JP2000115173A - Radio terminal and radio node - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To selectively specify a service providable by respective radio nodes from self introduction information by receiving the self introduction information from the radio node on a radio network, storing it and clearly presenting it. SOLUTION: A channel composed of a carrier for broadcast is present on the frequency of a radio network formed of this radio terminal 130 and base station nodes 110 and 120 and the self introduction information composed of the node identification ID and kind/function, etc., of the respective base station nodes 110 and 120 is transmitted through it at an allocated timing. The radio terminal 130 gathers the self introduction information and edits and displays it on a monitor as list information. When a user selects a DVD: 1021 inside the base station node 120 and instructs 'reproduction' on the monitor for instance, the radio terminal 130 transmits a packet on which a command is mounted. The base station node 120 transfers the command to an IEEE1394 bus 20 and sends it to the DVD 1021.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio terminal and a radio node in a network system operated in an environment where a certain radio network and another, for example, some wired networks are integrated, and more particularly to a certain radio network. The present invention relates to a wireless terminal and a wireless node that select a wireless node as a packet transmission destination on a wireless network when services and the like provided on different networks are different for each network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, networking in a home has been receiving attention. However, such a viewpoint has been conventionally available. In particular, as a home network targeted at home security, standard standards such as CEBus and LON have been adopted. Has already been proposed. In addition, AV (Audi
o Visual) analog AV cables (white, red, and yellow cables) connecting the devices can also be regarded as a kind of home network.

[0003] In such an environment, in recent years, the development of the next generation version of SCSI, IEEE 13
A new serial bus standard called 94 has been spotlighted as the leading role in home networks. IEEE 1394
The bus connects a plurality of terminals in a daisy-chain or star configuration, and can transfer data of a wide band exceeding 100 Mbps. The biggest feature is that Asy on the same cable
The point is that both the nchronous data and the isochronous data can be transmitted. For this reason, there has been a growing movement to use 1394, which was originally under consideration as a next-generation version of SCSI, as a cable connecting AV devices.

[0004] With the spread of such IEEE 1394, a movement to integrate the IEEE 1394 bus with a wireless network has begun to appear. As one of the methods, there are, for example, an attempt to transfer data of 100 Mbps using infrared rays, and an attempt to implement a 1394 protocol on a broadband radio using a high frequency band. In addition, along with attempts to put such a 1394 protocol on a wireless environment as it is, 5 GHz
With the release of the band, a method of transferring only a part of the data on the IEEE 1394 bus to the wireless environment is being studied. Such coexistence of IEEE 1394 and a wireless network is expected to promote the spread of digital AV in homes.

[0005] Here, in a normal wireless environment, it was hardly considered that the service provided differs depending on the type of a base station to which the base station is connected. For example,
The mobile phone service, the PHS service, and the like are based on the premise that a voice call service is provided, and the base station selection method (which depends on the wireless strength) assumes that the service obtained regardless of which base station is connected is uniform. (A method of selecting a base station). Further, even when the services provided by the base station are different, the difference in the provided service is mostly due to the difference in the services existing in the base station node.

[0006]

In the network system in which the IEEE 1394 and the wireless network are integrated with the conventional wireless network as described above,
It is expected that the types of services that can be provided differ greatly depending on the connecting base station. That is, when a connection is made to a certain base station, only the services on the IEEE 1394 bus to which the base station is connected are provided, and the services actually required by the user are provided on another base station / IEEE 1394 bus. If it exists, the service cannot be provided, which is a problem.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a network (for example, a home network) in an environment where a wireless network and another network (for example, an IEEE 1394 bus) coexist, a plurality of different networks are used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless terminal and a wireless node that enable a wireless terminal to select a wireless node when a wireless node (for example, a base station node) exists on each (for example, a plurality of IEEE 1394 buses).

The present invention also relates to another network (for example, an IEEE 1394 bus) to which each wireless node is connected.
Based on the information on the above services and the like, a wireless node (for example, a base station node) to which the wireless terminal connects is selected, so that it is possible to reliably connect to a wireless node on another network where a service or the like required by the user exists. An object is to provide a wireless terminal and a wireless node.

Further, the present invention provides a method for transmitting a desired service or the like to another network even when the wireless network is operated in a system such as a wireless LAN (a system in which a carrier on a network is sensed before transmitting a packet). It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless terminal and a wireless node which can be obtained from, for example, an IEEE 1394 bus.

[0010]

A wireless terminal according to the present invention (claim 1) has a first interface connected to a wireless network and the wireless network communicable via the first interface. A radio receiving at least a part of information of radio node information including at least one of information on a service function registered in the radio node or configuration information on components in the radio node from a radio node existing on the radio node Node information receiving means, wireless node information storing means for storing at least a part of the wireless node information received by the wireless node information receiving means, and at least one of the wireless node information stored in the wireless node information storing means. Wireless node information disclosing means for disclosing some information.

According to the present invention, a user can select a wireless node to be connected based on information transmitted from the wireless node, such as a service that can be provided by the wireless node. As a result, for example, the user can explicitly specify the wireless node that can provide the service he or she wants to receive, and can reliably receive the desired service.

[0012] Preferably, the wireless node information receiving means may receive at least a part of the wireless node information by a self-introduction signal from the wireless node.

Preferably, the wireless node information disclosing means discloses at least a part of the wireless node information stored in the wireless node information storing means by displaying the information on a screen in a display of the own wireless terminal. You may do so.

Preferably, a wireless node information disclosure request for requesting a wireless node existing on the wireless network communicable via the first interface means to disclose at least a part of the wireless node information. Means may be further provided.

[0015] Preferably, a radio node selection for selecting a radio node that actually performs communication from radio nodes recognized as being present on the radio network communicable via the first interface means. Means may be further provided.

Preferably, a wireless node priority determining means for adding a predetermined priority to a wireless node recognized as being present on the wireless network communicable via the first interface means, According to the priority determined by the wireless node priority determining means,
A wireless node information disclosure unit that discloses at least a part of wireless node information of the wireless node may be further provided.

The wireless node according to the present invention (claim 7)
A first interface unit connected to a wireless network, a second interface unit connected to a network different from the wireless network (for example, an IEEE 1394 bus), and the wireless network via the second interface unit And / or collecting at least a part of node information including at least one of information on a service function registered in another node existing on another network and configuration information on a component in the other node. The node information collection / storage means to be stored and at least a part of the node information stored by the node information collection / storage means to the wireless terminal on the wireless network via the first interface means. And a node information disclosure means to be disclosed.

According to the present invention, information such as services that can be provided by the own node can be notified to the wireless terminal. This allows the user using the wireless terminal to know information such as services that the wireless node can provide when using the wireless terminal, and explicitly specifies the wireless node to be connected based on the information. For example, a desired service can be reliably received.

Preferably, the node information disclosure means includes:
At least a part of the node information stored in the node information collecting / storing means may be disclosed by a self-introduction signal transmitted to the wireless network.

[0020] This makes it possible to notify the wireless terminal of information such as a service that exists in a node on the network to which the own node connects and can be provided to the wireless terminal via the own node when the wireless terminal is connected.

The wireless node according to the present invention (claim 9)
A first interface unit connected to a wireless network, a second interface unit connected to a network different from the wireless network (for example, an IEEE 1394 bus), and the wireless network via the second interface unit And / or collecting at least a part of node information including at least one of information on a service function registered in another node existing on another network and configuration information on a component in the other node. Information on service functions registered in another wireless node existing on the wireless network or configuration in the other wireless node via the node information collecting / storing means to be stored and the first interface means Of wireless node information including at least one of Wireless node information collecting / storing means for collecting / storing at least a part of information, and node information or wireless node information collecting by the node information collecting / storing means via the first interface means And a node information disclosing means for disclosing at least a part of information of the wireless node information stored by the storage means to a wireless terminal or another wireless node on the wireless network.

According to the present invention, information such as a service that can be provided by another wireless node sent from another wireless node can be notified to the wireless terminal. As a result, for example, the user can explicitly specify the wireless node that can provide the service he or she wants to receive, and can reliably receive the desired service.

[0023] Preferably, the information relating to the service function registered in the other wireless node or the information related to the service function registered in the other wireless node is provided to the other wireless node existing on the first network via the first interface means. A wireless node information disclosure requesting unit for requesting disclosure of at least a part of the wireless node information including at least one of the configuration information on the components in another wireless node may be further provided.

Preferably, the wireless node information disclosing means includes at least one of the node information stored in the node information collecting / storing means or the wireless node information stored in the wireless node information collecting / storing means. The information of the unit may be disclosed according to a request from a wireless terminal or another wireless node on the wireless network.

Thus, the user using the wireless terminal can know the information such as the service that can be provided by the wireless node at an appropriate timing while using the wireless terminal. A wireless node to be connected can be explicitly specified, and a plurality of services can be sequentially received.

