KR20110028103A - Multipurpose local wireless communication apparatus and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A multipurpose local wireless communication device and a system are provided to transceives a voice among many people. CONSTITUTION: A mater device transmits a synchronous signal. A slave device reproduces a multi channel voice signal by receiving the multi channel voice signal. An RF module(500) transceives a voice signal. A modem(502) performs modulation and demodulation of the voice signal. A codex(504) decodes a voice signal demodulated in the modem. A mixer(506) mixes the multichannel voice.

Description

Multipurpose Local Wireless Communication Apparatus and System

The present invention relates to a multipurpose short-range wireless communication device and system, and more particularly, to a short-range wireless communication device and system capable of bidirectional communication and having various functions such as electronic voting, personnel check, and power control.

Recently, various Bluetooth or Zigbee type short-range wireless communication devices have been provided.

However, the above-mentioned short range wireless communication device is not suitable for multi-party conferences, tour guides, or simultaneous interpretations in that it mainly focuses on data communication in a 1: 1 manner.

In addition, a radio for a multi-party conference or the like is conventionally provided.

This walkie-talkie method allows several people to listen to the contents of the call at the same time, but only one way communication is required to keep pressing the push-to-talk (PTT) button during a call, and there is a problem that multiple users speak at the same time. have.

In addition, the conventional short-range wireless communication system only performs a function of simply transmitting the voice of each user, for example, there is a problem that can not provide a wireless electronic voting function, a speech restriction function in a multi-party conference.

Furthermore, a short range wireless communication system may be used for the purpose of a tour guide. In the related art, only a function of simply transmitting a guide comment is provided, and there is a problem in that a person check function and a warning function when leaving are not provided.

The present invention proposes a multipurpose short-range wireless communication apparatus and system that can be usefully used for multipurpose to solve the problems of the prior art as described above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose short-range wireless communication device and system that can additionally provide electronic voting, speaking restrictions, personnel check, and remote power control.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a multipurpose short-range wireless communication system comprising: a master device for transmitting a synchronization signal including a group code; And a plurality of slave devices that identify a group to which they belong through the synchronization signal, maintain synchronization with the master device, and simultaneously receive and reproduce a multi-channel voice signal, wherein the master device and the plurality of slave devices. A multi-purpose short-range wireless communication system is provided that performs one of voice signal transmission, transmission, electronic voting, personnel check, and power control service while maintaining a cycle of a network including a synchronous control frame and one or more payload frames.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a multipurpose short-range wireless communication device comprising: an RF module for transmitting and receiving a voice signal; A modem for performing demodulation and demodulation of the voice signal; A codec for encoding a multi-channel voice input through a microphone and decoding a demodulated voice signal in the modem; A mixer for mixing the multichannel voice; And a control unit for controlling transmission and reception of the voice signal and controlling one of electronic voting, speaking restriction, personnel check, and power supply control function.

According to the present invention, when the short-range wireless communication device is set for the multi-party conference, the speaking time can be limited according to the setting in the master, and the multi-party voice transmission / reception is possible while considering the priority.

In addition, according to the present invention it is possible to control the remote power through the synchronization signal transmitted and received between the master device and the slave device, there is an advantage that can provide electronic voting service using a variety of key buttons provided in the wireless communication device. .

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to facilitate a thorough understanding of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same means regardless of the number of the drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a short range communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The short-range wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention can transmit and receive a voice signal at a short range, and can be mainly used for multi-party conference, simultaneous interpretation or tour guide.

As shown in FIG. 1, the short range communication system according to the present invention includes a plurality of short range wireless communication devices for transmitting and receiving audio signals (voice or sound signals of a user), and each short range wireless communication device includes a predetermined short range communication protocol. Is connected through.

The plurality of short range wireless communication devices may be grouped into one group, in which one short range wireless communication device 101 is set as a master, and the remaining short range wireless communication devices 102 are set as slaves.

According to the present invention, a short range wireless communication device 101 (hereinafter, referred to as a “master device”) initially set as a master transmits a synchronization signal including a group code for group classification, and the remaining slave devices 102 are initially initialized. Receiving the synchronization signal of the master device 101 through the scanning process to synchronize with the master device 101, and stores the group code included in the synchronization signal.

As shown in FIG. 1, one or more groups 103 to 105 within the same region may perform short-range wireless communication with each other through a group code.

According to the present invention, the master device 101 and the slave device 102 belonging to one group communicate while maintaining the same network cycle.

2 is a diagram illustrating a network cycle structure according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the network cycle according to the present invention may include one synchronization control frame 200 and a predetermined number of payload frames 202-1 through 202-n.

