JP2002288073A - Radio network equipment and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in equipment connected by a radio network that a user cannot discriminate the transmittability by every content (kind of data) or not. SOLUTION: The transmittability by every content (kind of data) is detected for every equipment connected by the radio network. On the basis of this detection result, a video signal allowing the discrimination of the equipment capable of transmitting data by contents is formed and displayed on a screen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless network device used for a wireless network, and more particularly to a wireless network device capable of notifying a user of a communicable device to a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional wireless network device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining data exchange between conventional wireless network devices.

[0004] In FIG. 9, a transmitter 901 is provided with a receiver 90.
2, 903. Transmitter 9
01, the receiver 902 has a better transmission / reception state than the receiver 903. The receiver 902 has a reception level of 3 and can transmit and receive data. The receiving level of the receiver 903 which is far from the transmitter 901 is 0, and data cannot be transmitted / received. This is shown in FIG.
This is caused by the distance between the transmitter and the receiver and the condition of the radio wave. The radio wave becomes weaker as the receiver 902 moves away from the transmitter 901, and eventually the data cannot be normally transmitted and received. 9 and 10
The line from the antenna indicates the reception level, and the greater the number of lines, the better the reception level.

Next, the configurations of the transmitter 901 and the receiver 902 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a transmitter 901 with a radio interface, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a receiver 902 with a radio interface. It is assumed that the transmitter 901 and the receiver 902 perform communication of moving image data.

Referring to FIG. 11, a data transmitting / receiving means 103 in a transmitter 901 reproduces moving image data and transmits the reproduced moving image data to a receiver 902 shown in FIG. At this time, on the transmitter 901 side in FIG. 11, the device identification means 102 checks what kind of equipment is present in the network, and sends the data transmission / reception means 103 and the wireless interface means 101 to the existing receiver 902. The signal is transmitted via the antenna 107. At this time, whether or not the data can be transmitted normally is checked by the determination means 105. If the data cannot be transmitted normally, the transmitter 901 stops transmitting the moving image data.

[0008] On the receiving side of FIG.
Then, when the data is received from the transmitting side, the determining unit 105 determines whether the data has been normally received, and transmits the result to the transmitting side. At this time, the data transmission state is measured by the radio wave condition measuring means 104, and the result is also transmitted to the transmitting side.
During normal transmission, the received image is displayed on the display device 201. However, when each device is carried around, the transmission state deteriorates as the distance between the transmitting and receiving devices increases, and gradually becomes normal. Can no longer transmit data,
At the end, the data displayed on the display means 201 freezes. In the case where the receiver 902 shown in FIG. 12 is a digital VHS which is a recording / reproducing device, a moving image transmission rate of standard image quality is 14.1 Mbps. If this band cannot be secured, moving image transmission cannot be performed.

A transmitter 901 has the wireless interface 101 shown in FIG.
When transmitting a moving image signal of standard resolution (SD) to the receiver 902 shown in FIG. 2, normal transmission is possible if a transmission band of 14.1 Mbps is secured, and a moving image of high resolution (HD) When transmitting an image signal, normal transmission is possible if 28.2 Mbit / sec is secured as a transmission band.

[0010] However, when the user carries the television of the receiver 902, the distance between the transmitter 901 and the receiver 902 becomes longer than a certain distance or the transmission state becomes poor due to obstacles between the devices. Then, there is a problem that the image on the television freezes. In addition, depending on the product, the transmission rate transmitted from the transmitter 901 is reduced in accordance with the deterioration of the transmission state instead of freezing, so that there is a problem that real-time data such as a moving image cannot be displayed in real time. .

That is, the same data as the original data is transmitted and received,
In the case of displaying in real time, unless the minimum necessary transmission band is secured according to the device and transmission data, it is impossible to transmit and receive with the same image quality and display in real time.

A technique for creating a connection state (topology map) by IEEE 1394 and displaying the connection state on a display is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-215295 (“Machine Connection Configuration Management Apparatus” Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.). Have been. In the IEEE 1394 network,
The fastest device becomes a configuration manager and assigns an ID to each device on the network.
In this document, a topology map is created from assigned IDs. In addition, a speed map is obtained from the devices on the network, the slowest communication speed among the devices is determined as the actual communication speed, and the speed map is displayed on the display.

However, it has not been possible for the user to identify whether or not the topology map and the speed map can be transmitted for each content.

[0014]

As described above, in the conventional wireless network device and method, there is a problem that it is not possible to identify whether or not the created topology map can be transmitted for each content.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless network device and a method capable of informing a user which device can transmit and receive what kind of content data in view of the above conventional problems. .

