JP2001237951A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To achieve both of maintaining the usability of a parent device and suppressing a decrease in usability of a child device. SOLUTION: In a communication device 1 in which a slave unit 3 is wirelessly connected to a master unit 2, a device control device 8 controls the slave unit only during transmission and reception of user information between the master unit and the slave unit using wireless communication. Only when the current received electric field strength EC of the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the base station 3 to the base unit 2 at the base unit 2 is lower than the reference intensity, at least one controlled device 9 in the base unit 2 is stopped. As the current reception electric field strength EC becomes smaller, more controlled devices 9 in the master unit 2 are stopped.
Further, the device control device 8 always executes the stop control of the controlled device 9 based on the received electric field strength EC within a period in which the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is possible. Further, at the start of the transmission and reception of the user information, the device control device 8 performs stop control of the controlled device 9 based on the average reception electric field strength EA calculated based on the history of the past reception electric field strength EC.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device capable of wirelessly connecting a slave unit to a master unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a communication device having a configuration in which a child device is wirelessly connected to a parent device, that is, a communication device having a so-called cordless child device has been put into practical use. In a communication device provided with a cordless handset, for example, the handset is used for an internal call with the base unit or an external call via the base unit.

In a conventional communication device having a cordless handset, when user information such as audio data is transmitted / received between the master / slave units, the master / slave unit among various devices mounted on the master unit. Some devices are not directly involved in wireless communication between them. For example, a modem and DSP (Digital SignalPros) for facsimile communication with another communication device.
When ser) is mounted on the base unit, these modems and DSPs are operating even during a call using the slave unit. For this reason, the search for an empty channel at the time of wireless communication control between the parent and child units, transmission and reception of user information between the parent and child units using wireless communication,
In addition, noise generated from a device not involved in wireless communication between the parent device and the child device in the parent device and superimposed on an electromagnetic wave may affect the feeling of use of the child device. When the child device is used for a telephone call, as an index of the feeling of use of the child device, the usable distance of the child device to the parent device and noise superimposed on voice during the telephone call are mainly cited. The noise caused by the device of the base unit causes a decrease in the quality of a call using the base unit and a reduction in the usable distance of the base unit with respect to the base unit.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. Hei 6-244925 and Hei 7-336520 disclose techniques relating to a communication apparatus in which a slave unit is wirelessly connected to a master unit. JP 6
The cordless telephone device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 244925 discloses a warning to a user when a child device is about 100 m away from the parent device when using the child device in order to increase the distance from the parent device to the child device when using the child device. Emits a sound. When the user turns on the changeover switch in response to the warning sound, the digital signal processing system related to the control of the communication system and the answering machine control in the base unit is stopped.
Alternatively, the cordless telephone device automatically stops the digital signal processing system in the parent device when the child device is separated from the parent device by about 100 m when using the child device. Also, JP-A-7-336
The facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 520 discloses a CPU for controlling a facsimile unit in an operation mode only when facsimile communication is executed, in order to prevent generation of noise from a facsimile unit related to facsimile communication in a base unit when searching for a communication channel. And in the non-operating mode for the rest of the period.

[0005]

In a conventional communication apparatus having a configuration in which a slave unit is wirelessly connected to a master unit, of various devices in the master unit, a device related to a recording / reproducing operation for answering message and a document The device involved in the copying operation is likely to be a source of noise. For this reason, in the communication device of the prior art, in order to improve the usability of the slave unit, the above-described device that easily generates noise is stopped unconditionally during use of the slave unit. In the case where some of the devices of the master unit are simply restricted while the slave unit is being used, the execution of the application using the stopped device is prohibited in the master unit, so that the usability of the master unit is reduced. Resulting in. Similarly, in the cordless telephone device described in JP-A-6-244925 and the facsimile device described in JP-A-7-336520, some devices of the parent device are stopped while the child device is in use. The usability of the middle master unit decreases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device capable of improving the usability of a slave unit wirelessly connected to the master unit and maintaining the usability of the master unit.

[0007]

The present invention has a master unit and a slave unit each including wireless control means for performing wireless communication,
In a communication device in which a slave unit is connected to a master unit by wireless communication, the master unit includes a plurality of controlled devices each performing a process other than wireless communication between the master and slave units, and a plurality of controlled devices in the master unit. Device control means for controlling the wireless communication means of the slave unit and the reception electric field strength measurement means for measuring the reception electric field intensity of the electromagnetic wave transmitted / received between the base unit and the wireless control means of the slave unit. The means stops at least one controlled device when the measured received electric field strength is less than a preset reference strength during transmission / reception of user information between the base unit and the slave unit using wireless communication. , The smaller the measured received field strength,
A communication apparatus characterized in that many controlled devices are stopped.

According to the present invention, in a communication apparatus having a configuration in which a slave unit is wirelessly connected to a master unit, if the received electric field intensity of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received between the master unit and the master unit is less than the reference intensity, During transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device using wireless communication, one or more controlled devices in the parent device are stopped. Thus, the communication device of the present invention can achieve both the usability of the master unit and the prevention of a decrease in the usability of the slave unit due to noise from the controlled device in the master unit.

Further, in the communication apparatus of the present invention, the stop of the controlled device in the master unit is controlled in multiple stages according to the received electric field strength of the master unit in the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received between the master unit and the slave unit. Specifically, the number of controlled devices to be stopped decreases as the reception field strength increases. As a result, the communication device of the present invention sufficiently suppresses the influence of noise from the controlled device in the master unit on wireless communication between the master unit and the slave unit, and increases the number of functions prohibited from being used in the master unit. Since it can be minimized, it is possible to minimize the decrease in usability of the parent device while sufficiently ensuring the usability of the child device.

The present invention also provides a communication apparatus having a master unit and a slave unit each including wireless control means for performing wireless communication, wherein the slave unit is connected to the master unit by wireless communication. A plurality of controlled devices each performing processing other than the wireless communication between the slaves, a device control means for controlling the plurality of controlled devices in the master, a wireless control of the slave and a wireless control of the master. Receiving electric field intensity measuring means for measuring the receiving electric field intensity at the master unit of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received between the device, the device control means, if the measured receiving electric field intensity is less than a preset reference intensity , At least one controlled device is stopped.

According to the present invention, in a communication apparatus in which a slave unit is wirelessly connected to a master unit, if the current reception electric field strength of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received between the master unit and the slave unit is less than the reference intensity,
One or more controlled devices in the parent device are stopped not only during transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device using wireless communication but also when the user information is not transmitted / received. Thus, the communication apparatus of the present invention can always maintain both the usability of the master unit and the prevention of a decrease in the usability of the slave unit due to noise from the controlled device in the master unit. In particular, the communication device of the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves not only during transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device using wireless communication, but also during transmission / reception of the user information. Stop control of the controlled device is performed based on the current received electric field strength in the master unit. As a result, the communication device of the present invention has a wider usable range of the slave unit than the communication device of the related art, and thus the communication device of the present invention has a more comfortable use of the slave unit than the communication device of the related art. improves.

Further, according to the present invention, in a communication apparatus having a master unit and a slave unit each including wireless control means for performing wireless communication, wherein the slave unit is connected to the master unit by wireless communication, the master unit is a master unit. A plurality of controlled devices each performing a process other than wireless communication between slave units, a device control unit for controlling a plurality of controlled devices in the master unit, a wireless control unit of the slave unit, and a wireless control unit of the master unit. Receiving electric field strength measuring means for measuring the receiving electric field strength of the master unit of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received between the receiving apparatus, and intensity history storing means for storing the receiving electric field strength measured in the past by the receiving electric field strength measuring means. The device control means calculates an average reception electric field intensity of the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the slave unit to the parent device based on the stored statistics of the past reception electric field intensity, and according to the average reception electric field intensity. A communication apparatus characterized by stopping the at least one controlled device.

According to the present invention, in a communication apparatus having a configuration in which a slave unit is wirelessly connected to a master unit, based on a past measurement history of the received electric field strength at the master unit of electromagnetic waves transmitted and received between the master and slave units. The average received electric field strength of the electromagnetic wave from the slave is calculated, and the controlled device of the master is stopped according to the average received electric field strength. As a result, the communication device of the present invention is suitable for maintaining the usability of the master device and preventing the use feeling of the slave device from being reduced due to noise from the controlled device in the master device in accordance with the usage environment of the communication device. It can be definitely compatible.
Further, since the average received electric field strength depends on the use environment of the communication apparatus, stop control of the controlled device in the master unit is performed according to the use environment. As a result, in the communication device of the present invention, it is possible to always use the slave unit comfortably regardless of the use environment.

Further, according to the present invention, the device control means includes:
During transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device using wireless communication, if the current reception electric field intensity measured by the reception electric field intensity measurement means is less than a preset reference intensity, at least one The control device is stopped, and as the current received electric field intensity measured is smaller, more controlled devices are stopped.

According to the present invention, in the communication apparatus, not only the stop control of the controlled device according to the average received electric field strength, but also the current received electric field strength of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received between the parent machine and the child machine in the master machine is determined. The corresponding multi-stage stop control of the controlled device is also performed. Therefore, the communication device of the present invention is not limited to the case where the slave unit is used under the average use environment, and the case where the slave unit is used under the temporary use environment different from the average use environment. Also, the stop control of the controlled device can be appropriately executed. Thus, the communication device of the present invention can more accurately balance the usability of the parent device and the prevention of a reduction in the usability of the child device in accordance with the usage environment. In particular, in a temporary environment in which the current reception electric field strength of the signal from the slave unit at the master unit is lower than the average reception electric field strength, for example, in a situation where the use position of the slave unit is farther from the master unit than the average use position In such a case, the controlled devices are stopped more as the current received electric field intensity is smaller.
Thus, the communication device of the present invention can sufficiently prevent the usability of the slave unit from being reduced while maintaining the usability of the master unit.

Further, according to the present invention, the device control means includes:
The received electric field strength measured by the received electric field intensity measuring means is sequentially stored in the intensity history storage means, and the received electric field strength of a predetermined number of times from the time when the received electric field strength is not stored is stored in the intensity history storing means. If stored, the average received electric field intensity of the electromagnetic wave from the slave unit in the master unit is calculated based on the statistics of the received electric field intensity of the number of times in the past, and the average received electric field intensity is stored in the intensity history storage unit. At the start of transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device using wireless communication,
The device control means stops at least one controlled device according to the stored average received electric field strength.