The sync control frame 200 is a section including sync information or higher layer control information.

In more detail, the sync control frame 200 may include a sync word field and a message field, and the message field may include frequency set information, hopping sequence information, and offset information. It may include a group code.

In addition, as described below, the synchronization control frame 200 according to the present invention includes information for providing various additional functions such as electronic voting, personnel check, power control in the short-range wireless communication system.

The payload frame 202 is a section for transmitting and receiving a voice of each user, and may be used as a section for transmitting and receiving a sound source transmitted by any one device.

According to the present invention, one network cycle may include a predetermined number of payload frames 202-1 to 202-n for use according to a purpose, and preferably one network cycle includes one synchronous control. Frame 200 and twelve payload frames 202-1 through 202-12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the payload frame 202 can be applied in various numbers without being limited thereto.

Here, the payload frame 202 may be used for transmitting and receiving a sound source when any one of the plurality of short range wireless communication devices 101 and 102 connects an MP3 player to transmit a sound source.

In addition, the payload frame 202 may be used to transmit and receive selection information of each user at the time of electronic voting.

In general, it is often necessary to make decisions about certain opinions during multilateral meetings, tour guides or simultaneous interpretations.

As shown in FIG. 3, the short-range wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a key button (ABS button) for initiating an electronic voting and a selection button (YES button and NO button) for decision making.

When there is an ABS button input of the user possessing the master device 101, the master device 101 includes the electronic voting initiation information in the synchronous control frame 200 and transmits it to the surrounding slave device 102 (broadcast). do.

Each slave device 102 switches to the electronic voting mode when the synchronization control frame 200 including the electronic voting start information is received from the master device 101.

As shown in FIG. 3, the slave device 102 according to the present invention is provided with a display unit 300 such as an LCD, so that the user can confirm that the electronic voting state is present and participate in the electronic voting.

For example, in the case of a pro-voting vote, each user may enter one of the YES button or the NO button, and if absent, the ABS button may be input.

Electronic voting may also be used for decision making in various situations during tour guides or simultaneous interpretation as well as for decision making during meetings.

According to the present invention, a unique number (unique address) is assigned to the master device 101 and the slave device 102 at the initial setting.

At this time, the master device 101 transmits the user's selection information to the predetermined payload frame 202 including information for inquiry (polling message) and a unique number for each slave device 102.

When each slave device 102 receives the payload frame 202 including its own unique number, the slave device 102 includes the user's selection information in the payload frame 202 and transmits it to the master device 101.

The short-range wireless communication device according to the present invention can simultaneously receive a multi-channel signal, which means that a plurality of users can speak through their wireless communication device simultaneously during a meeting or a tour guide.

At this time, each short-range wireless communication device is provided with a mixer (mixer) therein, when the speech of a plurality of users is received by mixing them to play at the same time.

In the following description, the short-range wireless communication device transmits and receives a voice signal through two channels so that it can be recognized by listening.

Meanwhile, for convenience of explanation, the following description will focus on the case where the apparatus according to the present invention is used for a multi-party conference.

When two-channel signal reception is set, speaking priority may be given to the master device 101, and if the master device 101 is occupying the speaking right, the remaining slave devices 102 are over one channel. Alternately, they can occupy the right to speak.

According to the present invention, in order to assist the master device 101, the sub-master device can be set separately, and if the master device 101 and the sub master device occupy the floor, the remaining slave devices 102 are merely Only the reception of voice signals is possible.

As shown in FIG. 3, the short-range wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a key button (TALK button) for speech, that is, voice signal transmission, and transmits a voice signal when a user inputs a TALK button once. This is possible, and when the TALK button is pressed again, transmission of the voice signal is stopped.

As described above, when one channel is alternately used, a user may not sufficiently speak due to a TALK button input to be indiscriminately.

To this end, the master device 101 according to the present invention, when the second user requests to speak during the speaking of the first user having the slave device, that is, when the second user inputs the TALK button, the master device 101 removes the speech waiting information. 2 to the slave device of the user, the slave device of the second user indicates that the voice signal transmission is possible after the end of the first user's speech, and then the other voice signal input by the second user To the device.

The master device 101 according to the present invention can set the talk time of each user in advance, and the master device 101 includes the set talk time information in the synchronous control frame 200 and transmits it to the other slave devices 102. .

The slave device 102 stores the talk time information set through the master device 101 in a memory, and when there is a user's TALK button input, the slave device 102 of the user drives a timer. When the preset speaking time elapses, the voice signal transmission is automatically stopped.

As described above, the short-range wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention transmits and receives voices in two channels for smooth conference progression and speech efficiency, but may limit voice transmission and reception to one channel in some cases.

