JP2002009712A - Radio wave monitoring device and radio device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce man-hours at the installation of radio devices by easily monitoring a radio wave environment of each radio device in a radio communication system provided with the radio devices. SOLUTION: A personal computer 3 performs radio communications with an opposite radio device 12 via a radio device 11 in wired-connection to the personal computer 3, allows the opposite radio device 12 to perform monitoring of a radio wave environment by means of the radio communications, and receives a result of monitoring the radio wave environment acquired by the opposite radio device 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio wave monitoring device and a radio for observing a radio wave environment in a radio communication system having a plurality of radios.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a wireless communication system is constructed by installing a plurality of wireless devices capable of setting a plurality of radio frequency channels, other radio frequency channels that can be set by the radio communication system are used. Executes a so-called radio wave environment monitor for observing radio frequency channels used by the radio communication system and interference noise from other devices, and determines a radio frequency channel to be used in the radio communication system based on the monitoring result. To do.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in a radio communication system including _{two first} and _second radios 15 ₁ and 15 ₂ connected to communication terminals 16 ₁ and 16 ₂ , respectively, when performing monitoring, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, the first radio device 15 ₁ in place of the communication terminal 16 _1, PC application software for executing the radio environment monitoring is installed 17 Is connected, and is performed as follows.

[0004] Figure 11 is the a flowchart for explaining the operation of the radio environment monitoring shows PC 17 and the first radio 15 ₁ processing.

[0005] First, the radio frequency channel CHn is set to the first channel n = 1 out of a plurality of radio frequency channels that can be set (step S601), and the channel C is set.
Hn monitor command is transmitted (step S602),
The first radio device 15 ₁ receives the monitor command (Step S701), after storing the channel in the memory currently used (Step S702), it switches the channel CHn specified in the command (step S70
3) After acquiring the received electric field strength (step S704) and returning to the channel stored in step S703 (step S705), a response of the acquired received electric field strength of the channel CHn is transmitted, and the process returns to step S701 (step S706). .

On the other hand, the first radio 15
The monitor response of the channel CHn from ₁ is received (step S603), a process for displaying the electric field strength for each channel is executed (step S604), and 1 is set to n to shift to the monitor of the next channel. The result is added to obtain a new n (step S605). If this n is larger than the number of available radio frequency channels, n is set to 1
And returns to step S602 (step S60
6) For all of the plurality of radio frequency channels that can be used by repeating such processing, the first radio 15
To obtain reception electric field intensity of _1, the personal computer 1 and the results as shown in FIG. 12, as a reception wave level of each channel
7 is displayed on the display.

[0007] Based on the monitoring result of FIG.
Is determined that the channels 2, 3, 4,... Can be set.

[0008]

[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, in the first radio environment monitoring in the radio device 1 _1, as shown in FIG. 13, the first wireless device 1 ₁ can not receive the radio waves, Although their presence can not be confirmed, the second radio device 15 _2, it receives the radio, can not confirm the presence of the wireless device 15 is a so-called hidden terminal, therefore, shown in FIG. 14 (b) 1st radio 15 ₁
It is determined that the channel ch3 used by the wireless device 15, which is a hidden terminal, can also be used based only on the result of the radio wave environment monitor.

[0009] To confirm the presence of such a hidden terminal executes the second radio device 15 ₂ Any radio environment monitor to be the first wireless device 15 ₁ of the communication partner in Figure 14 (a) Although it is necessary to obtain the monitoring result shown, for this purpose, the observer must move to the installation location of the _second wireless device 152 as the communication partner and perform observation, and the number of wireless devices is large. In such a case, there is a drawback that a large number of man-hours are required.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in a wireless communication system having a plurality of wireless devices, the radio environment can be easily monitored for each wireless device. The purpose is to reduce man-hours at times.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is configured as follows.

That is, a radio wave monitor device of the present invention is a radio wave monitor for observing a radio wave environment, which is the reception strength of each frequency channel, in a radio communication system having a plurality of radio devices capable of setting a plurality of frequency channels. An apparatus for performing wireless communication with a partner wireless device via a wired wireless device to observe a radio wave environment acquired by the partner wireless device.

Here, "observing the radio wave environment" includes grasping the frequency channel assignment state of each radio in the entire radio communication system. Also, it includes confirmation of whether or not communication is possible between wireless devices that have selected a specific channel. It also includes the detection of the presence or absence of an interfering radio on a specific channel and the presence or absence of a hidden radio (hidden terminal). Alternatively, the received electric field strength at the wireless device may be monitored. At this time, the MAX value of the intensity values may be compared.