According to the present invention, in the communication apparatus, the average received electric field strength is calculated and stored based on the predetermined number of received electric field strengths sequentially measured from the time when the received electric field strength is not stored, and the calculated value is calculated. Thereafter, the stored average received electric field strength is used for stop control of the controlled device.
This eliminates the need to sequentially calculate the average received electric field strength after the predetermined number of received electric field strength measurements are completed, thereby simplifying the stop control of the controlled device. And after the measurement of the reception electric field strength for the predetermined number of times is completed,
Since the stop control of the controlled device can be performed prior to the measurement of the current reception electric field strength, the slave unit can be used more comfortably.

Further, according to the present invention, the device control means includes:
The received electric field intensity measured by the received electric field intensity measuring means is sequentially stored in the intensity history storage means, and if a predetermined period has elapsed from the time when the received electric field intensity is not stored, the received electric field intensity is measured within the period. The average received electric field strength of the electromagnetic wave from the slave unit in the master unit is calculated based on the statistics of the past received electric field intensity, and the average received electric field intensity is stored in the intensity history storage unit. At the start of transmission / reception of user information between the devices, the device control means stops at least one controlled device in accordance with the stored average received electric field strength.

According to the present invention, in the communication device, the average received electric field strength is calculated and stored based on the received electric field strength measured sequentially within a predetermined period from the time when the received electric field strength is not stored, and the calculated value is calculated. Thereafter, the stored average received electric field strength is used for stop control of the controlled device.
This eliminates the need to sequentially calculate the average received electric field strength after the elapse of the predetermined period, thereby simplifying the stop control of the controlled device. In addition, after the predetermined period elapses, the controlled device stop control can be performed prior to the measurement of the current reception electric field strength, so that the slave unit can be used more comfortably.

Further, the present invention further comprises an operation means operated for inputting an instruction, wherein the device control means erases all stored contents of the intensity history storage means in response to a predetermined operation on the operation means. And re-executing the storage of the received electric field intensity in the intensity history storage means and the calculation of the average received electric field intensity.

According to the invention, in the communication device, in response to a predetermined operation by the user on the operation means, the device control means erases the contents stored in the intensity history storage means,
Further, the storage of the received electric field strength in the intensity history storage means and the calculation of the average received electric field strength are executed again. As a result, every time a predetermined operation is performed on the operation means, the average reception electric field strength is reset according to the usage environment of the communication device after the predetermined operation. This makes it possible for the communication device to reset the average received electric field strength and the like in accordance with a change in the usage environment of the communication device, thereby further improving the usability of the communication device.

Further, the present invention further includes a notifying means for notifying, wherein the device control means uses the notifying means to notify that the function of the master unit associated with the controlled device being stopped is prohibited from being used. It is characterized by reporting.

According to the present invention, in the communication device, the use prohibition status of the function of the master unit is notified. Accordingly, the communication device of the present invention can make the user recognize which function of the parent device is currently prohibited due to the stop of the controlled device. Therefore, the user does not need to issue an instruction to execute the prohibited function at the time of operating the master unit, so that unnecessary work can be omitted, and the usability of the master unit is further improved.

[0024] The present invention further includes permission / prohibition setting means for setting whether or not to permit stop control of the controlled device in the device control means. The device control means is permitted to perform a control operation by the permission / prohibition setting means. In this case, the stop control of the controlled device is performed only when the control is performed.

According to the present invention, in the communication apparatus, stop control of the controlled device is executed in accordance with the setting by the permission / inhibition setting means. As a result, in the communication device, the stop control of the controlled device according to the user's preference can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, the device control means includes:
The controlled device that easily generates noise is stopped as the measured reception electric field intensity is smaller.

According to the present invention, in the communication apparatus, the smaller the received electric field intensity of the electromagnetic wave transmitted / received between the master and slave units in the master unit, the more easily all the controlled devices in the master unit generate noise. The control device is stopped. Accordingly, the communication device of the present invention can more sufficiently ensure the usability of the slave unit. In addition, this allows the communication device of the present invention to suppress the noise from the controlled device in multiple stages in accordance with the received electric field strength while maintaining the number of functions prohibited from being used in the parent device, so , And the usability of the master unit can be both more accurately achieved.

According to the present invention, the master unit further includes a line controller for controlling communication via a public line network, and a central processing unit for controlling the entire master unit. Two of the devices are a central processing unit;
A cross-point switch in the line controller, wherein the device control means compares the reception electric field strength measured by the reception electric field strength measurement means with each of a plurality of predetermined reference intensities, and Stop the controlled device that is previously associated with the minimum reference intensity of the reference intensity, and determine that the reference intensity to stop the central processing unit is lower than the reference intensity to stop the crosspoint switch. Features.

According to the present invention, in the communication device, the central processing unit is stopped when the received electric field strength is lower than the cross point switch in the line control unit. Accordingly, the communication device of the present invention can more sufficiently ensure the usability of the slave unit.

[0030]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a communication device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The communication device 1 has a master device 2 and at least one slave device 3. The child device 3 is connected to the parent device 2 by wireless communication. The slave 3 includes at least the wireless control device 5 and further includes one or more devices related to functions to be executed in the slave 3 other than the wireless communication with the master 2. Master device 2 includes wireless control device 6, reception electric field strength measurement device 7, device control device 8, and a plurality of devices related to functions to be executed in master device 2 other than wireless communication with slave device 3. . Among all the devices in the master unit 2, a device to be controlled by a later-described stop control in the device control device 8 is hereinafter referred to as a "controlled device 9".
Master device 2 preferably further includes an intensity history storage device 11, a permission / prohibition setting device 12, a notification device 13, and an operation device 14 for stop control of controlled device 9.

The wireless control device 6 of the master unit 2 and the wireless control device 5 of the slave unit 3 are internal communication devices for controlling wireless communication between the master unit 2 and the slave unit 3, respectively. The reception field strength measurement device 7 measures the reception field strength EC of the base unit 2 of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received between the wireless control device 5 of the slave unit 3 and the wireless control device 6 of the base unit 2 for wireless communication. . The strength history storage device 11 includes a wireless control device 6
The received electric field strength EC measured in the past of the electromagnetic waves transmitted / received between the terminals 5 is stored. The intensity history storage device 11 may further store the average received electric field intensity EA of electromagnetic waves transmitted and received between the wireless control devices 6 and 5 of the parent device 2 and the child device 3. The average received electric field strength EA of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received between the wireless control devices 6 and 5 of the parent device 2 and the child device 3 is calculated based on statistics of the received electric field intensity EC of the electromagnetic wave measured in the past.

The device control unit 8 controls the plurality of controlled devices 9 in the master unit 2, and particularly receives electromagnetic waves transmitted and received between the wireless control units 6 and 5 of the master unit 2 and the slave unit 3 in the master unit 2. The stop control of the controlled device 9 is performed based on the electric field strength EC. The propriety setting device 12 is a device control device 8
The setting data relating to the permission and prohibition of the stop control in is stored. The notification device 13 is used for notification from the device control device 8 to the user of the communication device 1. The operation device 14 is provided by the user of the communication device 1
Is operated by the user to give an instruction to the device controller 8, and the operation result of the operation device 14 is given to the device controller 8. In FIG. 1, an operation button group including a plurality of buttons is prepared as the operation device 14. In FIG. 1, a display device 16 and a speaker 17 are prepared as the notification device 13. The device control device 8 displays the image data related to the notification on the display device 16 for the notification using the image.
To display the image. Also, the device control device 8
Supplies the data of the sound related to the notification to the speaker 17 to generate the sound for the notification using the sound.

The communication device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a case having a facsimile communication function with an external device connected to a public line network and a voice communication function with the external device. . The facsimile communication function can be executed by the master unit 2 alone, and the voice communication function is executed by using both the master unit 2 and the slave unit 3. To this end, master device 2 further includes a main control unit 21, a line control device 22, a modem 23, and a mechanical control unit 24 as devices. Main controller 21 includes a main CPU (central processing unit) 26 and a storage device 27. The mechanical control unit 24 includes a scanner 28 and a printer 29. The slave unit 3 includes a speaker 32 as a device.
, A microphone 33 and an operation device 34.

The main CPU 26 of the master unit 2 controls the entire communication device 11 while referring to the contents stored in the storage device 27 of the master unit 2. The storage device 27 stores a control program to be executed by the main CPU 26 and data of various settings relating to control of the entire communication device 1. The operating device 14 described above is also operated by a user of the communication device 1 to input an instruction to the main CPU 26, and the operation result of the operating device 14 is
6 is also given. Further, the display device 16 described above has a main CP.
Also used for notification from U26 to the user, the main CP
Notification is performed according to the control signal given from U26. For example, the main CPU responds to an operation on an operation button group.
Various setting data set by 26 are stored in the storage device 27 and visually displayed on the display device 16.

The line control device 22 is connected to a communication network 35 to which an external device which is a communication partner of the communication device 1 of FIG. 1 is connected.
Are connected by wire or wirelessly. Communication network 35
Is realized by a public line network such as a telephone line network.
The line control device 22 detects an incoming signal arriving from the communication network 35 and performs control relating to line connection and line disconnection with an external device via the communication network 35. The line control device 22 includes a cross point switch 30 for arbitrarily connecting a plurality of inputs of the line control device 22 and a plurality of outputs of the line control device 22. Modem 2
3 transmits and receives various signals related to voice communication and various signals related to facsimile communication to and from an external device via a line established and connected in the communication network 35 by the line control device 22. The mechanical control unit 24 creates data of an image to be transmitted at the time of performing facsimile communication and converts the data received at the time of performing facsimile communication into an image.

When executing facsimile communication, the modem 23 receives and demodulates a signal related to facsimile communication from an external device, and the image data in the demodulation result is transmitted to the printer 29.
And the printer 29 prints the image based on the data of the image. When executing facsimile communication,
The scanner 28 reads the original to be transmitted, and the image data obtained as a result of the reading is given to the modem 23, the image data is modulated by the modem 23, and the modulation result is transmitted to an external device via a line. Sent.

