JP2003134131A - Radio communication equipment and method for displaying operating state of radio communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to instantaneously judge whether the radio network configuration intended by the user is constructed. SOLUTION: Radio communication equipment is provided with a state displaying part composed of light emitting diodes with a plurality of colors to display an operating state. In the case of being a control station for a radio network, the radio communication equipment performs green display composed of a flickering pattern inherent to a piconet. If the radio communication equipment is not the control station, the radio communication equipment performs yellow display composed of a flickering pattern being the same as the of a control station in the piconet. If the radio communication equipment can not communicate with the control station in the piconet any longer, the radio communication equipment flickers red. If the radio communication equipment can receive signals also from another piconet, the radio communication equipment alternately flickers yellow and red.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless communication device operating on a wireless network in which a plurality of wireless stations communicate with each other and a method of displaying the operating status of the wireless communication device, and more particularly to controlling an arbitrary device. The present invention relates to a wireless communication device that operates on a wireless network constructed by functioning as a station (coordinator) and a method of displaying an operating status of the wireless communication device.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a wireless communication device for displaying its own operating state on a wireless network constructed by causing an arbitrary device to function as a control station (coordinator), and an operation status display of the wireless communication device. The present invention relates to a wireless communication device that displays various operating states such as which wireless network it belongs to and whether it is operating as a control station or a terminal station, and an operating status display method for the wireless communication device.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art As computers have become more sophisticated, a plurality of computers have been connected to form a LAN (Local Area Network).
Is often used to share information such as files and data, share peripheral devices such as printers, and exchange information such as transfer of electronic mail and data.

In the conventional LAN, each computer is connected by wire using an optical fiber, a coaxial cable, or a twisted pair cable. However, such a wired LAN requires construction work for connection, which makes it difficult to construct the LAN easily and complicates the cable. Further, even after the LAN is constructed, the moving range of the device is limited by the cable length, which is inconvenient.

Therefore, a wireless LAN is drawing attention as a system that relieves the user from the wiring of the conventional wired LAN. According to this type of wireless LAN, most of the wired cables can be omitted in a work space such as an office, so a personal computer (P
A terminal such as C) can be moved relatively easily.

As a method of forming a wireless network,
One of the wireless transmission devices forming the wireless network is a control station (coordinator) of the network.
It is possible to use

In a wireless network system of the type in which this type of control station exists, the system is operated by predetermining a device to be the control station and allowing any terminal device to join the control station. The method of being done has been widely adopted until now. In such cases,
The control station, which is called an "access point", semi-permanently establishes a wireless network as a fixed connection point. Further, it is general that the design configuration of the device that serves as a terminal differs from the design configuration of the device that serves as a control station.

When the access points are located at semi-fixed positions, it is difficult to freely form a network. In addition, when dividing one network into two or more, it is necessary to change the location of the access point, and it is necessary to individually manage each terminal connected to the access point, which is complicated. There is

Recently, in order to establish a small-scale wireless network between a plurality of electronic devices existing around the person and perform information communication, the standardization of a personal area network (PAN) has been studied. ing.

In such a small-scale network, a so-called ad hoc type wireless network configuration in which an access point of the network is not defined and arbitrary communication terminals form a network is considered preferable. .

In an ad hoc type wireless network, one communication terminal out of arbitrary communication terminals is defined as a control station, and the control station manages transmission resources as a basic configuration.

For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-138685, which has already been assigned to the present applicant, all stations have a function of operating as a control station.
A wireless transmission control method capable of automatically constructing a wireless network is disclosed.

According to the wireless transmission control method described in the above publication, the communication station selected as the central control station determines which station each terminal station in the wireless network can directly perform wireless communication with, and the central control station When it detects that it can wirelessly communicate with a communication station having a larger number of terminal stations than the number of stations that can directly wirelessly communicate with it, it performs processing to change the detected terminal station to the central control station. Has become. That is, a station suitable for controlling each communication station in the wireless network is automatically selected as the central control station, and the wireless network is automatically configured appropriately. Therefore, it is possible to operate a specific device in the network as a control station without arranging the control station in advance, and it is possible to freely arrange the wireless transmission device to construct a wireless network.

On the other hand, according to the ad hoc type network configuration, although the network can be freely formed, there is no fixed control station. Therefore, in the case of performing bandwidth reservation transmission, resources of the transmission line are used. There is a problem that it is difficult to centrally manage (time resources in the case of time division multiplex transmission).

Further, in the ad hoc type network configuration, when an arbitrary transmission device is defined as a control station, in the process of selecting a device that operates as a control station of the network, a device that the user does not like is selected as a control station. There is a possibility. As a result, a situation occurs in which the network configuration cannot be constructed as the user imagines.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-174766 assigned to the present applicant proposes a wireless communication system in which a wireless transmission device defined by a user can be preferentially operated as a control station. ing.

According to the wireless communication system described in the specification, a communication device desired to be arranged as a control station is set in advance to preferentially function as a control station. When this function is set in a plurality of communication devices, the control station is selected according to the number of devices that can communicate with the devices. Therefore, when the control station is automatically determined and the wireless network is constructed, the wireless transmission device set by the user can be preferentially caused to function as the control station. In addition, it is possible to set in advance a wireless transmission device that is not desired to operate as a control station. As a result, it becomes easy to construct the network configuration that the user imagines.

However, in a network environment in which an arbitrary wireless transmission device operates as a control station of a wireless network, the user can instantly visually determine which communication terminal is operating as the control station. I can't. That is, it is not easy for the user to confirm whether or not the network he or she envisions is configured.