According to the present invention, since the radio wave environment is acquired by the partner radio, the existence of a hidden terminal which can be confirmed only by the partner radio can be grasped, and the partner radio via the radio connected by wire can be grasped. Since the radio wave environment is observed by wireless communication with the wireless device, it is not necessary to go to the installation site of the wireless device on the other side to observe the environment, and the man-hours required when installing and maintaining a plurality of wireless devices can be greatly reduced.

The term "hidden terminal" refers to a pair of wireless terminals that cannot directly receive radio waves among wireless devices in a wireless group to which one channel is assigned, and that are referred to as hidden terminal relationships. For one wireless device, the other (two or more) wireless devices correspond to hidden terminals.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
A frequency channel used for the wireless communication with the partner wireless device is selected based on a monitoring result of the radio wave environment acquired by the wireless device connected by wire.

In a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of frequency channel candidates that can be used for wireless communication with a partner wireless device are selected based on a monitoring result of a radio wave environment obtained by a wired wireless device. In addition, priority may be given to each selected frequency channel, and a higher priority frequency channel may be used, whereby radio communication with a counterpart radio device can be performed using a frequency channel with less interference. Will be.

“High priority” means that the reception state is more stable. That is, it can be said that the priority is higher in the descending order of the reception intensity.

In another embodiment, when an error occurs in wireless communication with the other party's wireless device, the frequency channels to be used may be changed and set in descending order of priority. Even if a communication error occurs due to the presence of a wireless communication device, by changing the frequency to be used, wireless communication with the partner wireless device becomes possible, and the monitoring of the radio wave environment can be performed reliably.

To change the frequency to be used means to move from a channel where crosstalk or interference may occur to a free channel where no crosstalk or interference occurs.

According to the present invention, the radio wave environment is preliminarily monitored by the wire-connected radio in the same manner as in the prior art, and the frequency channel of the radio communication with the partner radio is selected based on the monitoring result. Wireless communication with the other party's wireless device can be performed using a frequency channel without interference.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring results of the radio wave environment obtained by a plurality of wireless devices are displayed together on the same screen.

According to the present invention, the monitoring result of the radio wave environment of a plurality of radio devices can be grasped at a glance, and the frequency channels usable in the radio communication system can be known.

The wireless device of the present invention is a wireless device in which a plurality of frequency channels can be set. The wireless device acquires a radio wave environment, which is the reception strength of each frequency channel, by a command signal through a wireless line. This is transmitted to the command source via the line.

According to the present invention, the radio wave environment is acquired by the command signal transmitted through the radio line and transmitted to the command source through the radio line, so that the radio wave environment is monitored by wire connection to the radio as in the prior art. No need.

[0026]

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

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

This radio communication system comprises a plurality of, in this example, six radios ₁₁ to ₁₆ , and one frequency channel chn is allocated to the _first to _third radios ₁₁ to 13. A first wireless group is configured, and a second wireless group to which another frequency channel chm is assigned is configured by the _fourth to _sixth wireless devices 14 to ₁₆ , and within each wireless group, It performs wireless communication. Each wireless device 1
Symbols X- such as 1-0 and 1-1 attached to ₁ to ₁₆
X in Y is a group ID that specifies a group of the wireless group, and Y is a node ID that is unique within the group. The second, third, fifth, the wireless device 1 ₂ of the 6, 1 _3, 1 _5, 1 ₆ are connected by wire respectively to the communication terminal ₂ 2, 2 _3, 2 _5, 2 _6.

Further, first the radio group, the fourth radio apparatus 1 _1, 1 _4, the personal computer 3 as a radio wave monitoring device application software of the communication terminal 2 and the radio environment monitor is installed in a wired 4 It is connected.

FIG. 2 shows the first and fourth wireless devices 1.₁, 1_Four
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the wireless device 1. ₁, 1_FourIs each radio
1_Two, 1_Three, 1_Five, 1₆Wireless communication between the
Wireless module 6 for communication and personal computer 3 or
Is a cable for performing wired communication with the communication terminal 2.
Network communication controller 7 and communication driver 8
And a memory 9 for storing terminal information and the like.
A display setting unit 10 for setting display and ID number, etc.
And a power supply circuit for supplying power to each unit.
A road 12 is provided.

In this embodiment, when determining a frequency channel to be used in each wireless group shown in FIG. 1, each wireless device 1 including a so-called hidden terminal is included.
_The following is performed so that the radio wave environment monitors ₁ to ₁₆ can be efficiently executed.