On the other hand, it has been described that the slave device 102 can transmit and receive voice signals in two channels, especially in the multi-party conference mode.

However, without being limited thereto, the present invention may be provided for simultaneous interpretation.

According to the present invention, the master device 101 includes the mode information in the synchronous control frame 200 according to the user's mode setting and transmits the information, and when the power of the remaining slave device 102 is turned on, the master device 101 responds to the mode information. Follow the setup process.

For example, when the current conference mode is set, the master device 101 includes the multi-conference mode information in the synchronous control frame 200 and transmits the information, and the slave device 102 receiving the multi-conference mode recognizes that the multi-conference mode is present. Activate the TALK button.

Here, the activation of the TALK button refers to a state in which the voice of the user can be processed when the user inputs the TALK button when there is a channel capable of speaking.

On the other hand, when there is a simultaneous interpretation mode setting in the master device 101, the master device 101 includes the simultaneous interpretation mode information in the synchronous control frame 200 and transmits, and the slave device 102 that receives it is received only. Mode is set.

Here, the reception-only mode means that each slave device 102 receives a voice signal of an interpreter having the master device 101 and does not process and transmit the TALK button input even if the user has a TALK button input.

According to the present invention, when electronic voting proceeds, it is necessary to collect selection information of each user through the payload frame 202.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when there is a key button input for initiating an electronic voting in the master device 101, the master device 101 shows the use of the payload frame 202 as shown in FIG. Change it.

For example, if a single network cycle includes twelve payload frames 202-1 through 202-12, all twelve payload frames 202-1 through 202-12 will transmit and receive voices in a normal conference mode. Used for

However, when the electronic voting proceeds, the master device 101 allocates some payload frames for the electronic voting in a network cycle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the electronic voting is initiated, the master device 101 alternately allocates the payload frame 202 for voice transmission and reception and electronic voting.

For example, the master device 101 may allocate a 2n-1 (where n is a natural number of 1 or more) payload frame for voice transmission and reception and a 2nth payload frame for electronic voting. Of course, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the assignments can be made in reverse.

Since half of the payload frames are allocated to electronic voting, voice transmission and reception is possible through only one channel during electronic voting, and preferably, only the master device 101 occupies a voice.

Electronic voting can be used in tour guides as well as in multilateral meetings.

For example, when the leader of the guide wants to take a meal order, the menu may be voiced.

For example, the leader can voice a voice that says, "If you want to eat Korean food, please vote [NO]. If you want to eat Japanese food.", Each slave device 102 switches to the electronic voting mode. Afterwards, the user's selection information is transmitted to the master device 101.

The master device 101 according to the present invention collects the selection information of each user, and then outputs the result according to the selection.

The master device 101 may also be provided with the display unit 300 as shown in FIG. 3, and counts the selection information received from each slave device 102 and outputs the result to the display unit 300.

In addition, the short-range wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention may provide personnel inspection and power control services.

Personnel check and power control services may be useful when near field communication devices are used for tour guides.

As described above, the slave device 102 synchronizes with the master device 101 through a synchronization signal (synchronous control frame) transmitted by the master device 101, and while the synchronization is maintained, each slave device 102 is maintained. ) Includes its state information in the synchronization control frame 200 and transmits the state information to the master device 101.

Here, the status information may include a unique number of each slave device and remaining battery information.

The master device 101 may perform the entire personnel check using the unique number described above. If a specific slave device is separated, the master device 101 confirms the unique number of the detached slave device by comparing with the stored unique number. Can be.

In addition, the master device 101 may identify the device that needs to be replaced by the battery remaining amount information.

Meanwhile, the short range wireless communication device, particularly the slave device 102 according to the present invention, may perform an auto power off function.

Keeping the power on while the specific slave device is out of the communication area with the master device 101 may cause unnecessary power consumption.

To prevent this, the slave device 102 automatically turns off the power when the synchronization signal is not received from the master device 101 for a preset time.

At this time, the slave device 102 drives a timer when the synchronization signal of the master device 101 is not received, and turns off the power when a preset time elapses after the timer is driven.

The short-range wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention is capable of simultaneously receiving two-channel voice signals and performing electronic voting, personnel check, and power control functions, so that a portable conference system, a two-way tour system, and a simultaneous interpretation system can be implemented. There is an advantage.

Hereinafter, a configuration of a short range wireless communication device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the short range wireless communication device according to the present invention may include an RF module 500, a modem 502, a codec 504, a mixer 506, and a controller 508.

The above components may be commonly applied to the master device 101 and the slave device 102.

The RF module 500 receives a signal received from another short-range wireless communication device wirelessly through an antenna, and the modem 502 demodulates the received signal into a baseband signal.