When executing a voice call with an external device, the modem 23 receives and demodulates a signal relating to the voice call from the external device, and the sound data in the demodulation result is transmitted from the wireless control device 6 of the master unit 2 to the slave unit 3. Wirelessly transmitted to the wireless control device 5 of
The speaker 32 of the slave unit 3 based on the transmitted sound data
Reproduces the sound. Also, when executing a voice call with an external device, the acoustic data generated by the microphone 33 in the child device 3 is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless control device 5 of the child device 3 to the wireless control device 6 of the parent device 2 and transmitted. The modulated sound data is modulated by the modem 23, and the result of the modulation is transmitted to the external device via the line. When the user operates the operation device 34 of the child device 3, data indicating the operation result is transmitted to the child device 3.
Is transmitted wirelessly from the wireless control device 5 to the wireless control device 6 of the base unit 2, and the transmitted data is processed by the main CPU of the base unit 2 or another processing unit in the base unit 2. As described above, in the communication device of FIG. 1, wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is used during a voice call with an external device, and acoustic data is transmitted and received as user information.

When the communication device 1 of FIG. 1 also supports a voice call, the modem 23 may further have an answering machine function. When executing the answering machine function, the modem 23
The control of the recording of the sound given from the external device via the communication network 35 and the control of the reproduction of the recorded sound are performed.
Further, in the communication device 1, if the master unit 2 is further provided with a microphone, the slave unit 3 performs only external line communication with an external device via the line control device 22 and the modem 23 in the master unit 2. Instead, it may be used for an extension call with the base unit 2. At the time of performing an extension call, sound data output from the microphone of the base unit 2 is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless control device 6 of the base unit 2 to the wireless control devices 6 and 5 of the slave units, and based on the transmitted sound data. The speaker 32 of the slave 3 reproduces the sound. At the time of executing an extension call, sound data generated by the microphone 33 in the handset 3 is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless control device 5 of the handset 3 to the wireless control device 6 of the master unit 2, and the transmitted sound data is transmitted. The speaker 17 of the base unit 2 reproduces the sound based on the.

Radio control devices 6 and 5 for master unit 2 and slave unit 3
In between, a channel 36 to be used for information transmission / reception of wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is set in advance. The wireless control device of the transmitting device of the parent device 2 and the child device 3 transmits and receives the information according to information to be given from the transmitting device to the receiving device of the parent device 2 and the child device 3. And modulates a predetermined carrier in a frequency band set in advance to the channel 36 of FIG. The wireless control device of the receiving device receives all electromagnetic waves in the predetermined frequency band of the channel 36 and obtains a signal that changes according to the received electric field strength EC of the electromagnetic waves as a result of receiving all the electromagnetic waves of the channel 36. Further, the radio control device of the receiving side performs a process of removing a component resulting from noise superimposed on the electromagnetic wave to the signal of the reception result of all the electromagnetic waves of the channel 36, demodulates the signal after the removal process, A signal corresponding to the information transmitted from the transmitting device via the channel 36 is obtained.

The reception electric field intensity measuring device 7 measures the reception electric field intensity EC of the electromagnetic wave in the channel 36 between the parent device and the child device from which noise has been removed. The reception electric field intensity measuring device 7 may always measure the current reception electric field intensity EC of the electromagnetic wave in each channel 36 between the parent device and the child device in the main device 2.
May be measured in response to the request for obtaining the received electric field strength EC.

The level of the signal obtained after the process of removing the component caused by the noise in the radio control device of the receiving side is the electromagnetic wave in the channel 36 between the parent and child units, and the level of the signal in the receiving side is reduced. It changes according to the reception electric field strength EC. Therefore, the reception electric field strength measurement device 7 may measure the level of the signal obtained after the process of removing the component caused by noise in the wireless control device 6 of the master device 2, for example.
During transmission and reception of information from the slave unit 3 to the master unit 2, the electromagnetic field in the channel 36 between the master unit and the slave unit from which noise has been removed, but the received electric field strength EC is transmitted from the slave unit 3 to the master unit 2. The received electric field intensity EC in the master unit 2 of the electromagnetic wave alone, that is, the received electric field intensity EC in the master unit 2 of the carrier wave modulated and transmitted based on the information.

The received electric field strength EC of the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the slave unit 3 to the master unit 2 at the master unit 2 changes according to the use environment of the communication apparatus 1. For example, the longer the distance between the slave 3 and the master 2, the lower the received electric field strength EC of the electromagnetic wave from the slave 3 at the master 2. Further, for example, slave unit 3 and master unit 2
When at least one of them is installed in or near a reinforced concrete building, the received electric field strength EC of the electromagnetic wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 is lower than when it is installed in another place. As the received electric field strength EC of the electromagnetic wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 is lower, the electromagnetic wave is more susceptible to noise.

In the communication device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication between the master unit and the slave unit is realized by digital wireless communication. For this reason, the information channel 37 (TCH: Traffic Cha), which is a channel used for transmitting and receiving user information indicating the actual communication content of the wireless communication, is used as the channel 36 of the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device.
nnel) and a control channel 38 (CCH: Contr) which is a channel used for transmitting and receiving control information related to control of wireless communication.
ol Channel). The user information is audio data if the slave unit 3 is used for voice communication, and image data if it is used for image communication.

In the communication device 1 of FIG. 1, the radio control device of the transmitting side device includes the information channel 37 and the control channel 3
8 to transmit user information and control information individually. The radio control device of the receiving side device controls the electromagnetic wave of the predetermined frequency band of the information channel 37 and the control channel 38
Of the predetermined frequency band is individually received and processed for each channel 36. The reception field strength measuring device 7 individually measures the reception field strength EC of the electromagnetic waves in the information channel 37 and the control channel 38.

Since the modulated carrier of the information channel 37 is transmitted from the transmitting device only during the period in which user information is actually transmitted and received between the parent device and the child device, transmission from the child device 3 in the information channel 37 is not performed. Received electric field strength EC of electromagnetic wave at base unit 2
Is sufficiently larger than 0 only during the execution of the user information transmission / reception between the parent device and the child device. On the contrary, in order for the master unit 2 to reliably receive and detect the control information transmitted from the slave unit 3, the control channel 3 is always used regardless of the time of transmitting / receiving the user information between the master unit and the slave unit.
Since the carrier sense is performed at 8, the reception electric field strength EC of the electromagnetic wave from the slave 3 in the control channel 38 at the master 2 always sufficiently exceeds 0.

The communication apparatus 11 shown in FIG. 1 is characterized by control for reducing the influence of noise caused by devices in the master unit 2 on wireless communication between the master unit and the slave units. To this end, the device control device 8 generally receives the electromagnetic waves transmitted and received between the wireless control device 6 of the master device 2 and the wireless control device 5 of the slave device 3 for wireless communication at the master device 2. The controlled device 9 in the master unit 2 is selectively stopped according to the electric field strength EC. For this purpose, the device control device 8 executes any of the first to ninth control processes described with reference to FIGS. In the following description of FIG. 2 to FIG. 10, if there is a step in the flowchart of the drawing being described that performs the same processing as the processing of the step of the flowchart of the already described drawing, the description of the step of the already described drawing will be made. Is omitted. In the description of FIGS. 2 to 10, “an electromagnetic wave transmitted from the wireless control device 6 of the slave 3 to the wireless control device 5 of the master 2 for wireless communication” is referred to as “internal communication from the slave 3. Waves.

FIG. 2 shows a first example of the device controller 8.
5 is a flowchart for explaining the control processing of FIG. After the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is enabled in the communication device 1, the process proceeds from step A1 to step A2. For example,
Since wireless communication between the parent device and the child device can be performed only while power is being supplied to the communication device 1, after the power supply to the communication device 1 is started, the process proceeds to step A2.

In step A2, the device controller 8
Monitors the usage status of the slave unit 3. If the slave unit 3 is not currently used, that is, if user information transmission / reception between the parent and slave units has not been executed, the process proceeds from step A2 to step A3. If the slave unit 3 is currently in use, that is, if user information transmission / reception between the master unit and the slave unit is being executed, the process proceeds from step A2 to step A5. For example,
The control information for instructing the start of the transmission and reception of the user information between the parent device and the child device has already been received by the wireless control device 6 of the parent device 2, and the control information for instructing the end of the transmission and reception of the user information is transmitted to the wireless device of the parent device 2. Only when it has not been received by the control device 6, the device control device 8 determines that the slave 3 is in use.

When the slave unit 3 is not used, the device control unit 8 determines whether there is a stopped controlled device 9 among all the controlled devices 9 in the master unit 2 in step A3. If there is the stopped controlled device 9, the device control device 8 starts the operation of the stopped controlled device 9 in step A4, and returns from step A4 to step A2. If all controlled devices 9 are operating in step A3, the process directly returns to step A2 from step A3. As a result, during the period in which the user information is not transmitted and received between the parent device and the child device, all the controlled devices 9 in the parent device 2 are operating.

At the time of using the slave unit 3, in step A 5, the device control device 8 acquires the current reception electric field strength EC of the electromagnetic wave in the channel 36 between the master unit and the slave unit from the reception electric field strength measurement device 7. I do. Preferably, the device controller 8 controls the current reception electric field strength EC of the electromagnetic wave in the information channel 37 between the parent device and the child device in the parent device 2, that is, the parent of the internal communication wave from the child device 3 for transmitting and receiving user information. The current reception electric field strength EC in the device 2 is acquired. In step A5, the current reception electric field strength EC of the electromagnetic wave in the control channel 38 between the parent device and the child device in the parent device 2 may be acquired.

In step A6, the device controller 8
Compares the measured current received electric field strength EC with a predetermined reference strength ER. Reference strength ER
For example, under the condition that various processes performed by the base unit 2 on the internal communication wave are not affected by the influence of noise superimposition on the internal communication wave, the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 It is equal to the received electric field strength EC. The reference intensity ER is determined experimentally, for example. If the measured current received electric field strength EC is equal to or greater than the reference strength ER, the process proceeds from step A6 to step A7. If the measured current received electric field strength EC is less than the reference strength ER, the process proceeds from step A6 to step A7. Proceed to A9.