When a communication terminal is newly arranged in the network, if the communication terminal is arranged at a position where it can communicate with the control station of another wireless network, the communication terminal is different from the wireless network envisioned by the user. However, there is no means to explicitly inform which wireless network the communication terminal has been incorporated into. Of course, if it is once taken into another wireless network, there is no means for promptly notifying the user.

In such a case, the user himself / herself has to start the operation of the wireless network and judge whether or not information transmission is correctly performed and whether the information transmission is low. That is, it is not easy for the user to confirm whether or not the network he or she envisions is configured.

For this reason, it is necessary to display and output various operation setting states between the wireless communication devices on a sophisticated device such as a computer connected to the same network.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-168881, the configuration of a wireless network existing in the vicinity can be confirmed before the wireless device is registered, so that the wireless device can be reliably registered and registered in a desired network. The wireless communication network system and the wireless device thereof are disclosed.

According to the publication, the wireless device issues an inquiry signal to peripheral devices in a non-subscribed state, and based on the returned response information, the configuration of wireless networks existing in the vicinity is preliminarily set. You can check. However, it is not possible to confirm whether the wireless device has been incorporated into the wireless network of which control station has been taken into account, or the like.

Further, the wireless device described in the publication has a piconet information display control function for displaying information collected from the surrounding piconet, which is a device for displaying the collected piconet ID and ID code of the device. It displays the vendor name, character data and the like replaced with the model / model number. In such a display form, the user cannot instantly or intuitively understand whether or not the network configuration envisioned by the user has been constructed. For example, when two or more wireless networks are adjacent to each other,
Even by looking at the display contents of the ID code and the character data, the user cannot instantly visually grasp in which wireless network the wireless device is incorporated. Further, when the same device of the same vendor is registered as a master, it is not possible to distinguish which device is specified on the display.

In the publication, as a second invention, whether the wireless device functions as a master or a slave when a display request comes from another wireless device in the wireless network. It is disclosed that the information indicating is notified. However, wireless devices
The information for identifying the master or the slave is simply displayed, and it is not possible to confirm whether or not the network configuration envisioned by the user has been constructed. Such a display function only displays the operating state of the wireless device, not the network configuration. For example, when two or more wireless networks are adjacent to each other, the slave device cannot identify which master has incorporated the wireless network. Further, if the wireless device does not make a display request, it is not possible to confirm whether the wireless device has been taken into the piconet.

[0026]

An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent wireless communication device capable of suitably operating on a wireless network constructed by making any device function as a control station (coordinator). It is to provide a method of displaying the operating status of a wireless communication device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent wireless communication device and wireless device capable of displaying its own operating state on a wireless network constructed by allowing any device to function as a control station (coordinator). It is to provide a method of displaying the operating status of a communication device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent wireless communication device and wireless communication device capable of displaying various operating states such as which wireless network it belongs to and whether it is operating as a control station. It is to provide an operating status display method.

A further object of the present invention is to instantly identify whether or not the wireless network configuration envisioned by the user has been constructed on the wireless network constructed by causing any device to function as a control station (coordinator). It is an object of the present invention to provide an excellent wireless communication device and an operating status display method for the wireless communication device, which are capable of being performed.

[0030]

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first aspect thereof is a radio constructed by selecting one radio communication device as a control station. A wireless communication device operating on a network,
A first display unit that indicates that it is operating as a control station in a wireless network by a blinking pattern of a first lighting color, and a terminal that is incorporated into a wireless network in which another wireless communication device is constructed as a control station. The second indicating that it is operating as a station by the blinking pattern of the second lighting color
Display means, and the first display means and / or the second display means.
And a synchronizing means for synchronizing the blinking pattern on the display means.

Here, in the same wireless network, the synchronization means causes all the wireless communication devices to synchronize with the same blinking pattern so that the first display means and / or the second display means are driven to blink. To control.

The wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention includes, as the first and second display means, a status display section including, for example, light emitting diodes of a plurality of colors. When it becomes a control station of the wireless network, a green display having a unique blinking pattern in this wireless communication network is displayed to clearly indicate that it is the control station that has constructed the wireless network. Therefore, the user can easily and surely find the existence of the control station that has constructed the wireless network in the work space by visually following the wireless communication device in which the green light is blinking.

If the station is not the control station, the yellow display having the same blinking pattern as that of the control station in the wireless communication network is displayed to clearly show that it is operating as a terminal station incorporated in the wireless network. To display.
Therefore, the user can easily grasp the configuration of the wireless network by searching for the wireless communication device in which the yellow light emitting diode is blinking in synchronization with the control station.

In order for such a control station and a terminal station to share a unique blinking pattern in the wireless network, the synchronization means uses the data contained in the beacon information generated by the control station to First display means and /
Alternatively, the blinking drive of the second display means may be controlled. By using the beacon information, it is not necessary to transfer extra data between the wireless communication devices for the synchronization processing of the blinking pattern.

For example, the synchronizing means may be based on data of a part of bit positions of 48-bit network ID information included in beacon information generated by a control station in a wireless network, or based on all data, Unique blink patterns can be generated within the wireless network.

Further, the synchronization means drives the blinking pattern in the wireless network between other wireless communication devices based on the synchronization time information included in the beacon information generated by the control station in the wireless network. Can be synchronized.

Further, the wireless communication apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention may further include third display means for indicating by the third lighting color that communication with the control station in the wireless network cannot be performed. Good.

The wireless communication apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention further comprises third display means for indicating that a signal can be received from another wireless network by means of a blinking pattern of a third lighting color. Good.

