device 1, the wireless communication terminal 3 also sets SSID-1 to “ABC” as the connection setting on the access point device 1 side (AP side) Information whose security information is “WEP 128 bits” is set.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 22B, the connection setting for connecting the communication path between the repeater device 2 and the wireless communication terminal 3 is that the SSID is “DEF” and the security information is “WPA-PSK”. Suppose that In this case, the repeater device 2 is set with information for setting the SSID as “DEF” and the security information as “WPA-PSK” as connection settings on the wireless communication terminal 3 side (terminal side). Similarly, the wireless communication terminal 3 is also set with information in which SSID-2 is set to “DEF” and security information is set to “WPA-PSK” as connection settings on the repeater device 2 side.

  Even in such a case, in the case of the first embodiment described above, the access point that has connected the communication path immediately before the previous AP information transmitted from the wireless communication terminal 3 side to the repeater device 2 The MAC address of the device 1 is transmitted. Since the previous AP information can appropriately identify the access point device 1 to which the wireless communication terminal 3 is connected in the repeater device 2, even if the connection information as shown in FIG. 22 is used, There will be no inconvenience.

  Further, as can be seen from FIG. 22B, the connection information used between the access point device 1 and the wireless communication terminal 3 is the same, and the access point device 1 and the wireless communication terminal 3 directly communicate with each other. They belong to the same wireless network that can be connected. Therefore, when the connection information is set as shown in FIG. 22 and the invention described in the second embodiment is applied, wireless communication is performed separately from the setting of the connection information actually used. Separate association information for associating the communication terminal 3 and the access point device 1 is prepared.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18 (c) or FIG. 18 (d), the same connection information is set in the access point device 1 and the wireless communication terminal 3, and the devices that can connect the communication path are connected to each other. Correlation information indicating the presence is set in the repeater device 2 in advance. Then, by referring to the association information when the wireless communication terminal 3 is connected to the repeater device 2, the access point device 1 that is the connection destination of the wireless communication terminal 3 can be specified.

  In the case of the example shown in FIG. 22, since all the communication methods are IEEE802.11b / g, the connection settings between the repeater device 2 and the wireless communication terminal 3 are unified to those used in the access point device 1. It is also possible to make it.

[Second example]
FIG. 23 is a diagram for describing a second example in the case where connection information or the like is different for each device connected to the repeater device 2. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 23A and FIG. 22A, in the case of this second example, the communication method used between the access point device 1 and the repeater device 2 is IEEE802.11a. Except for this, it is the same as the case of the first example described with reference to FIG. Further, as can be seen by comparing FIG. 23B and FIG. 22B, the connection information set for each device is the same in the first and second examples.

  As described above, the repeater device 2 can be connected to the access point device 1 and the wireless communication terminal 3 by different communication methods. Also in the case of the second example, the invention described in the first embodiment can be applied without depending on the communication method applied between the devices, and the second embodiment. The invention described in the form can also be applied.

  In addition to the examples shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, various modes such as making the wireless system used different between devices can be considered. In this case, the present invention is applied. be able to.

[Method of the Invention]
In the above-described embodiment, the wireless LAN system processing described with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 5, 9, 12, 19, and 20, the flowcharts of FIGS. 15 to 17, and FIG. The processing performed by the devices constituting the LAN system is realized by applying the method according to the present invention.

[Correspondence between Apparatus and Circuit Unit of Embodiment and Apparatus and Means of Claim]
Further, the access point devices 1, 1A, 1B of the above-described embodiments correspond to the relay device in the claims. In addition, the repeater device 2 of the above-described embodiment corresponds to a repeater device, and the wireless communication terminals 3, 3A, 3B correspond to wireless communication terminals. Further, the previous AP information in the embodiment corresponds to the previous connection destination information in the claims.

  The first wireless communication unit 210 in the repeater apparatus 2 realizes a function as a first wireless communication unit, the terminal information management unit 238 realizes a function as a connection destination storage unit, and the second wireless communication unit The communication unit 220 realizes a function as a second wireless communication unit. The AP information control unit 236 realizes functions as an accepting unit and an association unit, and the control unit 230 realizes functions as a wireless communication control unit, a data provision control unit, and a data receiving unit. The setting information management unit 237 implements a function as setting information storage means.

  In addition, a portion including the transmission / reception antenna 301, the antenna duplexer 302, the reception amplifier 303, the reception processing circuit 304, the transmission processing circuit 305, and the transmission amplifier 306 in the wireless communication terminal 3 realizes a function as a wireless communication unit, and The information transmission processing unit 328 implements a function as providing means. Further, the control unit 320 in the wireless communication terminal 3 realizes a function as information providing means.