In step A7, the device controller 8
Determines the operation state of the controlled device 9. If the controlled device 9 is operating, the controlled device 9 is stopped in step A8, and the process returns from step A8 to step A2. If the controlled device 9 to be stopped is already stopped in Step A7, Step A7
Directly returns to step A2. In step A9, the device control device 8 determines the presence or absence of the stopped controlled device 9 among all the controlled devices 9 in the parent device 2. If there is a controlled device 9 that is stopped, step A10
In step, the device control device 8 starts the operation of the controlled device 9 that has been stopped, and proceeds from step A10 to step A
Return to 2. If all the controlled devices 9 are operating in step A9, step A9 directly proceeds to step A9.
Return to 2. As a result of the processing in steps A2, A5 to A10,
At least one controlled device 9 is stopped only when the measured current received electric field strength EC is less than the reference strength ER during a period in which user information transmission / reception is being performed between the parent device and the child device.

The stop control processing in steps A2 to A10 is as follows.
It is repeatedly executed as time elapses during a period in which wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is possible. When the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is disabled, the processing in FIG. For example, the processing of steps A2 to A10 is always periodically executed within a period in which wireless communication between the master and
Alternatively, when the power supply to the child device 3 is stopped, the processing in FIG.

In the first control process described with reference to FIG. 2, the device control unit 8 controls the master unit of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 only during transmission / reception of user information between the master unit and the slave unit using wireless communication. 2
Only one or more controlled devices 9 in the master unit 2 are stopped when the received electric field strength EC is less than the predetermined reference strength ER. That is, while the user information is being transmitted and received,
Only when the received electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave from the base unit 2 at the base unit 2 is low and the internal communication wave is easily affected by noise, the controlled device 9 in the base unit 2 is stopped and the controlled device 9 is suppressed. As a result, in the communication device 1, a decrease in the communication quality of the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device and a reduction in the usable distance of the child device 3 with respect to the parent device 2 are prevented. Can be prevented.

The device controller 8 stops the controlled device 9 only during transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device using wireless communication. As a result, when the transmission / reception of the user information is not executed, and even when the transmission / reception of the user information is being performed, the reception electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 is sufficiently high, so that the electromagnetic wave is not transmitted. When the influence of noise is low, all the controlled devices 9 are operating. Thus, the period during which the controlled device 9 is stopped is more likely to be shorter in the communication device 1 of the present embodiment than in the communication device of the related art having a cordless handset.
A decrease in the usability of the master unit 2 is suppressed. As a result, the communication device 1 of the present embodiment can achieve both the usability of the master unit 2 and the prevention of a decrease in the usability of the slave unit 3 due to the noise from the controlled device 9. Usability of the entire communication device 1 is improved.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the second control processing of the device control device 8. FIG. 3
Steps B2 to B4, B6 to B9,
The processes of B11 and B12 are the same as the processes of steps A2 to A4, A5 to A8, A9, and A10 in the flowchart of FIG.

In a situation where the transmission and reception of user information between the parent device and the child device has not been performed, the operation of the stopped controlled device 9 is started in step B4, and then the process proceeds to step B5. In step B5, the device control device 8 uses the notification device 13 to notify that all functions (applications) of the master device 2 are not prohibited and can be used. After the notification, the process returns from step B5 to step B2.

If user information is being transmitted / received between the parent device and the child device, the current reception electric field strength EC being measured is less than the reference intensity ER, and the controlled device 9 is operating, After the controlled device 9 in operation is stopped in B9, the process proceeds to step B10. Step B
In 10, the device control device 8 notifies, using the notification device 13, of the functions of the parent device 2, the functions whose execution has been prohibited due to the stop of the controlled device 9 in step B <b> 9. After the notification, the process returns from step B10 to step B2.

If user information is being transmitted / received between the parent device and the child device, the current reception electric field intensity EC being measured is equal to or higher than the reference intensity ER, and there is a controlled device 9 that is stopped, the step After the operation of the stopped controlled device 9 is started in B12, the process proceeds to step B13. In step B13, the device control device 8 uses the notification device 13 to notify that all the functions of the parent device 2 are not prohibited and can be used, as in step B5. After the notification, the process returns from step B13 to step B2.

The processing of steps B2 to B13 is repeatedly executed as time elapses during a period in which wireless communication between the master unit and the slave unit is possible. When the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is disabled, the processing in FIG.

In the second stop control described with reference to FIG. 3, the device control device 8 notifies the latest use prohibition status of the function of the base unit 2. For example, if the modem 23 is stopped, the function of detecting and answering a signal related to facsimile communication cannot be executed, so that it is notified that the function of detecting and answering is disabled. As a result, even if the user does not actually perform an operation for instructing the execution of the prohibited function on the operation device 14 of the master unit 2 or the slave unit 3, the notification result of the notification device 13 of the master unit 2 can be obtained. Just by watching, it is possible to easily recognize which function of the base unit 2 is currently prohibited due to the stoppage of the controlled device 9.
As a result, useless work of the user when using the functions of the base unit 2 can be omitted, and the usability of the base unit 2 is improved. In addition, the device control device 8 automatically notifies the latest use prohibition status of the function of the master device 2 every time the operation state of the controlled device 9 changes. Thereby, even if the operation state of the controlled device 9 changes sequentially according to the change of the received electric field strength EC, the latest use prohibition status of the function of the base unit 2 is always notified to the user. Usability is further improved.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the third control processing of the device control device 8. FIG. 4
The processing in steps C3 to C11 in the flowchart of FIG.

After the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is enabled in the communication device 11, the process proceeds from step C1 to step C2. In step C2, the device control device 8 determines, based on the setting data stored in the availability setting device 12,
Stop control of the controlled device 9, in particular, stop control processing of the controlled device 9 based on the current reception electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave from the slave 3 at the master 2, that is, steps C <b> 3 to C <b> 3
It is determined whether the process of C11 is permitted. If it is determined based on the setting data that the stop control is prohibited, the process of step C2 is executed again. Only when it is determined based on the setting data that the stop control is permitted, the process proceeds from step C2 to step C3.

As a result, during the period in which the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is possible, while the stop control is prohibited, only the process of step C2 is performed with the lapse of time until the stop control is permitted. It is executed repeatedly. The stop control of steps C2 to C11 is repeatedly executed as time elapses during the period in which the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is possible, while the stop control is permitted. When the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is disabled, the processing in FIG.

In the third control process described with reference to FIG. 4, the device control device 8 controls whether or not to execute the stop control of the controlled device 9 in accordance with the setting data stored in the availability setting device 12. I do. The setting data is set by, for example, the main CPU 26 or the device control device 8 in response to a predetermined operation on the operation device 14 by the user, and is stored in the availability setting device 12. The setting data in the permission setting device 12 can be set even in parallel with the processing of the flowchart in FIG. As described above, whether or not to execute the stop control of the controlled device 9 is controlled in accordance with the setting data in the permission / inhibition setting device 12, so that the stop control according to the user's preference can be performed. In the third control process, step C
Steps B2 to B2 in FIG.
13 may be performed, thereby further improving the usability of the master unit 2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a fourth control process of the device control device 8. FIG.
Steps D2, D3 to D5, D6 in the flowchart of
D7, D17 to D19, and D20 correspond to steps C2, A2 to A4, B5, A5, and A in the flowcharts of FIGS.
9 to A11 and B13, respectively.

If the stop control of the controlled device 9 based on the received electric field strength EC is permitted, the transmission of the internal communication wave in the channel 36 between the parent and child units is performed at the time of transmitting and receiving the user information between the parent and child units. After acquiring the current reception electric field strength EC in the base unit 2, in step D8, the device control device 8 compares the measured current reception electric field intensity EC with a plurality of predetermined reference intensity ER (1). ＥＲER (N). Note that the description of FIG. 5 is an example where two reference intensities ER are set.

The maximum reference strength ER (1) of the plurality of reference strengths ER (1) to ER (N) is determined, for example, by master device 2 for the internal communication wave due to the influence of noise superimposition on the internal communication wave. Is equal to the received electric field strength EC of the master unit 2 of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 in a situation where the various processes do not interfere. For each of the plurality of reference intensities ER (1) to ER (N),
One or more controlled devices 9 are associated with each other such that noise generation can be more strongly suppressed as the intensity is lower. For example, the reference intensities ER (1) to ER (N)
Is associated with a larger number of controlled devices 9 as the intensity is lower. Alternatively, each reference intensity ER (1) to ER
(N) is associated with the controlled device 9 in which the noise superimposed on the electromagnetic wave is more likely to occur as the intensity is lower.

The measured reception field strength EC is the minimum reference strength ER of all the reference strengths ER (1) to ER (N).
If less than (N), the process proceeds from step D8 to step D9. In step D9, the device control device 8 determines the operation state of the controlled device 9. If at least one controlled device 9 of all the controlled devices is operating, the device control device 8 stops the operating controlled device 9 in step D10 and stores the stopped device using a flag or the like. In step D11, the latest device stop status is changed to "all devices stop". Further, in step D12, the device control device 8 notifies the function of the base unit 2 that is prohibited while all the devices are stopped in the same procedure as in step B10. After notification, step D
The process returns from step 12 to step D2. If all the controlled devices 9 are already stopped in step D9, the process directly returns from step D9 to step D2.

The measured reception electric field strength EC is between two reference strengths ER (n-1) and ER (n) closest to each other among all the reference strengths ER (1) to ER (N), that is, the 2
The smaller one of the two reference intensities ER (n−
1) If not less than and less than the larger reference intensity ER (n) of the two reference intensities ER, step D
8 to step D13. In step D13, the device control device 8 determines the operation state of the controlled device 9. If at least one controlled device 9 of all the controlled devices 9 associated with the larger reference intensity ER (n) of the two reference intensities is operating, the operation proceeds to step D14. The controlled device 9 inside is stopped. If all the controlled devices 9 other than all the controlled devices 9 associated with the larger reference intensity ER (n) are stopped, in step D14, the stopped controlled devices 9 are stopped. Start the operation.

Further, in step D15, the device control device 8 updates the stored latest device stop status by
The larger reference intensity ER of the two reference intensities
The state is changed to a state where only the controlled device 9 associated with (n) is stopped. In step D16, the device control device 8 determines the larger reference intensity ER
The function of the parent device 2 that is prohibited due to the stoppage of the controlled device 9 associated with (n) is notified in the same procedure as in step B10. After the notification, the process returns from step D16 to step D2. Also, the larger reference intensity ER
If only all the controlled devices 9 associated with (n) are already stopped in step D13, the process directly returns from step D13 to step D2.

