JP2002232340A - Optical radio communication system, mobile communication terminal device and optical radio communication repeater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical radio communication system or the like capable of making a communication by using a mobile radio communication terminal device without adversely affecting a pacemaker in a specified area. SOLUTION: A cellular telephone 100 in the system is provided with a transmission/reception means for transmitting/receiving a communication radio wave, a light-transmission/reception means for transmitting/receiving a communication light, a communication type deciding means for deciding a communication type to be performed between radio communication and optical communication, and a communication control means for switching between the radio communication and the optical communication on the basis of the decision of the communication type deciding means. A repeater 300 is provided with a transmission/ reception means for communicating with an external station, a light-transmission/reception means for transmitting/receiving the communication light, and a communication conversion means for converting from the radio communication to the optical communication and vice versa.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical wireless communication system capable of selectively performing wireless communication and optical communication.
The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal device and an optical wireless communication relay device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, mobile phones and PHSs (Personal Hand
Mobile communication terminals such as y phone System) are rapidly spreading, and with this, some problems have been pointed out about using mobile phones and the like. As one of such problems, there is a problem of an area where a mobile phone or the like is used. In other words, it has been pointed out that using a mobile phone or the like in crowds on a train or in a hospital may adversely affect the pacemaker if the surrounding people wear a pacemaker on the heart. ing. Also,
When a mobile phone or the like is used in such crowds, its voice may give discomfort to surrounding people. Therefore, use of a mobile phone or the like is prohibited in these specific areas.

[0003] However, it is practically difficult to completely stop the use voluntarily. For this reason, a technique for forcibly disabling a mobile phone or the like in a specific area has been proposed. For example, it has been proposed to detect a communication radio wave emitted from a mobile phone or the like and to disturb the communication radio wave by outputting a weak signal so that the mobile phone or the like cannot be used.

[0004]

However, even in such a specific area, using a mobile phone or the like,
There are many demands for emergency contact, Internet connection, or transmission / reception of e-mail, and it may not always be appropriate to forcibly stop use of these services. Therefore, even within a specific area,
There has been a demand for a technology that enables communication using a mobile phone or the like without adversely affecting a pacemaker.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has been made in consideration of an optical wireless communication system and a mobile communication system that enable communication using a mobile communication terminal in a specific area without adversely affecting a pacemaker. It is an object to provide a mobile communication terminal device and an optical wireless communication relay device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an optical wireless communication system according to the present invention comprises a mobile communication terminal device capable of selectively performing wireless communication and optical communication. An optical wireless communication system including an optical wireless communication relay device interposed between the mobile communication terminal device and an external station, wherein the mobile communication terminal device includes:
Transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving communication radio waves, transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving communication light, communication type determination means for determining whether to perform wireless communication or optical communication, and wireless communication by the communication type determination means When it is determined that the optical communication should be performed, the wireless communication can be performed through the transmission / reception unit. When the communication type determination unit determines that the optical communication should be performed, the transmission and reception of the light can be performed. Communication control means for enabling optical communication via the means, the optical wireless communication relay device, the transmission and reception means for communicating with the external station, the light transmission and reception means for transmitting and receiving communication light, ,
A communication light is generated based on a communication radio wave or a communication signal received by the transmission / reception means, and the communication light is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal device via the light transmission / reception means,
And generating a communication radio wave or a communication signal based on the communication light transmitted from the mobile communication terminal device and received by the light transmission / reception means, and transmitting the communication radio wave or the communication signal through the transmission / reception means. Communication conversion means for transmitting to an external station.

According to this system, the mobile communication terminal determines whether to perform wireless communication or optical communication, and selectively performs wireless communication or optical communication in accordance with the determination result. Will be The relay between the wireless communication and the optical communication is performed by the optical wireless communication relay device. Therefore, since optical communication can be performed in a specific area, an emergency contact, Internet connection, or transmission and reception of e-mail can be performed using a mobile communication terminal device without adversely affecting a pacemaker. Therefore, the convenience of the mobile communication terminal device is improved. In addition, by performing optical communication, high-speed communication can be performed when the processing speed of a mobile communication terminal device or the like is increased. Furthermore, by performing optical communication, the location range of the mobile phone can be specified in a relatively narrow range,
Positioning can be performed with the same accuracy as a GPS (Global Positioning System).