Preferably, the node information disclosure means includes:
All of the wireless terminals on the wireless network transmit the node information stored in the node information collecting / storing means or at least a part of the wireless node information stored in the wireless node information collecting / storing means. May be broadcast.

Preferably, AV / C protocol executing means for executing an AV / C protocol on the wireless network, HAVi protocol executing means for executing the HAVi protocol on a network different from the wireless network, and the wireless network From the registry information defined in the HAVi protocol, which corresponds to node information including at least one of information on a service function registered in a node on another network or configuration information on a component in the node, A function for creating SubUnit information defined by the AV / C protocol corresponding to the registry information, and information on service functions registered in a wireless node on the wireless network or components in the wireless node Structure From the SubUnit information defined by the AV / C protocol corresponding to the wireless node information including at least one of the information, the function of creating registry information defined by the HAVi protocol corresponding to the SubUnit information; A registry / SubUnit information creating means having at least one function may be further provided.

Preferably, the HAVi corresponding to node information including at least one of information on a service function registered in a node on a network different from the wireless network or configuration information on components in the node. Registry information defined by a protocol, and the registry / SubU based on the registry information.
SubUnit created by nit information creation means
A function of storing a correspondence relationship with information, and a function corresponding to wireless node information including at least one of information on a service function registered in a wireless node on the wireless network or configuration information on a component in the wireless node. , SubUni defined in the AV / C protocol
t information and the SubUnit information, the registry /
A registry / SubUnit having at least one of a function for storing and storing a correspondence relationship with the registry information created by the SubUnit information creating means.
An information storage means may be further provided.

[0029] Preferably, said HA for controlling a node on a network different from said wireless network.
A function of converting control screen information defined by a Vi protocol into control screen information recognizable by an AV / C protocol executed on the wireless network, and a function of controlling a wireless node on the wireless network. At least one of a function of converting control screen information defined by the AV / C protocol into control screen information recognizable by an HAVi protocol executed on a network different from the wireless network. And a control screen information conversion unit.

[0030] Preferably, said HA for controlling a node on a network different from said wireless network.
A function of converting a control command defined by the Vi protocol into a control command corresponding to the control command and defined by the AV / C protocol executed on the wireless network; A control command defined by the AV / C protocol for controlling is converted into a control command corresponding to the control command defined by an HAVi protocol executed on a network different from the wireless network. A command conversion unit having at least one of the functions may be further provided.

It should be noted that the present invention relating to the apparatus is also realized as an invention relating to a method, and the present invention relating to a method is also realized as an invention relating to an apparatus.

Further, the present invention according to the apparatus or method is intended to cause a computer to execute a procedure corresponding to the present invention (or to cause a computer to function as means corresponding to the present invention, or to cause a computer to correspond to the present invention). The present invention is also realized as a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for realizing the function of performing the above is recorded.

[0033]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the following, the communication nodes (base station nodes, wireless 1394 nodes) are used to control the IEEE existing in the home.
Each embodiment when a wireless terminal is connected to the 1394 bus via a wireless interface will be described in detail.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which an IEEE 1394 bus is used as a home network different from a wireless network.

In FIG. 1, two IEEE 139s are installed in the home.
There are four buses 10 and 20, and each IEEE 139
This shows a state in which a plurality of 1394 nodes are connected on four buses. On the IEEE 1394 bus 10, 1394
The node 101 and the base station node 110 exist and the IEEE
On the 1394 bus 20, a 1394 node 102 and a base station node 120 exist. In the home, there is a wireless terminal 130 that can be connected to the base station nodes 110 and 120 via a wireless network.

This embodiment shows a case where this wireless network is operated by frequency division multiplexing / time division multiplexing. The wireless terminal 130 selects a base station node to be connected in advance, and The case where the above data communication is started is shown.

In the 1394 nodes 101 and 102 and the wireless terminal 130, their components (SubUn
it) as VTR Su in the 1394 node 101.
bUnit 1011 and tuner SubUnit 101
2 is a DVD SubUni within the 1394 node 102
t1021 and Disc SubUnit 1022, and decoder SubUnit 1301 in the wireless terminal 130.

In this embodiment, the nodes existing on the IEEE 1394 bus and the nodes existing on the wireless network do not directly recognize each other, but the components (for example, AV / AV) existing in each node. It is assumed that they recognize each other at the level of (SubUnit) in the C protocol. Specifically, this is a case where a wireless terminal on the wireless network recognizes a component existing in a node on the IEEE 1394 path as if it exists in a base station node.

In this case, the wireless terminal 130 or IEEE3
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a network recognized by nodes on the 94 bus. FIG. 2 shows a case where the wireless terminal 130 is connected to the base station node 110 (FIG. 2A) and a case where the wireless terminal 13
0 is connected to the base station node 120 (FIG. 2B)
Are shown. Furthermore, in each case,
Network configuration recognized by wireless terminal 130 and I
2 shows a network configuration recognized by a 1394 node on the EEE1394 bus.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the wireless terminal 130 is connected to the base station node 110, the wireless terminal 130
Sub in the 1394 node on the EEE1394 bus 10
Units (1011 and 1012) appear to exist, and the 1394 node 101 sends the base station node 110
It appears that the SubUnit (1301) in the wireless terminal 130 exists within the sub-unit. Therefore, in this case, the wireless terminal 130 transmits the 1394 data on the IEEE 1394 bus 20.
Since the SubUnit in the node cannot be recognized, the IEEE
The service on the E1394 bus 20 cannot be received.

When the wireless terminal 130 is connected to the base station node 120 as shown in FIG. 2B, the wireless terminal
SubUnit in 1394 node on 394 bus 20
(1021, 1022) seem to exist, 139
From the four nodes 102, it appears that the SubUnit (1301) in the wireless terminal 130 exists in the base station node 120. Therefore, in this case, since the SubUnit in the 1394 node on the IEEE1394 bus 10 cannot be recognized from the wireless terminal 130, the IEEE1394
The service on the bus 10 cannot be received.

In this embodiment, when determining whether the base station to which the wireless terminal 130 connects is the base station node 110 or the base station node 120, the IEEE 1394 bus to which each base station node is connected is used. A case will be described in which the base station node to be connected is selected using the above service information (SubUnit information).

Here, FIG. 3 shows an example of a frequency allocation method on the wireless network according to the present embodiment.

In the example of FIG. 3, there are three data transfer carriers 1, 2, 3 on a radio frequency, and a BCCH (Broad Cast Channel) which is a carrier for broadcast data from a base station node or a radio terminal. Is shown. In the BCCH, for example, self-introduction information of the base station node, such as the node ID of each base station node and the type / function of the base station node, is transmitted at an appropriate timing assigned to each base station node. . In the present embodiment, a method of using the BCCH to notify a base station node of SubUnit information existing in each base station node (recognizing the wireless terminal as existing) to the wireless terminal (FIG. 4). In addition, a method of notifying the self-introduction information to the radio terminal in the BCCH and notifying the sub-unit information existing in the base station node to the radio terminal in the subsequent processing will be described (FIG. 5).

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the radio terminal 13 is transmitted from the base station nodes 110 and 120 using the BCCH as illustrated in FIG.
0 is notified of SubUnit information for causing the wireless terminal 130 to recognize that the wireless terminal 130 exists in each of the base station nodes 110 and 120, thereby selecting a base station node to which the wireless terminal 130 is connected. Is shown.

At this time, the base station node 110 sets the 1394 node 101 as SubUnit information in its own node.
The base station node 120 notifies the wireless terminal 130 of the SubUnit information in the 1394 node 102 as the SubUnit information in its own node.

The following processing sequence shows an example in which the user wants to operate the DVD SubUnit, and the wireless terminal 130 is connected to the base station node 12.
An example of a case where 0 is selected for connection is shown. As described above, when the wireless terminal 130 selects the base station node 120, the configuration of the network recognized by the wireless terminal 130 and the 1394 node 102 is as shown in FIG. 2B.

The specific contents of the processing are shown below.

(1) When the base station node 110 determines that the IEEE1
Collect the SubUnit information in the nodes on the 394 bus 10 and use them as SubUnit information in the own node.

(2) If the base station node 120 is
Collect the SubUnit information in the nodes on the 394 bus 20 and use them as SubUnit information in the own node.

(3) The user turns on the power of the wireless terminal 130 (or, for example, the wireless terminal 130 joins the wireless network).

(4) The wireless terminal 130 receives the information on the BCCH and receives the self-introduction information from the base station nodes 110 and 120. In this self-introduction information, the S collected by each base station node in the above processes (1) and (2)
ubUnit information is included.

(5) The wireless terminal 130 is connected to the base station node 1
Gather the self-introduction information sent from 10,120,
Create a list.