[Others]
In the above-described embodiment, the MAC address is used as the identification information of each device. However, it is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to use a unique serial number of each device. However, it is preferable to use a MAC address uniquely assigned to each device because duplication of identification information can be surely eliminated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the repeater device 2 is shared by two different wireless networks of the wireless network A and the wireless network B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The repeater device 2 can be shared by two or more different wireless networks.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a telephone system formed using a wireless LAN has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied not only to the telephone system but also to various wireless LAN systems.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A, 1B ... Access point apparatus, 101 ... Connection terminal, 102 ... Wired LAN I / F, 103 ... Transmission processing circuit, 104 ... Reception processing circuit, 105 ... Transmission amplifier, 106 ... Reception amplifier, 107 ... Shared antenna 108, transmitting / receiving antenna, 110, control unit, 111, system bus, 112, CPU, 113, ROM, 114, RAM, 115, EEPROM, 116, packet decomposition / generation unit, 117, setting information management unit, 118,. Terminal information management unit, 119: Wired connection I / F 119, 120: Connection terminal (external connection terminal), 2 ... Repeater device, 210 ... First wireless communication unit, 211 ... Processing circuit for transmission, 212 ... Processing circuit for reception 213 ... Transmission amplifier, 214 ... Reception amplifier, 215 ... Antenna duplexer, 216 ... Transmission / reception antenna, 220 ... Second radio Transmission unit, 221... Transmission processing circuit, 222... Reception processing circuit, 223... Transmission amplifier, 224... Reception amplifier, 225 .. Antenna duplexer, 226. CPU, 233 ... ROM, 234 ... RAM, 235 ... EEPROM, 236 ... AP information control unit, 237 ... setting information management unit, 238 ... terminal information management unit, 239 ... wired connection I / F, 240 ... connection terminal (external connection) Terminals) 3, 3A, 3B ... wireless communication terminals, 301 ... transmission / reception antenna, 302 ... antenna duplexer, 303 ... reception amplifier, 304 ... reception processing circuit, 305 ... transmission processing circuit, 306 ... transmission amplifier, 307 ... audio data Input / output I / F, 308 ... receiver amplifier, 309 ... receiver (speaker), 310 ... speaker (microphone), 311 ... send Amplifier, 320 ... Control unit, 321 ... System bus, 322 ... CPU, 323 ... ROM, 324 ... RAM, 325 ... EEPROM, 326 ... Packet decomposition / generation unit, 327 ... Setting information management unit, 328 ... Pre-AP information transmission processing , 331 ... Key operation unit, 332 ... LED control unit, 333 ... LED group, 334 ... LCD control unit, 335 ... LCD, 336 ... voice processing unit, 337 ... speaker, 10 ... server, 20 ... router, HB ... hub

Claims (9)