Further, the present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal device, wherein the mobile communication terminal device according to claim 2 comprises a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving communication radio waves, and a light transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving communication light. Communication type determining means for determining whether to perform wireless communication or optical communication, and, if the communication type determining means determines that wireless communication should be performed, wireless communication via the transmitting / receiving means Communication control means for enabling optical communication via the light transmitting / receiving means when it is determined that optical communication should be performed by the communication type determining means. It is characterized by the following.

According to this device, it is determined whether to perform wireless communication or optical communication, and either wireless communication or optical communication is selectively performed according to the determination result. Therefore, since optical communication can be performed in a specific area, emergency communication, Internet connection,
Alternatively, transmission and reception of electronic mail can be performed, and the convenience of the mobile communication terminal device is improved. In addition, by performing optical communication, high-speed communication can be performed when the processing speed of a mobile communication terminal device or the like is increased.
Furthermore, by performing optical communication, the location range of the mobile phone can be specified within a relatively narrow range.
It becomes possible to specify the position with an average accuracy.

A mobile communication terminal according to a third aspect of the present invention is the mobile communication terminal according to the second aspect,
The communication type determination means determines that optical communication should be performed when predetermined communication light is received via the light transmission / reception means.

This more specifically shows an example of a method of judging the communication type by the communication type judging means. According to this apparatus, optical communication should be performed when a predetermined communication light is received. It is determined that there is. Therefore, it is possible to automatically switch to optical communication, so that communication can be performed smoothly and easily. In particular, as such a determination method, a method of making a determination based on the presence or absence of a weak radio wave flowing in the optical communication area can be considered, but by making a determination based on the communication light as described above, the optical communication Even if the radio wave is completely shielded inside the area, the determination of the communication type can be performed reliably.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the mobile communication terminal of the second or third aspect, the communication type determining means determines that the optical communication should be performed. After that, when the predetermined communication light is not received for a predetermined time or more through the light transmitting / receiving unit and the wireless communication is normally received, it is determined that the wireless communication should be performed. .

This more specifically shows an example of a method of judging the communication type by the communication type judging means. According to this device, a predetermined communication light is not received for a predetermined time or more.
If the wireless communication can be normally received, it is determined that the wireless communication should be performed. Therefore, it is possible to automatically switch to wireless communication, so that communication can be performed smoothly and easily.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal device according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, for uniquely identifying the mobile communication terminal device. Identification information storage means for storing the identification information, wherein the communication control means transmits the identification information stored in the identification information storage means at a predetermined timing via the light transmission and reception means. I do.

According to this device, since the identification information is transmitted, the optical wireless communication relay device receives and stores the identification information, so that the external station can search for the mobile communication terminal device. In response, the communication relay can be performed with respect to the mobile communication terminal device existing inside the optical communication area.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the mobile communication terminal device according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, wherein optical communication is performed via the light transmitting / receiving means. In this case, a display means for displaying that the optical communication is being performed is provided.

According to this device, when optical communication is being performed, the fact that the optical communication is being performed is displayed by the display means. Therefore, it is easy to make the surrounding people understand that the communication is optical communication, and the communication does not cause discomfort.

The present invention also relates to an optical wireless communication repeater, and an optical wireless communication repeater according to claim 7 is an optical wireless communication repeater interposed between a mobile communication terminal and its base station. A transmitting and receiving means for communicating with the external station, a light transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving communication light, and a communication light generated based on a communication radio wave or a communication signal received by the transmitting and receiving means. Transmitting the communication light to the mobile communication terminal via the light transmitting / receiving means, and communicating based on the communication light transmitted from the mobile communication terminal and received by the light transmitting / receiving means. And a communication conversion means for generating a radio wave or a communication signal and transmitting the communication radio wave or the communication signal to the external station via the transmission / reception means.

According to this device, relay between wireless communication or wired communication and optical communication between the mobile communication terminal device and the external station is performed. Therefore, since optical communication can be performed in a specific area, an emergency contact, Internet connection, or transmission and reception of e-mail can be performed using a mobile communication terminal device without adversely affecting a pacemaker. Therefore, the convenience of the mobile communication terminal device is improved.