If the measured received electric field strength EC is equal to or larger than the maximum reference strength ER (1) of all the reference strengths ER, the process proceeds from step D8 to step D17. In step D17, the device control device 8 determines the operation state of the controlled device 9. If at least one controlled device 9 of all the control devices is stopped,
In step D18, the operation of the controlled device 9 being stopped is started, and in step D19, the latest device stop state being stored is changed to "all devices are operating". Further, in step D20, the device control device 8 notifies that all the functions of the master unit 2 are available in the same procedure as in step B13, and after the notification, returns from step D20 to step D2. If all controlled devices 9 are in step D
If already in operation at step 17, step D17
Directly returns to step D2.

During the period in which the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is possible, the stop control process of steps D3 to D20 is repeatedly executed as time elapses while the stop control process is permitted. When the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is disabled, the processing in FIG.

When the controlled device 9 is controlled to stop in multiple stages, the reference intensity ER is not limited to two, but may be three or more. One or more controlled devices 9 are associated with each of the three or more reference intensities ER (n) so that the lower the intensity, the more strongly noise generation can be suppressed. In this case, the device controller 8 determines the current reception electric field strength EC being measured and the plurality of reference strengths ER (1) to
ER (N), and the minimum reference strength E among the reference strengths ER (1) to ER (n) which is equal to or higher than the reception electric field strength EC.
R (n) is selected, and the operation state of each controlled device 9 is controlled such that only the controlled devices 9 previously associated with the selected reference intensity ER (n) stop. That is, when two or more reference intensities ER are set, in this case, the two reference intensities ER (n-1) and ER (n) are processed in the same procedure as steps D13 to D16 in FIG.
Are interposed between step D8 and step D2 by one less than the number N of the reference intensities ER.

In the fourth control process described with reference to FIG. 5, the device control device 8 determines that the reception electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 is equal to a plurality of reference intensities ER.
(1) Maximum reference electric field intensity ER of ER (N)
(1) At least one controlled device 9 is selectively stopped only when the value is less than (1). In addition, as the received electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 is smaller, one or more controlled devices 9 are selectively provided so that noise generation from the controlled device 9 can be more strongly suppressed. Stopped. As described above, when the stop of the controlled device 9 in the base unit 2 is controlled in multiple stages according to the reception electric field strength EC,
Since the effect of noise from the controlled device 9 in the master device 2 on the transmission and reception of user information can be sufficiently suppressed, it is possible to suppress the functional limitation of the master device 2 due to the stoppage of the controlled device 9. It is possible to more accurately balance the reduction in the feeling of use of the machine 3 and the usability of the master machine 2. In particular, the more the transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device is easily affected by the noise, the more the noise caused by the controlled device 9 is suppressed. Therefore, the usability of the child device 3 is more sufficiently ensured.

In the fourth control process, specifically, as the received electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 increases, the number of controlled devices 9 to be stopped decreases. I have. That is, when the current received electric field strength EC is slightly stopped in the standard received electric field strength of the base unit 2 of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3, the number of controlled devices 9 to be stopped is reduced and the parent In the case where the number of functions that can be executed in the device 2 is suppressed from decreasing, and when the current received electric field intensity EC is greatly reduced in view of the standard received electric field intensity, the number of controlled devices 9 to be stopped is increased and the master device is stopped. By giving priority to the transmission and reception of the user information between the child devices, the usability of the child device 3 is improved. As a result, the number of functions that cannot be used due to the stop of the controlled device 9 for noise suppression is suppressed, so that as many functions as possible Will be available. Therefore, the communication apparatus 1 sufficiently suppresses the influence of the noise from the controlled device 9 in the base unit 2 on the transmission and reception of the user information,
Since the increase in the number of functions prohibited from being used in the master unit 2 due to the stoppage of the controlled device 9 can be minimized, the usability of the master unit 2 while ensuring a sufficient feeling of use of the slave unit 3 can be achieved. Can be minimized.

In the fourth control process, specifically, the controlled device 9 that easily generates noise is stopped as the reception electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 decreases. It may be. Thereby, the communication device 1
Since the noise from the controlled device 9 can be suppressed in multiple stages while maintaining the number of functions whose use is prohibited in the base unit 2, the usability of the base unit 2 can be further suppressed.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the fifth control processing of the device control device 8. FIG. 6
Steps J2, J4 to J6, J7,
J8, J9, J10, J11 and J12 correspond to steps C2, A6 to A8, D11,
This is equivalent to the processing of B10, A9, A10, D19, and B13, respectively.

After the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is enabled in the communication device 11, the process proceeds from step J1 to step J2. The processing of steps J2 to J12 is repeatedly executed with the passage of time. If it is determined in step J2 that the stop control of the controlled device 9 based on the received electric field strength EC is permitted, in step J3, the device controller 8 sets the electromagnetic wave in the channel 36 between the parent device and the child device. The current reception electric field strength EC in the base unit 2 of
Obtained from the reception electric field strength measurement device 7. In this case, preferably, the device control device 8 acquires the current reception electric field strength EC of the electromagnetic wave in the control channel 38 between the parent device and the child device in the parent device 2. In steps J4 to J12, stop control of the controlled device 9 based on the current reception electric field strength EC being measured is executed. That is, if the current reception electric field strength EC is less than the reference intensity ER, all the controlled devices 9 in operation are stopped, and the current reception electric field strength E is
If C is equal to or greater than the reference strength ER, the operation of the controlled device 9 in a stopped state is started. When the wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is disabled, the processing in FIG.

In the fifth control process described with reference to FIG. 6, the device control unit 8 uses the master unit 2 of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 during the period in which the wireless communication between the master unit and the slave unit is possible. If the received electric field strength EC is less than the reference strength ER, at least one controlled device 9 in the base unit 2 is stopped. As a result, the usability of the master unit 2 is maintained, and the master unit 2
It is always possible to prevent the usability of the slave unit 3 from being reduced due to noise from the controlled device 9 in the inside. In particular, if the received electric field strength EC is always less than the reference strength ER, regardless of whether the user information is being transmitted or received, the controlled device 9 of the master unit 2 is stopped. The effect on wireless communication between machines is constantly reduced. This makes it easier for the base unit 2 to obtain control information wirelessly transmitted from the slave unit 3 to the base unit 2 at the start of transmission / reception of user information.
Therefore, the influence of noise on the control information from the slave unit 3 for instructing the start of transmission / reception of user information is suppressed in the communication device 1 of FIG. 1 more than in the communication device 1 of the related art. 1 is a master unit 2 compared to the communication device 1 of the prior art.
The usable distance from the terminal 3 to the slave 3 is increased. Thus, the communication device 1 of FIG.
Since the use start distance from the base unit 2 to the sub unit 3 is longer than that of the main unit 2, the usability of the sub unit 3 is improved.

For example, the upper limit distance from master unit 2 to slave unit 3 under the condition that master unit 2 can receive the control signal from slave unit 3 without hindrance during the operation of all controlled devices 9 Is 100 m, while all the controlled devices 9 are stopped, the distance is 150 m, and the allowable minimum value of the received electric field strength EC at the master unit 2 of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 at a distance of 100 m and the reference intensity ER Are equal. Under the above conditions, in the cordless telephone device disclosed in JP-A-6-244925, the stop control of the controlled device 9 is performed after receiving the control information for instructing the start of a call from the slave unit 3, so that the slave unit 3 If it is more than 100 m away from the mobile phone, it is impossible to receive the control signal itself instructing the start of a call from the slave unit 3 and the call cannot be started. In the fifth control process shown in FIG. 6, if the mobile device 3 is separated by more than 100 m, the controlled device 9 is stopped before transmitting / receiving the user information, so that the mobile device 3 is separated from the master device 2 by 100 m or more. However, transmission / reception of user information can be started without any trouble.

In the sixth control process, steps J4 to J4
Instead of the processing of J12, steps D8 to D20 in FIG.
May be performed. As a result, the expansion of the usable distance of the child device 3 and the maintenance of the usability of the parent device 2 are both more accurately achieved.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the sixth control process of the device control device 8. If transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device is started in the communication device 11 in the standby state, the process proceeds from step E1 to step E2.
Proceed to. For example, if control information for instructing start of transmission / reception of user information is transmitted from wireless control device 6 of base unit 2 or received by wireless control unit 6 of base unit 2, transmission / reception of user information between base units and child units is started. Will be determined. In step E2, the device control device 8 determines whether execution of stop control of the controlled device 9, in particular, stop control based on the average received electric field strength EA is permitted, in the same procedure as the process of step C2. If it is determined that the stop control is prohibited, the process proceeds from step E2 to step E14, and returns to the standby state after the end of the transmission and reception of the user information. If it is determined that the stop control is permitted, the process proceeds from step E2 to step E3.

In step E3, the device controller 8
Determines whether the average received electric field strength EA of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 has already been calculated. If the average received electric field strength EA has already been calculated, the process proceeds from step E3 to step E9. Average received electric field strength E
If A has not been calculated, the process proceeds from step E3 to step E4.

In step E4, the device controller 8
Is the parent device 2 of the internal communication wave in the channel 36 between the parent device and the child device.
Is obtained from the received electric field strength measuring device 7 and stored in the intensity history storage device 11. In this case, preferably, the device control device 8 acquires the current reception electric field strength EC of the master unit 2 of the internal communication wave in the information channel 37 between the master unit and the slave unit. The device control device 8 updates the counter that counts the number of times of sampling of the received electric field strength EC by one in step E5 and updates the counter. . If the number of times of sampling of the counter after the update is less than the specified number of times, the device control device 8 proceeds to step E7.
In, the initial value of the average reception electric field intensity preset from the time of shipment to the communication device 1 is adopted as the average reception intensity EA used in the subsequent processing. If the updated number of times of sampling of the counter is equal to or greater than the specified number, the device control device 8 determines in step E8 that the intensity history storage device 1
1. All past received field strengths EC currently stored in
And the average received electric field strength EA of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 is calculated and adopted based on the statistical result. For example, the average received electric field strength EA is the past received electric field strength E stored in the intensity history storage device 11.
It may be a simple average of C or a weighted average of ECs of all the past received electric field strengths.