A wireless communication system including a repeater device wirelessly connected to one or more wireless communication terminals,
The repeater device
First wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more relay devices;
A connection destination storage unit that stores identification information of the relay device provided from each of the one or more relay devices connected to the communication path through the first wireless communication unit;
A second wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more of the wireless communication terminals;
Accepting means for accepting front connection destination information, which is identification information of the relay device that the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path immediately before, from the wireless communication terminal that connected the communication path through the second wireless communication means; ,
Based on the storage information of the connection destination storage means, the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal, and the received previous connection destination information, the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path and the connection destination An association means for associating the relay device to be
Wireless communication control means for controlling to perform communication between the wireless communication terminal and the relay device related by the association means,
The wireless communication terminal is
Wireless communication means for communicating with the relay device or the repeater device;
The identification information of the relay device that performs communication through the wireless communication unit is retained, and when a communication path is newly connected through the wireless communication unit, the previous connection destination information is added to the connection destination of the communication path. And a providing means for providing the wireless communication system. The wireless communication system according to claim 1,
The repeater device
If the pre-connection destination information is not provided from the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path through the second wireless communication means, the communication path is connected through the first wireless communication means. Data provision control means for controlling each of the relay devices so as to provide data from the wireless communication terminal;
Data receiving means for receiving data including identification information of the connection destination from one or more of the relay devices connected to the communication path through the first wireless communication means,
The association means is based on the storage information of the connection destination storage means, the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal, and the identification information of the transmission source of the data received through the data reception means, The wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path is related to the relay device to be a connection destination,
In the wireless communication terminal,
The providing means does not provide the previous connection destination information to the other party connected to the communication path when there is no relay device connected to the communication path immediately before. A wireless communication system including a repeater device wirelessly connected to one or more wireless communication terminals,
The repeater device
First wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more relay devices;
A second wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more of the wireless communication terminals;
Setting information storage means for previously storing association information including identification information for associating each of the one or more relay devices with each of the one or more wireless communication terminals;
When the wireless communication terminal connects the communication path through the second wireless communication means, the wireless communication terminal is connected to the wireless communication terminal based on the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal and the stored information of the setting information storage means. An association means for associating the communication terminal with the relay device;
Wireless communication control means for controlling to perform communication between the wireless communication terminal and the relay device related by the association means,
The wireless communication terminal is
Wireless communication means for communicating with the relay device or the repeater device;
When providing a communication path between the relay device or the repeater device through the wireless communication means, the information providing means for providing identification information of the own device to a connection destination of the communication path is provided. Communications system. The repeater device of a wireless communication system comprising a repeater device wirelessly connected to one or more wireless communication terminals,
First wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more relay devices;
A connection destination storage unit that stores identification information of the relay device provided from each of the one or more relay devices connected to the communication path through the first wireless communication unit;
A second wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more of the wireless communication terminals;
Accepting means for accepting front connection destination information, which is identification information of the relay device that the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path immediately before, from the wireless communication terminal that connected the communication path through the second wireless communication means; ,
Based on the storage information of the connection destination storage means, the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal, and the received previous connection destination information, the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path and the connection destination An association means for associating the relay device to be
A repeater apparatus comprising: a wireless communication control unit configured to control communication between the wireless communication terminal and the relay device associated by the association unit. The repeater device according to claim 4,
If the pre-connection destination information is not provided from the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path through the second wireless communication means, the communication path is connected through the first wireless communication means. Data provision control means for controlling each of the relay devices so as to provide data from the wireless communication terminal;
Data receiving means for receiving data including identification information of the connection destination from one or more of the relay devices connected to the communication path through the first wireless communication means,
The association means is based on the storage information of the connection destination storage means, the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal, and the identification information of the transmission source of the data received through the data reception means, A repeater device characterized in that the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path is associated with the relay device to be a connection destination. The repeater device of a wireless communication system comprising a repeater device wirelessly connected to one or more wireless communication terminals,
First wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more relay devices;
A second wireless communication means for communicating by connecting a communication path to one or more of the wireless communication terminals;
Setting information storage means for previously storing association information including identification information for associating each of the one or more relay devices with each of the one or more wireless communication terminals;
When the wireless communication terminal connects the communication path through the second wireless communication means, the wireless communication terminal is connected to the wireless communication terminal based on the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal and the stored information of the setting information storage means. An association means for associating the communication terminal with the relay device;
A repeater apparatus comprising: a wireless communication control unit configured to perform control so that communication is performed between the wireless communication terminal and the relay device related by the association unit. There is a connection destination association method used in a wireless communication system including a repeater device wirelessly connected to one or more wireless communication terminals,
In the repeater device,
A first communication path connection step of connecting a communication path to one or more relay devices through the first wireless communication means;
A connection destination recording step of recording identification information of the relay device provided from each of the one or more relay devices connected to the communication channel in the first communication channel connection step in a connection destination storage unit;
A second communication path connection step of connecting a communication path to one or more wireless communication terminals through a second wireless communication means;
The front connection destination information, which is identification information of the relay device that the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path in the second communication path connection step from the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path immediately before, is received. A reception process to accept through,
Based on the storage information of the connection destination storage means, the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal, and the received previous connection destination information, the association means connects the wireless communication to which the communication path is connected An associating step for associating the terminal with the relay device to be connected;
A wireless communication control step that wireless communication control means controls so as to perform communication between the wireless communication terminal and the relay device related in the association step,
In the wireless communication terminal,
A communication path connection step for connecting a communication path between the relay device or the repeater device through wireless communication means;
When providing means retains identification information of the relay device that is to perform communication through the wireless communication means and newly connects a communication path through the wireless communication means, And a providing step for providing connection destination information. The connection destination correlation method according to claim 7 ,
In the repeater device,
If the pre-connection destination information is not provided from the wireless communication terminal connected to the communication path through the second wireless communication means, the communication path is connected through the first wireless communication means. for each of the relay device, a data providing step of providing the data from the radio communication terminal under the control of the data providing control means,
A data reception step of receiving data including identification information of the relay device from one or more of the relay devices connected to the communication path through the first wireless communication unit, through the data reception unit;
Based on the storage information of the connection destination storage means, the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal, and the identification information of the transmission source of the data received through the data reception means, the association means communicates. A second associating step for associating the wireless communication terminal connecting the route with the relay device to be connected;
In the providing step of the wireless communication terminal,
The connection destination associating method characterized by not providing the previous connection destination information to the other party connected to the communication path through the providing means when there is no relay device connected to the communication path immediately before. There is a connection destination association method used in a wireless communication system including a repeater device wirelessly connected to one or more wireless communication terminals,
The repeater device includes setting information storage means for preliminarily storing association information including identification information for associating each of the one or more relay devices with each of the one or more wireless communication terminals,
In the repeater device,
A first communication path connection step of connecting a communication path to one or more relay devices through the first wireless communication means;
A second communication path connection step of connecting a communication path to the wireless communication terminal through a second wireless communication means;
When the wireless communication terminal connects the communication path in the second communication path connection step, based on the identification information of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal and the storage information of the setting information storage means An attaching means for associating the wireless communication terminal with the relay device;
A wireless communication control step that wireless communication control means controls so as to perform communication between the wireless communication terminal and the relay device related in the association step,
In the wireless communication terminal,
A communication path connection step for connecting a communication path between the relay device or the repeater device through wireless communication means;
And an information providing step in which the information providing means provides identification information of the own device to a connection destination of the communication path when the communication path is connected to the relay device or the repeater device in the communication path connecting step. The connection destination correlation method characterized by this.

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