The optical wireless communication relay device according to the present invention, when identification information for uniquely identifying the mobile communication terminal device is received via the light transmitting / receiving means,
An identification information storage unit for storing the identification information, and a communication radio wave transmitted from the base station for inquiring the identification information is stored in the identification information storage unit when the communication radio wave is received via the transmission / reception unit. Control means for performing predetermined control in response to the base station based on the identification information.

According to this device, when a search for a mobile communication terminal is performed by an external station, it is possible to respond to the external station based on the identification information. Therefore, the location of the mobile communication terminal can be notified to the external station, and the relay between the external station and the mobile communication terminal can be accurately performed.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the optical wireless communication system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited by the embodiment.

(Overall Overview) First, an overall overview of optical wireless communication will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the present system. In FIG. 1, a mobile phone 100 as a mobile communication terminal device and a base station 200 as an external station are communicably connected via a relay device 300 as an optical wireless communication relay device.

The mobile phone 100 is located outside of a specific area for communication using communication light (the area indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and hereinafter referred to as an optical communication area).
It is possible to directly perform wireless communication with the base station 200 using communication radio waves, similarly to a conventional mobile phone.
In addition, the mobile phone 100 can indirectly communicate with the base station 200 via the relay device 300 inside the optical communication area. At this time, the mobile phone 100 and the relay device 3
Optical communication is performed between the relay apparatus 300 and the base station 200, and radio wave communication is performed between the relay apparatus 300 and the base station 200. However, the relay device 300 may function substantially as the base station 200, and may perform wired communication with the exchange. In this case, the exchange corresponds to the external station.

To enable such communication, the relay device 300 includes a code light transmission unit 310, an external unit 320, and a plurality of internal units 330. Of these, the code light transmission unit 310
Transmits communication light including a predetermined code (hereinafter, area code) indicating that the mobile phone 100 is present in the optical communication area. Then, the mobile phone 100 brought into the optical communication area stops the wireless communication and starts the optical communication by detecting the area code. Thereafter, communication between the mobile phone 100 and the base station 200 is performed by the internal unit 330 and the external unit 32.
0 is performed.

(Configuration of Mobile Phone 100) Each component for performing such communication will be described. First, the configuration of the mobile phone 100 will be described. However, the configuration not particularly described is the same as that of the conventional mobile phone. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the mobile phone 100.
As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 100
01, antenna 102, photoelectric conversion unit 103, light transmission / reception unit 1
04, ROM (Read Only Memory) 105, key group 10
6. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 107, microphone 108, speaker 109, and control unit 11
0.

The transmission / reception unit 101 is transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving communication radio waves. Also, the antenna 102
Is interposed between the transmission / reception unit 101 and the base station 200,
Send and receive communication radio waves. The photoelectric conversion unit 103 is a communication conversion unit that converts an electronic signal into communication light and converts communication light into an electronic signal. Also, the light transmitting / receiving unit 104
Is a light transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving communication light. The light transmitting and receiving unit 104 is preferably disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the housing of the mobile phone 100 so that the light transmitting and receiving to and from the mobile phone 100 is facilitated.
2 can be attached to the tip.

The ROM 105 is a storage means for storing in a non-volatile manner programs and parameters necessary for controlling the mobile phone 100. In particular, the ROM 105 is configured as an area code storage unit that stores the above-described area code, and is configured as an identification information storage unit that stores identification information (mobile phone ID) for uniquely identifying the mobile phone 100. ing. The key group 10
Reference numeral 6 denotes an input unit for performing an operation on the mobile phone 100, and includes a plurality of buttons such as a ten-key and a function key. The LCD 107 is an output unit that performs various displays. In addition, the microphone 108
Is input means for performing voice input. The speaker 109 is an output unit for outputting a sound.

The control unit 110 controls the mobile phone 100
Is a control means for controlling each of the components. This control unit 110
Is conceptually configured to include a communication type determination unit 111 and a communication control unit 112. The communication type determination unit 111 is a communication type determination unit that determines whether to perform wireless communication or optical communication. When the communication type determination unit 111 determines that the wireless communication should be performed, the communication control unit 112 sets the transmission / reception unit 10
1 can be performed, and when the communication type determination unit 111 determines that optical communication should be performed, the optical communication can be performed via the light transmission / reception unit 104. Communication control means. The specific processing performed in each of these units will be described later.

(Configuration of Relay Device 300) Next, the configuration of the relay device 300 will be described. FIG. 3 shows the relay device 300
(FIG. 3 shows only one internal unit 330). First, the code light transmission unit 310 will be described. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the code light transmission unit 310
11 and a photoelectric conversion unit 312.
The light transmitting unit 311 is an area code transmitting unit that transmits communication light including an area code. The photoelectric conversion unit 312 is a communication conversion unit that converts an electronic signal including an area code input from the external unit 320 into communication light.

Next, the external unit 320 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the external unit 320 includes a transmitting / receiving unit 321, an antenna 322, a ROM 323, and a RAM (Ran
domAccess Memory) 324 and a control unit 325. The transmission / reception unit 321 is a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives communication radio waves for wireless communication or communication signals for wired communication. The antenna 322 transmits and receives communication radio waves via the transmission / reception unit 321 and the base station 200. In addition, the ROM 323 stores the mobile phone 10
This is storage means for nonvolatilely storing a program, parameters, and the like necessary for control of 0. In particular, ROM 323
Are configured as code information storage means for storing area codes. Also, the RAM 324 stores the mobile phone 10
This is storage means for volatilely storing parameters and the like necessary for the control of 0. In particular, when the identification information (mobile phone ID) for uniquely identifying the mobile phone 100 is received, the RAM 324 is configured as an identification information storage unit that stores the mobile phone ID.

The control unit 325 is connected to the external unit 32
0 when the communication radio wave transmitted from the base station 200 to inquire about the mobile phone ID is received via the transmission / reception unit 321.
Is a control unit that performs predetermined control in response to the base station 200 based on the mobile phone ID stored in the. The specific method of determining the mobile phone ID is arbitrary, and each mobile phone 1
The telephone number assigned to 00 may be used, or an assigned number for simply identifying the mobile phone 100 may be used. That is, identification information used when a base station periodically monitors the location of a mobile communication terminal in a conventional mobile communication system can be adopted as the mobile phone ID.

Next, the internal unit 330 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the internal unit 330 includes a light transmitting / receiving unit 331 and a photoelectric conversion unit 332. The light transmitting and receiving unit 331 is a light transmitting and receiving unit that transmits and receives communication light. The photoelectric conversion unit 332 is a communication conversion unit that converts an electric signal into communication light and converts the communication light into an electric signal.

(Contents of Processing) Next, the details of the processing relating to the optical wireless communication performed in the optical wireless communication system configured as described above will be described. However, the communication processing of the mobile phone 100 outside the optical communication area is the same as the conventional one except for a special case. In the following, description will be given assuming that the external unit 320 performs wireless communication with the base station 200. However, as described above, the external unit 320 may perform wired communication with the exchange.

First, as a premise, communication light including an area code is transmitted to the optical communication area. That is, the control unit 325 of the external unit 320
The area code is called from 3 and an electric signal including the area code is output to the photoelectric conversion unit 312 of the code light transmission unit 310. The photoelectric conversion unit 312 converts an electric signal into communication light and outputs the communication light to the light transmission unit 311. And
From the light transmitting unit 311, communication light including the area code is transmitted. Although the timing of this light transmission is arbitrary, it is performed, for example, at predetermined intervals (one second intervals). The area code may be stored in the code light transmission unit 310.

After that, the user sets the mobile phone 100
Is assumed to be brought in from outside the optical communication area. FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a process performed by the mobile phone 100 and the relay device 300 in this case. First, mobile phone 1
The communication type determination unit 111 of “00” monitors at predetermined intervals whether or not an area code has been acquired (step SA-).
1). That is, the light received by the light transmitting / receiving unit 104 is converted into an electric signal by the photoelectric conversion unit 103,
Output to communication type determination section 111. Then, the communication type determination unit 111 analyzes whether or not the electric signal includes an area code that matches the area code stored in the ROM 105. Then, when the code is included, the fact is output to the communication control unit 112.

Upon receiving this output, the communication control unit 112 determines that the mobile phone 100 has been brought into the optical communication area, and switches the wireless communication to the optical communication (step SA-2). That is, thereafter, the communication control unit 112
Outputs the communication signal from the mobile phone 100 to the base station 200 to the photoelectric conversion unit 103 instead of the transmission / reception unit 101, and stops the reception function performed via the transmission / reception unit 101.

The communication control unit 112 of the mobile phone 100
Stores the mobile phone ID in the internal unit 33 of the relay device 300.
0 (Step SA-3). That is, the communication control unit 112 calls the mobile phone ID stored in the ROM 105, and
, And outputs the electric signal to the photoelectric conversion unit 103. This photoelectric conversion unit 103
Converts the electric signal into communication light, and outputs the communication light to the light transmission / reception unit 104. The communication light is transmitted to and received from the light transmitting / receiving section 1.
The light is transmitted to the internal unit 330 by the control unit 04.

On the other hand, in the internal unit 330, when communication light is received via the light transmission / reception unit 331, the communication light is converted into an electric signal via the photoelectric conversion unit 332 and transmitted to the external unit 320. At this time, the entire communication light may be converted into an electric signal, or a part of information included in the communication light (for example, user data obtained by removing a head from a transmission format included in the communication light) is extracted, Only this information may be converted into an electric signal (protocol conversion). The same applies to the conversion of an electric signal into communication light, which will be described later.

The control unit 32 of the external unit 320
The RAM 5 stores the mobile phone ID included in the electric signal in the RAM 3.
24 (steps SA-4 and SA-5). Accordingly, the external unit 320 recognizes the mobile phone 100 existing inside the optical communication area. Thereafter, when the control unit 325 of the external unit 320 receives a radio wave for searching for a mobile phone ID from the base station 200,
The mobile phone ID is called from the RAM 324, and the mobile phone ID is wirelessly transmitted to the base station 200 via the transmission / reception unit 321 and the antenna 322 (steps SA-6 and S-6).
A-7). Thereby, base station 200 recognizes that mobile phone 100 exists within its own communication jurisdiction.

By performing such processing, optical communication is performed between the mobile phone 100 and the relay device 300, and wireless communication is performed between the relay device 300 and the base station 200. That is, when communication light is output from the mobile phone 100, the communication light is received by the light transmission / reception unit 331 of the internal unit 330. Then, an electric signal based on the communication light is transmitted as a radio wave to the base station 2 via the transmission / reception unit 321 and the antenna 322 of the external unit 320.
Sent to 00.

On the other hand, since the base station 200 recognizes the location of the mobile phone 100 in the above-described step SA-7, if communication destined for the mobile phone 100 is from any area, this communication is performed. Is transmitted from the base station 200. This radio wave is received via the antenna 322 of the external unit 320 and the transmission / reception unit 321. At this time, the external unit 320 changes the mobile phone ID included in the electric signal based on the radio wave to R
The electronic signal is compared with the mobile phone ID stored in the AM 324, and only when the two match, the electric signal is transmitted to the internal unit 33.
Output to 0. Then, the internal unit 330 transmits the electric signal as communication light via the photoelectric conversion unit 332 and the light transmission / reception unit 331. The communication light is received via the light transmitting / receiving unit 104 of the mobile phone 100.

Thereafter, the user sets the mobile phone 100
Is assumed to be taken out of the optical communication area. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the process of the mobile phone 100 in this case. First, the communication type determination unit 111 of the mobile phone 100 monitors at predetermined intervals whether or not an area code has been acquired (step SB-1). When the area code is not acquired, the communication type determination unit 111 performs time counting by an internal timer (not shown) (step SB-2), and determines whether the counted time exceeds a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds). Is determined (step SB-3).

If the count time exceeds a predetermined time, it can be determined that the mobile phone 100 is outside the optical communication area, and it is further confirmed that wireless communication can be normally received. Then, the optical communication is switched to the wireless communication (step SB-4). That is,
The communication control unit 112 transmits the information from the mobile phone 100 to the base station 200.
Communication signal to the transmission / reception unit 10 instead of the photoelectric conversion unit 103
1 and the reception by the transmission / reception unit 101 is restarted. Therefore, after that, the mobile phone 100 and the base station 2
Between 00 and 00, direct wireless communication is performed as in the conventional case.

In this case, when the base station 200 searches for the mobile phone ID, the mobile phone 100 makes a response to the base station 200 in the same manner as in the related art. On the other hand, the external unit 320 detects that the mobile phone 100 has gone out of the optical communication area by an arbitrary method, stops the response to the search of the base station 200, and goes out of the optical communication area. The mobile phone ID of the mobile phone 100 is deleted from the RAM 324. In this case, the mobile phone 100
Is detected outside the optical communication area by, for example, searching the mobile phone 100 existing inside the optical communication area at predetermined intervals by optical communication using the internal unit 330.

(Other Embodiments) Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be modified according to the technical idea described in the claims. The invention may be embodied in various different embodiments within the scope thereof.

For example, the external unit 320, the internal unit 330, and the code light transmitting unit 310 can be arranged in an arbitrary number and position different from the embodiment. Further, each unit can be mutually integrated in an arbitrary combination. In addition, each unit can be integrated with other devices. For example, the internal unit 330 and the code transmitting unit 310 can be integrated into a disaster prevention facility such as a fire detector or a smoke detector disposed inside the optical communication area. By integrating into the equipment, space saving of the whole equipment can be achieved.

The identification of the optical communication area by the portable telephone 100 can be performed by any method other than the above-described identification by the area code. For example, a weak signal for disturbing a communication radio wave of the mobile phone 100 may be sent to an optical communication area, and when the mobile phone 100 detects the weak signal, switching to optical communication may be performed. Alternatively, when the reception of the wireless communication becomes difficult for some reason, when the reception sensitivity is reduced to a predetermined value or less, or when the user instructs to manually switch to the optical communication via the key group 106. , May be switched to optical communication. In these cases, the code light transmission unit 31
0 can be omitted. The external unit 320 responds to the search of the mobile phone 100 from the base station 200, but the external unit 320 and the internal unit 330 simply relay the wireless communication and the optical communication. Alternatively, the mobile phone 100 may directly respond to the search from the base station 200.

Further, a display means for displaying whether the communication mode is wireless communication or optical communication may be provided. For example, the mobile phone 100 is provided with a display lamp as a display unit, and when it is determined by the communication type determination unit 111 that optical communication should be performed, the display lamp is turned on or blinks, and the communication type determination unit 111 performs wireless communication. When it is determined that communication should be performed, the display lamp is turned off. In this case, it is easy to make the surrounding people understand that the communication is optical communication, and the communication does not cause discomfort. The specific configuration of the display means is arbitrary, and the display may be performed by the LCD 107 instead of the display lamp, or by changing the display color of the LCD 107.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, optical communication can be performed in a specific area.
Emergency contact, Internet connection, transmission / reception of e-mail, and the like can be performed using the mobile communication terminal device without adversely affecting the pacemaker, and the convenience of the mobile communication terminal device is improved. In addition, by performing optical communication, high-speed communication can be performed when the processing speed of a mobile communication terminal device or the like is increased. Further, by performing the optical communication, the location range of the mobile phone can be specified in a relatively narrow range, so that the position can be specified with the same accuracy as GPS.

Further, according to the present invention, since wireless communication can be automatically switched to optical communication, communication can be performed smoothly and easily. In particular, as such a determination method, a method of making a determination based on the presence or absence of a weak radio wave flowing in the optical communication area can be considered, but by making a determination based on the communication light as described above, the optical communication Even if the radio wave is completely shielded inside the area, the determination of the communication type can be performed reliably.

Further, according to the present invention, since optical communication can be automatically switched to wireless communication, communication can be performed smoothly and easily.

Further, according to the present invention, in response to a search for a mobile communication terminal device by an external station, communication can be relayed to a mobile communication terminal device existing inside the optical communication area.

Further, according to the present invention, it is easy to make surrounding people understand that the communication is optical communication, and the communication does not cause discomfort.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of the present system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the mobile phone.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the relay device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing performed by the mobile phone and the relay device when the mobile phone is brought into the optical communication area.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process performed by the mobile phone when the mobile phone is taken out of the optical communication area.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 mobile phone 101 transmission / reception unit 102 antenna 103 photoelectric conversion unit 104 light transmission / reception unit 105 ROM 106 key group 107 LCD 108 microphone 109 speaker 110 control unit 200 base station 300 relay device 310 code light transmission unit 311 light transmission unit 312 photoelectric conversion unit 320 External unit 321 Transmission / reception unit 322 Antenna 323 ROM 324 RAM 325 Control unit 330 Internal unit 331 Transmitting / receiving unit 332 Photoelectric conversion unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A mobile communication terminal device capable of selectively performing wireless communication and optical communication, and an optical wireless communication relay device interposed between the mobile communication terminal device and an external station. An optical wireless communication system configured, wherein the mobile communication terminal device includes a transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting / receiving a communication radio wave, a light transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting / receiving a communication light, and which of a wireless communication and an optical communication should be performed. Communication type determining means for determining whether to perform wireless communication through the communication type determining means when the communication type determining means determines that wireless communication should be performed; Communication control means for enabling optical communication to be performed via the light transmitting / receiving means when it is determined that optical communication should be performed by the external wireless station. Communication with Transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving communication light; generating communication light based on a communication radio wave or a communication signal received by the transmitting and receiving means; and transmitting the communication light through the light transmitting and receiving means Transmitting light to the mobile communication terminal device,
And generating a communication radio wave or a communication signal based on the communication light transmitted from the mobile communication terminal device and received by the light transmission / reception means, and transmitting the communication radio wave or the communication signal through the transmission / reception means. An optical wireless communication system, comprising: communication conversion means for transmitting to an external station. 2. A transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving a communication radio wave, a transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving a communication light, a communication type determination unit for determining whether to perform wireless communication or an optical communication, and the communication type determination unit When it is determined that the wireless communication should be performed, the wireless communication can be performed via the transmission / reception means, and when it is determined that the optical communication should be performed by the communication type determination means, A mobile communication terminal device comprising: a communication control unit that enables optical communication via the light transmission / reception unit. 3. The communication type judging means judges that optical communication should be performed when predetermined communication light is received via the light transmitting / receiving means. A mobile communication terminal device according to claim 1. 4. The communication type judging means, after judging that the optical communication should be performed, does not receive the predetermined communication light through the light transmitting / receiving means for a predetermined time or more, and the radio communication is not performed. The mobile communication terminal device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein it is determined that wireless communication should be performed when reception is normal. 5. An identification information storage means for storing identification information for uniquely identifying the mobile communication terminal device, wherein the communication control means stores the identification information stored in the identification information storage means, The mobile communication terminal device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the mobile communication terminal device transmits light at a predetermined timing via the light transmission / reception unit. 6. When the optical communication is being performed via the light transmitting / receiving means, a display means for displaying that the optical communication is being performed is provided. 6. The mobile communication terminal device according to any one of items 5 to 5. 7. An optical wireless communication relay device interposed between a mobile communication terminal device and an external station, comprising: transmitting / receiving means for communicating with the external station; and light transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving communication light. Generating communication light based on a communication radio wave or a communication signal received by the transmission / reception means, and transmitting the communication light to the mobile communication terminal device via the light transmission / reception means;
And generating a communication radio wave or a communication signal based on the communication light transmitted from the mobile communication terminal device and received by the light transmission / reception means, and transmitting the communication radio wave or the communication signal through the transmission / reception means. An optical wireless communication relay device, comprising: a communication conversion unit for transmitting to an external station. 8. When identification information for uniquely identifying the mobile communication terminal device is received via the light transmitting / receiving means, identification information storing means for storing the identification information; When a communication radio wave transmitted from the external station for inquiry is received via the transmission / reception means, a predetermined control for responding to the external station is performed based on the identification information stored in the identification information storage means. The optical wireless communication relay device according to claim 7, comprising: control means.