[0016]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a device identifying means for identifying a device connected by a wireless network, and a device for wirelessly connecting a device connected to the wireless network. A data rate detecting means for detecting a data rate that can be transmitted by communicating the data rate, a table having a plurality of types of transmission data and a data rate necessary for transmitting the types of transmission data, and the data rate detecting means A determination unit that determines which type of transmission data the device can transmit by referring to the table in accordance with the detection result input from the communication unit, and performs communication according to the determination result input from the determination unit. Video signal generating means for generating a video signal for displaying a screen in which the devices are classified for each type of transmission data. To provide a wireless network device according to claim.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a step of identifying a device connected by a wireless network by device identifying means, and a step of connecting to the wireless network by a data rate detecting means. A step of detecting a data rate that can be transmitted by wirelessly communicating with the device; a step of having a plurality of types of transmission data by a table and a data rate necessary for transmitting the type of transmission data; A step of referring to the table in accordance with the detection result input from the data rate detection unit to determine which type of transmission data the device can transmit, and inputting from the determination unit by the video signal generation unit. A screen is displayed in which the devices are classified according to the type of transmission data that can be communicated according to the determined determination result. It provides a wireless network method characterized by comprising the step of generating a video signal of the fit.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the wireless network device of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the control means 106 includes a CP
U, peripheral devices that perform interrupt control, DMA control, etc.,
It is composed of ROM, volatile / non-volatile RAM,
The ROM stores a control program describing a control procedure. The control unit 106 causes the CPU in the control unit 106 to execute the control program to thereby control a wireless interface (hereinafter, referred to as a wireless I / F) 10.
1. The device identification means 102, the data transmission / reception means 103, the radio wave condition measurement means 104, and the judgment means 105 are controlled, and the result at this time is stored in the RAM in the control means 106.

The wireless I / F 101 registers the receiver 100 in the network according to the adopted protocol. When the wireless I / F 101 complies with IEEE802.11, a beacon is searched. However, when the receiver 100 is an access point (hereinafter, referred to as an AP), the receiver 10 is not searched for a beacon, but is searched for.
0 transmits a beacon. The beacon includes a time stamp, a network ID for distinguishing the wireless network from another adjacent wireless network, a supported transfer rate, and the like.

An AP is a terminal that transmits a beacon.
And a network of terminals centered on. Also,
An AP generally acts as a bridge to other (upper) networks. The device responding to the beacon, in addition to the time stamp, the network ID for distinguishing it from other adjacent wireless networks, the supported transfer speed, and its own address (IEEE 802.11 standard) or ID (wireless 1394 standard) to the AP.

If there is a device responding to the beacon, the AP starts communication with the device, establishes synchronization, registers after authentication, and registers with the network. Only after this registration, the devices connected to the network can transmit and receive data.

In the communication at the time of this registration, the device sends a PHY ID (ID used by the radio part), a station ID (such as an address), a GUID (Gr.
Although obalUnique Identity (ID unique to the device), capability information (information such as whether the device can be an AP) and the like are sent, these may slightly change depending on the standard.

When only one device is an AP in the network, the AP collects information of the device by the communication at the time of the above registration and automatically registers the device in the network.

When many devices can be APs in the network, the protocol adopted by the wireless I / F 101 registers identification information for identifying the devices in advance so that an IP address is required in TCP / IP. It is necessary for the user to input information of the device to be connected by an input means such as a button of the receiver 100. Or the AP
If a device that collects information can be specified from the header part of the data used between the wireless I / Fs 101 or a part of the address format, the device that collects this information is specified, and the information of each device on the network is specified. Collect and automatically register the device on the network.

Devices other than the AP obtain information such as the address of the device registered in the network from the AP only when communicating after registration.

If the protocol adopted by the wireless I / F 101 is IEEE1394, a topology map is created in the initial unit register of the serial bus management of the device that has become the configuration manager. Identification information and a topology map can be obtained.

The device identification means 102 is used to obtain information for identifying a device on the wireless network from the AP, and outputs the obtained information to the control means 106.

The data transmission / reception means 103 performs command processing for operating the communication partner device identified by the device identification means 102, and transmits / receives content data. The data transmitting / receiving means 103 is provided with the radio wave condition measuring means 10.
4 is used to transmit a test data request signal for requesting test data to be used in the network, and to receive test data returned by the test data request signal.