In step E9, the device controller 8
Stops the number of controlled devices 9 corresponding to the average reception electric field strength EA most recently adopted in either of steps E7 and E8. For example, the reception electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 is equal to the average reception electric field strength E.
When the value is equal to A, the controlled devices 9 are stopped by the number of times such that noise superimposition on the internal communication wave is attenuated so as not to hinder the processing of the internal communication wave in the master unit 2 sufficiently. Preferably, the number of controlled devices 9 to be stopped is increased as the average received electric field strength EA is smaller, or the controlled devices 9 that are more likely to generate noise are stopped as the average received electric field strength EA is smaller. In step E10, the device control device 8 notifies the function of the parent device 2 whose execution is prohibited due to the stop of the controlled device 9, by the same procedure as in step B10.

In step E11, the device control device 8 determines whether the transmission / reception of the user information between the parent device and the child device has been completed. For example, control information for instructing termination of user information transmission / reception is transmitted from the wireless control device 6 of the base unit 2 or the base unit 2
Is received by the wireless control device 6, it is determined that the user information transmission / reception has been completed. The determination in step E11 is repeatedly performed with the passage of time until the transmission and reception of the user information is completed. After the end of the transmission and reception of the user information, in step E12, the device control device 8 starts the operation of the controlled device 9 stopped in step E9. In step E13, the device control device 8 notifies that all the functions of the base unit 2 are available in the same procedure as in step B5. After the notification, the process of FIG. 7 ends in step E14, and the process returns to the standby state.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the seventh control processing of the device control device 8. Steps G2 to G4 and G6 to G13 in FIG.
2 to E4, E7 to E14. If the average reception electric field strength EA of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 has not been calculated yet, after the current reception electric field strength EC is obtained and stored in step G4, the process proceeds to step G5.
Proceed to. In step G5, the device control device 8
The elapsed time from the time when the content stored in the intensity history storage device 11 is empty is compared with a predetermined time. The point in time when the storage content of the intensity history storage device 11 is empty is, for example, a point in time immediately after shipment of the communication device 1 from the factory or a point in time when the storage content of the intensity history storage device 11 is deleted by an erasing process described later. . The elapsed time from these points is constantly measured by a timer inside the device control device 8. If the current elapsed time is less than the specified time, the device control device 8 proceeds from step G5 to step G6. If the current elapsed time is less than the specified time, the device control device 8 proceeds from step G5 to step G7. Thereafter, steps G6 and G
7, based on the latest average received electric field strength EA adopted in
Steps G8 to G13 are performed.

The sixth control processing described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG.
In the seventh control process described below, the device control device 8 calculates the average reception electric field strength EA of the signal from the slave unit 3 in the master unit 2 based on the stored statistics of the past reception electric field strength EC. And stopping at least one controlled device 9 according to the average received electric field strength EA. Thereby, it is possible to appropriately balance the usability of the master unit 2 and the prevention of a decrease in the usability of the slave unit 3 due to the noise from the controlled device 9 in the master unit 2. In particular,
Since the average received electric field strength EA calculated based on the past statistics of the received electric field strength EC has a value depending on the use environment of the communication device 1, the sixth and seventh control processes do not use the use environment. In response, stop control of controlled device 9 in master device 2 is performed. Thereby, in the communication device 1, the slave unit 3 can always be used comfortably regardless of the use environment.

For example, when the slave unit 3 is always used at a distance of 100 m or more from the master unit 2 or when at least one of the master unit 2 and the slave unit 3 is used inside or near a reinforced concrete building, The reception electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave from the device 3 at the master device 2 is always low. In this case, the controlled device 9 is controlled based on the reception electric field strength EC measured during transmission / reception of the user information between the parent device and the child device.
Is performed, the controlled device 9 is stopped immediately after the start of the transmission and reception of the user information. Based on the average received electric field strength EA calculated based on the statistics of the past received electric field strength EC, it is estimated that the current usage environment of the communication apparatus 1 matches or is close to the environment where the controlled device 9 needs to be stopped. In this case, the controlled device 9 is stopped in advance before the reception electric field strength EC actually decreases, for example, at the start of transmission / reception of user information. Can be used.

In the sixth control process, the average reception electric field strength EA is calculated and stored based on the reception electric field strength EC for a specified number of times sequentially measured from the time when the reception electric field strength EC is not stored. After that, the stored average received electric field strength EA is used for controlling the controlled device 9 to stop. Furthermore, in the seventh control process, the average reception electric field intensity EA is calculated and stored based on the reception electric field intensity EC sequentially measured within the specified period from the time when the reception electric field intensity EC is not stored. The stored average received electric field strength EA is used for the stop control of the controlled device 9. This eliminates the need to sequentially calculate the average received electric field strength EA after the specified number of received electric field strength EC measurements have been completed and after the specified period has elapsed, thereby simplifying the stop control of the controlled device 9. In addition, after completion of the specified number of measurements of the received electric field strength EC and after the lapse of the specified period, the stop of the controlled device 9 can be controlled prior to the measurement of the current received electric field strength EC, so that the slave unit 3 can be used more comfortably.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the eighth control process of the device control device 8. Steps F2, F3 to G8, F11, F12, F13 to F in FIG.
17 (1), F18 to F20 correspond to steps E2, E3 to E8, E9, E10, D8 to D20, E1 in FIGS.
1 to E13. FIG. 9 shows the reference intensity ER.
Is an example in which n pieces are set. n is an arbitrary integer of 2 or more.

After the start of transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device, stop control based on the average reception electric field strength EA is permitted,
If the average received electric field strength EA has already been calculated, the process proceeds from step F3 to step F9. In step F9, the device control device 8 acquires the current reception electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave in the channel 36 between the parent device and the child device in the parent device 2 from the reception electric field intensity measurement device 7, and proceeds to step F10. In this case, preferably, the current reception electric field strength EC of the master unit 2 of the internal communication wave in the information channel 37 between the master unit and the slave unit is acquired. After the start of the transmission and reception of the user information between the parent device and the child device, if the stop control based on the average received electric field strength EA is permitted and the average received electric field intensity EA has already been calculated, steps F3 to F4 to step F4 are executed. After the processing in F8, the process proceeds to step F10.

In step F10, the device controller 8 determines whether or not the slave unit 3 is used in an environment more susceptible to noise than the average usage environment of the slave unit 3. For example, the current reception electric field strength EC obtained in step F9 or step F4 is compared with the currently employed average reception electric field strength EA. If the current reception electric field strength EC is less than the average reception electric field strength EA, It is determined that the slave unit 3 is located in an environment more susceptible to noise than the average usage environment. The case where the slave unit 3 is used in an environment more susceptible to noise than the average usage environment is, for example,
This is a case where the child device 3 is separated from the parent device 2 beyond the average use distance from the parent device 2 to the child device 3.

In step F10, the slave unit 3 is set under the average use environment.
When it is determined that there is, the process proceeds from step F10 to step F11, and only the stop control based on the average received electric field strength EA is performed. If it is determined that the slave unit 3 is located in an environment more susceptible to noise than the average usage environment, the process proceeds from step F10 to step F13, and steps D9 to D2.
In the same procedure as 0, multi-stage stop control based on the current received electric field strength EC is performed. In the latter case, one-stage stop control may be performed instead of the multi-stage stop control, similarly to A6 to A10 in FIG. After completion of each stop control, the process proceeds from Steps F12 and F17 to Step F18, and the processes of Steps F18 to F20 are performed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the ninth control processing of the device control device 8. FIG.
Steps H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7, H
8, H9, H10, H11, F12 to F16 (1), F
17 to F29 correspond to steps E2, E3, E in FIGS.
4, G5, E7, E8, F9, F10, E9, E10,
D8 to D20 and E11 to E13, respectively. FIG. 9 shows an example in which n reference intensities ER are set. n is an arbitrary integer of 2 or more. That is, the ninth stop control of FIG. 10 is different from the eighth stop control of FIG.
Is performed based on the elapsed time of the sampling execution of the received electric field strength EC instead of the execution based on the number of times the sampling is performed, and the others are equal.

In the eighth control process described with reference to FIG. 9 and the ninth control process described with reference to FIG. 10, the device control device 8 performs the stop control based on the average received electric field strength EA, and If the current reception electric field strength EC measured during the transmission and reception of the user information during the period is less than the reference intensity ER, at least one controlled device 9 is further stopped according to the current reception electric field strength EC. As described above, the communication apparatus 1 performs not only the stop control of the controlled device 9 according to the average received electric field strength EA, but also the stop control of the controlled device 9 according to the actual received electric field intensity EC during transmission / reception of the user information. Is Therefore, not only when the slave unit 3 is used under the average use environment but also when the slave unit 3 is used under a temporary use environment different from the average use environment, the controlled device is not used. 9 can be appropriately executed. As a result, the communication device 1 of the present invention
In this case, it is possible to more accurately balance the convenience of use and the prevention of a decrease in the usability of the slave unit 3 in accordance with the use environment.

In particular, in the eighth and ninth stop controls, in the stop control of the controlled device 9 in accordance with the actual received electric field strength EC, as the measured current received electric field strength EC becomes smaller, the number of controlled devices becomes larger. 9 is stopped. Therefore, in an environment where the current reception electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 at the master unit 2 is lower than the average reception electric field intensity EA, for example, the use position of the slave unit 3 is higher than the average use position. 2, the controlled device 9 is stopped more as the current received electric field strength EC becomes smaller. Thereby, the communication device 1 of the present invention can sufficiently prevent the usability of the slave unit 3 from being lowered while maintaining the usability of the master unit 2.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, the stop control based on the average received electric field strength EA and the stop control based on the current received electric field strength EC are switched according to the current use environment of the slave unit 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The controlled device 9 is selectively stopped in accordance with the average received electric field intensity EA immediately after the start of the transmission and reception of the user information, and the current received electric field intensity EC is changed within the period until the end of the transmission and reception of the user information. The stop control based on the time may be repeatedly performed as time elapses.

The sixth in the device control device 8 described above
The storage contents of the intensity history storage device 11 used in the ninth control process can be erased, and the sampling and averaging of the received electric field intensity EC in the master unit of the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 in response to the erased storage contents. Recalculation of the received electric field strength EA is performed. For example, the content stored in the intensity history storage device 11 is deleted in response to an operation instruction from the user of the communication device 1 made while the communication device 1 is in the standby state.
The standby state is, for example, a state in which user information transmission / reception between the parent device and the child device and external communication with an external device are not performed, and the user information transmission / reception and the start of execution of the external communication are awaited. .

