JP2001136177A - Wireless communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless communication system that can properly form a network serving an application service. SOLUTION: The wireless communication system (network) 1 serving the application service consists of a master terminal 10 as a wireless base station (master station), and slave terminals 11, 12, 13 as three slave stations. In the case that the master terminal 10 leaves the network 1, the slave terminals 11 remaining in the network 1 acts like the master terminal. Thus, even when the master terminal leaves the network, the application service can serve a user using the slave terminal remained in the network so as to allow the wireless communication system properly form the network serving the application service.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a radio communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a radio communication system, when a slave terminal (slave station) such as a portable terminal or a PHS used by a user moves out of a communicable range of a master terminal (master station) as a radio base station due to movement. That is, there is a case where the user leaves the network. In this case, if another wireless base station is present in the vicinity of the moving slave terminal, this base station becomes a master terminal and forms a new network with the slave terminal, thereby making a telephone call provided by the network ( Application service) and maintain the call service.

[0003] Also, a mobile terminal, PH
In a wireless communication system using S or the like, a master terminal that is a wireless base station and a slave terminal that is used by a plurality of users form a network that provides one-to-many communication for application services (calls). . Here, identification and separation of different networks are performed by one-to-one communication (TDMA, FDMA, CDMA) in which each terminal uses a different channel.

[0004]

However, when the size of the master terminal is reduced and its portability is improved, the master terminal may be disconnected from the network due to movement of the master terminal, disturbance due to peripheral noise, power out (battery), and the like. Is expected to occur to some extent. As described above, when the master terminal leaves the network, there is no terminal that totally controls the network such as network synchronization, and an appropriate network cannot be formed. That is, it becomes impossible to provide application services to users who use slave terminals remaining on the network without any delay.

When the number of users having slave terminals of the same standard (same channel) increases, in a network formed by these slave terminals, a plurality of networks that execute different application services are spatially and temporally ineffective. They will be formed adjacent to each other. Here, it is difficult to appropriately construct a network, and it is difficult to promptly enter a slave terminal into a network that provides an application service desired by a user. That is, since an appropriate network cannot be formed, a high-quality environment cannot be provided to the user.

Further, when a communication terminal that is not in a communication state is set to a communication mode (communicable state), the communication terminal functions as either a master terminal or a slave terminal with respect to a surrounding communicable network. Otherwise, an appropriate network including this communication terminal cannot be formed.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a wireless communication system capable of appropriately forming a network for providing an application service.

[0008]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication system having a network formed by one master station and a plurality of slave stations. A detachment detecting means for detecting whether or not the parent station has detached from the network, and when the detachment of the parent station is detected by the detachment detecting means, one of the plurality of slave stations is detected. And control means for causing the slave station to function as the first master station.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the network, communication is performed using a packet arrangement relating to the one master station and the plurality of slave stations as a communication unit. Is performed, and the departure detecting unit determines that the one parent station has departed from the network when a packet relating to the one parent station cannot be detected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means determines a slave station coming next to the one master station in the arrangement of the packets. Function as a master station.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the departure detecting means keeps departure of the first master station for a predetermined time. In this case, it is detected that the one master station has left the network.

The invention according to claim 5 is a wireless communication system having a network formed by a master station and a slave station, wherein the master station and the slave station perform communication by exchanging packets. A communication device that has not yet joined the network, the master station having a recording unit that records a join enable signal in the packet when the master station is ready to join the network, The communication device has writing means for writing a predetermined password in the packet, wherein the join enable signal is recorded in the packet, and the master station accepts the predetermined password written in the packet. , The communication device is authorized to join the network.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the communication device includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the join enable signal is recorded in the packet. Furthermore, the writing means includes:
When the determination unit determines that the join enable signal is recorded, the predetermined password is written in the packet.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication system including a communication device for performing communication by exchanging a predetermined packet signal, wherein a predetermined network is constructed by the communication device. Reading means for detecting the predetermined packet signal and reading the information, and setting means for setting the communication device to a master station or a slave station in the predetermined network according to the information of the predetermined packet signal. , Is provided.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the setting unit sets the communication device to the master station when the predetermined packet signal is not detected. .