(6) On a monitor or the like on the wireless terminal 130,
Display the created list information.

(7) The user operates the desired service (DV
D SubUnit) is selected, and a command (for example, “play”) for the DVD SubUnit is input. Here, the user selects the base station node 120 or the DVD SubU.
nit, or the content in the DVD SubUnit.

(8) A command is input to the wireless terminal 130 through a monitor screen or the like.

(9) The wireless terminal 130 connects to the selected base station node 120.

(10) The wireless terminal 130 sends a DVD SubUnit 1021 in the base station node 120 to the
The input command (for example, “play”) is transmitted.

(11) The base station node 120 converts the received command from a packet on the wireless network to IEEE
The packet is transferred to a packet on the 1394 bus (packet conversion processing is performed).

(12) The base station node 120 converts the packet-converted IEEE 1394 packet (with a playback command) into a DVD sub in the 1394 node 102.
Transfer to Unit1021.

(13) The 1394 node 102 executes a process corresponding to the received command.

By the above-described series of processes, transmission of a command from the wireless terminal 130 to a desired service (SubUnit) becomes possible.

However, the processing procedure is not limited to the procedure described above. For example, what is input at the stage of the processing (7) is not a command to the DVD SubUnit, but a DVD
It is also conceivable that the information is only information for selecting a SubUnit. In this case, once the wireless terminal 130 connects to the base station node 120, the DVD SubUnit (1021) selected by the user
A method is also conceivable in which a content information disclosure request is sent and the result is disclosed to the user again. At this time, content selection and command input from the user are executed after these processes.

The processing corresponding to the actual “playback” command includes isochronous transmission on the IEEE 1394 bus for transferring the played back video to the wireless terminal 130.
A process such as a process of acquiring a nous channel, a process of acquiring a resource on a wireless network, and a process of transmitting and receiving a connection command between SubUnits in the 1394 node 102 or the wireless terminal 130 are necessary. Is omitted.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which the radio terminal 13 is transmitted from the base station nodes 110 and 120 using the BCCH as illustrated in FIG.
0 is notified of the self-introduction information of the normal base station node, and in subsequent processing, each base station node 110, 1
20 that the wireless terminal 130 recognizes as being in
7 shows an example of a processing sequence of a method of notifying ubUnit information and selecting a base station node to which the wireless terminal 130 connects.

At this time, the user sequentially searches SubUnit information in each base station on the wireless network, and obtains a desired SubUnit (in the following example, DVD SubUn).
is selected).

The specific contents of the processing are shown below.

(1) If the base station node 110 is
Collect the SubUnit information in the nodes on the 394 bus 10 and use them as SubUnit information in the own node.

(2) When the base station node 120
Collect the SubUnit information in the nodes on the 394 bus 20 and use them as SubUnit information in the own node.

(3) The user turns on the power of the wireless terminal 130 (or, for example, the wireless terminal 130 joins the wireless network).

(4) Radio terminal 130 receives information on the BCCH and receives self-introduction information from base station nodes 110 and 120. Here, SubU is included in self-introduction information.
nit information is not included.

(5) The radio terminal 130 is connected to the base station node 1
Gather the self-introduction information sent from 10,120,
Create a list.

(6) The radio terminal 130 selects a base station node to connect to using this self-introduction information, and connects to it. Here, it is assumed that connection to the base station node 110 is made by, for example, a base station node selection method based on wireless strength.

(7) The radio terminal 130 is connected to the base station node 1
10 requests disclosure of the SubUnit information therein.

(8) The base station node 110 discloses the SubUnit information in its own node. In this example, the VTR SubUnit 1011 and the tuner SubUnit 1012 are disclosed.

(9) On a monitor or the like on the wireless terminal 130,
The sub-unit information disclosed from the base station node 110 and a list of other base station nodes existing on the wireless network are displayed.

(10) The user enters the disclosed SubU
In the nit information, the desired service (DVD SubUn
Since there is no information of (it), the base station node 120 is selected as another base station node, and disclosure of the SubUnit information is requested.

(11) A request is sent to the wireless terminal 130 through a monitor screen or the like.

(12) The wireless terminal 130 disconnects the connection with the base station node 110.

(13) The wireless terminal 130 connects to the selected base station node 120.

(14) The radio terminal 130 requests the base station node 120 to disclose the internal SubUnit information.

(15) The base station node 120 discloses the SubUnit information in its own node. In the case of this example, the disclosures are DVD SubUnit 1021 and Disc.
SubUnit 1022.

(16) The SubUnit disclosed from the base station node 120 is displayed on a monitor on the radio terminal 130 or the like.
Information and a list of other base station nodes present on the wireless network. At this time, the display of the base station node 110 is already searched.

(17) The user selects a desired service (DVD SubUnit) from the displayed information,
A command (for example, “play”) for the DVD SubUnit is input. Here, the user selects D
VD SubUnit, DVD SubU
For example, the content may be in the nit.

(18) A command is input to the wireless terminal 130 through a monitor screen or the like.

(19) The wireless terminal 130 transmits the input command (for example, “play”) to the DVD SubUnit in the base station node 120.

(20) The base station node 120 converts the received command from the packet on the wireless network to IEEE
The packet is transferred to a packet on the 1394 bus (packet conversion processing is performed).

(21) The base station node 120 converts the packet-converted IEEE 1394 packet (with a playback command) into a DVD sub in the 1394 node 102.
Transfer to Unit1021.

(22) The 1394 node 102 executes processing corresponding to the received command.

[0092] Through a series of processes as described above, a command can be transmitted from the wireless terminal to a desired service (SubUnit).

However, the processing procedure is not limited to the above procedure. For example, a list of base station nodes existing on the wireless network is displayed at the stage of the processing (5), and the user selects the base station node from the list. And then select SubUni
A method of searching for t information is also conceivable.

The input at the stage of the process (17) is not a command to the DVD SubUnit, but a DV.
It is also conceivable that there is only information that D SubUnit is selected. In this case, after the wireless terminal 130 has once connected to the base station node 120, a request for disclosing the content information in the DVD SubUnit selected by the user is sent, and the result is disclosed to the user again. Other methods are also conceivable. At this time,
When users select content or enter commands,
It will be executed after these processes.

Further, as in the case of the processing sequence of FIG. 4, the processing corresponding to the actual “reproduction” command includes the processing for transferring the reproduced video to the wireless terminal 130.
Processes such as an isochronous channel acquisition process on an IEEE 1394 bus, a resource acquisition process on a wireless network, and a process of transmitting and receiving a connection command between SubUnits in the 1394 node 102 and the wireless terminal 130 are required. Therefore, the description of those processes is omitted.

Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 show a list of base station information on the wireless network, which is displayed on the screen of the wireless terminal 130 in the processing of FIGS. 5 shows an example of a method of displaying a list of SubUnit information in the list.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the display screen displayed in the process (6) of FIG. In the present embodiment, the configuration is such that two base station nodes 110 and 120 are present, so that information on the two base station nodes is also displayed in FIG. Specifically, a VTR and a tuner exist below the base station node 110, and content information and channel information therein can be seen.

In the processing of FIG. 4, the content information and the channel information may be included in the self-introduction information by the BCCH. In the processing of FIG. 5, notification is made when the SubUnit information is sequentially searched. A method is conceivable. Of course, a method realized by a combination of them is also conceivable.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the display screen displayed in the process (16) of FIG. In the method of FIG. 5, a list of SubUnit information in the connected base station node and a list of information of other base station nodes are also displayed, so that the SubUnit information in the base station node 120 and the information of other base station nodes are Is displayed. Here, as the information of the base station node,
In the process (9) of FIG.
Since the ubUnit information is "displayed",
Information to that effect is added. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, information indicating "accessing" may be displayed with respect to the SubUnit information of the currently displayed base station node (120). If there is another base station node that has not been accessed yet, information indicating that fact may be displayed (for example, “unaccessed” is displayed).

Here, a user does not always select a base station node in order to obtain a desired service. For example, a case where the DVD SubUnit on the screen is directly selected, a case where the content in the DVD SubUnit is directly selected, and the like can be assumed. Since such a user selection method is conceivable, for example, the base station nodes 110 and 120 need not always be displayed in FIG. Furthermore, each SubUnit
Display of (DVD, Disc, VTR, etc.) is not essential, and there may be a case where only the content information present in the SubUnit is displayed on the screen. As in FIG. 6, in FIG.
It is not always necessary to display 0, DVD, Disc SubUnit. Further, in FIG. 7, the other base station nodes are displayed, but a method of preparing options such as “other SubUnit” and “other service” is also conceivable. In this case, when the user selects the option, a method is conceivable in which the wireless terminal 130 connects to an appropriate base station that is not the already connected base station and creates / displays a new screen.