The signal is an encoded digital signal, and the codec 504 decodes the digital signal and outputs the analog signal.

According to the present invention, the codec 504 may be implemented as a software codec capable of simultaneously decoding two-channel voice signals, and decoding the two-channel voice signals output from the modem 502 and outputting them to the mixer 506.

The mixer 506 mixes the voice signals received through the two channels and outputs them through the speaker 512.

In voice transmission, the voice input through the microphone 514 is converted into a digital signal through the codec 504, modulated in the modem 502, upconverted at high frequency through the RF module 500, and transmitted wirelessly.

Meanwhile, the controller 508 according to the present invention controls the overall operation of the RF module 500, the modem 502, and the codec 504.

In addition, the control unit 508 is connected to the keypad unit 510 including a key button as shown in FIG. 3 to receive a user's request.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 508 according to the present invention includes a group code generation unit 600, a unique number generation unit 602, an electronic voting processing unit 604, a state management unit 606, and a power management unit 608. And a speech management unit 610.

The group code generation unit 600 may be included in the short range wireless communication device 101 set as a master and generates a group code for group identification.

As described above, the master device 101 transmits the generated group code to the plurality of slave devices 102, and each slave device 102 stores the group code to save the master device 101 and the other slave devices 102. ) And form a group.

Each device 101 and 102 includes a group code in the sync control frame 200 and transmits the group code, and the peripheral devices 101 and 102 receiving the same are transmitted from a group to which they belong via a group code included in the sync control frame 200. It is determined whether it is a signal.

In the initial setting, the unique number generation unit 602 generates a unique number for identification of each device (101, 102).

According to the present invention, the unique number may be performed under the control of the master device 101, but is not limited thereto, and each slave device 102 may generate a unique number that does not overlap with another device.

The electronic voting processing unit 604 controls the overall electronic voting.

The electronic voting processing unit 604 of the master device 101 changes the use of the individual payload frame 202 to voice transmission / election for electronic voting when the user requests the electronic voting initiation request, and synchronizes the synchronous control frame 200. Control to include the electronic voting start information.

In addition, when the selection information on the electronic voting is received from each slave device 102, the electronic voting result is collected and controlled to be output to the display unit 300.

Meanwhile, when the electronic voting processing unit 604 of the slave device 102 includes the electronic voting start information in the synchronous control frame 200 of the master device 101, the electronic voting processing unit 604 switches to the electronic voting mode. In case of occupying the voice, the voice transmission of the user is deactivated.

In addition, when the master device 101 inquires (Polling), the selection information of the user is included in the predetermined payload frame 202 and transmitted to the master device 101.

The state manager 606 may be included in the master device 101, and manages the state of each slave device 102 in real time.

Each slave device 102 according to the present invention periodically transmits state information including its own number and battery remaining information in the synchronization control frame 202, and the master device 101 transmits the state information through the state information. Manage the state of the slave device 102.

The state manager 606 monitors whether a unique number of each slave device 102 is received, and if the unique number of the predetermined slave device 102 is not received for a preset time, the display unit 300 or the speaker ( The connection state of the slave device 102 is notified through 512.

In addition, when there is a user's request for personnel check, the state manager 606 may output the total number of currently connected persons to the display unit 300 based on the state information.

The state manager 606 determines whether the remaining battery capacity of each slave device 102 is less than or equal to a preset value. If it is determined that the battery is low, the slave device 102 displays the corresponding slave device through the display unit 300 or the speaker 512. 102 outputs information for battery replacement.

The power manager 608 according to the present invention may be applied to the slave device 102, and controls the power-off of the slave device 102 according to whether the master device 101 is connected.

Each slave device 102 keeps the synchronization signal transmitted from the master device 101 in synchronization with the master device 101.

If the slave device 102 fails to receive the synchronization signal of the master device 101 due to the group departure of the user, the power manager 608 drives a timer from the time when the synchronization signal is not received. It is determined whether or not the predetermined time elapses.

If the synchronization signal non-receipt state of the master device 101 continues for a preset time, the power management unit 608 automatically turns off the power of the slave device 102.

This prevents unnecessary power consumption in a situation where voice signals cannot be transmitted or received.

Meanwhile, according to the present invention, the master device 101 can remotely turn off the power to the predetermined slave device 102 as needed.

For example, after a meeting ends, if there is a power off request from the user through the master device 101, the master device 101 commands the power off command to either slave device, preferably the entire slave device 102. In this case, each slave device 102 may turn off the power.

At this time, the master device 101 may include a power-off command in the sync control frame 200 and transmit the same.