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to the seventh or eighth aspect of the present invention, the setting means may be configured so that the information of the predetermined packet signal is in a range in which the communication device can communicate. The communication device is set as the master station when the status indicates that it is not possible to join the network located within.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the setting means is configured to transmit the information of the predetermined packet signal to the communication apparatus. The communication device is set as the master station when the communication device indicates that the communication device is not related to the requesting network.

[0018] Further, according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the setting means includes
When the information of the predetermined packet signal is in a state where it can be added to one network within the communicable range of the communication device and indicates that the information is related to the network to which the communication device requests to join. The communication device can be set as the slave station in the predetermined network that inherits the one network.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment <Configuration> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication system (network) 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Here, FIG. 1A shows a normal state of the network 1.

The network 1 includes a master terminal 10 as a wireless base station (master station) and slave terminals 11, 12, and 13 as three slave stations. And
Master terminal 10 and slave terminals 11, 12, 13
Performs one-to-many communication via the wireless line K.

The master terminal 10 has a function of synchronizing network communication and authenticating entries of the slave terminals 11, 12, and 13 into the network 1.

The terminals 10, 11, 12, and 13 forming the network 1 perform packet communication, that is, mutual communication by transmitting and receiving packets at a fixed timing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the packet P. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a frame F that is a communication unit in the network 1.

The packet P includes a synchronization code D, an identification code S, user data U, and an error detection code A.

The synchronization code D is mainly composed of preamble bits and ID bits. The preamble bit is information of a fixed pattern for synchronizing each terminal by performing clock recovery from the received signal. The ID bit is information of a fixed pattern for detecting the head of the packet. With the synchronization code D having such a configuration, each terminal can appropriately receive the information of the identification code S, the user data U, and the error detection code A.

The identification code S includes a packet type (a request / authentication packet for entry, a packet for user data transfer, a retransmission packet, etc.), a communication state of the communication terminal (the number of user data, a possible entry to the network / Information such as a notification of an impossible state, a notification of a request / authentication confirmation to an entry, a notification of a retransmission request, etc.).

The user data U is data information such as voice, image, control signal, etc. processed by each terminal.

The error detection code A is information for detecting a packet transfer error due to a CRC, a parity bit or the like. When a transfer error is detected, a retransmission request or the like is performed.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the frame F has an array structure composed of packets 10p, 11p, 12p, and 13p representing information of the terminals 10, 11, 12, and 13 forming the network 1. I have. Here, the packet 10p corresponding to the master terminal 10 is set at the head, and the packets 11p, 1p, 1
The order of 2p and 13p follows in chronological order.

<Operation> From the network 1 (FIG. 1A) in the normal state, the master terminal 10 moves,
The operation in the case of disconnecting from the network 1 due to disturbance by peripheral noise, power supply (battery) exhaustion, and the like will be described below.

FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a case where the master terminal 10 leaves the network 1.

When the master terminal 10 leaves, the packet 10p representing the information of the master terminal 10 is dropped from the frame F and cannot be detected. It should be noted that the separation is detected by a separation detection unit that monitors a frame provided in the slave terminal.

After the detachment of the master terminal 10 is detected,
The slave terminals 11, 12, and 13 maintain the synchronization timing of the network by their internal timers for a predetermined time, for example, several frames, and re-detect the packet 10p of the master terminal 10. This is because early recovery of the master terminal 10 can be expected when the master terminal 10 temporarily leaves the network 1 due to external noise or the like.

If the slave terminal 11, 12, 13 can re-detect the packet 10p of the master terminal 10 in the frame F, as shown in FIG.
0 returns to the network 1. Then, the network 1 returns to the normal state.