For example, the third display means can be constructed using a red light emitting diode. The user uses the combination of the blinking display of the green or yellow light emitting diode and the blinking display of the red light emitting diode as a clue, and when the wireless communication device does not enter the desired wireless network, another It is possible to easily visually judge whether or not the wireless network can be re-entered.

In such a case, the synchronizing means may reverse the blinking pattern of the first display means or the second display means to drive the third display means to blink. .

Alternatively, the synchronizing means may drive the third display means to blink in synchronization with a blinking pattern in another wireless network which was able to receive the signal. Therefore, the user can find another wireless network capable of receiving a signal by visually following another blinking terminal in synchronization with the same blinking pattern as the third display means, and the wireless network can be found. The configuration of can be grasped easily and intuitively.

Further, the radio communication apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention preferentially operates as a control station in a first operation mode, as a control station in a second operation mode, and in a control mode. It is possible to further include mode setting means for setting the operation mode of the device to one of the third operation modes incapable of operating as a station, and state display means for displaying which operation mode the device is in. Good.

In such a case, the user can grasp the state of the wireless communication device in advance when not registered in the wireless network, and the work of constructing the desired wireless network becomes easy.

The status display means, for example, displays the first operation mode by lighting the first lighting color, and displays the second operation mode by lighting the second lighting color. Alternatively, the third operation mode may be displayed by lighting the third lighting color.

A second aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication device which operates on a wireless network constructed by selecting one wireless communication device as a control station, and preferentially operates as a control station. Mode setting means for setting the operation mode of the device to one of a first operation mode, a second operation mode that may operate as a control station, and a third operation mode that cannot operate as a control station; A wireless communication device, further comprising: a status display unit that displays which operation mode the device is in.

According to the wireless communication device of the second aspect of the present invention, the user can grasp the state of the wireless communication device in advance when he / she is not registered in the wireless network, and the desired wireless communication device can be obtained. The work of building a network becomes easy.

The status display means, for example, displays the first operation mode by lighting the first lighting color and displays the second operation mode by lighting the second lighting color. Alternatively, the third operation mode may be displayed by lighting the third lighting color.

Further, a third aspect of the present invention is a method of displaying an operation status of a wireless communication device having a display unit for displaying an operation status in a wireless network, the step of receiving beacon information from a control station, and the reception. Controlling the blinking drive of the display means based on the beacon information, and visually displaying the operating status of the wireless communication apparatus in the wireless network, the operating status display of the wireless communication apparatus. Is the way.

According to the operation status display method for a wireless communication device according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the wireless communication device is participating in a wireless network constructed by a control station as a terminal station. By displaying the blinking pattern generated according to the beacon information, it is possible to visualize the terminal station in the wireless network. That is, since the terminal stations in the same wireless network display the same operating status, the user can easily visually grasp the configuration of the wireless network.

Further, a fourth aspect of the present invention is that, in a method of displaying the operation status of a wireless communication device having a display means for displaying the operation status in a wireless network, it recognizes that it is operating as a control station. In response to, the method for controlling the blinking of the display means to visually display the operating status of the wireless communication apparatus in the wireless network, the operating status display method of the wireless communication apparatus. .

According to the operation status display method of the wireless communication device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the wireless communication device performs a unique blinking drive when operating as a control station in the wireless network. By visually searching for a wireless communication device that displays the operating status as a control station, the existence of a control station that has built a wireless network in the work space can be easily and reliably found.

Further, the blinking drive of the display means is a unique blinking drive capable of identifying the control station of another wireless network by expressing at least a part of the beacon information transmitted as the control station by itself. Since the operating status can be displayed by the user, the user can easily visually grasp the configuration of the wireless network.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention are as follows.
It will be clarified by a more detailed description based on embodiments of the present invention described below and the accompanying drawings.

[0054]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of a wireless network 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless network 1 includes a plurality of wireless communication devices 10-1, 10
-2, ... Each wireless communication device 10-1, 10
-2, ... is, for example, a personal computer (P
It is configured by locally connecting a wireless communication unit having a wireless transmission / reception function to a general computer system such as C).

In the wireless network 1 shown in FIG.
One wireless communication device 10-8 functions as a coordinator, that is, a control station of the network 1, and the other wireless communication devices 10-1, ..., 10-7 are in communication order by the control station 10-8. Below is connected via wireless network 1.

Here, the wireless communication device 10-8 is in a state where it can easily communicate with all the other wireless communication devices 10-1 to 10-7, and is present at a position suitable as a control station. I am doing it.

Since the wireless communication device 10-1 is located relatively close to the wireless communication devices 10-2, 10-7 and 10-8, it is possible to easily transmit information to them. On the contrary, since the wireless communication devices 10-3 and 10-6 are located at positions relatively distant from the wireless communication devices 10-3 and 10-6, it is presumed that information transmission may be somewhat difficult in some cases. In addition, the wireless communication device 10
-4, 10-5 represent a state in which wireless communication is not possible because they are far apart.

Similarly, the remaining wireless communication device 10-2
Therefore, it should be understood that the communication state of each of the wireless communication devices 10-7 can be known based on the illustrated positional relationship with other wireless communication devices existing in the vicinity.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of a frame used for data transmission in the wireless network 1 according to this embodiment.