FIG. 8 shows the base station node 11 of this embodiment.
1 shows an example of a block diagram of the internal configuration of 0 and 120.

In this embodiment, the base station node (1
10 and 120), a process of disclosing SubUnit information in each node on the IEEE 1394 bus to the wireless network side, and a process of disclosing SUnit in a wireless terminal on the wireless network.
A process of disclosing the subUnit information to the IEEE 1394 bus side, a routing process using the SubUnit information, and the like are executed. Also, a connection request process when the wireless terminal connects to the own node, and a SubUni on the IEEE 1394 bus connected to the own node at the time of connection.
Processing for notifying the wireless terminal of the t information and the like are performed.

Therefore, in the configuration of the base station node (110, 120) illustrated in FIG. 8, the wireless interface processing unit 701 that provides an interface function to the wireless network, the packet to be transferred on the wireless network, and the IEEE 1394 bus A packet conversion processing unit 7 for performing a packet transfer process between packets to be transferred above
02, a wireless terminal connection processing unit 703 that executes connection processing when a wireless terminal is connected to the wireless network, and a SubU in the base station node (110, 120) from the wireless terminal.
When disclosure of the nit information is requested, a SubUnit information request processing unit 705 that discloses a list of SubUnit information in the 1394 node on the IEEE 1394 bus to which the own node is connected, and when a wireless terminal is connected or 139 on the IEEE 1394 bus to which the own node is connected when the SubUnit information disclosure request is received
Subunit information creation unit 704 in the base station node that creates a list of SubUnit information existing in the four nodes
A sub-unit information collection unit 706 in the radio terminal that collects SubUnit information existing in the radio terminal on the radio network to which the own node is connected;
SubUni existing in the 1394 node on the 94 bus
a SubUnit information collection unit 707 that collects t information;
SubUnit information collection unit 706 in the wireless terminal and SubU
a routing table 708 for creating / holding a routing table for packet transfer within its own node, based on the SubUnit information on the wireless network and the SubUnit information on the IEEE 1394 bus, collected by the nit information collecting unit 707, and an IEEE 1394. An IEEE 1394 bus interface processing unit 709 that provides an interface function to a bus exists.

Here, when the processing shown in FIG. 4 is executed, when the radio terminal connects,
Since the Unit information is disclosed, the SubUnit information request processing unit 705 is unnecessary in the internal configuration example of FIG. Sub in the base station node when this wireless terminal is connected
In disclosing the Unit information, a method is conceivable in which information created in advance by the SubUnit information creation unit 704 in the base station node is transmitted from the wireless terminal connection processing unit 703 to the wireless network via the BCCH.

When the processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed, the SubUnit information in the base station node is not disclosed when the connection processing of the radio terminal is performed.
Terminal connection processing unit 703 and base station node S in
A line connecting between the uUnit information creation units 704 is unnecessary. In this case, after the wireless terminal and the base station node are connected on the wireless network, the SubUnit is transmitted from the wireless terminal.
When receiving the information disclosure request, the sub-station within the base station node
The SubUnit information created by the Unit information creation unit 704 will be disclosed to the wireless terminal.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a block diagram of the internal structure of wireless terminal 130 of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, when connecting to a wireless network, the wireless terminal 130 searches for a connectable base station node and displays the group of base station nodes to the user, or in accordance with an instruction from the user. A process of connecting to one base station node in a connectable base station node group, a process of creating a packet carrying a command corresponding to a command input from a user and sending the packet to a wireless network, Processing such as displaying the transmitted image data to the user is performed.

Therefore, the radio terminal 130 shown in FIG.
Has a wireless interface processing unit 801 that provides an interface function to a wireless network, an application execution unit 802 that executes a process corresponding to a packet received from the wireless interface, And a base station information collection / management unit 803 that stores information on the base station node existing in the base station node and a user who sends a command to the base station node via a wireless network. A user interface processing unit 804 that executes a command input process, a process of notifying a user of a processing result, an image data reception processing unit 805 that executes a process of receiving image information received from a wireless network, and an image data reception processing unit 805 and user interface processing unit There are a monitor 806 to display the data and the like from the 04.

By providing such a function,
The function of selecting a base station when a wireless terminal is connected as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be realized.

The first embodiment has been described above. As described above, the conventional wireless network is based on the provision of a single voice service or a data service of the same quality (one that disregards the QOS of content like a wireless LAN), whereas the IEEE 1394 and the wireless network integration In such a network system, it is expected that the types of services that can be provided differ greatly depending on the base station to which the network system is connected. That is, when a connection is made to a certain base station, the I
Since only the service on the EEE1394 bus is provided, there is a possibility that a service actually required by the user cannot be provided, which is a problem.

According to this embodiment, various information transferred on the 1394 bus can be transmitted to the wireless terminal connected via the wireless interface, and it is as if the wireless terminal was connected to the 1394 bus via the wireless interface. Data communication can be executed as if. In addition, even when a plurality of IEEE 1394 buses exist in a home and different contents (services) are on them, a wireless terminal can be connected to a desired IEEE 1394 bus.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment using an IEEE 1394 bus as a home network different from a wireless network.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which two IEEE 1394 buses 30 and 40 exist in the home, and a plurality of nodes are connected to each of the IEEE 1394 buses, as in the case of the first embodiment. . IEEE 1394
On the bus 30, a 1394 node 901 and a wireless 1394
A node 910 exists, and a 1394 node 902 and a wireless 1394 node 920 exist on the IEEE 1394 bus 40.
Exists. In the home, there is a wireless 1394 node 9
There are wireless terminals 930 that can be connected to the wireless terminals 10 and 920 via a wireless network.

In this embodiment, the wireless network is a MAC (Media Acc) such as a wireless LAN.
FIG. 9 shows a case where the network is a shared media type packet-based network using an ess control (Ess Control) protocol.
The four nodes 910 and the wireless 1394 node 920 perform data transfer as equivalent wireless terminals.

Each of the 1394 nodes 901 and 902 and the wireless terminal 930 have their components (SubUn
It) as VTR Su in the 1394 node 901
bUnit 9011 and tuner SubUnit 901
2 is a DVD SubUni in the 1394 node 902
The t9021, the Disc SubUnit 9022, and the decoder SubUnit 9301 in the wireless terminal 930.

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the nodes existing on the IEEE 1394 bus and the nodes existing on the wireless network do not directly recognize each other but each node. (For example, Sub in the AV / C protocol)
(Unit) level.

In this case, the wireless terminal 930 or the IEEE 1
FIG. 11 shows a configuration example of a network recognized by the 1394 nodes 910 and 920 on the 394 bus. In FIG.
A network configuration diagram recognized from the wireless terminal 930 (FIG. 11A) and a network configuration diagram recognized from each IEEE 1394 bus side (FIG. 11B) are shown.

More specifically, as shown in FIG.
The wireless terminal 930 recognizes that there are three wireless terminals on the wireless network, and within each wireless 1394 node, the IEEE to which those wireless 1394 nodes are connected.
SubUnit in the 1394 node on the E1394 bus
Information is visible. However, in this embodiment, since the wireless network is operated like a wireless LAN (shaded media type), the wireless terminal 930 is not always connected to the wireless 1394 node 910 or the wireless 1394 node 920, but rather has some MAC protocol. The packet is transmitted to a desired wireless 1394 node in accordance with the timing according to.

Further, as shown in FIG.
In the E1394 bus 30, the SubU in the wireless terminal 930
It is recognized that the nit 9301 exists in the wireless 1394 node 910, and in the IEEE 1394 bus 40, the SubUnit 9301 in the wireless terminal 930 is connected to the wireless 193
Four nodes 920 are recognized to be present.

In FIG. 11B, each of the IEEE13
Between the 94 buses 30 and 40, each IEEE 1394
Although the case where the SubUnit on the bus cannot be recognized is shown, when the wireless section is operated like a wireless LAN as shown in FIG. 10, the wireless 1394 node 910 and the wireless 1394 node 920 recognize each other. It may be appropriate. FIG. 12 shows how the entire network is viewed from the IEEE 1394 bus side in this case. 12, the wireless terminal 930 is included in the wireless 1394 node 910.
IEEE1394 bus 4 with SubUnit inside
It appears that both SubUnits in the 1394 node 902 on 0 exist. Also, in the wireless 1394 node 920, together with the SubUnit in the wireless terminal 930, the 1394 node 9 on the IEEE 1394 bus 30
It appears that both SubUnits in 01 are present. In this case, data transfer between the IEEE 1394 buses is also possible.

In the following example, the wireless 1394 node to which the wireless terminal 930 sends a packet is set to the internal Su
A case where selection is performed based on bUnit information will be described.
Here, when the entire network is recognized as shown in FIG. 12, the wireless terminal 930 and the wireless 1394 node 9
The communication between the wireless 1394 nodes 910 and 920 is performed together with the communication between the wireless communication nodes 10 and 920, but the description thereof is omitted here.