The radio wave condition measuring means 104 is used to check whether or not data of a predetermined data rate transmitted and received by the data transmitting and receiving means 103 is correctly received and used. For example, the control unit 106 detects and counts that an error has occurred during decoding by an MPEG-2 TS (transport stream) decoder. As an MPEG-2 time stamp,
When the test data set in advance is used, it is compared with the time stamp extracted at the time of decoding, and those which do not match are counted for a certain period of time. The radio wave condition measuring means 104 can also be configured by measuring the gain of a radio wave used in the wireless I / F 101. Alternatively, when test data is not transmitted after transmitting the test data request signal and the test data request signal is output again in the wireless I / F 101, the number of times of the test data request signal is counted again. be able to.

The radio wave condition measuring means 104 outputs the judgment result, the count value and the like to the judging means 105.

The judgment means 105 determines which content (or how much transmission) should be performed when transmitting / receiving to / from a device in the network based on the results of the wireless I / F 101, the device identification means 102, the data transmission / reception means 103, and the radio wave condition measurement means 104. Rate). The determination at this time is performed for all devices in the network. Further, it also includes determining the relative distance relationship between the devices based on the magnitude relationship of the values counted by the radio wave condition measuring means 104. The video signal created from the determination result is sent to a display device (not shown) and displayed, for example, as shown in FIGS.

Next, the operation of the wireless network device thus configured will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the connection status between the devices connected to the network, the availability of communication and the types of contents.

Reference numeral 303 in FIG. 3 denotes a device connected to the network, and reference numeral 301 denotes "O" when communication is possible and communication is possible with the network, and "X" when communication is not possible. are doing. The mobile phone 2 is a device that was connected at the time of the previous network connection, but is not connected at the time of the current connection, and is indicated by “x” indicating that communication is not possible. Reference numeral 302 denotes the type of content (or the transmission speed).
Accordingly, "" indicates that communication is possible, and "X" indicates that communication is impossible. Radio wave condition measuring means 10
4 is 28.2 Mbp which can be transmitted.
s, the determining unit 105 determines that the device can transmit a high-definition moving image signal (HD), and
If the transmission speed exceeds 4.1 Mbps, the determination unit 105 determines that the standard moving image signal (HD) can be transmitted for the device. If transmission is possible, the determination means 105 determines that a still image and text can be transmitted for the device. This is because the transmission rates of still images and texts are low and there is no problem even if there is no particular threshold. For example, the threshold may be set to 1 Kbps, and if it is lower than this, communication may be disabled.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the wireless network device.

A network is formed according to the protocol adopted in the wireless I / F 101 (step 2).
00).

When the network is formed in step 200, if the own device becomes an AP, the identification information of each device transmitting the identification information is collected and stored in the control means 106. If the device is not an AP, the device obtains the identification information of the device connected to the network from the AP and, based on the identification information, stores in the connected device group the device or network that was previously connected at the time of the network connection. It is checked whether or not there is a device registered as a device (step 201).

Conversely, if no communication is possible with another device at step 200 and no network is formed, error processing is performed (step 202). This step 20
In step 2, preparation for ending a series of processes is performed. Further, the process of step 202 includes a process of notifying the user that communication could not be performed or a cause of the communication failure. After step 202, the process returns to the normal processing.

In step 201, when a device was not connected at the time of the previous connection or there is a device that has not been registered in the network, these devices are classified as uncommunicable ("x" 301 in FIG. 3). At the same time, one device that measures the radio wave condition based on the identification information is selected from the devices that have transmitted the identification information, excluding the devices classified as communication disabled (step 203). In FIG. 3, only the mobile phone 2 is classified as incapable of communication.

Next, a test data transmission command is output to the device selected in step 203 (step 20).
4).

Next, after issuing a transmission command in step 204, the apparatus waits for test data to be sent for a certain period of time, and determines whether or not test data has been sent (step 205).

In step 205, if the test data is sent within a predetermined time, the received test data is analyzed by the radio wave condition measuring means 104 to determine whether the test data has been received correctly. Is performed (step 206). Conversely, in step 205, if the test data is not sent within a certain period of time, the communication at the data rate used in the test is classified as impossible,
The type of test data to be requested (for example, transmission of test data with a lower data rate is requested) is changed to a type other than disabled (step 20).
7). This change will result in a lower data rate if the measurement starts at a higher data rate. This step 20
The type of test data changed in step 7 returns to step 204, and is reflected and transmitted in the next test data transmission request.

The type of data to be changed is changed within the range of the supported transfer speed returned to the AP at the time of network registration, and the unsupported transfer speed is not checked. You can finish.

In step 206, when test data is sent from the partner device, it is analyzed and it is determined whether or not the analysis result has reached the reference value (step 208).

If the reference value has been achieved in step 208 and the response indicates that the reception was successful, data that can be transmitted at a data rate lower than this data (the transmission frequency band to be used is narrower) is also communicable. And stored in a table as shown in FIG. 3 (step 20).
9). Conversely, when the radio wave condition is not good and the reference value has not been achieved in step 208, the process returns to step 207.