In the figure, the transmission frame cycle 20 is
A beacon (Beacon) broadcast area (B) 21 that is broadcast on the wireless network 1 from the control station (wireless communication device 10-8) at the beginning of the frame and, for example, when the wireless network 1 is entered. A contention transmission area (CAP) 22 for processing and exchanging short asynchronous information and commands, and each wireless communication device 10-1.
... are contention-free transmission areas (CFP: contention-free period) in which each performs bandwidth reservation and information transmission
3 and 3 are provided as one transmission frame period up to the next beacon broadcast area.

The structure of such a transmission frame 20 is described in the beacon information which is broadcast on the wireless network 1 at the head of the frame.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of beacon information transmitted from the wireless communication device serving as the control station of the wireless network 1 in the beacon broadcast area in the transmission frame cycle shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, the beacon information is used to synchronize the time between the identifier for identifying the beacon signal, the network ID information as information for identifying the network, and the wireless communication devices in the wireless network. It is configured by connecting necessary synchronization time information, CAP area information indicating a CAP area, CAP usage information indicating a CFP usage status, and the like, and a CRC for detecting an error at the end.
(Cyclic Redundancy Code) is added

In addition to the illustrated information, necessary information is appropriately added and transmitted as beacon information. Alternatively, unnecessary information may not be transmitted.

Here, as the network ID information,
For example, it is configured by describing device ID information of a wireless communication device that operates as a control station in a wireless network. The device ID information consists of 48 bits. Within the same wireless network, the network ID information and the synchronization time information are shared as a part of the beacon information among the wireless communication devices forming the network. As will be described later, this beacon information can be used to synchronize the blinking pattern of the status display unit in each wireless communication device in the same wireless network.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the configuration of a wireless communication device 10 operable on the wireless network 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG.
Is an interface 31, an interface buffer 32, a wireless buffer 33, a wireless communication unit 34,
The antenna 35, a status display unit 36, a control unit 37, an information storage unit 38, and a mode setting unit 39 are included.

The interface 31 is connected to an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer (PC). The interface buffer 32 is a buffer for storing the media information 301 received from the external device. The wireless buffer 33 also stores the wireless transmission information 302 sent from the interface buffer 32 as a wireless transmission packet.

The control section 37 centrally controls a series of data transmission processing in the wireless communication device 10. For example, when the wireless communication device 10 operates as a terminal other than the control station, the control unit 37 notifies the wireless transmission notification 30.
If bandwidth reservation transmission is required in response to 3, the reservation request 304 is stored in the wireless buffer 33 for wireless transmission, and the wireless communication unit 34 uses the competitive transmission area (CAP) in the transmission frame to cause the wireless communication unit 34 to use the antenna 35. A transmission process is performed to the control station 10-8 via.

The signal received by the wireless communication device 10 is supplied to the wireless communication section 34 via the antenna 35, and the wireless buffer 33 outputs the decoded signal 311.
Sent to.

Then, when the received signal is the beacon broadcast information 312 periodically sent from the control station, it is supplied to the control unit 37. The control unit 37 confirms the band allocation information of the corresponding reservation, sets 306 of the wireless communication unit 34 according to the control, and sets the wireless buffer 3
The wireless transmission packet 305 stored in the wireless communication unit 3
It is wirelessly transmitted from the antenna 35 via the antenna 4.

If reception is designated in the network broadcast information 312, the wireless communication section 34 is set according to the control, and signals are received at a predetermined timing.

The received information 311 is stored in the wireless buffer 33.
Then, the control unit 37 reconstructs the reception information according to the instruction 304 for each predetermined reception processing cycle,
Information is passed to the interface buffer 32.

Then, the interface 31 stores information 315 of a predetermined interface format as
External device (not shown) via the interface 31
It is designed to pass information to.

The illustrated wireless communication device 10 is provided with a mode setting section 39 for controlling whether or not it operates as a control station, and a signal 308 for identifying an operation mode as a control station.
Is notified to the control unit 37.

The control unit 37 according to this embodiment has a function of performing a series of network configuration processing based on the state set by the mode setting unit 39. That is, the control unit 37 determines whether or not the wireless communication device 10 can be the control station of the network according to the instruction from the mode setting unit 39.

The mode setting unit 39 responds to an instruction from a user via a user interface (not shown), and controls the wireless communication device 10 to preferentially operate as a control station in a first mode. The second mode which may operate as a station, or the third mode which cannot operate as a control station
One of the operation modes is set.

For example, when the mode setting unit 39 is preferentially set to the mode of becoming the control station, it is possible to request the existing wireless network to switch the function of the control station. Alternatively, when the mode setting unit 39 is set to a mode in which it may operate as a control station, it is most suitable as a control station with another wireless communication device by using a predetermined control station selection process. The wireless communication device can be determined as the control station. If the mode setting unit 39 is set to the mode that does not become the control station, the other wireless communication device operates as the terminal station of the network after becoming the control station.

As described above, by providing the third mode in which the terminal station does not operate as the control station in addition to the first and second modes, the terminal station has a weak computing function like a headphone and is not suitable for the control station. Since it is battery-powered, it is possible to set such that a device that is not suitable for operating as a control station that consumes a lot of power is not selected as a control station.

A series of control for determining the control station is performed by an instruction from the control section 37, and the control section 37 is equipped with an information storage section 38 in which various transmission programs and control information are stored. It is composed.

Further, the wireless communication device 10 shown in FIG.
A status display section 36 is provided. This status display unit 36
The display content is controlled by an instruction 307 from the control unit 37. As will be described later, the user visually confirms the operation status of each device by looking at the display form of the status display unit 36 of each wireless transmission device 10 in the wireless network, or the wireless device having the configuration that he or she envisions. It can be confirmed whether or not the network 1 is constructed.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the configuration of the status display section 36 shown in FIG. In the example shown in the figure, the status display unit 36 is composed of light emitting diodes of a plurality of colors such as a green light emitting diode, a yellow light emitting diode, and a red light emitting diode.