In FIG. 13, each of the wireless terminals 930
An example of a processing sequence in the case of reading SubUnit information in four nodes and selecting a wireless 1394 node to which a control command (data reproduction or the like) is to be transmitted based on the read SubUnit information is shown.

At this time, the wireless 1394 node 910
The wireless terminal 930 notifies the wireless terminal 930 of the SubUnit information in the 1394 node 901 as the SubUnit information in the own node.
SubU in 1394 node 902 as Unit information
nit information is notified to the wireless terminal 930.

In the following processing sequence, an example is shown in which the user wants to operate the DVD SubUnit, and the wireless terminal 930 selects the wireless 1394 node 920 and sends out the packet.

The details of the specific processing are shown below.

(1) The wireless 1394 node 910
SubUnit information in a node on the EE1394 bus 30 is collected, and is used as SubUnit information in the own node.

(2) When the wireless 1394 node 920
SubUnit information in a node on the EE1394 bus 40 is collected, and is used as SubUnit information in the own node.

(3) The user turns on the power of the wireless terminal 930 (or, for example, the wireless terminal 930 joins a wireless network).

(4) The wireless terminal 930 sends a packet requesting disclosure of the SubUnit information to another wireless terminal or wireless 1394 node on the wireless network. The destination of the packet at this time is a broadcast address.

(5) Wireless 1394 nodes 910 and 920
Transmits the SubUnit information in the own node to the wireless terminal 930.
Notify.

(6) The wireless terminal 930 collects the SubUnit information notified from the wireless 1394 nodes 910 and 920, and creates a list thereof. Further, a list of wireless 1394 nodes existing on the wireless network is created.

(7) On a monitor or the like on the wireless terminal 930,
Display the created list information.

(8) The user can select the desired service (DV
D SubUnit) with a wireless 1394 node 920
Is selected to request the control screen of the DVD SubUnit.

(9) The request is notified to the wireless terminal 930 through a monitor screen or the like.

(10) The wireless terminal 930 is connected to the wireless 1394
It requests the node 920 for DVD SubUnit control screen information (control screen on which commands such as “play” and “stop” can be input).

(11) The wireless 1394 node 920 notifies the control screen of the DVD SubUnit according to the request. At this time, if necessary, the control screen information can be obtained from the 1394 node 902.

(12) The notified control screen is displayed on a monitor or the like on the wireless terminal 930.

(13) The user inputs a desired command (for example, a “play” command) from the displayed control screen.

(14) A command is notified to the wireless terminal 930 through a monitor screen or the like. (15) The wireless terminal 930 is connected to the wireless 1394 node 920
The input command “play” is transmitted to the DVD SubUnit 9021 in the folder.

(16) The wireless 1394 node 920 converts the received command from the packet on the wireless network to I
The packet is transferred to a packet on the EEE1394 bus (packet conversion processing is performed).

(17) The wireless 1394 node 920 transmits the packet-converted IEEE 1394 packet (with a playback command) to the DVD in the 1394 node 902.
Transfer to SubUnit 9021.

(18) The 1394 node 902 executes processing corresponding to the received command.

A series of processes as described above enables a command to be transmitted from a wireless terminal to a desired service (SubUnit).

However, the processing procedure is not limited to the above procedure. For example, the information displayed at the stage of the process (7) includes control screen information of each SubUnit, and the process (8) is performed. What the user inputs is DVD S
ubUnit is not selected, but D
There may be a case where the command is input to the VD SubUnit.

The processing corresponding to the actual “playback” command includes isochronous transmission on the IEEE 1394 bus for transferring the played back video to the wireless terminal 930.
Processes such as a process of acquiring a nous channel, a process of acquiring resources on a wireless network, and a process of transmitting and receiving a connection command between SubUnits in the 1394 node 902 and the wireless terminal 930 are necessary. Omitted.

In FIG. 14, when the wireless terminal connects to the wireless network, before the search processing of the wireless 1394 node existing in the wireless network, the user selects the desired (connect and control / service 5 shows an example of a processing sequence when a service to be received and a SubUnit type are input.

At this time, the wireless terminal assumes services that the user may desire and displays them on the monitor of the wireless terminal. If there is a service desired by the user among the displayed services, the service is selected, and if not, the processing after (4) shown in FIG. 13 is started.

In the following example, when the user
The case where a service from the Unit is desired is shown.

The specific contents of the processing are shown below.

(1) When the wireless 1394 node 910
SubUnit information in a node on the EE1394 bus 30 is collected, and is used as SubUnit information in the own node.

(2) The wireless 1394 node 920
SubUnit information in a node on the EE1394 bus 40 is collected, and is used as SubUnit information in the own node.

(3) The user turns on the wireless terminal 930 (or, for example, the wireless terminal 930 joins a wireless network).

(4) On a monitor or the like on the wireless terminal 930,
The control screen of the wireless terminal 930 itself is displayed.

(5) The user selects a desired service (DVDSubUnit) from the displayed service types.

(6) The request is notified to the wireless terminal 930 through a monitor screen or the like.

(7) The wireless terminal 930 transmits a DV signal to another wireless terminal or wireless 1394 node on the wireless network.
D Transmits a packet describing a request to search for a SubUnit. The destination of the packet at this time is a broadcast address.

(8) The wireless 1394 node 920 notifies that the DVD SubUnit exists in its own node.

(9) The wireless terminal 930 requests the wireless 1394 node 920 for control screen information of the DVD SubUnit (a control screen on which commands such as “play” and “stop” can be input).

(10) The wireless 1394 node 920 notifies the control screen of the DVD SubUnit 9021 according to the request. At this time, if necessary, the control screen information is set to 1
It can also be obtained from the 394 node 902.

(11) The notified control screen is displayed on a monitor or the like on the wireless terminal 930.

(12) The user inputs a desired command (for example, a “playback” command) from the displayed control screen.

(13) A command is notified to the wireless terminal 930 through a monitor screen or the like. (14) The wireless terminal 930 is connected to the wireless 1394 node 920
The input command “play” is transmitted to the DVD SubUnit 9021 in the folder.

(15) The wireless 1394 node 920 converts the received command into an I
The packet is transferred to a packet on the EEE1394 bus (packet conversion processing is performed).

(16) The wireless 1394 node 920 transfers the packet-converted IEEE 1394 packet (with a playback command) to the DVD in the 1394 node 902.
Transfer to SubUnit 9021.

(17) The 1394 node 902 executes processing corresponding to the received command.

[0167] Through a series of processes as described above, a command can be transmitted from a wireless terminal to a desired service (SubUnit).

However, the processing procedure is not limited to the procedure described above. For example, in the stage of the process (8), the DVD Sub
It is conceivable that there are a plurality of wireless 1394 nodes that notify that the unit has a unit. In such a case, the user can select a desired wireless 1394 node from among the wireless 1394 nodes having the plurality of DVDSubUnits.
Processing for selecting 94 nodes is required. This is shown in FIG.
The processing can be executed in the same manner as the series of processing from (6) to (9).

As in the case of the processing sequence of FIG. 13, the processing corresponding to the actual “playback” command includes the processing for transferring the played back video to the wireless terminal 930.
Processes such as an isochronous channel acquisition process on an IEEE 1394 bus, a resource acquisition process on a wireless network, and a process of transmitting and receiving a connection command between SubUnits in the 1394 node 902 and the wireless terminal 930 are necessary. Then, those processes are omitted.

Next, FIG. 15 shows an example of a packet configuration of a wireless packet transferred on the wireless network in the present embodiment. In FIG. 15, a command identification field for identifying information on the contents of a wireless packet is provided. This allows the wireless 1 to determine what kind of command the packet transferred on the wireless network is.
394 nodes and wireless terminals can be recognized. FIG. 16 also shows a specific example of the command identifier.

Next, FIGS. 17/18 show FIGS. 13/14.
Displayed on the screen of the wireless terminal 930 during the processing of
SubU in wireless 1394 node on wireless network
A list of nit information, an example of control screen information of each SubUnit, and an example of a screen displayed as an initial state by the wireless terminal 930 are shown.

FIG. 17A shows an example of the display screen displayed in the process (7) of FIG. In the present embodiment, since two wireless 1394 nodes 910 and 920 exist, information on the two wireless 1394 nodes is also displayed in FIG. Specifically, a VTR and a tuner exist below the wireless 1394 node 910, and content information and channel information therein can be seen. In the processing of FIG. 13, the content information and the channel information
A method of including it in the SubUnit information notified by the wireless 1394 node is considered.

FIG. 17B shows the DVD SubUn displayed in the process (12) of FIG. 13 and the process (11) of FIG.
3 shows an example of a control screen of it. In FIG. 17B, what is displayed is a DVD SubUnit,
A list of contents in the DVD SubUnit is displayed together with commands (command keys corresponding to “play” and “stop”) for those contents.