After step 209, it is determined in step 203 whether or not all the devices whose radio wave condition has been measured have been tested. If all the devices have been tested, the process is terminated to return to normal processing. Return to the contrary, if the determination is not completed, return to step 203 and measure the next device (step 21)
0).

At this point, since the table shown in FIG. 3 is completed, the process returns to the normal processing.

The determination means includes specifying a device from input means such as operation buttons and a remote controller of a wireless network device, starting processing from step 203, and ending at step 207. When the radio wave condition is measured periodically, the process starts from step 203.

Next, a description will be given of what operations are performed on the transmitting side and the receiving side between devices having a built-in wireless network device.

The description will be made assuming that the receiver 100 is an AP. Even if the transmitter is an AP, the operation of the present invention is essentially unchanged.

The wireless I / F 101 of the transmitter has an antenna 1
A beacon is issued from 07 to search for an AP. Receiver 1
00 detects a beacon, so that each wireless I / F
101 starts network registration. At the time when the registration is completed, the information of the other devices has been gathered in the receiver 100. Therefore, the transmitter uses the device identification means 102 to obtain the identification information of the devices in the network.

The transmitter starts measurement processing of the radio wave condition with each device in accordance with an instruction from the user. The transmitter determines a data rate to be used for the test data, and issues a test data transmission request to the receiver 100 using the data transmission / reception unit 103. When the data transmission / reception unit 103 receives the test data via the wireless I / F, the transmission condition determination unit 104 determines whether the data rate used for the test data can be transmitted / received. Similar processing is performed for other devices. Then, judgment means 1
According to the content 05, in the communication with each device, as shown in FIG. 3, which content (in the example of FIG. 3, “moving picture HD”, “moving picture S
D "and" still image, text "are created.

The radio wave condition measuring means 104 of the present invention
May periodically check whether a necessary band is secured, and may warn when the value falls below a preset threshold.

Further, in the present embodiment, the test data at a predetermined data rate is transmitted from the partner device side and the radio wave condition is checked by receiving the test data. However, instead of the test data request signal, the test data at the predetermined data rate is used instead. The data may be transmitted, and the result of measurement of the radio wave condition may be sent back to the partner device to receive and check the radio wave condition.

A warning may be issued when data is to be transmitted between devices that cannot be transmitted in real time.

(Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the wireless network device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is different from FIG. 1 in that a display means 401 is added.

The display means 401 is used to display the results of the radio wave condition measuring means 104 and the judging means 105 on a cathode ray tube, a liquid crystal display panel or the like by text, icons, GUI, or the like. This includes creating image data and transferring it to another device by digital output, or performing D / A conversion and projecting the image on another device by its own display or analog output. Alternatively, the transmission state may be displayed by blinking a lamp such as a light emitting diode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of devices connected to the wireless network in this embodiment, and the arrangement relationship is viewed from above. In the present embodiment, description will be made on the assumption that such an arrangement is provided.

After the determination means 105 creates the table shown in FIG. 3, the control means 106 converts the table into a GUI (graphical user interface) shown in FIGS. The display unit 401 displays a GUI shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 according to a user's instruction.

In the display example shown in FIG. 6, the content is displayed separately for each content. The control means indicates which content information is indicated by reference numeral 601 and indicates the type, equipment, ID number, and the like of a device capable of transmitting and receiving this content.
02 and displayed as indicated by reference numeral 602. When transmission and reception cannot be performed due to poor radio wave conditions despite having communication capability, as indicated by reference numeral 603, the information is distinguished by oblique lines / shading / colors or the like, and is displayed so as to be identifiable to the user. When the wireless I / F 101 obtains the topology map, the thickness of the line indicating the connection between the devices is determined by the determination unit 10.
5 or distinguished by color coding or the like, and displayed so as to be identifiable to the user.

The control means 106 provides the display means 401 with the information shown in FIG.
The reference numeral 611 may be displayed as one screen and four screens (four reference numerals 611) may be switched and displayed, or the reference numeral 610 may be displayed as one screen and the four reference numerals 611 may be displayed as the same screen. May be.

In the display example shown in FIG. 7, distance information is also displayed based on the magnitude relationship of the data rates used. In FIG. 7, the own device is a digital TV 701, which displays a device capable of transmitting and receiving contents requiring a high data rate near the digital TV 701.
The display position of each device is adjusted based on the magnitude relation of the count of 04.

In this embodiment, the display as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display is performed by classifying the type of content transmitted by each device. Then, it may be displayed in any manner.