When the packet 10p corresponding to the master terminal 10 cannot be detected again in the frame F, the slave terminal 11, 12, or 13 is arranged next to the master terminal 10 in the arrangement of the frame F shown in FIG. The incoming slave terminal 11 is caused to function as a master terminal (master replacement). This master change is performed by control means provided in the slave terminal 11. In addition, the slave terminal 11 naturally has functions (such as synchronization formation) necessary for the master terminal.

The network after the master change is shown in FIG.
The configuration of the network 1A is as shown in FIG. The configuration of the frame F used for communication in the network 1A is as shown in FIG.

In the network 1A, the slave terminal 11, which is not the master terminal in FIG. 1A, functions as the master terminal 11A, and the other slave terminals 12, 1
3 is performed.

Regarding the configuration of the frame F, the packet 11p corresponding to the changed master terminal 11A becomes the packet of the master terminal because the packet 10p corresponding to the master terminal has been dropped (FIG. 3B). With such a configuration of the frame F, the application service provided on the network 1 can be continued.

According to the above configuration and operation, even if the master terminal leaves the network, application services can be provided to users who use slave terminals remaining on the network without delay. As a result, it is possible to appropriately form a network that provides an application service.

<Second Embodiment><Configuration> FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication system 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The wireless communication system 2 includes two adjacent networks 3 and 4, and a communication terminal 51.
The networks 3 and 4 provide different applications, and the communication terminal 51 is not communicating with the networks 3 and 4.

The network 3 includes a master terminal 30 as a wireless base station (master station) and three slave terminals 31 as slave stations. Then, the master terminal 30 and the slave terminal 31 perform one-to-many communication via the wireless line K.

Similarly to the network 3, the network 4 includes a master terminal 40 as a radio base station (master station) and four slave terminals 41 as slave stations. Then, the master terminal 40 and the slave terminal 4
1 performs one-to-many communication via the wireless line K.

The master terminals 30 and 40 have a function of synchronizing network communication and authenticating entries of the slave terminals 31 and 41 into the networks 3 and 4.

Each terminal 30, 31, 40, 41
Packet communication, that is, mutual communication is performed by transmitting and receiving packets at a fixed timing. The packet used for this communication has the same configuration as the packet P of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

<Operation> The network 3 having the above configuration
The operation of the communication terminal 51 for identifying and separating the network 4 and entering the network will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the network identification and separation operation. This operation is performed by the control unit (CPU or the like) in the communication terminal 51. Hereinafter, the operation will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S1, the reception levels of the packet signals are compared, and packets are selected in the order of the network having the highest signal strength. That is, the reception level of the receivable packet signal is changed to the RF (Radio Frequency) in the communication terminal 51.
cy) The network detects packets and selects network packets in descending order of signal strength.

In step S2, it is determined whether or not the packet of the network selected in step S1 includes a packet to be confirmed by the communication terminal 51. That is, based on the information of the selected packet, it is determined whether the communication terminal 51 wants to enter the network.
If there is a packet to be confirmed, the process proceeds to step S3, and if there is no packet to be confirmed, the entry is not completed.

In step S3, it is determined whether or not it is a network entry possible period. That is, when entry to the network is possible, the master terminal records a signal indicating that entry is possible (subscription possible signal) in the identification code S of the packet P (FIG. 2), and the communication terminal 51 By reading the identification code S,
It is determined whether it is a period (state) in which entry to the network is possible. Thus, entry to the network can be made at an appropriate timing. Here, if it is the entry possible period, the process proceeds to step S4, and if not, the process returns to step S2.

In step S4, it is determined whether the passwords related to the network are the same. That is, the communication terminal 51 writes a predetermined password (for example, “ABC”) in the identification code S of the packet P, and determines whether the predetermined password and the password unique to the network are the same, It is determined whether the predetermined password is accepted. The predetermined password can be arbitrarily set by the user, for example, when making a contract to use the network. As a result, the user can enter the network only when the password is the same, and can receive the application service provided on the network.
For example, when different passwords are set in the network 3 and the network 4, when the communication terminal 51 writes a password unique to the network 3 into the identification code S, entry into the network 3 is possible. Cannot be entered, and the network can be properly identified and separated.