Further, FIG. 18 shows an example of the initial display screen of the wireless terminal 930 displayed in the process (4) of FIG. In FIG. 18, VTR, TV, STB (Set) expected to be used in a normal home wireless network are used.
Top Box), DVD, Disc etc. are Well K
It is displayed as a known service. When these displayed services are selected, a desired service can be received by a series of processes as shown in FIG. In FIG. 18, there is an option “other”. This is well known as Well Kno
This key is used to select a service that is not a wn service. When this key is selected, the processing in FIG. 13 is started.

FIG. 19 shows an example of a block diagram of the internal configuration of the wireless 1394 nodes 910 and 920 of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, in the wireless 1394 node (910, 920), processing for disclosing SubUnit information in each node on the IEEE 1394 bus to the wireless network side, and processing of SubUnit information in a wireless terminal on the wireless network. Processing disclosed to the IEEE 1394 bus side, routing processing using the SubUnit information, and the like are executed. In addition, processing for notifying the wireless terminal of SubUnit information on the IEEE 1394 bus and each SubUnit control information is also performed.

From this, the radio 13 shown in FIG.
In the configuration of the 94 nodes (910, 920), a wireless interface processing unit 1501 that provides an interface function to a wireless network, and a packet transfer process between a packet transferred on the wireless network and a packet transferred on the IEEE 1394 bus And a packet conversion processing unit 1502 that executes
When disclosure of Unit information is requested, a list of SubUnit information in a 1394 node on an IEEE 1394 bus to which the own node is connected is disclosed, and each SubU is disclosed.
When disclosure of nit control information is requested, the Su
Disclose the control information of bUnit, or
SubUnit information / control information request processing unit 1503 for executing processing such as obtaining control information from a 394 node
And the IEEE 1394 to which the own node is connected, disclosed when a SubUnit information disclosure request is received from the wireless terminal.
SubUni in a wireless 1394 node that creates a list of SubUnit information existing in a 1394 node on a bus
t unit 1504 and a SubUnit existing in a wireless terminal on a wireless network to which the own node is connected.
SubUnit information collection unit 1 in a wireless terminal that collects information
505 and SubUni for collecting SubUnit information existing in the 1394 node on the IEEE 1394 bus
t information collection unit 1506, and a subunit information collection unit 1505 and a subunit information collection unit 1506 in a wireless terminal.
Table 150 that creates / holds a routing table for packet transfer within its own node based on SubUnit information on the wireless network and SubUnit information on the IEEE 1394 bus collected in step 1.
7 and an IEEE1394 bus interface processing unit 1 which provides an interface function to the IEEE1394 bus
508.

Here, the SubU as shown in the processes (10) and (11) of FIG. 13 and the processes (9) and (10) of FIG.
When the nit control information is obtained from the corresponding 1394 node, the SubUnit information / control information request processing unit 1503 and the IEEE 1394 interface processing unit 15
08 (dotted line in FIG. 19) is connected.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a block diagram of the internal structure of wireless terminal 930 of the present embodiment.

The internal configuration of this wireless terminal is basically the first
This is the same as the internal configuration (FIG. 9) of the embodiment. The difference is that in the first embodiment, the connection partner is a base station node, whereas in the present embodiment, it is a wireless 1394 node (equivalent to the wireless terminal 930). Therefore, the base station information collecting / creating unit 8 in the configuration of FIG.
03 is the wireless 1394 node information collection /
A creating unit 1603 is provided.

In the configuration of the wireless terminal 930 illustrated in FIG. 20, a wireless interface processing unit 1601 for providing an interface function to a wireless network, an application execution unit 1602 for executing a process corresponding to a packet received from the wireless interface, When joining the wireless network, the wireless 1 existing on the wireless network
394 node search processing, a wireless 1394 node information collection / management unit 1603 that holds information on the wireless 1394 node, and a wireless 1
A user interface processing unit 1604 for executing a command input process from a user when sending a command to the 394 node, a process of notifying a user of a processing result, and the like
An image data receiving unit 1605 for executing a process of receiving image information received from a wireless network; an image data receiving unit 1605 and a user interface processing unit 1604
And a monitor 1606 for displaying data from the computer.

By providing such a function,
As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, a search process of SubUnit information in a wireless 1394 node on a wireless network and a function of selecting a wireless 1394 node to which a packet transmitted from a wireless terminal is to be transferred can be realized.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, 139 is applied to the wireless terminal connected via the wireless interface.
4 can transmit various types of information transferred on the bus, as if by a wireless interface.
It becomes possible to execute data communication as if connected to a bus. Further, even when a plurality of IEEE 1394 buses exist in a home and different contents (services) are mounted on the buses, a desired IEEE 1394 bus can be transmitted from the wireless terminal.
It will be possible to connect to the 94 bus. Further, even when the wireless network is operated in a shared media type such as a wireless LAN as in the present embodiment, it is possible to search for a desired service and obtain a necessary service from the IEEE 1394 bus. Become.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 21 shows an embodiment in which an IEEE 1394 bus is used as a home network different from a wireless network.

In FIG. 21, two IEEE 13
There are 94 buses 50 and 60, each of which
This shows a state in which a plurality of 1394 nodes are connected on the 94 bus. In the present embodiment, these IEEE
The case where the HAVi protocol is executed on the 1394 bus will be described.

In FIG. 21, a 1394 node 1701 and a base station node 1710 are placed on the IEEE 1394 bus 50.
And a VTR 1703, and an IEEE 1394 bus 60
Above are 1394 node 1702 and base station node 172
0 and DVD 1704 are present. In the home, there is a wireless terminal 1730 that can be connected to the base station nodes 1710 and 1720 via a wireless network.

In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a case is shown in which the wireless network is operated by frequency division multiplexing / time division multiplexing.
Reference numeral 730 indicates a case where data communication on the wireless network is started after selecting a base station node to be connected in advance.

Here, in the HAVi protocol,
In a high-performance node (FAV or IAL in HAVi), component information (Software Ele) in each node in the HAVi protocol called a registry is referred to.
21 is held, so that the 1394 nodes 1701 and 17
02 and the registry in the base station nodes 1710 and 1720 (17012, 17022, 17102, 17202)
Exists. Further, in the HAVi protocol, low-function nodes (such as BAV and LA in the HAVi protocol) are used.
V) for controlling the software module (DCM
Device Control Module)
Since the HAVi protocol is supposed to exist in an appropriate node on the network in which the HAVi protocol is running, the VTR 1703 which is a low function node and the DV
A software module for controlling the DTR 1704 is a VTR-DC in the 1394 node 1701.
M17011, DVD-D in 1394 node 1702
It exists as CM17021.

To control a device on the IEEE 1394 bus, a node that wants to send a command sends a command (HAVi command) to a software module called DCM, and
M issues a command (e.g., A
V / C command). At this time, the command transfer method between the node that wants to send the command and the DCM is also defined in the HAVi protocol (for example, D
A method using CA or a method using DDI). For example, when the base station node 1710 sends a control command to the VTR 1703, the base station node 1710
The control screen information of No. 3 is transmitted from the VTR-DCM 17011, and a user using the base station node 1710 sends a control command to the VTR 1703 using the control screen information.

However, this embodiment shows a case in which the HAVi protocol is not running on the wireless network.
As in the case of the embodiment, the AV / C protocol is assumed to be executed, and the decoder S
ubUnit 17301 exists.

In the present embodiment, since the HAVi protocol is not running on the wireless network, the wireless terminal 1730 sends the 13
The VTR-DCM 17011 in the 94 node 1701 is
VTR SubUnit 17 in base station node 1710
013. The DVD-DCM 1 in the 1394 node 1702 on the IEEE 1394 bus 60
Reference numeral 7021 denotes a DVD Sub in the base station node 1720.
It will be recognized as Unit17203. FIG. 22 shows a network configuration diagram recognized by the wireless terminal 1730 at this time. Thus, in the present embodiment, the AV / C command sent from the wireless terminal 1730 is transmitted to the base station node 1710 or the base station node 1 in the present embodiment.
At 720, it is translated into HAVi commands, and each IEEE
The data is transferred to a desired node (software element) on the 1394 bus.

[0193] In the following, whether the base station connected to the radio terminal 1730 is the base station node 1710 or the base station node 1720 is determined by the service information (Sub) on the IEEE 1394 bus connected to each base station node.
A description will be given of a case where a base station node to be connected is selected using the unit information) and a control command is transmitted to a desired device (DVD 1704 in the following example) via the connected base station.

In FIG. 23, the wireless terminal 730
An example of a processing sequence when a command is transferred to the DVD 1704 on the 94 bus 60 will be described.