Similarly, the master device 101 can remotely adjust the volume of each slave device 102.

When there is a volume control request of the user through the master device 101, the master device 101 may transmit a volume control command to each slave device 102 in the group, and the slave device 102 that receives the volume control command may receive a volume control command. Adjust the volume to the size according to the adjustment command.

The volume control command may also be transmitted by the master device 101 through the synchronization control frame 200.

Meanwhile, the controller 508 may further include a speech manager 610.

If the master device 101 sets the talk time in advance, the talk manager 610 of each slave device 102 stores the talk time set in advance.

Subsequently, when the user starts to speak with the input of the TALK button, the speaking manager 610 drives the timer from the beginning of the speaking to determine whether the preset speaking time has elapsed.

When the speaking time elapses during the speaking of the user, the speaking managing unit 610 transmits a predetermined command to the codec 504 to stop encoding of the user's voice input through the microphone.

In addition, the speaking manager 610 according to the present invention processes the speech waiting control process in order to prevent indiscriminate possession of the speaking right in a state where two-channel voice transmission is guaranteed.

For example, in a situation in which the master device 101 and the first user occupy the floor, when the second user requests to speak, the speaking manager 610 of the master device 101 may speak the first user's speaking time. If this preset time has elapsed, the talk waiting information is transmitted to the slave device 102 of the second user.

Thereafter, after the first user ends the speech or the speech time for the first user has elapsed, the speech manager 610 of the master device 101 transmits the speech start information to the slave device 102 of the second user. Thereafter, the slave device 102 of the second user releases the waiting state for the second user, processes the voice input by the second user, and transmits the voice wirelessly.

In the above description, the master device 101 controls the speech waiting, but the slave device 102 of the second user may control the speech waiting process by itself, and performs the speech waiting control through a separate control device. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that they may.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention described above are disclosed for purposes of illustration, and those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Additions should be considered to be within the scope of the following claims.

1 is a diagram illustrating a short range wireless communication system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 illustrates a network cycle structure in accordance with the present invention.

3 is a view showing the appearance of a short-range wireless communication device according to the present invention.

4 is a view showing a frame structure during electronic voting according to the present invention.

5 is a detailed block diagram of a short-range wireless communication device according to the present invention.

6 is a view showing a detailed configuration of a control unit according to the present invention.

Claims (12)

In the multi-purpose short-range wireless communication system, A master device for transmitting a synchronization signal including a group code; And It includes a plurality of slave devices to identify the group to which they belong through the synchronization signal, to keep in synchronization with the master device, and to receive and reproduce the multi-channel voice signal at the same time, The master device and the plurality of slave devices are multipurpose short-range wireless communication that performs one of voice signal transmission, electronic voting, personnel check, and power control service while maintaining a cycle of a network including a synchronous control frame and one or more payload frames. system. The method of claim 1, When the master device requests an electronic ballot initiation request, the master device includes the electronic ballot initiation information in the synchronous control frame and transmits it. Communication system. The method of claim 2, And the master device allocates the payload frame alternately for voice transmission and reception and for electronic voting when the electronic voting initiation request is made. The method of claim 1, And the slave device periodically transmits a pre-allocated unique number and battery remaining information to the master device through the synchronous control frame. The method of claim 4, wherein The master device registers the unique numbers for the plurality of slave devices in advance, and if a predetermined unique number is not received for a preset time, the master device warns the departure of the slave device corresponding to the unique number. The method of claim 1, And the slave device automatically turns off the power when the synchronous control frame is not received from the master device for a preset time. The method of claim 1, And the master device remotely turns off a power of a predetermined slave device using the synchronous control frame. The method of claim 1, And the master device remotely controls the audio volume of a predetermined slave device using the synchronous control frame. The method of claim 1, The master device transmits to the plurality of slave devices by including a preset talk time in the synchronization control frame, Each slave device is a multi-purpose short-range wireless communication system that terminates the user's speech automatically when a preset speech time has elapsed when a slave device requests a user's speech. 10. The method of claim 9, And the master device transmits talk waiting information to a slave device of the other user when there is a request for speaking by another user before the speaking time elapses. The method of claim 1, And the slave device is automatically set to the same mode as the master device upon power-on according to one of a conference mode and a simultaneous interpretation mode of the master device. In the multi-purpose short-range wireless communication device, RF module for transmitting and receiving a voice signal; A modem for performing demodulation and demodulation of the voice signal; A codec for encoding a multi-channel voice input through a microphone and decoding a demodulated voice signal in the modem; A mixer for mixing the multichannel voice; And And a control unit for controlling transmission and reception of the voice signal and controlling one of electronic voting, speaking restriction, personnel check, and power control.

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