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the erasure control processing in the device control device 8. When the state of the communication device 1 shifts to the standby state, step K0
From step K1. In step K1, the device control device 8 determines whether or not a predetermined operation for instructing to erase the storage contents of the intensity history storage device 11 has been performed on the operation device 14. Only when a predetermined operation is performed, the process proceeds from step K1 to step K2. The determination in step K1 is repeated with the passage of time, for example, is performed periodically.

In step K2, the device controller 8
Deletes the stored contents of the intensity history storage device 11 and returns to the state at the time of shipment. That is, the counter storing the number of samplings of the received electric field strength EC is reset to 0, the timer storing the elapsed time of the sampling of the received electric field strength EC is reset to 0, and the stored past received electric field strength EC is reset. The history of the intensity EC is entirely deleted, and the average received electric field intensity EA already calculated and stored in the intensity history storage device 11 is deleted. After erasing, step K
2 returns to step K1. When the user information transmission / reception or the external communication between the parent device and the child device is started, the state of the communication device 1 shifts from the standby state to the communication execution state, and the processing in FIG.

After erasing the stored contents of the intensity history storage device 11,
If the sixth to ninth control processes are executed again, it is determined that the average received electric field strength EA has not been calculated in the determination process of steps E3; G3; F3; H3, so that steps E4 to E8; -G7; F4-F8; H4-H
7, the processing related to the calculation of the average received electric field strength EA is executed again. As a result, the average received electric field intensity EA is calculated in response to the received electric field intensity EC newly stored in the intensity history storage device 11 after erasing the stored contents, and the stop of the controlled device 9 is controlled based on the average received electric field intensity EA. Is done.

As described above, when the contents stored in the intensity history storage device 11 can be erased, it is possible to reset the average reception electric field intensity EA and the like according to the change in the use environment of the communication device 1. For example, when the installation position of the communication device 1 is changed by moving or changing the pattern, the average usage environment of the communication device 1 also changes. When the average usage environment is changed, if the user of the communication device 1 instructs to erase the storage contents of the intensity history storage device 11 using the operation device 14,
The changed reception electric field strength EC according to the changed use environment is automatically reset. Thereby, even after the change of the average usage environment, the stop control of the controlled device 9 according to the average usage environment can be performed, so that the usability of the entire communication apparatus 1 is further improved.

As described above, in the communication apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the controlled device 9 in the master unit 2 is controlled based on the received electric field strength EC of the internal communication wave in the channel 36 between the master unit and the slave unit. It is selectively stopped. Among all the devices in the base unit 2, preferably, at least one of the devices that are not directly involved in the wireless communication between the base unit and the slave unit and that easily generate noise superimposed on the internal communication wave is used. , The controlled device 9.

The higher the operating frequency of the device, the more the noise is likely to be generated. Therefore, for example, among the devices in the base unit 2 that are not directly involved in the wireless communication between the base unit and the slave unit, the devices whose operating frequency is equal to or higher than the predetermined frequency are included. The device to be controlled 9 is selected. As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile communication function is
, The main CPU 26 and the modem 23 having a higher operating frequency among the devices in the master device 2 are selected as the controlled devices 9.

The device controller 8 sets the operation state of the controlled device 9 to the sleep state or the reset state at the time of the stop control of the controlled device 9 having a high operating frequency. The sleep state is a state in which the remaining functions other than the function for receiving the next start instruction are stopped while the current setting is stored, and when the start instruction is received, the state before the sleep state is restored. Return. The reset state is a state in which the settings are initialized to the state at the time of power-on. The detailed state of the controlled device 9 in the sleep state and the reset state varies depending on the device, but in many cases, the clock is dropped to lower the operating frequency, or the clock is completely stopped. As a result, the controlled device 9 operates at a frequency lower than the original operating frequency, or the controlled device 9 stops, so that generation of noise accompanying the operation of the controlled device 9 is suppressed.

[0108] Of the devices in the master unit 2, if the remaining devices are devices other than the device related to the wireless communication between the master unit and the slave unit and the device related to the function of the master unit 2 executed in connection with the wireless communication, However, other devices may be controlled by the device control device 8 as the controlled device 9 without being limited to the above description. In the communication device 1 of FIG. 1, the display device 16, the scanner 28, and the printer 29 are also selected as the controlled devices 9. Even when these controlled devices 9 are stopped, generation of noise accompanying the operation of the controlled devices 9 is suppressed.

[0109] Of the devices in the base unit 2, devices related to wireless communication between the base unit and the slave units and devices related to the function of the base unit 2 executed in connection with the wireless communication,
The device may be the controlled device 9 as long as the device does not affect the wireless communication and the related functions of the wireless communication due to the suspension. For example, in a case where the slave unit 3 is used for an outside line communication with an external device, if the crosspoint switch 30 is configured to be unable to maintain the connection state between the input unit and the output unit due to the stoppage of operation, the crosspoint switch 30 is released. When the cross point switch is stopped as the controlled device 9, the sound data from the slave unit 3 is cut off by the cross point switch 30, so that the line control device 22 may not be able to send the data to the external device. If the cross-point switch 30 is configured to be able to hold the connection state between the input unit and the output unit even during the battery saving state, there is no problem in external line communication even if the cross-point switch 30 is in the battery saving state during an external call. Therefore, it is possible to control the cross point switch 30 as the controlled device 9 and to suppress noise generation due to the cross point switch 30.

In the communication device 1 shown in FIG.
, The modem 23 and the crosspoint switch 30 are selected as the controlled devices 9, and when only one of the controlled devices 9 is stopped, stopping the main CPU 26 has the highest noise reduction effect. Thereafter, when the modem 23 is stopped, the noise reduction effect is the next highest, and when the cross point switch 30 is stopped, the noise reduction effect is the lowest. For this reason, in the above situation, preferably, the reference intensity ER (b) for stopping the main CPU 26 is lower than the reference intensity ER (b) for stopping the crosspoint switch 30, and the reference for stopping the modem 23. The strength ER (c) is set to be greater than the reference strength ER (b) at which the modem 23 should be stopped and less than the reference strength ER (a) at which the crosspoint switch 30 should be stopped.

In the communication apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, if the multi-stage stop control is performed so as to stop more controlled devices 9 as the received electric field strength EC is smaller, the order in which the controlled devices 9 are stopped is particularly specified. However, if the decrease in the received electric field strength EC is small, the cross point switch 30 is stopped, and the received electric field strength EC is preferably stopped.
When there is a lot of noise, the main CPU 26 having a high noise reduction effect is stopped. As a result, the controlled device 9 is controlled so that the internal communication wave from the handset 3 is more likely to be affected by noise, so that the noise reduction effect is increased. The feeling of use can be more sufficiently ensured. Of course, the magnitude of the received electric field strength EC and the controlled device 9
The relationship with the stop order is not limited to the above relationship and may be another relationship.

According to the present invention, the device control unit 8 controls the main CP
It is provided independently of U26. Not limited to this, the main CPU 26 also serves as the device control device 8,
Stop control of the controlled device 9 may be executed by the main CPU 26. Accordingly, it is not necessary to newly add the device control device 8 and only the program for controlling the stop of the controlled device 9 needs to be added to the master device 2, so that an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed. However, in this case, the main CPU 2
If the device 6 itself is selected as the controlled device 9, the main C
During the period when the PU 26 is stopped, the main CPU 26
Instead, another CPU provided in the base unit 2 needs to act as the device control device 8 to perform stop control of the controlled device 9. While the main CPU 26 is stopped, the other CPUs
The end of the user information transmission / reception using the slave unit 3 is detected, and the stopped main CPU 26 is operated again at the end of the user information transmission / reception.
Other CPUs include, for example, the wireless control device 5
It is sufficient to use a sub CPU provided therein.

The communication device 1 of the present embodiment is an example of the communication device 1 of the present invention, and can be realized in other various forms as long as the main configuration and operation are the same. In particular, the detailed configuration and operation of each component of the communication device 1 are not limited to the above-described configuration and operation as long as the same effect is obtained, and may be realized by another configuration and operation. As described above, the master unit 2 of the communication device 1 of the present invention only needs to have at least the device control device 8 and the reception electric field strength measurement device 7 in addition to the wireless communication device 1 and the controlled device 9. The other components may be appropriately increased or decreased. The handset 3 of the communication device 1 of the present invention only needs to have the least number of wireless communication devices 1, and other components may be appropriately increased or decreased.

In each of the fourth to ninth control processes, the latest use prohibition status of the function of the master unit 2 is automatically notified each time the operation state of the controlled device 9 changes.
Based on the reason described with reference to FIG. 3, the usability of the master unit 2 is improved. In each of the flowcharts of FIGS.
Steps D6, D12, D16, D20; J8, J12; E for automatically notifying the latest use prohibition status of the function of the base unit 2
10, E13; G9, G12; F12, F17 (n) ...
F17 (1), F20; H11, H16 (n) ... H16
(1), H19; may be omitted as appropriate.

In each of the fourth to ninth control processes, whether or not to execute the stop control of the controlled device 9 is controlled in accordance with the setting data in the availability setting device 12. Based on this, it is possible to perform stop control according to the user's preference. In each of the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 10, a step D2; J2; E2; G2;
F2; H2 may be omitted as appropriate.

In the communication apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the internal communication wave in a situation where the various processes of the base unit 2 with respect to the internal communication wave from the slave unit 3 do not cause any trouble due to the superposition of the noise on the internal communication wave. In the case where the reference strength ER is set to be equal to or higher than the reception electric field strength EC in the base unit 2, if one-stage stop control is performed, the lower the only reference strength ER is, the more preferable it is.
If the controlled device 9 is controlled to stop in multiple stages, the lower the maximum reference strength ER (1), the better. this is,
This is because the lower the sole reference strength ER or the maximum reference strength ER (1), the lower the possibility that the controlled device 9 will be stopped, so that the functions of the base unit 2 are not easily restricted and the usability is not easily reduced. .