The specific contents of the processing are shown below.

(1) When a bus reset of the IEEE 1394 bus 60 occurs, transmission and reception of software element information within the own node (collection of registry information) is performed between the nodes. The base station node 1720 uses the SubU in the AV / C protocol based on the registry information.
nit information is created, and its registry information and SubUn
The correspondence of the it information is stored.

(2) When a bus reset of the IEEE 1394 bus 50 occurs, transmission and reception of software element information within the own node (collection of registry information) is performed between the nodes. The base station node 1710 uses the SubUn in the AV / C protocol based on the registry information.
Create it information and its registry information and SubUni
The correspondence of the t information is stored.

(3) The user turns on the power of the wireless terminal 1730 (or, for example, the wireless terminal 130 joins the wireless network).

(4) Radio terminal 1730 receives information on the BCCH and receives self-introduction information from base station nodes 1710 and 1720. This self-introduction information includes SubUnit information created by each base station node in the above processes (1) and (2).

(5) The radio terminal 1730 collects self-introduction information sent from the base station nodes 1710 and 1720, and creates a list thereof.

(6) The created list information is displayed on a monitor or the like on the wireless other terminal 1730.

(7) The user enters the desired service (DV
D SubUnit) is selected (actually, DVD SubUnit 17203).
Select).

(8) A command is input to the wireless terminal 1730 through a monitor screen or the like. (9) The wireless terminal 1730 recognizes that the user has selected the base station node 1720 and the desired control target is the DVD SubUnit 17203.

(10) The radio terminal 1730 connects to the selected base station node 1720.

(11) The radio terminal 1730 requests the DVD SubUnit 17203 in the base station node 1720 to disclose the control screen.

(12) The transfer destination of the control screen disclosure request received by the base station node 1720 is the DVD-DCM 170
21 that the registry information and SubUni
It recognizes from the correspondence table of the t information, and requests the DVD-DCM to disclose the control screen (for example, using DDI in the HAVi protocol).

(13) The 1394 node 1702 is a DV
The control screen information of D1704 is disclosed to the base station node 1720 (for example, DDI in the HAVi protocol is used).

(14) When the base station node 1720
The control screen information disclosed by the company is controlled by the control screen information (for example, the panel SubUn
format such as it).

(15) The base station node 1720 discloses the converted control screen information to the radio terminal 1730, and the user is presented with the control screen information.

(16) The user inputs a desired command (for example, a playback command) using the control screen information.

(17) The radio terminal 1730 converts the input command into the base station node 17 in the form of an AV / C command.
Notify 20. Su which is the destination of the command at this time
bUnit is DVD SubUnit 17203.

(18) The base station node 1720 converts the received AV / C command into a HAVi command.

(19) The base station node 1720 notifies the 1394 node 1702 of the converted HAVi command. The software element that is the destination of the command at this time is the DVD-DCM 17021.

(20) The 1394 node 1702 translates the received command to create a command (eg, an AV / C command) that can be used by the DVD 1704.

(21) The 1394 node 1702 notifies the DVD 1704 of the created command.

(22) The DVD 1704 executes a process corresponding to the received command.

With the above-described series of processing, HAVi
An IEEE device running the HAVi protocol from a terminal on a wireless network where the protocol is not running
A command (a home appliance control command such as an AV / C command) can be notified to a node on the 1394 bus.

Here, in the above example, the DVD 1704 is recognized as a SubUnit in the base station node 1720, but the SubUnit in the DVD 1704 may be recognized as a SubUnit in the base station node 1720. However, in both cases, DVD
-Subs in the DCM 17021 and the base station node 1720
The base station node 1720 holds the correspondence between the unit and the one related to the DVD 1704.

The screen information disclosed to the user in the above process (7) can be realized by, for example, the same information as in FIG.

Further, the control screen information disclosed to the user in the process (16) includes button information corresponding to a command for controlling the DVD 1704 (playback, stop, etc.).

In the above-described processing, the case where the base station node is selected according to the instruction from the user has been described. However, the present embodiment is not limited to such a case. As in the processing shown, the present invention can also be realized by a method of sequentially disclosing information on connectable base station nodes to users.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the HAVi protocol is not executed on the wireless network has been described. However, when the HVi protocol is also executed on the wireless network, the processing (4) in FIG. The information notified / disclosed in (7) is not SubUnit information but registry information. Also, the notification destination of the control screen information disclosure request in the process (11) is the base station node 172.
DVD SubUnit 1703 in 0, not 13
It becomes the DVD-DCM 17021 in the 94 node 1702, and can directly request the DCM of the DVD 1704 to disclose the control screen information.

If the wireless terminal 1730 can process the control screen information disclosed from the DVD-DCM 17021 in the process (13), the control screen information is notified to the wireless terminal 1730 as it is, and this control screen is used. The user may input a command.

FIG. 24 shows the base station node (1
(710, 1720) shows an example of a block diagram of the internal configuration.

The base station node (1710, 1
720) is basically the same as the configuration of the base station node of the first embodiment.
bUnit information collection unit 707 is a registry information collection unit 2
007 is different. In addition, by becoming the registry information collection unit 2007, a function of creating SubUnit information in the base station node from the registry information on the IEEE 1394 bus is added as a function in the SubUnit information creation unit 2004 in the base station node. The routing table 2008 stores / retains the correspondence between the registry information and the SubUnit information, and thereby executes the packet routing process in the base station node.

Therefore, in the configuration of the base station node (1710, 1720) illustrated in FIG. 24, the wireless interface processing unit 2001 for providing an interface function to the wireless network, the packet for transferring on the wireless network and the IEEE 1394 bus A packet conversion processing unit 2002 for performing a packet transfer process between packets to be transferred above, and a wireless terminal connection processing unit 20 for performing a connection process when a wireless terminal is connected to a wireless network
03 and the IE to which the own node is connected when the wireless terminal requests disclosure of SubUnit information in the own node.
S created based on the registry information on the EE1394 bus
A SubUnit information request processing unit 2005 that discloses a list of subUnit information, and a registry information on an IEEE 1394 bus to which the own node is connected, which is disclosed when a wireless terminal is connected or a SubUnit information disclosure request is received from a wireless terminal. A subunit information creation unit 2004 in the base station node that creates a list of SubUnit information that exists in the own node, and a SubUnit in the wireless terminal that collects SubUnit information that exists in the wireless terminal on the wireless network to which the own node is connected Information Collection Unit 2006
A registry information collection unit 2007 that collects registry information such as software elements existing in a 1394 node on the IEEE 1394 bus;
Sub on the wireless network collected by the ubUnit information collection unit 2006 and the registry information collection unit 2007
Based on the Unit information and the registry information on the IEEE 1394 bus, a routing table 2008 for creating / holding a routing table for packet transfer within its own node, and an IEEE 1394 bus interface processing unit 2009 for providing an interface function to the IEEE 1394 bus And exists.

Note that the internal configuration of the wireless terminal 1730 of the present embodiment can be realized with the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.

In the following, HAVi is used even on a wireless network.
In the case where the protocol is executed, items changed from the configuration of the base station node in FIG. 24 in this case are shown. -SubUnit information creation unit 200 in the base station node
4 is the registry information creation unit in the base station node, and the IE
A process for disclosing registry information on the EE1394 bus to the wireless network side is executed. The SubUnit information request processing unit 2005 becomes a registry information request processing unit, and processes a registry information disclosure request from a wireless terminal. -The subunit information collection unit 2006 in the wireless terminal becomes the registry information collection unit in the wireless terminal,
Gather registry information in the wireless terminal. Stored in the routing table 2008 is a correspondence table of SEIDs which are software element identifiers described in the registry information.

In the wireless terminal, the first point is that the information collected in the base station node is changed from SubUnit information to registry information, and that the HAVi protocol is added to that executed by the application execution unit. This is a difference from the embodiment.

In the above description, the IEEE 1394 bus has been described as an example of a network different from the wireless network. However, the present invention is naturally applicable to a network using a network other than the IEEE 1394 bus as a network different from the wireless network. It is possible.

Further, in the above, the home network has been described as an example in each of the embodiments, but the present invention is of course applicable to networks other than the home network.

Each of the above functions can be implemented as software.

The present embodiment is also directed to a computer which records a program for causing a computer to execute predetermined means (or for causing a computer to function as predetermined means, or for causing a computer to realize predetermined functions). It can also be implemented as a readable recording medium.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be implemented with various modifications within the technical scope thereof.

[0235]

According to the present invention, a user can select a wireless node to be connected based on information such as services that can be provided by the wireless node sent from the wireless node. As a result, the user can explicitly specify the wireless node that can provide the service he / she wants to receive, and can surely receive the desired service.

Further, according to the present invention, information such as services that can be provided by the wireless node and information such as services that can be provided by other wireless nodes obtained by the wireless node are sent from the wireless node. Then, the user can select the wireless node to be connected. As a result, the user can explicitly specify the wireless node that can provide the service he / she wants to receive, and can surely receive the desired service.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a home network according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration recognized by a wireless terminal or a node on an IEEE 1394 bus;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a radio frequency use method in a radio network.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a processing sequence when a base station node transmits self-introduction information including SubUnit information.

FIG. 5 shows SubUni sequentially after connecting to a base station node;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a processing sequence when searching for t information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a monitor screen displayed to a user by a wireless terminal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a monitor screen displayed to a user by a wireless terminal.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a base station node.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a wireless terminal.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a home network according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration recognized by a wireless terminal or a node on an IEEE 1394 bus;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a network configuration recognized by a wireless terminal or a node on an IEEE 1394 bus;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a case where a wireless terminal is connected to a Sub in each wireless 1394 node
The figure which shows an example of the processing sequence in the case of requesting disclosure of Unit information.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a processing sequence when a user actively searches for a desired SubUnit from a control screen of the wireless terminal itself.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a packet format of a packet transferred on a wireless network.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a packet format of a packet transferred on a wireless network.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a monitor screen displayed to a user by a wireless terminal.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a monitor screen displayed to a user by a wireless terminal.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a wireless 1394 node.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a wireless terminal.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a home network according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration recognized by a wireless terminal.

FIG. 23 shows a case where a wireless terminal is connected to an IEEE 1394 bus;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing sequence when a control command is transmitted to four devices.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a base station node.

[Explanation of Signs] 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 ... IEEE 139
4 buses 101, 102, 901, 902, 1701, 1702
... 1394 nodes 110, 120, 1710, 1720 ... base station nodes 130, 930 ... wireless terminals 910, 920, 1730 ... wireless 1394 nodes 1703 ... VTR 1704 ... DVD 701, 1501, 2001 ... wireless interface processing units 702, 1502, 2002 ... Packet conversion processing units 703, 2003 ... Wireless terminal connection processing units 704, 2004 ... SubUnit information creation units in base station nodes 705, 2005 ... SubUnit information request processing units 706,1505, 2006 ... SubUni in wireless terminals
t Information collection unit 707, 1506 ... SubUnit information collection unit 708, 1507, 2008 ... Routing table 709, 1508, 2009 ... IEEE 1394 bus interface processing unit 1503 ... SubUnit information / control information request processing unit 1504 ... SubUnit information creation in wireless 1394 node Unit 2007 registry information collection unit 801 1601 wireless interface processing unit 802 1602 application execution unit 803 base station information collection / management unit 804 1604 user interface processing unit 805 1605 image data reception processing unit 806 1606: monitor 1603: wireless 1394 node information collection / management unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 7/38 H04Q 7/04 D (72) Inventor Minoru Minoru 1 Komukai Toshiba-cho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture. Address F-term in Toshiba R & D Center (reference)

Claims (16)

[Claims] A first interface unit connected to a wireless network; and a wireless node existing on the wireless network communicable via the first interface unit, registered in the wireless node. Wireless node information receiving means for receiving at least a part of wireless node information including at least one of information on service functions or configuration information on components in the wireless node; and a wireless node received by the wireless node information receiving means. Wireless node information storage means for storing at least a part of the information; and wireless node information disclosure means for disclosing at least a part of the wireless node information stored in the wireless node information storage means. A wireless terminal characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The wireless terminal according to claim 1, wherein the wireless node information receiving means receives at least a part of the information of the wireless node information by a self-introduction signal from the wireless node. 3. The wireless node information disclosing means discloses at least a part of the wireless node information stored in the wireless node information storing means by displaying the information on a screen in a display of the own wireless terminal. The wireless terminal according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A wireless node information disclosure requesting unit for requesting a wireless node existing on the wireless network communicable via the first interface unit to disclose at least a part of the wireless node information. The wireless terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: 5. A wireless node selecting means for selecting a wireless node that actually performs communication from among wireless nodes that are recognized as being present on the wireless network communicable via the first interface means. The wireless terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: 6. A wireless node priority determining means for adding a predetermined priority to a wireless node recognized as being present on the wireless network communicable via the first interface means, 6. A radio node information disclosing means for disclosing at least a part of the radio node information of the radio node according to the priority determined by the radio node priority determining means. Or 1
The wireless terminal according to item. 7. A first interface connected to a wireless network, a second interface connected to a network different from the wireless network, and the wireless network via the second interface. And / or collecting at least a part of node information including at least one of information on a service function registered in another node existing on another network and configuration information on a component in the other node.
Node information collection / storage means to be stored, and at least a part of the node information stored by the node information collection / storage means to the wireless terminal on the wireless network via the first interface means A radio node comprising: a node information disclosing means to be disclosed. 8. The node information disclosure means according to a self-introduction signal sent to the wireless network.
The wireless node according to claim 7, wherein at least a part of the node information stored in the node information collection / storage unit is disclosed. 9. A wireless communication system comprising: first interface means connected to a wireless network; second interface means connected to a network different from the wireless network; and the wireless network via the second interface means. And / or collecting at least a part of node information including at least one of information on a service function registered in another node existing on another network and configuration information on a component in the other node.
Node information collection / storage means to be stored; information on service functions registered in another wireless node existing on the wireless network via the first interface means; or configuration in the other wireless node Wireless node information collecting / storing means for collecting / storing at least part of information of wireless node information including at least one of configuration information on elements; and the node information collecting / storing means via the first interface means. Node information for disclosing at least a part of the stored node information or the wireless node information stored by the wireless node information collecting / storing means to a wireless terminal or another wireless node on the wireless network A wireless node comprising: a disclosure unit. 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first interface means is used to notify another wireless node existing on the first network of information related to a service function registered in the other wireless node or the other information. The wireless node information disclosure requesting means for requesting disclosure of at least a part of the wireless node information including at least one of the configuration information regarding the components in the wireless node according to claim 9, further comprising: Wireless node. 11. The wireless node information disclosing means includes at least a part of the node information stored in the node information collecting / storing means or at least a part of the wireless node information stored in the wireless node information collecting / storing means. The wireless node according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the information is disclosed according to a request from a wireless terminal or another wireless node on the wireless network. 12. The node information disclosing means includes at least a part of the node information stored in the node information collecting / storing means or at least a part of the wireless node information stored in the wireless node information collecting / storing means. The wireless node according to claim 9, wherein information is broadcast to all wireless terminals on the wireless network. 13. An audiovisual / audio / video system on the wireless network.
AV / C protocol executing means for executing the C protocol; HAVi protocol executing means for executing the HAVi protocol on a network different from the wireless network; registered in a node on a network different from the wireless network; From the registry information defined by the HAVi protocol corresponding to the node information including at least one of the information on the service function being provided or the configuration information on the components in the node, the AV / C protocol corresponding to the registry information Sub defined
A function of creating Unit information, and corresponding to wireless node information including at least one of information on a service function registered in a wireless node on the wireless network or configuration information on a component in the wireless node,
From the SubUnit information defined by the AV / C protocol, the HAV corresponding to the SubUnit information
13. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a registry / SubUnit information creating unit having at least one of a function of creating registry information defined by the i-protocol. Wireless node. 14. The HA corresponding to node information including at least one of information on a service function registered in a node on a network different from the wireless network and configuration information on components in the node.
A function of storing correspondence information between registry information defined by the Vi protocol and SubUnit information created by the registry / SubUnit information creation means from the registry information, and registered in a wireless node on the wireless network. The AV corresponding to wireless node information including at least one of information on a service function and configuration information on components in the wireless node;
/ Sub protocol defined from the SubUnit information and the registry / SubUni based on the SubUnit information.
14. The registry according to claim 13, further comprising a registry / SubUnit information storage unit having at least one of a function of storing and storing a correspondence relationship with the registry information created by the t information creation unit. Wireless node. 15. Control screen information defined by the HAVi protocol for controlling a node on a network different from the wireless network can be recognized by an AV / C protocol executed on the wireless network. Function for converting the control information into control screen information, and the AV / C for controlling a wireless node on the wireless network.
The control screen information defined by the protocol is transferred to an HA running on a network different from the wireless network.
15. The wireless node according to claim 13, further comprising control screen information conversion means having at least one of a function of converting control screen information recognizable by a Vi protocol. 16. A control command defined by the HAVi protocol for controlling a node on a network different from the wireless network, the control command corresponding to the control command being executed by the AV executed on the wireless network.
A function for converting a control command defined in the AV / C protocol for controlling a wireless node on the wireless network, the function corresponding to the control command. HAVi running on a different network than the network
16. The wireless node according to claim 13, further comprising a command conversion unit having at least one of a function of converting a command into a control command defined by a protocol.