In step S4, if the passwords are the same, the entry is terminated. If the passwords are not the same, the process returns to step S2. The communication terminal 5
When the entry to the first network is completed, the packet of the communication terminal 51 entered is added to the packet array of the frame as the communication unit.

With the above configuration and operation, different networks existing in the vicinity can be easily identified and separated, and entry to a network providing a target application service can be performed quickly. as a result,
A network for providing an application service can be appropriately formed, and a high-quality environment can be provided to a user who uses a terminal.

<Third Embodiment><Configuration> FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a wireless communication system (network) according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The wireless communication system 6 includes a network 6A
And a communication terminal 62 that is not in a communication state.

Network 6A is a radio base station (master station)
And a slave terminal 61 as three slave stations. Then, the master terminal 60 and the slave terminal 61 perform one-to-many communication via the wireless line K. In addition, network 6A
Are located within the communication range of the communication terminal 62.

Each terminal 6 forming the network 6A
0 and 61 perform packet communication, that is, mutual communication by transmitting and receiving packets at a fixed timing. The packet used for this communication is the first packet shown in FIG.
It has the same configuration as the packet P of the embodiment.

<Operation> The communication terminal 62 which is not in the communication state is
The operation when the communication mode is set to the communicable mode will be described below. This operation is mainly an operation whether the communication terminal 62 is set as a master terminal or a slave terminal.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of setting the master terminal / slave terminal. This operation is performed by the control unit (CPU or the like) in the communication terminal 62. Hereinafter, the operation will be described with reference to FIG.

A step S11 decides whether or not the packet P used in the communication is detected. That is, the communication terminal 6
2 is set to the communication mode, a packet signal in the communication band is detected in order to check whether a network to be entered exists in the vicinity. If a packet has been detected, the process proceeds to step S12, and if not, the process proceeds to step S15.

In step S12, it is determined whether or not the network 6A within the communicable range is ready for entry. That is, it is determined whether or not the identification code S of the packet P indicates that it is possible to enter the network 6A. If the entry is possible, the process proceeds to step S13. If the entry is not possible, the process proceeds to step S15.

In step S13, it is determined whether the communication terminal 62 is a network for which an entry is requested. That is, it is determined whether or not information related to the network requesting entry is displayed in the identification code S of the packet P. If the network 6A is a network requesting entry, the process proceeds to step S14. If the network 6A is not a network requesting entry, step S1 is performed.
Go to 5.

In step S14, the communication terminal 62 can be set as a slave terminal in a network that inherits the network 6A. That is, when entering the network 6A, the master terminal is notified by sending a packet requesting entry, and the communication terminal 62 is set as a slave terminal. In addition,
When the communication terminal 62 is set as the slave terminal, the packet of the communication terminal 62 set as the slave terminal is added to the packet arrangement of the frame as the communication unit, and the communication terminal 6
2 and the network 6A are constructed.

In step S15, the communication terminal 62 is set as a master terminal. Then, when set as the master terminal, a packet is transmitted to indicate that entry into another communication terminal is possible, and a network different from the network 6A is constructed.

With the above configuration and operation, when the communication terminal becomes communicable, the communication terminal can function properly as either the master terminal or the slave terminal. The network to be provided can be formed appropriately.

[0066]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the separation of the master station from the network is detected, one of the plurality of slave stations is set to one. Therefore, even if the master station leaves, a network providing an application service can be appropriately formed by the remaining slave stations.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a packet relating to one master station cannot be detected, it is determined that one master station has left the network. Can be detected.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the packet arrangement, the slave station that follows the one master station functions as the one master station. Can be selected.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, when the departure of one parent station continues for a predetermined time, it is detected that one parent station has departed from the network. Appropriate return of the master station can be made when it is temporary.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a join enable signal is recorded in a packet and the master station accepts a predetermined password written in the packet, the communication device can join the network. Allowed. As a result, since the communication device can appropriately identify and separate the network, a network including the communication device can be appropriately formed.