(Third Embodiment) Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the wireless network device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 differs from FIG. 1 in that a battery 801 and a remaining amount measuring means 802 are added.

The remaining amount measuring means 802 includes a battery 801
Is periodically monitored to measure the remaining battery level, and the measured remaining battery level value is output to the control means 106.

In the receiver 100, the operating time during which the device can operate varies depending on the frequency band used by the wireless I / F during transmission. The wider the frequency band, the greater the power consumption, and the shorter the use time. In the control means 106,
The use time is calculated for each frequency band used in the receiver 100.

The data transmission / reception means 103 of the partner device
By communicating with the remaining device, the remaining use time is obtained from the remaining amount measuring means 802 of the partner device, and the control unit 106 calculates the use time of the partner device. Alternatively, a result obtained by calculating the usage time performed by the partner device is obtained and output to a display device (not shown). Further, as shown in FIG.
In the case of a device having 1, the usage time is also displayed.

When the length of the content to be transmitted / received is known in advance, the judging means 105 makes a comparison with the usage time, and when it is short, issues a warning or transmits / receives the content at another transmission rate.

In the first to third embodiments, IEEE802.11b, I
Although EEE1394 is used, the present invention is not limited to this. Further, the data to be transmitted is not particularly limited as long as all data such as images, sounds, and data can be transmitted wirelessly.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since whether or not transmission is possible for each device connected to the network is displayed, it is possible for the user to identify whether or not transmission is possible for each content.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless network device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the wireless network device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows communication between a device connected to a network and
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing connection statuses of “not possible” and “content type”.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a wireless network device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of devices connected to a wireless network.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a GUI display example.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a GUI display example.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a wireless network device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between a conventional transmitter 901 and a receiver 902.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between a conventional transmitter 901 and a receiver 902.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional transmitter 901.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional receiver 902.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: receiver, 101: wireless interface, 10
2. Device identification means, 103 Data transmission / reception means, 104
... radio wave condition measuring means, 105 ... determining means, 106 ... control means, 107 ... antenna, 401 ... display means, 801 ...
Battery, 802... Remaining amount measuring means.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04L 12/28 300 H04B 7/26 109M 29/08 H04L 13/00 307A (72) Inventor Hideki Okita Kanagawa 8F Shin-Sugita-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi F-term in Toshiba Yokohama Office (reference) 5E501 AA04 AB02 AB03 AC25 BA03 FA23 FA46 5K033 AA01 CB01 DA01 DA17 DB09 DB16 DB20 EA05 EA06 EA07 5K034 AA18 CC02 DD02 EE03 FF20 H12 MM RR02 5K067 AA01 BB04 BB21 DD43 DD52 FF16 FF23 GG01 GG11 HH22 HH23 JJ11 JJ76 LL11

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Device identification means for identifying a device connected to a wireless network, and data rate detection means for detecting a data rate that can be transmitted by wirelessly communicating with a device connected to the wireless network. A table having a plurality of types of transmission data and a data rate necessary for transmitting the types of transmission data, and referring to the table according to a detection result input from the data rate detection unit, referring to the table, Determining means for determining which type of transmission data can be transmitted, and displaying a screen in which the devices are classified for each type of communicable transmission data according to a determination result input from the determination means. A wireless network device comprising: a video signal generating unit configured to generate a video signal. 2. The wireless network device according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the video signal created by said video signal creation means. 3. The data rate detection unit includes a warning unit that detects a wireless communication state at intervals and warns a user when the communication state deteriorates below a preset threshold. The wireless network device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The wireless network device according to claim 3, wherein said data rate detecting means periodically detects a wireless communication state. 5. The data rate detecting means checks a communication condition by receiving test data of a predetermined data rate from the communication partner device, or transmits test data of a predetermined data rate, The wireless network device according to claim 1, wherein a transmittable data rate is detected by receiving a measurement result of a communication situation performed by the communication partner device. 6. The wireless network device according to claim 1, further comprising means for alerting the user when the user attempts to transmit data between the network devices that cannot be transmitted in real time. 7. A step of identifying a device connected by a wireless network by device identifying means, and a step of determining a data rate transmittable by wirelessly communicating with a device connected to the wireless network by a data rate detecting means. Detecting, a table having a plurality of types of transmission data and a data rate required for transmitting the types of transmission data by a table, and a determination unit according to the detection result input from the data rate detection unit. Determining the type of transmission data that the device can transmit by referring to the table; and the type of transmission data that can be communicated by the video signal creation means in accordance with the determination result input from the determination means. Creating a video signal for displaying a screen in which the device is classified for each device, Wireless network how.