[0032] For example, when performing radio environment monitoring of ID = 1 of the radio group, as in the conventional example described above from personal computer 3 to the first wireless device 1 ₁ by wire 4, the radio wave environment monitoring Execute.

Next, the personal computer 3, the wireless device to perform radio environment monitor via the first wireless device 1 _1, second to radio 2 ₂ by performing for example a second wireless device 1 ₂ and the radio communication obtains the monitoring result by executing the radio environment monitoring, then through a first wireless device 1 ₁ third radio 1 ₃ and the wireless communication performed third radio environment monitor radio 1 ₃ Is executed to obtain the monitoring result.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the radio wave environment monitor. In FIG. 3, the first
Of shows the process in the case of performing radio 1 ₁ and a second radio environment monitoring radios 1 _2, each wireless device 1 _1, 1 _2, radios using the group ID and the node ID of the above 1 −
It is indicated by 0,1-1.

[0035] First, perform the radio environment monitoring as in the conventional example described above with reference to radio environment monitoring command from the personal computer 3 to the first wireless device 1 ₁ in a wired 4 (step S1
01, 201), the personal computer 3 checks the monitoring result using application software, selects a channel candidate that can communicate with the _first wireless device _11, and gives priority to the selected channel (step S102). As a method of assigning the priority, for example, a radio wave environment monitor is performed over a certain period of time, the max values of the acquired electric field strength data for each channel are compared, and the priorities are assigned in ascending order of the max value. Of the frequency channels to which the priorities have been assigned, the channel with the highest priority is set by a command to the _first wireless device 11 (steps S103 and S202).

Next, a wireless connection with the _second wireless device 12 to be monitored is established (step S).
104, 203, 301). The establishment of this wireless connection will be described later.

[0037] The radio environment monitoring as in the conventional example described above with reference to radio environment monitoring command to establish a wireless connection from the personal computer 3 to the first wireless device 1 ₁ second radio 1 ₂ via the Execute (steps S105, S204,
302).

Thereafter, the wireless connection with the _second wireless device 12 is disconnected (steps S106, S205, S30).
3), first, display the results of the second wireless device ₁ 1, 1 ₂ of the radio environment monitoring (step S107), based on it,
The optimum frequency channel is selected and set (step S108).

[0039] Note that the first radio in the establishment of the wireless connection with the second wireless device 1 ₂ to the cut 1 ₁
When the wireless connection between the second wireless device 1 ₂ is unstable and therefore, first, second wireless device 1 _1, 1 _2,
When the time-out is managed and an abnormality occurs, the following return operation is performed. That is, the first wireless device 1
₁ discards a connection with the second wireless device 1 ₂ response error to the PC 3, and the second radio 1
₂ discards the connection with the first wireless device ₁₁ and returns to the initial state. On the other hand, the PC 3 receives the first error from wireless device 1 ₁ again sets the channel of the next candidate in the first wireless device 1 ₁ is to execute the step S104 described above.

Next, the establishment of the above-mentioned wireless connection will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 4 is a flow chart of the first description of the operation of the wireless device 1 _1, FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a second operation described radio 1 _2.

The first radio device 1 _1, as shown in FIG. 4, receives a radio connection establishment command to the second wireless device 1 ₂ from the PC 3 (step S401), the built-in timer 1 and The timer 2 is started (steps S402 and S403). Timer 2 is for managing the period for periodically transmitting a radio connection establishment command, this period is required until the second radio 1 ₂ returns a response of receiving the radio connection establishment command Set in consideration of time.

Further, timer 1, when there is no even a response from the second wireless device 1 ₂ repeatedly over the transmission of the periodic radio connection establishment command for a predetermined time, the personal computer 3 an error as a time-out The above-mentioned fixed time for returning to is managed. This fixed time T
Is, for example, a time t1 when the second wireless device 1 ₂ changes the channel, the value obtained by multiplying the number of frequency channels n to a value obtained by adding the transmission period t2 of the radio connection establishment command to be managed by the timer 2 {T = (T1 + t2) × n}.

Next, in step S404, the second radio 1 ₂ at the set channel, and transmits a radio connection establishment command, receives a radio connection establishment response from the second wireless device 1 ₂ It is determined whether or not timer 1 has timed out (step S405).
06) If the time is not up, it is determined whether or not the timer 2 is up (step S40).
7) If the time is not up, step S4
05, and when the time is up, step S4
Return to 03.