In order to realize the communication apparatus 1, preferably, control software including a control program for executing the above-described stop control of the controlled device 9 based on the received electric field strength EC is provided inside the communication apparatus 1. Computer,
That is, the main CPU (Central-Processing-Unit:
(Central Processing Unit). This facilitates realization of the communication device 1 of the present invention. The control software of the communication device 1 described above may be stored in a storage medium, read from the storage medium by a medium reading unit of the computer and stored in the storage device 27 of the computer, It may be provided to a computer and stored in the storage device 27. As a storage medium, a magnetic storage medium represented by a floppy disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory)
And an optical storage medium represented by a DVD (Digital Video Disc), and a magneto-optical storage medium represented by an MO (Magneto-Optic Disc). As a transmission medium,
A transmission line of a telephone network, a transmission line of a computer network using a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the like, a transmission cable for connecting a computer, and the like are given.

[0118]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a communication device in which a slave unit is wirelessly connected to a master unit, the reception electric field strength of the master unit of electromagnetic waves transmitted and received between the master unit and the slave unit is used as a reference. If the strength is less than one, one or more controlled devices in the parent device are stopped during transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device using wireless communication. In addition, the larger the received electric field intensity of the electromagnetic wave transmitted / received between the parent device and the child device in the parent device, the smaller the number of controlled devices to be stopped. Accordingly, the communication device of the present invention can minimize the usability of the parent device while minimizing the usability of the child device.

As described above, according to the present invention, in a communication device in which a slave unit is wirelessly connected to a master unit, if the received electric field strength of electromagnetic waves transmitted and received between the master and slave units is less than the reference intensity. At all times, one or more controlled devices in the parent machine are stopped. As a result, the usability of the slave unit can be further improved while maintaining the usability of the master unit and preventing the usability of the slave unit from lowering.

According to the present invention as described above,
In the communication device in which the slave unit is wirelessly connected to the master unit,
The controlled device of the master unit is stopped in accordance with the average reception electric field strength based on the past measurement history of the reception electric field strength of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received between the master unit and the slave unit. Thus, the communication device of the present invention can always comfortably use the slave regardless of the use environment, while maintaining both the usability of the master and the prevention of a decrease in the usability of the slave.

Further, according to the present invention, in a communication device,
Not only the stop control of the controlled device according to the average received electric field strength, but also the multi-stage stop control of the controlled device according to the current received electric field strength at the main unit of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received between the parent and child units is performed. . Thus, the communication device of the present invention can more accurately balance the usability of the parent device and the prevention of a reduction in the usability of the child device in accordance with the usage environment.

Further, according to the present invention, the average received electric field strength is calculated and stored based on a predetermined number of received electric field strengths sequentially measured from the time when the received electric field strength is not stored. The stored average received electric field strength is used for stop control of the controlled device. Further, according to the present invention, the average received electric field strength is calculated and stored based on the received electric field strength sequentially measured within a predetermined period from the time when the received electric field strength is not stored, and is stored after the calculation. The average received electric field strength is used for stop control of the controlled device. For these reasons, the stop control of the controlled device is simplified, and the slave unit can be used more comfortably.

Further, according to the present invention, in response to a predetermined operation by the user on the operation means, the stored contents of the intensity history storage means are erased, and the received electric field intensity stored in the intensity history storage means and the average received electric field are stored. The calculation of the intensity is executed again. This makes it possible to reset the average received electric field strength and the like in accordance with a change in the usage environment of the communication device, so that usability of the communication device is further improved.

Further, according to the present invention, in each of the communication devices described above, the use prohibition status of the function of the master unit is notified. This allows the user to recognize which function of the parent device is currently prohibited due to the stop of the controlled device,
Therefore, unnecessary work of the user can be saved, and the usability of the master unit is further improved. Further, according to the present invention, in each of the communication devices described above, whether or not to execute stop control of the controlled device is controlled according to a predetermined setting. As a result, in the communication device, the stop control of the controlled device according to the user's preference can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, in each of the above communication devices, the smaller the received electric field intensity of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received between the master and slave units in the master unit, the more the noise among all the controlled devices in the master unit is reduced. The controlled device that is likely to be generated is stopped. As a result, it is possible to more appropriately balance the suppression of a decrease in the usability of the child device and the usability of the parent device.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, when the cross point switch in the line control device and the central processing unit in the communication device are selected as the controlled devices, the central processing unit is more centrally processed than the cross point switch in the line control device. The device is shut down when the received field strength drops further. Accordingly, the communication device of the present invention can more sufficiently ensure the usability of the slave unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a first control process in a device control device 8 in the communication device 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a second control process in a device control device 8 in the communication device 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a third control process in the device control device 8 in the communication device 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a fourth control process in the device control device 8 in the communication device 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth control process in the device control device 8 in the communication device 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a sixth control process in the device control device 8 in the communication device 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a seventh control process in the device control device 8 in the communication device 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an eighth control process in the device control device 8 in the communication device 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a ninth control process in the device control device 8 in the communication device 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a process of erasing the storage contents of the intensity history storage device 11 in the device control device 8 in the communication device 1 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 communication device 2 master device 3 slave device 5 slave device wireless control device 6 master device wireless control device 7 reception electric field strength measurement device 8 device control device 9 controlled device 11 intensity history storage device 12 availability setting device 13 notification device 14 Operating device 23 Modem 26 Main CPU 30 Cross point switch EC Current reception electric field strength at the master unit of internal communication wave from EC slave unit ER; ER (1) to ER (N) Reference intensity EC Internal communication wave from slave unit Average received field strength at the parent device

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 5C062 AA02 AA12 AA37 AB38 AB42 AB49 AC01 AC21 AC23 AC34 AC58 AE15 BA00 5C075 AB06 BB14 CE01 FF01 FF02 5K027 AA12 BB01 BB03 CC08 5K067 AA23 AA34 BB08 DD44 DD32 EE03 KK03

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A communication device having a master unit and a slave unit each including wireless control means for performing wireless communication, wherein the slave unit is connected to the master unit by wireless communication. A plurality of controlled devices that respectively perform processing other than the wireless communication of the above, device control means for controlling a plurality of controlled devices in the parent device, and transmission and reception between the wireless control device of the child device and the wireless control device of the parent device Receiving electric field strength measuring means for measuring a received electric field intensity of the electromagnetic wave to be received at the parent device, wherein the device control means is configured to receive and measure the reception information being transmitted and received between the parent device and the child device using the wireless communication. If the field strength is less than a preset reference strength, at least one controlled device is stopped, and as the measured received field strength is smaller, more controlled devices are stopped. Characteristic communication device. 2. A communication device having a master unit and a slave unit each including wireless control means for performing wireless communication, wherein the slave unit is connected to the master unit by wireless communication. A plurality of controlled devices that respectively perform processing other than the wireless communication of the above, device control means for controlling a plurality of controlled devices in the parent device, and transmission and reception between the wireless control device of the child device and the wireless control device of the parent device Receiving electric field intensity measuring means for measuring the received electric field intensity at the master unit of the electromagnetic wave to be measured, wherein the device control means includes a device for controlling at least one if the measured received electric field intensity is less than a preset reference intensity. A communication device for stopping two controlled devices. 3. A communication device having a master unit and a slave unit each including wireless control means for performing wireless communication, wherein the slave unit is connected to the master unit by wireless communication. A plurality of controlled devices that respectively perform processing other than the wireless communication of the above, device control means for controlling a plurality of controlled devices in the parent device, and transmission and reception between the wireless control device of the child device and the wireless control device of the parent device Receiving electric field intensity measuring means for measuring the received electric field intensity of the master unit of the electromagnetic wave to be received, and intensity history storage means for storing the received electric field intensity measured in the past by the received electric field intensity measuring means, and The means calculates an average reception electric field intensity of the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the slave unit to the parent unit based on the stored statistics of the past reception electric field intensity, and at least calculates the average reception electric field intensity according to the average reception electric field intensity. A communication device for stopping one controlled device. 4. The current reception electric field strength measured by the reception electric field strength measurement means during the transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device using wireless communication, is set in the device control means. 4. The communication according to claim 3, wherein when the intensity is less than the reference strength, at least one controlled device is stopped, and as the measured current received electric field strength is smaller, more controlled devices are stopped. apparatus. 5. The device control means sequentially stores the received electric field strength measured by the received electric field strength measuring means in the intensity history storage means, and stores the received electric field strength in a predetermined number of times from the time when the received electric field strength is not stored. Is received in the strength history storage means, the average received electric field strength of the electromagnetic wave from the slave unit in the base unit is calculated based on the statistics of the received electric field strength of the past times, and the average The received electric field intensity is stored in the intensity history storage means, and at the start of transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device using the wireless communication, the device control means sets at least one of the received electric field intensity according to the stored average received electric field intensity. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the controlled device is stopped. 6. The device control means sequentially stores the reception electric field strength measured by the reception electric field strength measurement means in the intensity history storage means, and a predetermined period has elapsed since the reception electric field strength was not stored. Then, based on the statistics of the past received electric field strength measured in the period, calculate the average received electric field strength of the electromagnetic wave from the slave unit in the master unit, and store the average received electric field strength in the intensity history storage means. The device control means stops at least one controlled device in accordance with the stored average received electric field strength at the time of starting transmission / reception of user information between the parent device and the child device using wireless communication. The communication device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein 7. An operation unit operated for inputting an instruction, wherein the device control unit erases all stored contents of the intensity history storage unit in response to a predetermined operation on the operation unit, and The communication device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the storage of the received electric field intensity in the intensity history storage means and the calculation of the average received electric field intensity are performed again. 8. A notifying unit for notifying, the device controlling unit notifying using the notifying unit that the function of the master unit related to the stopped controlled device is prohibited. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a permission / prohibition setting means for setting whether or not to permit the stop control of the controlled device in the device control means, wherein the device control means permits the control operation by the permission / prohibition setting means. 9. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the stop of the controlled device. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device control means stops the controlled device that easily generates noise as the measured received electric field intensity is smaller.
10. The communication device according to claim 9. 11. The master unit further includes a line controller for controlling communication via a public line network, and a central processing unit controlling the entire master unit. The two are a central processing unit and a cross-point switch in a line controller. The device control means includes a plurality of predetermined reference strengths and a reception field strength measured by the reception field strength measurement means. , The controlled device previously associated with the minimum reference strength among the reference strengths equal to or higher than the reception electric field strength is stopped, and the central processing unit is more than the reference strength to stop the cross point switch. 11. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the reference strength at which the communication is stopped is lower.