According to the invention of claim 6, when it is determined that a join enable signal is recorded in the packet,
Since the predetermined password is written in the packet, the password can be transmitted at an appropriate timing.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a communication device is set as a master station or a slave station in a predetermined network according to information of a predetermined packet signal. Can be formed.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, when a predetermined packet signal is not detected, the communication device is set as the master station, so that the communication device can be appropriately set as the master station.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the information of the predetermined packet signal indicates that it is incapable of joining the network within the communication range of the communication device, Since the communication device is set as the master station, the communication device can be appropriately set as the master station.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when the information of the predetermined packet signal indicates that the information is not related to the network to which the communication device requests to join, the communication device is set as the master station. The communication device can be appropriately set as the master station.

Further, according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the information of the predetermined packet signal is in a state where it can be added to one network within the communicable range of the communication device, and requests to join the communication device. If it indicates that it is related to a network, the communication device can be set as the slave station in a predetermined network. As a result, the communication device can be appropriately set as a slave station.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a wireless communication system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a packet P.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a frame F.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a wireless communication system 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating network identification and separation operations.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication system 6 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of setting a master terminal / slave terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2, 6 wireless communication system 1, 2, 3, 4, 6A network 10, 30, 40, 60 master terminal (master station) 11, 12, 13, 31, 41, 61 slave terminal (slave station) 51, 62 communication terminal F frame P packet S identification code

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page F term (reference)

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A wireless communication system having a network formed by one master station and a plurality of slave stations, comprising: a departure detecting unit for detecting whether the one master station has left the network. And control means for causing one of the plurality of slave stations to function as the one master station when the separation detection means detects the separation of the master station. A wireless communication system, characterized by: 2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein, in the network, communication is performed using a packet arrangement relating to the one master station and the plurality of slave stations as a communication unit, and A wireless communication system, wherein the detecting means determines that the one master station has left the network when a packet relating to the one master station cannot be detected. 3. The wireless communication system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit causes a slave station coming after the one master station to function as the one master station in the arrangement of the packets. Wireless communication system. 4. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein said detachment detecting means is configured to, when the detachment of said one master station continues for a predetermined time, said first master station. A wireless communication system detecting that the mobile phone has left the network. 5. A wireless communication system having a network formed by a master station and a slave station, wherein the master station and the slave station perform communication by exchanging packets, and have not joined the network. A communication device, wherein the master station has recording means for recording a join enable signal in the packet when the master station is in a state where it can join the network, and the communication device has a predetermined password. Writing means for writing in the packet
The communication device is permitted to join the network when the join enable signal is recorded in the packet and the master station accepts the predetermined password written in the packet. A wireless communication system, comprising: 6. The wireless communication system according to claim 5, wherein the communication device further comprises: a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the join enable signal is recorded in the packet. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined password is written in said packet when said determination means determines that said join enable signal is recorded. 7. A wireless communication system having a communication device for performing communication by exchanging a predetermined packet signal, wherein a predetermined network is constructed by the communication device, wherein the communication device includes the predetermined packet signal. And reading means for reading the information, and setting means for setting the communication device to a master station or a slave station in the predetermined network in accordance with the information of the predetermined packet signal. Wireless communication system. 8. The wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein the setting unit sets the communication device to the master station when the predetermined packet signal is not detected. . 9. The wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein the setting unit cannot join the network in which the information of the predetermined packet signal is within a communicable range of the communication device. A wireless communication system, wherein the communication device is set as the master station when the status indicates that the communication device is in a normal state. 10. The wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein the setting unit determines that information of the predetermined packet signal is not related to a network to which the communication device requests to join. A wireless communication system, wherein the communication device is set as the master station. 11. The wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein the setting unit is configured to enable the information of the predetermined packet signal to join a network within a communication range of the communication device. The communication device is configured to be set as the slave station in the predetermined network that inherits the one network when the communication device indicates that the communication device is related to a network to which the communication device requests to join. A wireless communication system, characterized by: