JP2002135835A - Radio communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely receive an information service by positioning a portable electronic device in a simple configuration inside the area of high received field strength. SOLUTION: In the radio communication system of asymmetric transmission velocity, in which a down link transmission velocity for transmitting a signal from a base station to a portable electronic device 10 is higher than an up link transmission velocity for transmitting a signal from the portable electronic device 10 to the base station, a receiving area 21, where the signal transmitted from an antenna 20 of the base station becomes a sufficient received field strength capable of receiving the information service in the portable electronic device 10, is clearly shown by the color of the floor or the like to be easily discriminated and a user can easily improve the received field strength.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a mobile electronic device which transmits signals to a base station at a higher transmission rate than the uplink transmission rate.
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system that transmits and receives information and that simplifies the configuration of a portable electronic device by using a wireless communication system having a high downlink transmission rate and an asymmetric transmission rate for transmitting signals to the portable electronic device by the base station.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a system for transmitting and receiving information using a portable electronic device, there is a data communication system using a portable telephone or a car telephone. This data communication system is provided with a function of an application operating on a portable electronic device, and through a public line network including a wireless communication path (wireless public network) using, for example, a mobile phone or a car phone, a company can be connected to a company from any place. It can be used to access the database and check the contents of messages and books.

[0003] The wireless part of this data communication system is a cellular network such as a mobile phone or a car phone. Usually, whether or not wireless data communication using a mobile phone or a car phone is possible, that is, a reception environment can be known by out-of-service display on the mobile phone or the car phone.
The out-of-service display is performed when the received electric field strength is equal to or less than a specified value. Therefore, whether information can be obtained by wireless communication is affected by the service area of the cellular network.

[0004] In a wireless public network such as a cellular phone and a car phone, one of the services is to reduce an unreceivable area, and it is assumed that reception is always possible wherever it is. It is in. Therefore, regarding the reception environment, only the out-of-range display that cannot be received is performed, and the display of the receivable area is not performed.

There is a traffic information service on an expressway as a system that explicitly specifies an area for providing information. The traffic information service is a system that provides congestion information, construction information, accident information, and the like on a highway in a specific area along a road using a medium-wave band frequency (1620 kHz) similar to AM radio broadcasting. . The area where the traffic information is being serviced can be known by signs indicating the beginning and end on the side of the road.

[0006] Users in the traffic information service are expressway users. The traffic information service is based on the premise that the user can obtain information while traveling safely, so the reception conditions have been improved for users, such as "If the reception condition is poor, move to the driving lane." There is no area indication that clearly states that the request is made. This is natural due to the nature of the highway.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a device (mobile radio terminal) for improving the reception situation (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-18861).
7). The device shown in FIG. A is provided with a device that emits a light beam in the same direction as the direction of the directional antenna on the terminal side in order to match the direction of the directional antenna with the target direction (base station). In this conventional example, a device for improving the reception environment is installed on the terminal side. For this reason, it is not suitable for applications that require miniaturization of terminals. Further, in this conventional example, the reception state is improved by improving the directionality of the antenna directivity, but the improvement of the reception state due to the movement of the terminal is not considered.

As described above, conventionally, there is no system that expects users who use various services via a wireless communication path to positively improve the reception environment by moving.

[0009]

By the way, when considering a multimedia service for transmitting and receiving various kinds of information by a portable electronic device, it is easy to receive information and at the same time,
It is desired that the portable electronic device has a simple configuration and is excellent in portability. However, when a portable electronic device is designed to reliably receive a signal from a base station under all reception conditions, techniques for increasing a reception gain (equalizer for correcting propagation path distortion, diversity reception for improving a reception electric field strength, etc.). Circuit) is required, and the circuit scale increases accordingly, which is disadvantageous in terms of portability. In addition, this is a factor that hinders reduction in power consumption. In other words, how to improve the reception conditions without increasing the circuit scale becomes a problem.

The improvement of the receiving condition can be achieved by improving the receiving sensitivity and the receiving electric field strength. The former is realized by reducing the noise of the equalizer, the diversity reception, and the reception signal amplifier, but causes an increase in the circuit scale. The latter is realized by improving the transmission power of the base station,
An inadvertent increase in transmission power increases the frequency reuse distance and causes a decrease in frequency use efficiency.

That is, in a system in which information is provided from a base station to a portable electronic device, it is not necessary to increase the transmission power of the base station carelessly, and wireless communication using a portable electronic device with a simple configuration is possible. There has been a demand for a wireless communication system capable of reliably receiving an information service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to locate a portable electronic device having a simple configuration in an area having a high reception electric field strength, thereby ensuring wireless communication. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication system that enables an information service to be received via communication.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A wireless communication system according to the present invention includes a portable electronic device that is portable and includes a wireless device, receives a wireless signal from the portable electronic device, and transmits the signal to the portable electronic device. A base station for transmitting information by radio signals, wherein the base station transmits a signal to the portable electronic device at a first signal transmission rate downlink and the portable electronic device transmits to the base station. At least one uplink line having a second signal transmission rate for transmitting a signal is provided, and the first signal transmission rate is higher than the second signal transmission rate. In a wireless communication system in which the signal transmission speed is asymmetric, the portable electronic device is characterized by including means for specifying an area in which a wireless signal from a base station can be received by the downlink of the first transmission speed.

[0014]

According to such a configuration, an area in which reception of a radio wave by a portable electronic device existing around an antenna of a base station is guaranteed, that is, an area where a received electric field strength is equal to or more than a predetermined value is specified. The user of the portable electronic device can easily determine the area where the reception of radio waves is guaranteed and the area where the information service can be received without fail. Therefore, in order to improve the reception environment, it can be expected that the user will positively move to an area where signal reception by the portable electronic device is reliable.

Since the receiving environment can be reliably improved on the user side, a circuit (equalizer, diversity receiving circuit, etc.) for improving the reception gain of the portable electronic device can be omitted, and the portable electronic device can be improved. The circuit configuration is simplified. Also, it is not necessary to increase the transmission power on the base station side and increase the reception electric field strength more than necessary.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data communication system using a wireless communication system according to the present invention. A wireless communication system according to the present invention is a portable electronic device 1 having a wireless device.
0 and a base station 1 that receives a wireless signal from the portable electronic device and transmits information to the portable electronic device by a wireless signal.
2 and an environment in which a wireless transmission system that realizes wireless communication between the base station 12 and the portable electronic device 10 exists.

A wireless transmission system for performing wireless communication between the base station 12 and the portable electronic device 10 has an asymmetric signal transmission speed, that is, a downlink transmission speed at which the base station 12 transmits signals to the portable electronic device. , Portable electronic device 10
From the base station 12 to the base station 12. Here, a high-speed downlink line has a narrow area (narrow area), and a low-speed uplink line has a wide area (wide area) (a wide area having a signal transmission rate equivalent to that of a lower-speed uplink line). May be provided with a downlink line). That is, the area of the low-speed uplink line transmitted from the portable electronic device to the base station is larger than the area of the high-speed downlink line transmitted from the base station to the portable electronic device.

For example, the base station 12 uses a high-speed downlink line for downlink transmission to carry out services (multimedia services) such as communication including images, voice, file editing, information distribution / public information, and broadcasting. Electronic device 10
To provide. The portable electronic device 10 uses a low-speed uplink line for uplink transmission to transmit information for controlling the downlink, selection of a channel, a control signal for selecting a medium in the case of multimedia, audio data, and the like to the base station 12. To be transmitted.

The base station 12 covers (portable electronic device 1
If there are a plurality of portable electronic devices 10 in an area where communication is possible with the portable electronic device 10, an uplink and downlink line is established for each portable electronic device 10 to the extent possible. .

The base station 12 is, for example, a network 14
(May be a public line network or the like), and in response to a request from the portable electronic device 10 or the like, the network 1
4 and obtains the service as described above and provides it to the portable electronic device 10. As shown in FIG. 1, in addition to a plurality of base stations 12, a database system 16 and various control systems 18 as well as terminals (not shown) are connected to the network 14, so that information can be transmitted and received to and from each other. Is possible. The portable electronic device 10 can use various information services via the network 14 using a wireless transmission system with the base station 12.

The wireless communication system according to the present invention, in an environment where a wireless transmission system exists, specifies an area in which the portable electronic device can communicate with the base station by downlink transmission, and provides a user of the portable electronic device with It is possible to encourage the user to move to an area where the information service can be reliably received.

First, a radio communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The wireless communication system according to the first embodiment includes a base station 12 that performs information transmission, a portable electronic device 10 that is used by a plurality of users, and an area that can receive a wireless signal transmitted from the base station 12 (reception area). It comprises means for displaying the possible area 21) in color.

The information service area covered by the antenna 20 of the base station 12 is an area in which the received electric field strength when the portable electronic device 10 receives a radio wave transmitted from the antenna 20 is equal to or more than a predetermined value. The area is represented by a specific color.

Here, assuming that the minimum receiving electric field strength of the wireless device (receiver) of the portable electronic device 10 is a and the electric field strength at an arbitrary point u is r (u), u <u (u) where a <r (u) is satisfied. The floor of the area is classified by a specific color representing the receivable area 21. In FIG. 2, the electric field strength of the area classified by the color is the lowest received electric field strength of the receiver (that is, a <
r (u)).

However, depending on the convenience of installing a building or the like, there may be a case where the receivable area 21 cannot be installed so as to completely represent the information service area. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the receivable area 21 classified by color does not coincide with the actual information service area 22.

That is, in the case shown in FIG. 3A, there is a point v where the electric field intensity satisfies a <r (v) but is not classified by color. Also, in FIG. 3B, there is a point w where the electric field intensity satisfies a> r (w) but is divided by color.

As described above, even if the receivable area 21 specified by the color does not necessarily match the portion where the electric field strength is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the portable electronic device is specified if most of the area is specified. Since it is possible to clearly indicate the area where information can be received with high quality to the ten users and thereby to encourage the user of the portable electronic device 10 to move, an improvement in the reception environment is expected.

In FIG. 2, only the narrow area is described, and the wide area is not shown.

Next, a radio communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The wireless communication system according to the second embodiment includes a base station 12 that performs information transmission, a portable electronic device used by a plurality of users, and an area where the portable electronic device can receive a wireless signal transmitted from the base station 12 ( The receivable area 24) is constituted by a specific shape of the floor surface.

The receivable area 24 shown in FIG. 4 is represented by a step on the floor, and as described in the first embodiment,
The area of the reception electric field strength when the portable electronic device 10 receives a radio wave transmitted from the antenna 20 of the base station 12 is equal to or more than a certain threshold. Further, as described above, a portion may be equal to or less than a certain threshold value depending on the convenience of the step installation.

The receivable area 24 is indicated by a step as shown in FIG. 4 and a specific shape (material of the floor surface, minute unevenness, etc.) that allows the floor surface to be distinguished from other areas is used. It may be represented.

Next, a radio communication system according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The wireless communication system according to the third embodiment includes a base station 12 that performs information transmission.
And an area in which the portable electronic device can receive a radio signal transmitted from the base station 12 (a receivable area 26 (26a, 26a, 26a).
b, 26c)) by means of light or sound.

The receivable area 26 shown in FIG. 5 is indicated by light or sound, and the portable electronic device 10 receives radio waves transmitted from the antenna 20 of the base station 12 as described in the first embodiment. This is the area where the received electric field strength is equal to or greater than a certain threshold.

In FIG. 5, the antenna 2 of the base station 12
The receivable area 26a for 0a is indicated by, for example, a sound generated by the sound generating element 27 installed in the receivable area 26a. Receivable area 26b of base station 12 for antenna 20b is indicated by light (red) emitted by light emitting element 28, and receivable area 26c of antenna 20c is indicated by light (blue) emitted by light emitting element 29. It is.

In a system in which a wide-area uplink and a narrow-area downlink exist (there may be a wide-area downlink), when the portable electronic device 10 is located in an area where the uplink is available, In addition, the user can instruct the user to specify an information service area (receivable area) in which downlink is possible.

In this case, the sound element 27 and the light emitting elements 28 and 29 shown in FIG. 5 control the tone color of the generated sound or the brightness of the emitted light by the corresponding base station (not shown). Then, the color, brightness, timbre, etc. of the area indicated by light or sound are changed according to a request from the portable electronic device 10.

When a predetermined operation is performed by the user, the portable electronic device 10 transmits a "service area information request" for designating a receivable area together with identification information (ID) for specifying the portable electronic device. A signal is transmitted using the uplink line. Upon receiving the “service area information request signal” from the portable electronic device 10, the base station 12 responds to the request signal by indicating the area under the control of its own base station (the sounding element 27, the light emitting elements 28 and 29). ) Changes the color, brightness, timbre, etc. of the area indicated by light or sound. That is, the user makes a request to specify the information service area using the portable electronic device 10, and in response to the request signal, the base station 12 changes the specification (light, color, brightness, or tone) of the information service area. Respond by doing.

At this time, when the users of the plurality of portable electronic devices 10 are present in the same information service area, the response by means of the area (light, color, brightness, tone, etc.) It cannot be distinguished whether the instruction is in response to an instruction from the user of the electronic device 10.

Therefore, the base station 12 changes the designation of the information service area in response to the "service area information request signal" and, based on the identification information (ID), sends the request to the portable electronic device 10 which has made the request. AC as a response signal
Returns K or NACK.

The portable electronic device 10 that has received the response signal from the base station 12 uses the reception notification function provided in the portable electronic device 10, such as a sound-emitting element, a light-emitting element, or a vibration element, to the user of the portable electronic device 10. Then, it notifies that there is a response from the base station 12.

Thus, the reaction by the portable electronic device 10 becomes possible at the same time as the reaction by the means for indicating the receivable area (sounding element 27, light emitting element 28, 29).
The user can distinguish the indication of the receivable area changed by the transmission of the “service area information request signal” from the portable electronic device 10.

Further, according to the present invention, the portable electronic device 1
The corresponding receivable area can be selectively specified so that the user of No. 0 can know which receivable area provides the required information service.

The user of the portable electronic device 10 inputs a type of information required for the portable electronic device 10 and a request for service area information (specifying a receivable area). The portable electronic device 10 uses a wide-area uplink line to transmit identification information (ID) and a “service area information request signal” together with a signal including information indicating the type of information required by the user of the portable electronic device 10. To the base station 12.

When the base station 12 that has received the signal from the portable electronic device 10 can provide the information indicating the type of information in the signal from the base station 12, the base station 12 responds to the “service area information request signal”. A response is made by changing the indication of the information service area as described above (for example, a receivable area indicated by light). At the same time, base station 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes information indicating in which information service area the information required by the user of the portable electronic device 10 is provided (for example, information in a color such as “red”) through a narrow-area downlink line. And transmitted to the portable electronic device 10. Thereby, the user of the portable electronic device 10 can receive the area 26 indicated by light (red) in FIG. 5, for example.
With b, it can be easily known that necessary information can be obtained.

The means for specifying the receivable area (light, color, brightness, tone, etc.) is not always responding.
Only when a portable electronic device terminal is present in a narrow downlink area, a response is made. This allows
It is possible to reduce power consumption by means for specifying the area.

Next, a radio communication system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
Is composed of a base station 12 for transmitting information and a portable electronic device 10 used by each of a plurality of users.

In the fourth embodiment, the receivable area can be divided and specified. Here, the portable electronic device 1
The minimum received electric field intensity (min value of the received electric field intensity) required for the receiver 0 to demodulate the signal transmitted from the antenna 20 of the base station 12 is a, and the received electric field intensity at an arbitrary point u1 is r (u1 ), Then u such that r (u1)> a
Area 1 is specified by color, steps, light, or sound (area 1). Further, r (u2)> a−
α or u such that a> r (u2)> a−α
The area No. 2 is specified by a color, a step, light or sound different from the specification of the area u1 (area 2).

That is, area 1 indicates an area in which a signal transmitted from base station 12 can always be received, and area 2
Indicates an area where some users may not be able to receive (affected by differences in environment, etc.). In a system composed of a downlink having a high signal transmission speed and an uplink having a low signal transmission speed, the latter area is assumed to be wider than the former area. In other words, in area 2,
This indicates that at least uplink communication is possible even if downlink communication is not possible.

As in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, if the information service area is clearly indicated to the user of the portable electronic device 10, the portable electronic device 10 can be located in an environment having better reception conditions. It becomes possible. That is, it is possible to improve the reception electric field strength without troublesome operation for the user. Providing reliable information by giving instructions separately to areas where all users can receive high-speed downlink communication (area 1) and areas where some users cannot receive (down to area 2) Can be performed, and the service can be improved.

Furthermore, if a narrow-band downlink line uses a communication system with a variable transmission speed that adaptively changes the signal transmission speed in accordance with the conditions of the transmission line and ensures transmission quality, a part of the system may be used. Area 2 where people cannot receive
However, it is possible to transmit information on a narrow-area downlink line. In a communication system using a variable transmission speed, transmission quality is ensured at the expense of information transmission speed. In other words, assuming that the occupied bandwidth of the modulated signal is constant, it is possible to obtain good reception characteristics even in an area where the C / N is low by reducing the amount of information that can be transmitted in the fixed band. Become. Therefore, information can be transmitted even in the area 2 where the distance from the antenna 20 of the base station 12 is far.

Further, according to the present invention, a case where the reception quality changes stepwise by a transmission quality compensation technique such as a variable transmission rate (graceful degradation).
Also, it is possible to adaptively indicate the area.
In other words, by combining means indicating areas such as colors, sounds, steps, and the like, the receivable area is divided into a plurality of areas to clearly indicate that the reception quality changes stepwise.
0 can be easily notified.

Next, a radio communication system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The wireless communication system according to the fifth embodiment mainly includes a base station 3 in a narrow area for transmitting information (an area for performing an information service is narrow).
0 (having at least a downlink line), a wide-area base station 32 (having an uplink line and a downlink line) mainly for transmitting control signals and information, and a portable electronic device used by a plurality of users. It is composed of a device 10.

The wide area base station 32 covers a wide area 34 with a wide area antenna 33. In this wide area 34, a plurality of narrow area base stations 30 are installed. Further, each narrow area base station 30 covers a narrow area 36 with a narrow area antenna 35.

The wide area base station 32 has narrow area base station map information 37 including information indicating the position of each narrow area base station 30. The narrow area base station map information 37 includes information indicating the position of the narrow area existing in the wide area 34 covered by the wide area base station 32. The user of the portable electronic device 10 performs a predetermined operation on the portable electronic device 10 in order to know in which area the information is being serviced when trying to receive a service from the narrow area base station 30. To send a base station map information request.

When the portable electronic device 10 receives a predetermined operation, it sends a "narrow area base station map information request signal" to the wide area base station 32 together with identification information (ID) for specifying the portable electronic apparatus. Is transmitted using a wide-area uplink line. The wide area base station 32 requests the “narrow area base station map information request signal” based on the identification information (ID) of the narrow area base station map information 37 using the wide area downlink line. Transmit to the electronic device 10. The portable electronic device 10 receives the narrow area base station map information 37 addressed to the own apparatus, and displays the display unit (in the screen) according to the narrow area base station map information 37.
Next, map information indicating the position of the narrow area is displayed.

According to the above procedure, the map information indicating the area where the information service is provided by the narrow area base station 30 can be downloaded from the wide area base station 32.
By displaying the map information on the display unit of the portable electronic device 10, the user can easily know the place where the information service is provided.

Further, the portable electronic device 10 is connected to the wide area base station 3.
When transmitting the “narrow-area base station map information request signal” to 2, the wide-area base station 32 further transmits according to the information classification by adding the information classification required by the user and transmitting the information. The detailed classified map information can be transmitted to the portable electronic device 10 that has transmitted the information request.

Further, the position of the portable electronic device 10 which has transmitted the “narrow area base station map information request signal” may be detected on the base station side, added to the map information, and transmitted to the portable electronic device 10. good. The portable electronic device 10 displays its own position in the map information indicating the position of the narrow area according to the position information. If the portable electronic device 10 can detect the position, it can be displayed in accordance with the map information.

Next, a radio communication system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the wireless communication system according to the sixth embodiment, a portable electronic device 10 used by a plurality of users and information (including base station map information) and control signals transmitted to the portable electronic device 10 are simultaneously transmitted to the portable electronic device 10. It comprises an infrared beacon 40 that receives a signal from the device 10.

The portable electronic device 10 includes a wireless communication device connectable to at least one or more downlink lines and at least one or more uplink lines, and an infrared beacon 4.
0 is provided with a bidirectional infrared communication interface for communicating with the “0”.

FIG. 8 shows a state where a plurality of infrared beacons 40 are provided at arbitrary intervals on the ceiling in a passage where a moving sidewalk is installed. The user of the portable electronic device 10 instructs transmission of the base station map information request by performing a predetermined operation on the portable electronic device 10 in order to know the area where the information providing service is being performed.

After the base station map information request is made, the user holding the portable electronic device 10 moves because he or she is walking or on a moving sidewalk, and the portable electronic device 10 transmits a signal from the infrared beacon 40. Upon receipt, the base station transmits a “base station map information request signal” to the infrared beacon 40 in response to the reception. When receiving the “base station map information request signal” from the portable electronic device 10, the infrared beacon 40 transmits the base station map information.

Since the area in which bidirectional communication can be performed by the infrared beacon 40 is small, communication may fail. However, even if communication with a certain infrared beacon 40 has failed, if a large number of infrared beacons 40 are arranged, the portable electronic device 10 may be moved by a moving sidewalk or a user may move around. Communication with the infrared beacon 40 can be performed again, and in any case, base station map information can be obtained.

In response to the “base station map information request signal” from the electronic portable device 10, instead of transmitting the base station map information from the infrared beacon 40, the infrared beacon 4.
Information may be unilaterally transmitted from 0 (transmitting device using infrared rays). That is, a large number of infrared beacons 40 are arranged so that the specific information (base station map information) is always informed. In this case, two-way communication is not performed between the electronic portable device 10 and the infrared beacon, and if the electronic portable device 10 is set to be able to receive a signal from the infrared beacon 40, it is possible to move the electronic portable device 10 just by moving. The base station map information is notified from the infrared beacon 40.

The portable electronic device 10 that has received the information from the infrared beacon 40 checks the light emitting element, the sound emitting element, the vibration element, and the like included in the portable electronic device 10 to receive the base station map information. The user is notified by executing the specified function.

Next, a radio communication system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the wireless communication system according to the seventh embodiment, a portable electronic device 10 used by a plurality of users and an information and control signal transmitted to the portable electronic device 10 and a signal from the portable electronic device 10 are simultaneously received. It comprises a base station device 42.

In the information service in which various information is provided from the base station side to the portable electronic device 10, a large amount of information needs to be transmitted instantaneously, so that a wide frequency bandwidth is required. In order to improve the frequency use efficiency, it is necessary to increase the amount of information transmission per unit frequency by performing multi-level modulation signals. However, the portable electronic device 10
In order to simplify the structure, it is preferable that demodulation is easy. Therefore, instead of narrowing the occupied band, the frequency repetition distance is reduced and the same frequency band is reused. The frequency band used for high-speed transmission is a quasi-microwave band, a millimeter-wave band, or the like.

In order to reduce the frequency repetition distance, it is necessary to suppress interference between adjacent channels caused by leakage of radio waves from the own station to other stations.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a wireless communication system which is otherwise installed on the platform of a station. As shown in FIG.
The area where the information service from the base station device 42 is provided is clearly indicated by the architectural structure. In such a wireless communication system, it is necessary to prevent radio waves from leaking to other stations for the reasons described above, and shielding is performed for that purpose. According to the configuration of the seventh embodiment, the means for specifying the area and the obstacle can be shared, and an inexpensive system can be realized.

Next, a radio communication system according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8th
In the wireless communication system according to the embodiment, a portable electronic device 10 used by a plurality of users, and a base station 45 that transmits information and control signals to the portable electronic device 10 and receives a signal from the portable electronic device 10 at the same time , And base station 4
Signal generator 46 for specifying an area in which portable electronic device 10 can receive the service provided by mobile electronic device 10
Consists of It is assumed that pilot signal generator 46 is provided inside base station 45.

As shown in FIG. 10, the information service area covered by base station 45 using antenna 47 for narrow area communication is the same as the area covered by pilot signal generator 46 using antenna 48 for area designation. Has become.
The area specifying antenna 48 is a narrow area communication antenna 47.
It is installed near. The pilot signal transmitted from the area specifying antenna 48 is a signal of a narrow band frequency, and the fact that the pilot signal is located in the information service area means that the portable electronic device existing in the area covered by the narrow area communication antenna 47 exists. The device 10 is notified.

The user of the portable electronic device 10 has access to the base station 45.
The power of the portable electronic device 10 is turned on to receive the information service from. At the same time, the portable electronic device 10 starts monitoring for the reception of the pilot signal to know whether it is located in the information service area. Since the pilot signal is a signal with a narrow band frequency, it is sufficient to monitor only this band.

The strength of the reception of the pilot signal by the portable electronic device 10 increases as the position becomes closer to the base station 45 (the narrow-area communication antenna 47). Portable electronic device 10
When the intensity of the pilot signal reaches a predetermined value indicating that it is within the information service area and is detected, the vibrating element, the sounding element, or the light emitting element provided in the portable electronic device 10 is operated to operate the information service area. Inform the user that he has entered. In addition, the portable electronic device 10 may change the vibrating element, the sound emitting element, or the light emitting element in a stepwise manner according to the strength of the pilot signal so as to specify the area where the information service is being performed.

According to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, by specifying the area in response to the reception of the pilot signal transmitted from the area specifying antenna 48, the reception of the information service is interrupted, The user of the portable electronic device 10 can be notified of the location of the base station 45 that can be received. Therefore, it can be expected that the user will move to a place where the reception environment is good. Further, by adding the type of information being serviced to the pilot signal and notifying the type of information in the portable electronic device 10 based on this information, the user can also classify the type of information. It is.

[0075]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an area having a sufficient reception electric field strength in which an information service can be provided is specified, and this area can be easily identified by a user. , Can be located in an area where the received electric field strength is high. Therefore, without increasing the transmission power of the base station, omitting the circuit for improving the reception electric field strength of the portable electronic device, reducing the size and power consumption, and reliably receiving the service via the wireless communication. Is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data communication system using a wireless communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a wireless communication system obtained by expanding the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a wireless communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a wireless communication system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a wireless communication system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a wireless communication system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication system according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a conventional example of a method for improving a reception situation.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Portable electronic device, 12 ... Base station, 14 ... Network, 20 ... Antenna, 21, 24 ... Receivable area, 2
7 ... sounding element, 28, 29 ... light emitting element, 30 ... narrow area base station, 32 ... wide area base station, 34 ... wide area, 36 ... narrow area, 40 ... infrared beacon, 46 ... pilot signal generator, 47 ... Antenna for narrow-area communication, 48 ... Antenna for area designation.

Continued on the front page (72) Eiji Kamagata, Inventor 1 at Komukai Toshiba-cho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Toshiba R & D Center (72) Inventor Koji Ogura 1, Komukai Toshiba-cho, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Toshiba R & D Center (72) Inventor Yoshinari Kumagi 1 at Komukai Toshiba-cho, Yuki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Toshiba R & D Center (72) Mutsuto Serizawa Komukai, Yuki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa No. 1 Toshiba Town Co., Ltd. Toshiba R & D Center (72) Inventor Nobuyasu Nakajima No. 1 Komukai Toshiba Town, Koyuki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Toshiba R & D Center F-term (reference) 5K067 AA34 BB02 EE02 EE10 EE10 EE43 EE53 FF03 FF23 FF31

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A portable electronic device having a wireless device, a first downlink line for transmitting a signal to the portable electronic device, and a signal transmission speed lower than a signal transmission speed of the first downlink line. A base station that performs wireless communication with the portable electronic device via a second downlink line having a signal transmission speed and an uplink line having a signal transmission speed equivalent to the second downlink line, and the base station The area in which the reception electric field strength of the portable electronic device with respect to the radio wave transmitted from
Wireless communication system, characterized in that the mobile electronic device designates an area where the signal from the base station can be received by the downlink line. 2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein said specifying means specifies the area in a specific color on a floor surface. 3. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein said specifying means specifies the area by giving a step to a floor surface. 4. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein said specifying means specifies the area by light or sound. 5. A portable electronic device having a wireless device, a first base station having a narrow service area for transmitting information,
It has a wide service area for performing control signals, and the first
A second base station having narrow-area base station map information including information indicating the position of the base station, wherein the portable electronic device comprises:
Receiving a predetermined operation by a user, transmitting a request signal for receiving the position information of the first base station to the second base station,
A wireless communication system, wherein position information of the first base station is obtained from the second base station. 6. A portable electronic device provided with a wireless device, a base station having a service area for transmitting information to and from the portable electronic device, and a base station having the same service area as the base station. A pilot signal generator for transmitting a pilot signal, provided in the portable electronic device, when the reception strength of the pilot signal received by the portable electronic device reaches a predetermined value, the portable electronic device transmits a signal from the base station. A radio communication system comprising: a specifying unit that specifies a receivable area.