The status display section 36 indicates the operating status of the wireless communication device 10 itself (whether it is operating as a control station, etc.), the wireless status of the wireless communication device 10 itself by the lighting / extinguishing of each color, blinking, blinking pattern, and combinations thereof. The network configuration (which wireless network the wireless communication device 10 is incorporated in, whether it can communicate with other wireless networks, etc.) can be represented.

Further, when one wireless communication device 10 supports a plurality of wireless communication systems (for example, B
A combination of Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11b), the color of the light emitting diode, or the like may be used to display the currently operating wireless communication system.

The control as to which light emitting diode the state display unit 36 shown in the drawing emits light or at what timing in time to blink is performed according to an instruction from the control unit 37. More specifically, the control unit 37 executes a predetermined program code stored in the information storage unit 38 to display a function of displaying the operating state of the wireless communication device 10 itself and the wireless network configuration in the state display unit 36. Is realized.

Table 1 below shows an example of switching the light emitting state of each light emitting diode constituting the state display unit 36 according to the operation of the wireless transmission device 10.

[0087]

[Table 1]

When displaying that the radio communication device 10 is operating as a control station, for example, a blinking green display is provided so that the user can visually confirm that the radio communication device 10 is operating as a network control station. To be able to identify with.

When displaying that it is operating as a normal terminal station, for example, a yellow blinking display is performed so that this wireless communication device 10 becomes another control station. The user can visually identify that the wireless network is built and operated.

Further, when displaying that the terminal operates as a normal terminal station but is out of the reception range from the control station, for example, a red blinking display is performed so that the wireless communication device 10 is connected to the wireless network. The user should be able to visually identify that communication with the control station is not possible.

Table 2 below shows the wireless communication device 10
Shows an example in which the light emitting state of each light emitting diode represents an operable state when not registered in the wireless network.

[0092]

[Table 2]

When it is displayed that the control station operates preferentially, for example, a green light is displayed, and when the wireless communication device 10 is not registered in the wireless network, the wireless communication device 10 is preferentially controlled. Allow the user to visually identify that it is operating as a station.

When it is displayed that it is possible to operate as a control station, the wireless communication device 10 is not registered in the wireless network as a control station by displaying, for example, yellow lighting. If there is no other wireless communication device that operates preferentially, the user can visually identify that the wireless communication device can operate as a control station.

When displaying that the wireless communication device 10 cannot operate as a control station, for example, a red light is displayed, and when the wireless communication device 10 is not registered in the wireless network, it does not operate as a control station. Allow the user to identify things.

Japanese Patent Application No. 200 already assigned to the present applicant
In the specification of 1-262309, each wireless communication device is provided with an operation mode that preferentially becomes a control station, an operation mode that may operate as a control station, and an operation mode that does not become a control station. A wireless communication system is disclosed in which a user can select and set any one of various types of operation modes to configure a wireless network as the user desires.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, an individual light emitting diode is used for each of the three colors, but of course, the red and green light emitting diodes of the two colors are simultaneously made to emit light to display a yellow color. May be configured to perform. Also,
The configuration of the status display unit 36 is not limited to the illustrated example, and it goes without saying that the configuration may be realized by using another configuration having the same function.

As described with reference to Table 1 above, the wireless communication device 10 according to the present embodiment blinks the light emitting diodes of each color forming the status display unit 36 during operation in the wireless network. It is like this. Furthermore, by synchronizing the pattern in which the wireless communication device incorporated in the same wireless network blinks the light emitting diode, the user can easily visually identify which wireless communication device is operating as the same wireless network. You can

FIG. 6 shows some examples of blinking patterns of the light emitting diodes in the status display section 36. In the example shown in the figure, the wireless transmission devices registered in the same wireless network are provided with patterns such as blinking pattern 1, blinking pattern 2, blinking pattern 3 ... The blinking display shall be performed according to the pattern peculiar to the network.

For example, the ID of the wireless communication device serving as the control station
By configuring to determine or calculate the blinking pattern according to the information, different patterns will be generated in different networks, so the user can easily configure the configuration of multiple wireless networks adjacent to each other in the workspace. Can be confirmed.

FIG. 7 shows that, in a work space where two wireless networks are adjacent to each other, green and yellow light emitting diodes are blinking in synchronization in a control station and a terminal station in the same wireless network. When wireless networks coexist in this way, it is difficult to determine which wireless network the wireless communication device is incorporated into only from the physical arrangement of the wireless communication devices. However,
According to the present embodiment, it can be understood from the figure that the configuration of the wireless network can be easily visually grasped by visually following the control station and the terminal station that are synchronized and blinking. Ah

As described above, within the same wireless network, the network ID information is shared as a part of the beacon information among the wireless communication devices forming the network. The network ID information is composed of 48-bit device ID information. Within the same wireless network,
By calculating the blinking pattern based on the same network ID information and driving the light emitting diode, the blinking pattern will be naturally synchronized. Further, since the blink pattern is calculated based on the beacon information, it is not necessary to perform special data communication within the wireless network in order to synchronize the blink pattern.

Here, a procedure for generating a blinking pattern in each wireless communication device 10 in the wireless network will be described.

For example, it is assumed that bit 0 is represented by the blinking pattern as shown in FIG. 8 and bit 1 is represented by the blinking pattern as shown in FIG. As shown in each figure, the blinking pattern of bit 0 has a lighting operation of 100 milliseconds and 20
The blinking pattern of bit 1 is composed of a combination of a lighting operation of 200 milliseconds and a lighting operation of 100 milliseconds, while being configured by a combination of the lighting operation of 0 milliseconds.

Of course, the blinking pattern representing bit 0 and bit 1 is not limited to the example shown in the figure, and other displays can be substituted as long as 0 and 1 can be distinguished. Further, the time interval for performing the lighting and extinguishing operations is not particularly limited as long as it can be visually confirmed by a human.

As described above, the ID information unique to the network contained in the beacon information can be shared within the same wireless network. For example, the last 8 bits of the 48-bit length ID information can be converted into a blinking pattern in the expression format shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. However, the wireless communication device serving as the control station blinks the green light emitting diode, and the wireless communication devices serving as the other terminal stations blink the yellow light emitting diode.

FIG. 10 shows the ID of a certain wireless network.
It illustrates a display form of a blinking pattern corresponding to the last 8 bits (011101001) of information. In the example shown in the figure, a series of blinking pattern displays are periodically repeated at a cycle of 3 seconds. In addition, the blinking pattern is displayed using 2400 milliseconds after the unlit display is performed for 600 milliseconds. Of course, the blinking pattern is not particularly limited to the 3-second cycle, but may be any period having a length that allows the user to visually confirm the blinking pattern.

In the same wireless network, not only the same blinking pattern is used, but the blinking operation is performed synchronously. As an example for synchronizing the blinking operation in the wireless network, in the beacon information periodically sent from the control station in the wireless network, the synchronization time information for synchronizing the time in the wireless network (Fig. Three
), The flashing operation is defined to be performed in a 3-second cycle with the time when all the parameters become 0 as the synchronization reference time. As a result, no special data transfer is required for synchronization processing. In addition, each wireless communication device can clearly display in which wireless network it is incorporated.

As described above, the wireless communication devices taken into the same wireless network repeat the display operation of the same blinking pattern in synchronization with each other, so that the user can easily visually confirm the configuration of the wireless network. In addition, it is possible to easily visually search which control station each terminal station is incorporated into the wireless network.

The status display section 36 is used for the wireless communication device 1.
Existence of a plurality of wireless networks by combining blinking operation of one of the green or yellow light emitting diodes depending on whether 0 is a control station or a terminal station and a blinking operation of a red diode; That is, it clearly indicates that signals can be received from other wireless networks.

FIG. 11 shows the status display section 36 when there are a plurality of wireless networks, that is, when signals can be received from other wireless networks.
The example of the blinking operation of is shown.

When the wireless communication device 10 is operating as a control station, the green color of the status display section 36 is changed in accordance with the blinking pattern generated based on the last 8 bits of the network ID information composed of the device ID of the device itself. By blinking the light emitting diode, it clearly indicates that it is a control station that has built a wireless network.

When the wireless communication device 10 operates as a terminal station, the blinking generated based on the last 8 bits of the network ID information extracted from the beacon information transmitted by the control station in the wireless network. By blinking the yellow light emitting diode of the status display unit 36 according to the pattern, it is clearly displayed that it is operating as a terminal station incorporated in the wireless network.

As described above, in the same network, the control station and the terminal station synchronously process the blinking operation using the synchronization time information extracted from the beacon information, so that the user synchronizes with the control station. By searching for the wireless communication device in which the yellow light emitting diode is blinking, the configuration of the wireless network can be easily grasped (see FIG. 7).

On the other hand, if the control station or the terminal station can also receive a signal from another wireless network,
The state display unit 36 is in a state of receiving signals from other wireless networks by blinking and displaying the green or yellow light emitting diode and simultaneously blinking and displaying the red light emitting diode. Clearly indicate that

The user uses the combination of the blinking display of the green or yellow light emitting diode and the blinking display of the red light emitting diode as a clue, and when the wireless communication device 10 does not participate in the desired wireless network. ,
It is possible to easily visually judge whether or not it is possible to re-enter another wireless network.

The blinking operation of the red light emitting diode is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, by reversing the blinking pattern of the green or yellow light emitting diode defined in the participating wireless network, the user can receive the wireless communication device 10 from another wireless network. It is possible to easily visually grasp the state.

Alternatively, the network ID information and the synchronization time information are extracted from the beacon information received from another wireless network and the red light emitting diode is made to blink in synchronization with the blinking operation in the other wireless network. Good (not shown). In this case, the user can visually search from which wireless network the wireless communication device 10 receives a signal.

FIG. 12 shows, in the form of a flowchart, a processing procedure for the wireless communication device 10 to display the operating state of the device 10 itself and the wireless network configuration using the status display section 36. This processing procedure is actually realized in a form in which the control unit 37 executes a predetermined program code stored in the information storage unit 38. Less than,
The processing for controlling the display by the status display unit 36 will be described with reference to this flowchart.

First, in step S1, the state in which the wireless transmission device 10 is currently operating is acquired. The operating status is determined by an inquiry and a response procedure when the wireless network is constructed, and for example, the information storage unit 3
It is stored at a predetermined address of 8.

Then, in step S2, it is determined whether or not this wireless transmission device 10 is operating as a control station.

If the radio communication device 10 is operating as a control station, the process proceeds to step S3 and the radio transmission device 10 is operated.
It performs flashing synchronization processing based on the network synchronization time information which is the standard. Then, in step S4, control station operation display is performed. For example, the blinking display of the green light emitting diode is performed using the blinking pattern generated from the network ID information of the wireless transmission device 10 itself (described above).

Further, in step S5, it is determined whether or not a signal from another wireless network is received. Then, if it has been received, the process proceeds from step Yes of the decision block to step S6 to perform a multiple network display process. Details of the multiple network display process will be given later.

On the other hand, if no signal is received from another wireless network, the process goes to the branch No of the decision block S5 and the display operation of this wireless communication device 10 is determined.

Further, according to the judgment in step S2,
If the wireless communication device 10 is not operating as a control station,
In step S7, it is determined whether or not it is operating as a terminal station of the wireless network.

When the wireless communication device 10 is included in a wireless network in which another wireless communication device is constructed as a control station as a terminal station, the process proceeds to step S8 to receive the signal of the corresponding control station. Determine if it is possible.

If the wireless communication device 10 can receive the signal from the control station, the process proceeds to step S9, and blinking synchronization processing is performed based on the network synchronization time information contained in the beacon signal received from the control station. Further, in step S10, the terminal station operation display is performed. For example, the blinking display of the yellow light emitting diode is performed using the blinking pattern generated from the network ID information extracted from the beacon signal (described above).

Further, in step S11, it is determined whether or not a signal from another wireless network is received. Then, if it has been received, the process proceeds from step Yes of the decision block to step S6 to perform a multiple network display process. Details of the multiple network display process will be given later.

On the other hand, if no signal is received from another wireless network, the process goes to the branch No of the determination block S11, and the display operation of this wireless communication device 10 is determined.

When it is determined in step S8 that the signal currently sent from the control station cannot be received, the process proceeds to step S12, and no signal is received from the control station for a predetermined time. It is further determined whether or not.

Here, if a signal is received from the control station within a predetermined time, it is in a state where communication with the control station is temporarily unavailable, so the process proceeds to step S13, and the display outside the terminal station area is performed (for example, The display operation is determined by blinking the red light emitting diode (described above).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S12 that the signal from the control station cannot be received within the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S14, and the wireless communication device 10
Deletes the registration as a terminal station. Further step S1
Proceeding to step 5, unregistered display (separately prescribed) is performed, and the display operation is determined.

FIG. 13 shows, in the form of a flowchart, the details of the processing procedure for the unregistered display in step S15 of the flowchart shown in FIG. This processing procedure is actually realized in a form in which the control unit 37 executes a predetermined program code stored in the information storage unit 38. In addition, the wireless communication device 1 according to the present embodiment
0 indicates the light emitting diode of each color of the status display section 36.
By turning on the light as described above, the operating state is clearly displayed. Hereinafter, the unregistered display process will be described with reference to this flowchart.

First, in step S11, the state of the operation mode set in the wireless communication device 10 is acquired. The wireless communication device 10 according to the present embodiment has a mode setting unit 39.
In response to an instruction via the, either the first mode that operates as a control station with priority, the second mode that may operate as a control station, or the third mode that cannot operate as a control station. The operating mode is set to (see above).

Next, in step S12, it is determined whether or not the setting for preferentially becoming the control station is set.

Here, if the first mode in which the control station is preferentially set is set, the process proceeds to step S13, and the control station priority display (for example, green light emitting diode lighting display) is performed.

On the other hand, if the mode is not set to the first mode, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined whether the mode is set not to operate as a control station.

Here, if the third operation mode is set so as not to operate as a control station, the process proceeds to step S16, and a control station prohibition display (for example, red light emitting diode lighting display) is performed.

If such a setting is not made,
Since it is in a state in which it can operate as a control station with another device, that is, in the second operation mode, the process proceeds to step S15, and a control station enable display (for example, a yellow light emitting diode lighting display) is performed.

Further, FIG. 14 shows, in the form of a flowchart, details of the processing procedure for displaying a plurality of networks in step S6 of the flowchart shown in FIG. This processing procedure is actually realized in a form in which the control unit 37 executes a predetermined program code stored in the information storage unit 38. However, in this case, as shown in FIG. 11, the blinking pattern of the green or yellow light emitting diode defined in the entered wireless network is reversed to blink the red light emitting diode. The process of displaying a plurality of networks will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

First, in step S21, information on the lighting pattern is acquired. Then, in step S22,
It is determined whether it is the timing when the lighting pattern is turned off.

If it is the timing of turning off the light, the process proceeds to step S23 to display the red lighting, and if it is the timing of turning on, the lighting display of the color is performed.

[Supplement] The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can modify or substitute the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. That is, the present invention has been disclosed in the form of exemplification, and the contents of this specification should not be construed in a limited manner. In order to determine the gist of the present invention, the section of the claims described at the beginning should be taken into consideration.

[0144]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an excellent wireless communication device and an operating status display method for the wireless communication device, which can operate favorably on the wireless network constructed by causing any device to function as a control station (coordinator).

Further, according to the present invention, an excellent wireless communication device and wireless device capable of displaying its own operating state on a wireless network constructed by causing an arbitrary device to function as a control station (coordinator). A method of displaying the operating status of a communication device can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to display various operating states such as which wireless network it belongs to and whether it is operating as a control station. An operating status display method can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to instantly visually check whether or not the wireless network configuration imagined by the user has been built on the wireless network constructed by causing any device to function as a control station (coordinator). Further, it is possible to provide an excellent wireless communication device and a method of displaying the operating status of the wireless communication device, which can be easily identified.

The wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention can realize an easy and inexpensive user interface by providing the light emitting unit for displaying information on which wireless network is included in the user. Also,
By clearly displaying which wireless network all wireless communication devices are included in, the user can
It is possible to easily grasp which network each wireless communication device belongs to, and further, the configuration of each of the plurality of wireless networks existing in the work space.

Since the wireless communication device according to the present invention can display by using different blinking patterns for each wireless network, even when a plurality of wireless networks coexist in the same work space, which wireless network is used. It can be displayed so that the user can immediately know whether or not it is being taken into operation.

Further, according to the present invention, since the wireless communication device can receive the beacon from the control station of the existing wireless network, the wireless communication device existing around the wireless communication device can be specified. No special inquiry procedure is required to identify the wireless network.

Further, according to the present invention, since the setting status of the unregistered wireless communication device is displayed on the wireless network, the wireless communication device desired to be operated as the control station preferentially by the user's setting is selected. It can be easily visually identified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a wireless network 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is the figure which showed the structure of.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a frame used for data transmission in the wireless network 1 according to the present embodiment.

3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of beacon information transmitted from a wireless communication device serving as a control station of the wireless network 1 in a beacon broadcast area in the transmission frame period shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a wireless communication device 10 operable on the wireless network 1 according to the present embodiment.

5 is a diagram showing a specific configuration example of a status display unit 36 shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a blinking pattern of a light emitting diode of a status display section 36.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing that green and yellow light emitting diodes are blinking in synchronization in a control station and a terminal station in the same wireless network in a work space where two wireless networks are adjacent to each other.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a blinking pattern representing bit 0.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a blinking pattern representing bit 0.

FIG. 10 is a chart showing a display form of a blinking pattern corresponding to the last 8 bits (011101001) of ID information of a certain wireless network.

FIG. 11 is a chart showing an example of a blinking operation of the status display unit 36 when there are a plurality of wireless networks.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for the wireless communication device 10 to display the operating state of the device 10 itself and the wireless network configuration using the status display unit 36.

13 is a step S of the flowchart shown in FIG.
16 is a flowchart showing details of a processing procedure of unregistered display in No. 15.

FIG. 14 is a step S of the flowchart shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing details of a processing procedure for displaying a plurality of networks in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Wireless network 10 ... Wireless communication device 31 ... Interface 32 ... Interface buffer 33 ... Wireless buffer 34 ... Wireless communication unit 35 ... antenna 36 ... Status display section 37 ... Control unit 38 ... Information storage unit 39 ... Mode setting section

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A wireless communication device operating on a wireless network constructed by selecting one wireless communication device as a control station, the first lighting indicating that the wireless communication device is operating as a control station in the wireless network. The first display means indicated by the color blinking pattern and the fact that the other wireless communication device is operating as the terminal station incorporated in the wireless network constructed as the control station are indicated by the second blinking color blinking pattern. A wireless communication device, comprising: a second display unit shown; and a synchronization unit that performs a synchronization process on a blinking pattern in the first display unit and / or the second display unit. 2. The synchronizing means is configured such that, within the same wireless network, all the wireless communication devices are synchronized with the same blinking pattern so that the first display means and / or the second display means drive blinking. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is controlled. 3. The synchronization means controls blinking drive of the first display means and / or the second display means based on data included in beacon information generated by a control station in a wireless network. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The synchronization means includes a network I included in beacon information generated by a control station in a wireless network.
The first display means and / or the second display means using D information.
The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the blinking pattern of the display means is generated. 5. The synchronization means wirelessly drives blinking of the first display means and / or the second display means based on synchronization time information included in beacon information generated by a control station in a wireless network. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is synchronized within a network. 6. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a third display unit that indicates by a third lighting color that communication with a control station in the wireless network is impossible. 7. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third display unit that indicates that a signal can be received from another wireless network by a blinking pattern of a third lighting color. 8. The synchronizing means reverses the blinking pattern of the first display means or the second display means to drive the third display means in a blinking manner. The wireless communication device according to. 9. The synchronization means drives the third display means to blink in synchronism with a blinking pattern in another wireless network that was able to receive a signal. Wireless communication device. 10. A first operation mode that preferentially operates as a control station, a second operation mode that may operate as a control station, and a third operation mode that cannot operate as a control station. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: a mode setting unit that sets an operation mode of the device, and a status display unit that displays which operation mode the device is in. 11. The status display means displays a first operation mode by lighting the first lighting color, and displays a second operation mode by lighting the second lighting color. The wireless communication device according to claim 10, wherein the third operation mode is displayed by lighting the third lighting color. 12. A wireless communication device operating on a wireless network constructed by selecting one wireless communication device as a control station, the first operation mode preferentially operating as a control station, and the control station. Mode setting means for setting the operation mode of the apparatus to one of a second operation mode that may operate as a control station and a third operation mode that cannot operate as a control station, and which operation mode the apparatus is And a status display unit for displaying. 13. A method of displaying an operation status of a wireless communication device having a display means for displaying an operation status in a wireless network, the step of receiving beacon information from a control station, and the display means based on the received beacon information. Controlling the blinking drive of to visually display the operating status of the wireless communication device in the wireless network,
A method for displaying an operating status of a wireless communication device, comprising: 14. A method of displaying an operation status of a wireless communication device having a display means for displaying an operation status in a wireless network, wherein the display means of the display means is responsive to recognizing that it is operating as a control station. A method for displaying an operating status of a wireless communication device, comprising the step of controlling blinking drive to visually display an operating status of the wireless communication device in a wireless network. 15. The method for displaying the operating status of a wireless communication device according to claim 14, wherein the blinking drive of the display means represents at least a part of the contents of the beacon information transmitted as the control station itself.