If a wireless connection establishment response is received in step S405, a normal response to the wireless connection establishment command is transmitted to the personal computer 3 (step S409). Step S4
At 06, when the timer 1 times out,
It is determined that a timeout has occurred, and an error response to the wireless connection establishment command is transmitted to the personal computer 3 (step S408).

Meanwhile, the second wireless device 1 _2, as shown in FIG. 5, and set the channel n to the initial value n = 1 (step S501), sets the frequency of the channel Chn (step S502), The built-in timer 3 is started (step S503). The timer 3 is for managing the waiting time to wait for receiving radio connection establishment command set channel Chn, this waiting time, the first transmission of a radio connection establishment command radios 1 ₁ It is set longer than the cycle.

In step S504, the first wireless device 1 ₁
It is determined whether or not a wireless connection establishment command has been received from the STA. If not, it is determined whether or not the timer 3 has timed out (step S505). Therefore, 1 is added to n to obtain a new n, and it is determined whether or not this n is larger than the number of channels (step S507). If it is not larger, the process returns to step S502. The process returns to step S502 with the initial value (step S508).

In step S504, when a wireless connection establishment command is received, carrier sense of the frequency channel Chn is executed (step n50).
9) If there is a carrier, the process returns to step S506 to wait to receive a wireless connection establishment command while changing the frequency channel Ch. If there is no carrier, a normal response to the wireless connection establishment command is transmitted (step S510). ), And shifts to a wireless connection established state (step S511).

The above manner each radio obtained by 1 _1, 1 ₂ of the monitoring result of the radio wave environment, FIG. 6 (a), the
As shown in (b), the information can be displayed on the display of the personal computer 3 in the same manner as in the related art.

As shown in FIG. 7, for example, during the execution of the radio wave environment monitor of the _first wireless device 11,
The previous max value and the real-time value can be displayed together. As a result, the missed radio wave can be confirmed later.

[0050] Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the max value of the result of the wireless device 1 _1, 1 ₂ of the radio environment monitoring may also display on the same screen.

[0051] In FIG. 8, the radio wave of the first frequency ch2 which could not be radio 1 ₁ confirmation Oite have been observed in the second radio 1 _2. That is, it is found that a hidden terminal exists in ch2.

Therefore, in FIG.
.. Are settable channels.

[0053] Note that what determines the third wireless device 1 _three channels to be finally used in consideration of the monitoring result by performing a radio environment monitoring in a similar manner as described above applies to the same radio group . Also, it is to perform the monitoring of the radio wave environment in the same manner for the wireless device 1 ₄ to 1 ₆ of another radio group.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the radio wave environment is acquired by the other party's wireless device as the communication partner, the existence of a hidden terminal which can be confirmed only by the other party's wireless device can be grasped, and the wired Since the radio wave environment is monitored by wireless communication with the partner wireless device via the connected wireless device, there is no need to go to the installation location of the partner wireless device and observe it. This makes it possible to greatly reduce the man-hours required when installing and maintaining a plurality of wireless devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system including a radio wave monitoring device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the wireless device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of establishing a wireless connection by a first wireless device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of establishing a wireless connection by a second wireless device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a radio wave monitoring result.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another display example of a radio wave monitoring result.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing still another display example of a radio wave monitoring result.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a conventional system.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a conventional radio wave environment monitor.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a conventional radio wave environment monitor.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display of a radio wave environment monitoring result.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing the presence of a hidden terminal.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the results of monitoring the radio wave environment of each wireless device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ₁ to 1 ₆ radio 2,2 _2, 2 _3, 2 _5, 2 ₆ communication terminal 3 PC 4 wire 11 MPU

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5K042 CA13 DA03 DA19 EA15 FA02 HA01 5K067 AA01 AA41 DD44 EE12 FF23 FF31 LL01

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A wireless communication system including a plurality of wireless devices capable of setting a plurality of frequency channels, wherein the wireless communication system monitors a wireless communication environment, which is the reception strength of each frequency channel. A radio wave monitor device for performing radio communication with a radio device of the other party via a radio device and observing a radio wave environment acquired by the radio device of the other party. 2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein a frequency channel used for said wireless communication with said other wireless device is selected based on a monitoring result of a radio wave environment obtained by said wireless device connected by wire. Radio wave monitor. 3. The radio wave monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring results of the radio wave environment obtained by each of the plurality of radio devices are displayed together on the same screen. 4. A radio device capable of setting a plurality of frequency channels, wherein a radio signal environment, which is the reception strength of each frequency channel, is acquired by a command signal transmitted through a radio channel and transmitted to a command source through the radio channel. A wireless device characterized by that: