JP2004056449A - Radio communication equipment, radio communication system, method for controlling radio communication equipment and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a client to effectively continue digital data communication by radio LAN when an access point breaks down or when a line on a wire side, to which the access point is connected, is cut in an infrastructure mode of a radio LAN system. <P>SOLUTION: The access point has a function for detecting a self-fault or a cut of a wire side route to which itself is connected and a function informing the client of effect. When the client receives a notice, connection with the access point is cut and an access point which is to be newly connected is detected and connected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wireless communication device and the like configuring a wireless communication system such as a wireless LAN system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a so-called wireless LAN system as a wireless communication system capable of performing digital data communication.
[0003]
The form of the wireless LAN system includes an ad hoc mode in which wireless LAN terminals perform one-to-one digital data communication, and a bridge device (hereinafter referred to as an access point) connected to a wired LAN and a number of wireless LAN terminals (hereinafter referred to as clients). There is an infrastructure mode for building a network between them.
[0004]
FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the infrastructure mode of the wireless LAN system.
[0005]
In FIG. 1, a wireless LAN system 105a includes an access point 101 connected to a wired LAN 104 via a LAN cable 103a, and clients 101a, 101b, and 101c. Similarly, the wireless LAN system 105b includes an access point 102 connected to a wired LAN 104 via a LAN cable 103b, and clients 102a, 102b, and 102c.
[0006]
Clients 101a, 101b, and 101c in the same wireless LAN system 105a can mutually perform digital data communication via the access point 101. The access point 101 and the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c in the same wireless LAN system 105a perform digital data communication using the same frequency channel.
[0007]
Similarly, the clients 102a, 102b, and 102c in the wireless LAN system 105b perform digital data communication with each other via the access point 102, and the access point 102 and the clients 102a, 102b, and 102c use the same frequency channel to perform digital communication. Perform data communication.
[0008]
When a plurality of wireless LAN systems exist, a unique network identifier is assigned to one wireless LAN system, and an access point and a client in the same wireless LAN system store the same network identifier. By doing so, the plurality of wireless LAN systems can be distinguished.
[0009]
For example, the wireless LAN system 105a has a network identifier “wlan1”, the wireless LAN system 105b has a network identifier “wlan2”, and the access point 101 and the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c have “wlan1” as the network identifier of the wireless LAN system 105a. Is stored, and the access point 102 and the clients 102a, 102b, and 102c store “wlan2” as the network identifier of the wireless LAN system 105b to distinguish the wireless LAN system 105a from the wireless LAN system 105b.
[0010]
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is one of security mechanisms in a wireless LAN system, and is used for authentication performed by an access point to a client and encryption of digital data transmitted and received in the wireless LAN system. The 40-bit encryption key for implementing WEP is the WEP key, and the access point and the client of the wireless LAN system store the WEP key.
[0011]
In a wireless LAN system, a method by which an access point authenticates a client includes a method using the network identifier and a method using the WEP key.
[0012]
Hereinafter, a method of authenticating an access point to a client will be described using the wireless LAN system 105a in FIG. 10 as an example.
[0013]
It is assumed that the network identifier and the WEP key stored in the access point 101 match the network identifier and the WEP key stored in each of the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c.
[0014]
In FIG. 10, the access point 101 authenticates the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c that have requested connection to the access point 101. The access point 101 compares the network identifier stored in each of the clients 101a, 101b, 101c included in the data packet received from the client 101a, 101b, 101c with the network identifier stored in the access point 101 itself. .
[0015]
The access point 101 transmits a data packet called a challenge text only to a client whose network identifier stored in each of the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c matches the network identifier stored in the access point 101.
[0016]
However, if the network identifier stored by the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c is "ANY", the access point 101 will not be able to access the client whose network identifier is "ANY". Send challenge text.
[0017]
As described above, since the access point 101 and the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c store the same network identifier, the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c receive the challenge text from the access point 101. Upon receiving the challenge text, each of the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c encrypts the challenge text with the WEP key stored in each of the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c, and returns the challenge text to the access point 101.
[0018]
Upon receiving the reply, the access point 101 compares the result of encrypting the challenge text with the WEP key stored in the access point 101 with the returned data, and if they match, the access point 101 Determines that the access point 101 and the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c store the same WEP key, and permits the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c to connect to the access point 101. Thereafter, digital data transmitted and received between the access point 101 and each of the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c is encrypted by the WEP key.
[0019]
With the above-described authentication method, the access point 101 and the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c form a wireless LAN system 105a.
[0020]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional wireless LAN system, when a communication failure occurs in the wireless LAN system due to a failure of the access point or a disconnection of the wired side to which the access point is connected, the client can effectively continue communication. could not. Further, it often takes time to find out the fact that a communication failure has occurred and its cause.
[0021]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a wireless communication system and the like in which a client can effectively continue communication when a communication failure occurs. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication system or the like that can detect a communication failure at an early stage when a communication failure occurs.
[0022]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in a wireless communication device according to the present invention, in a wireless communication device wirelessly connected to a bridge device connected to a wired path, detection information regarding an abnormal state of the bridge device and the wired path is transmitted to the bridge device. Disconnection means for disconnecting a wireless connection with the bridge device when received from the device; search means for performing a search process for a bridge device to be newly connected after disconnecting the connection with the bridge device; Means for wirelessly connecting to the bridge device searched for by (1).
[0023]
In a wireless communication system according to the present invention, in a wireless communication system including a bridge device connected to a wired path and a wireless communication device wirelessly connected to the bridge device, the bridge device includes the bridge device and the wired path. Detecting means for detecting an abnormal state of, and a notifying means for notifying the wireless communication device of the detection information of the detection means, the wireless communication device, when receiving the detection information from the bridge device, the Disconnecting means for disconnecting the wireless connection with the bridge device; searching means for searching for a bridge device to be newly connected after disconnecting the connection with the bridge device; and wirelessly connecting to the bridge device searched by the searching means. Connection means.
[0024]
In the method for controlling a wireless communication device according to the present invention, in a wireless communication device wirelessly connected to a bridge device connected to a wired path, when detection information regarding an abnormal state of the bridge device and the wired path is received from the bridge device Disconnecting means for disconnecting the wireless connection with the bridge device, searching means for disconnecting the connection with the bridge device and then searching for a newly connected bridge device, and a bridge searched by the searching means Means for wirelessly connecting to the device.
[0025]
The control program according to the present invention is a control program for executing a control method of a wireless communication device wirelessly connected to a bridge device connected to a wired path, the control program comprising detection information regarding an abnormal state of the bridge device and the wired path. When receiving from the bridge device, a disconnection step of disconnecting the wireless connection with the bridge device, after disconnecting the connection with the bridge device, a search step of performing a search process of a bridge device to be newly connected, Wirelessly connecting to the bridge device searched in the search step.
[0026]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0027]
[First embodiment]
FIGS. 1A and 1B are configuration block diagrams according to a first embodiment of a wireless communication apparatus of the present invention for constructing the wireless LAN system shown in FIG. 10, and FIG. FIG. 2B shows the configuration of the client. Elements common to those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0028]
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the wireless LAN system 105a and the wireless LAN system 105b operate on the same frequency channel in the wireless LAN system of FIG.
[0029]
<Configuration of access point>
In FIG. 1A, the access point 101 (AP1) includes a control unit 201, a wireless communication unit 202, a wired communication unit 203, a communication failure detection unit 204, and a wired LAN interface 205. The access point 102 (AP2) of the wireless LAN system 105b has the same configuration as the access point 101.
[0030]
The wireless communication unit 202 is used for digital data communication between the access point 101 and the clients 101a (STA1), 101b, and 101c of the wireless LAN system 105a. The wired communication unit 203 is used for digital data communication between the access point 101 and an arbitrary electronic device connected to the wired LAN 104. The communication failure detection unit 204 has a function of detecting disconnection of the wired LAN 104 and failure of the wired communication unit 203. A method of detecting a disconnection of the wired LAN 104 or a failure of the wired communication unit 203 will be described later. The control unit 201 controls the wireless communication unit 202, the wired communication unit 203, and the communication failure detection unit 205.
[0031]
<Client configuration>
1B, the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c each include a control unit 301, a wireless communication unit 302, an AP search time limit timer 303, an interface 304 to an electronic device, and a display unit 305. The clients 102a, 102b, and 102c of the wireless LAN system 105b have the same configuration as the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c.
[0032]
The wireless communication unit 302 is used for digital data communication between the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c and the access point 101 of the wireless LAN system 105a. The AP search time limit timer 303 and the display unit 305 will be described later.
[0033]
The interface to the electronic device 304 is an interface to an electronic device capable of performing digital data communication. The control unit 301 controls the wireless communication unit 302, the AP search time limit timer 303, the interface 304 to the electronic device, and the display unit 305.
[0034]
<Operation of First Embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the access point 101 and the client 101a in the wireless LAN system 105a, and FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram thereof.
[0035]
In the following, a description will be given focusing on the operation of the client 101a among the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c. However, the same operation as that of the client 101a is also performed by the clients 101b and 101c.
[0036]
First, in step S401 in FIG. 2, the communication failure detection unit 204 of the access point 101 detects whether the wired LAN 104 has been disconnected or the wired communication unit 203 has failed. As a method for the communication failure detection unit 204 to detect the disconnection of the wired LAN 104, the communication failure detection unit 204 constantly monitors the voltage level of the wired LAN interface 205 connected to the wired LAN 104 by the access point 101. For example, a method of detecting that the wired LAN 104 has been disconnected when it is lowered may be considered.
[0037]
As a method for the communication failure detection unit 204 to detect a failure of the wired communication unit 203, a plurality of electronic devices connected to the wired LAN 104 may transmit data packets to a plurality of arbitrary electronic devices. If no ACK code is returned from any electronic device and the voltage level does not fluctuate, the communication failure detection unit 204 may detect that the wired communication unit 203 has failed.
[0038]
If the determination in step S401 is yes, in step S402, the control unit 201 of the access point 101 determines that a communication failure (disconnection of the wired LAN 104 or failure of the wired communication unit 203) has occurred in the wireless LAN system 105a. Then, the wireless communication unit 202 notifies the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c that the wired LAN 104 has been disconnected or the wired communication unit 203 has failed (S501 in FIG. 3).
[0039]
Upon receiving the notification, the control unit 301 of the client 101a determines in step S403 whether the notification indicates that the wired LAN 104 has been disconnected or whether the wired communication unit 203 has failed. to decide. If the notification is that the wired LAN 104 has been disconnected, the control unit 301 of the client 101a displays on the display unit 305 that the wired LAN 104 has been disconnected in step S404. If the notification indicates that the wired communication unit 203 has failed, the control unit 301 of the client 101a displays on the display unit 305 that the wired communication unit 203 has failed in step S405.
[0040]
Here, as a display method, a method in which a dedicated monitor for display is provided in the client 101a and a notification is displayed there, or an arbitrary two-color light-emitting element is provided in the client 101a and the two-color light-emitting element Or a method of displaying a notification on the monitor when the client 101a is connected to an electronic device having a monitor by the interface 304 to the electronic device.
[0041]
Through steps S404 and S405, the user of the electronic device to which the client 101a is connected by the interface 304 to the electronic device can detect the fact that a communication failure has occurred in the wireless LAN system 105a and the cause of the communication failure. In step S406, the control unit 301 of the client 101a disconnects the connection between the access point 101 and the client 101a, and displays on the display unit 305 that the connection has been disconnected.
[0042]
In step S407, the control unit 301 determines with the user of the electronic device to which the client 101a is connected by the interface 304 to the electronic device whether it is necessary to search for an access point to which the client 101a newly connects. Question. As a method of inquiring, when the electronic device has a monitor, it is effective to display the content of the inquiry on the monitor.
[0043]
In step S408, if the answer to the question of the user of the electronic device is “search unnecessary”, the client 101a does not search for an access point to be newly connected. If the answer to the question is “search required”, the control unit 301 starts the AP search time limit timer 303 (step S409). The timer value of the AP search time limit timer 303 can be set to an arbitrary value. The AP search time limit timer is used when the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c cannot receive a connection permission signal from a newly connected access point within the range of the timer value, so that the client 101a stops the search operation for the access point. Timer.
[0044]
In step S410, the control unit 301 of the client 101a determines whether the wireless communication unit 302 of the client 101a has received the beacon signal transmitted by the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b.
[0045]
If the determination in step S410 is no, in step S414, the control unit 301 determines whether the AP search time limit timer 303 has timed out. If the determination in step S414 is no, the process returns to step S410. If the determination in step S414 is yes, in step S415, the control unit 301 notifies the user of the electronic device that the access point to be newly connected could not be searched, and searches for an access point to be newly connected. To stop. As a notification method, it is possible to display the information on the display unit 305 or, if the electronic device has a monitor, display the content of the notification on the monitor.
[0046]
On the other hand, if the determination in step S410 is yes (S502), in step S411, the control unit 301 of the client 101a transmits the wireless LAN system 105b included in the beacon signal transmitted by the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b. It is determined whether the network identifier is the same as the network identifier stored in the control unit 301.
[0047]
If step S411 is yes, in step S412, the control unit 301 transmits a connection request signal to the access point 102 via the wireless communication unit 302 (S503), and the control unit 201 of the access point 102 transmits the connection request signal. Is received, the authentication with the network identifier and the authentication with the WEP key are performed for the client 101a as described above (S504). When the client 101a passes the authentication, the access point 102 transmits a connection permission signal to the client 101a. If the determination in step S411 is no, the determination in step S410 is the same as that in the case of no, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0048]
In step S413, the control unit 301 of the client 101a determines whether a connection permission signal has been received from the access point. If the determination in step S413 is yes (S505 in FIG. 3), in step S416, the client 101a wirelessly connects to the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b. Then, in step S417, the control unit 301 of the client 101a notifies the user of the electronic device that a new connection to the access point 102 has been made. As a method of notifying that the connection has been made, it is conceivable to display the notification on the display unit 305, or to display the content of the notification on the monitor when the electronic device has a monitor.
[0049]
If the determination in step S413 is no, it is the same as the above-described case in which step S410 is no, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0050]
By the above operation, the client 101a can disconnect the connection with the access point 101 of the wireless LAN system 105a in which the communication failure has occurred, and connect to the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b which is a newly connected access point. Thus, the user of the electronic device can effectively continue the digital data communication.
[0051]
Further, by the steps S404 and S405, the user of the electronic device can start the process for the communication failure early because the fact that the communication failure has occurred in the wireless LAN system 105a and the cause of the communication failure can be known. is there.
[0052]
[Second embodiment]
<Configuration of Second Embodiment>
FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram according to a second embodiment of the wireless communication device of the present invention which constructs the wireless LAN system shown in FIG. 10, and illustrates a configuration of a client which is the wireless communication device of the present invention.
[0053]
The client of this embodiment has a configuration in which the ANY mode setting timer 306 is added to the client of the configuration of FIG. 1B in the first embodiment. The ANY mode setting timer 306 specifies the time until the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c change their network identifiers to "ANY" when the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c search for a new access point. The timer value can be arbitrarily set as long as the timer value is smaller than the timer value of the AP search time limit timer 303.
[0054]
The control unit 301 controls the ANY mode setting timer 306 together with the wireless communication unit 302, the AP search time limit timer 303, the interface 304 to the electronic device, and the display unit 305.
[0055]
<Operation of Second Embodiment>
FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing operations of the access point 101 and the client 101a according to the second embodiment.
[0056]
The processing in steps S401 to S409 is the same as in the first embodiment described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.
[0057]
After the control unit 301 starts the AP search time limit timer 303 (step S409), the control unit 301 starts the ANY mode setting timer 306 in step S510.
[0058]
In step S511, the control unit 301 of the client 101a determines whether the wireless communication unit 302 has received the beacon signal transmitted by the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b.
[0059]
If the determination in step S511 is no, in step S522, the control unit 301 determines whether the AP search time limit timer 303 has timed out. If the determination in step S522 is no, the process returns to step S511.
[0060]
If the determination in step S522 is yes, in step S523, the control unit 301 notifies the user of the electronic device that the access point to be newly connected cannot be searched, and searches for an access point to be newly connected. To stop. As a notification method, it is possible to display the information on the display unit 305 or, if the electronic device has a monitor, display the content of the notification on the monitor.
[0061]
If the determination in step S511 is yes (S502 in FIG. 3), in step S512, the control unit 301 of the client 101a determines that the network identifier of the wireless LAN system 105a stored in the control unit 301 is “ANY”. Determine if there is.
[0062]
If the determination in step S512 is no, in step S513, the control unit 301 of the client 101a sets the network identifier of the wireless LAN system 105b included in the beacon signal transmitted by the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b to the control unit 301. Is determined to be the same as the stored network identifier.
[0063]
If the determination in step S513 is yes, in step S518, the control unit 301 transmits a connection request signal to the access point 102 via the wireless communication unit 302 (S503 in FIG. 3), and controls the access point 102. Upon receiving the connection request signal, the unit 201 authenticates the client 101a using the network identifier in step S519. Then, in step S520, authentication using the WEP key is performed (S504 in FIG. 3). The authentication method using the network identifier and the authentication method using the WEP key are as described above.
[0064]
When the client 101a passes the authentication, the access point 102 transmits a connection permission signal to the client 101a. If the determination in step S513 is no, in step S514, the control unit 301 determines whether the ANY mode setting timer 306 has timed out.
[0065]
If the determination in step S514 is yes, in step S515, the control unit 301 changes the network identifier of the client 101a stored therein to “ANY” and stores the network identifier of the client 101a as “ANY”. I do. Then, the process returns to step S511.
[0066]
If the determination in step S513 is no, the process returns to step S511. If the determination in step S512 is yes, in step S516, the control unit 301 of the client 101a transmits a connection request signal to the access point 102 via the wireless communication unit 302 (S503 in FIG. 3).
[0067]
Upon receiving the connection request signal, the control unit 201 of the access point 102 authenticates the client 101a using the WEP key in step S517. The authentication method using the WEP key is as described above. When the client 101a passes the authentication, the access point 102 transmits a connection permission signal to the client 101a.
[0068]
In step S521, the control unit 301 of the client 101a determines whether a connection permission signal has been received from the access point. If the determination in step S521 is yes (S505 in FIG. 3), in step S524, the client 101a wirelessly connects to the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b.
[0069]
Then, in step S525, the control unit 301 of the client 101a notifies the user of the electronic device that a new connection to the access point 102 has been made. As a method of notifying that the connection has been made, it is conceivable to display the notification on the display unit 305 or, if the electronic device has a monitor, to display the content of the notification on the monitor.
[0070]
If the determination in step S521 is no, it is the same as the above-described determination in step S511 when it is no, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0071]
By the above operation, the client 101a can disconnect the connection with the access point 101 of the wireless LAN system 105a in which the communication failure has occurred, and connect to the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b which is a newly connected access point. Thus, the user of the electronic device can effectively continue the digital data communication.
[0072]
By adopting the configuration of the client 101a in the present embodiment, not only is the wireless LAN system 105b, which is an access point to be newly connected, having the same network identifier as the wireless LAN system 105a, but also the wireless LAN system 105b Even if the client 101a has a network identifier different from that of the LAN system 105a, the client 101a can connect to the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b.
[0073]
Furthermore, the user of the electronic device can determine the fact that the communication failure has occurred in the wireless LAN system 105a and the cause of the communication failure in steps S404 and S405, so that the user can start to deal with the communication failure at an early stage.
[0074]
[Third embodiment]
In many cases, wireless LAN systems that are actually operating adjacently operate on different frequency channels. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the wireless LAN system 105a and the wireless LAN system 105b shown in FIG. 10 operate on different frequency channels.
[0075]
In the following, a description will be given focusing on the operation of the client 101a among the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c. However, the same operation as that of the client 101a is also performed by the clients 101b and 101c.
[0076]
<Configuration of Client of Third Embodiment>
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c of the wireless LAN system 105a according to the third embodiment.
[0077]
The clients 101a, 101b, and 101c have a configuration in which a frequency channel table 607 and a channel change timer 608 are added to the configuration of FIG. The clients 102a, 102b, and 102c of the wireless LAN system 105b have the same configuration as the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c.
[0078]
The frequency channel table 607 is for storing in advance frequency channels that can be used by the wireless LAN system 105a including the clients 101a, 101b, and 101c. The channel change timer 608 is a timer for defining the time from when the AP search time limit timer 303 starts to when the client 101a, 101b, 101c changes the frequency channel used for digital data communication. The value is smaller than the timer value of the AP search time limit timer 303 and can be set to an arbitrary value.
[0079]
<Operation of Third Embodiment>
The operation of the access point 101 and the client 101a of the wireless LAN system 105a according to the present embodiment will be described below.
[0080]
8 and 9 are flowcharts showing operations of the access point 101 and the client 101a according to the third embodiment.
[0081]
The processing in steps S401 to S409 and S510 is the same as that in the second embodiment described with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS.
[0082]
After starting the ANY mode setting timer 306 (step S510), the control unit 301 of the client 101a starts the channel change timer 608 in step S710.
[0083]
In step S711, the control unit 301 of the client 101a determines whether the wireless communication unit 602 of the client 101a has received the beacon signal transmitted by the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b. If the determination in step S711 is no, in step S727, the control unit 301 determines whether the channel change timer 608 has timed out.
[0084]
If the determination in step S727 is yes, in step S728, the control unit 301 randomly selects one frequency channel from the frequency channels stored in the frequency channel table 607, and the client 101a uses the frequency channel for digital data communication. To the selected frequency channel. In step S729, the control unit 301 resets the channel change timer 608, and in step S730, the control unit 301 restarts the channel change timer 608.
[0085]
On the other hand, if the determination in step S727 is no, in step S722, the control unit 301 determines whether the AP search time limit timer 303 has timed out. If the determination in step S522 is no, the control unit 301 proceeds to step S711. Return. If the determination in step S722 is yes, the control unit 301 determines in step S723 that the access point to be newly connected cannot be searched for, as described in FIG. 5 of the second embodiment. Notify the user and stop searching for new access points.
[0086]
On the other hand, if the determination in step S711 is yes, the determination in step S712 is made. Steps S712 to S725 are the same as steps S512 to S525 in FIGS.
[0087]
Through the above operation, the client 101a disconnects the connection with the access point 101 of the wireless LAN system 105a in which the communication failure has occurred, and connects to the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b which is a newly connected access point. The user of the electronic device can effectively continue the digital data communication.
[0088]
Further, by adopting the configuration of the client 101a in the present embodiment, if the wireless LAN system 105b as an access point to be newly connected has (1) the wireless LAN system 105b has a different network identifier from the wireless LAN system 105a, 2) Even when the wireless LAN system 105b operates on a different frequency channel from the wireless LAN system 105a, the client 101a can connect to the access point 102 of the wireless LAN system 105b.
[0089]
Further, the user of the electronic device can start the process for the communication failure at an early stage because the fact that the communication failure has occurred in the wireless LAN system 105a and the cause of the communication failure can be determined by the steps S704 and S705.
[0090]
The above-described control method can be realized by storing a program according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 8 and 9 described above in, for example, a storage device in the control unit 301 of the client. It becomes possible.
[0091]
The present invention is not limited to the device of the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including a single device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that it will be completed by doing so.
[0092]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, or ROM is used. Can be. When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS or the like running on the computer performs actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the functions are performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0093]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the expansion is performed based on the instruction of the next program code. It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in an expansion board or an expansion unit performs processing and performs a part or all of actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0094]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, even when a communication failure occurs in a wireless communication system, the wireless communication device can effectively continue digital data communication. Further, it is possible to start the treatment for the communication failure at an early stage.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram according to a first embodiment of a wireless communication device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing operations of an access point 101 and a client 101a in a wireless LAN system 105a;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing operations of an access point 101 and a client 101a in a wireless LAN system 105a;
FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram according to a second embodiment of the wireless communication device of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations of an access point 101 and a client 101a according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations of an access point 101 and a client 101a according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of clients 101a, 101b, and 101c of a wireless LAN system 105a according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating operations of an access point 101 and a client 101a according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating operations of an access point 101 and a client 101a according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an infrastructure mode of the wireless LAN system.
[Explanation of symbols]
101a-101c, 102a-102c Client
105a, 105b Wireless LAN system
301 control unit
302 wireless communication unit
303 AP search time limit timer
304 Interface to Electronics
305 Display
306 ANY mode setting timer
607 Frequency channel table
608 Channel change timer

Claims (24)

In a wireless communication device wirelessly connected to a bridge device connected to a wired path,
A disconnection unit that disconnects a wireless connection with the bridge device when receiving the bridge device and the detection information about the abnormal state of the wired path from the bridge device,
After disconnecting the connection with the bridge device, a search unit that performs a search process of a bridge device to be newly connected,
Means for wirelessly connecting to the bridge device searched by the search means. Determining means for determining the content of the detection information regarding the abnormal state;
2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit that displays a content of the detection information determined by the determination unit. 3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a search limiting unit that defines a time limit of the search processing as a first time limit. 4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: means for stopping the search processing when the first time limit is reached. 5. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for notifying an external device that the search processing is stopped when the first time limit is reached. 6. The wireless communication device according to claim 3, further comprising a unit that defines a time period from the start of the first time limit to a change of a network identifier of the wireless communication device as a second time limit. Communication device. 7. The wireless communication device according to claim 6, further comprising means for changing a network identifier of the wireless communication device when the second time limit is reached. 8. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising channel storage means for storing in advance frequency channels that can be used when performing digital data communication. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for defining a time from the start of the first time limit to a change of a frequency channel used when performing digital data communication as a third time limit. Wireless communication device. When the third time limit has been reached, one frequency channel is selected from the frequency channels stored in the channel storage means, and the frequency channel used when performing digital data communication is set to the selected frequency channel. 10. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: means for changing the wireless communication device to a wireless communication device. In a wireless communication system including a bridge device connected to a wired path and a wireless communication device wirelessly connected to the bridge device,
The bridge device,
Detecting means for detecting an abnormal state of the bridge device and the wired path;
Notifying means for notifying the wireless communication device of the detection information of the detecting means,
The wireless communication device,
Disconnection means for disconnecting a wireless connection with the bridge device when receiving the detection information from the bridge device,
After disconnecting the connection with the bridge device, a search unit that performs a search process of a bridge device to be newly connected,
Means for wirelessly connecting to the bridge device searched by the search means. The wireless communication device,
Determining means for determining the content of the detection information regarding the abnormal state;
The wireless communication system according to claim 11, further comprising: a display unit that displays a content of the detection information. The wireless communication device,
13. The wireless communication system according to claim 11, further comprising a search limiting unit that defines a time limit of the search processing as a first time limit. The wireless communication device,
14. The wireless communication system according to claim 13, further comprising: means for notifying an external device that the search processing is stopped when the first time limit is reached. The wireless communication device,
15. The wireless communication system according to claim 13, further comprising a search limiting unit that defines a time limit of the search processing as a first time limit. The wireless communication device,
16. The wireless communication system according to claim 15, further comprising: means for stopping the search processing when the first time limit is reached. The wireless communication device,
17. The wireless communication system according to claim 16, further comprising means for notifying an external device that the search processing is to be stopped when the first time limit is reached. The wireless communication device,
18. The wireless communication device according to claim 15, further comprising means for defining a time period from the start of the first time limit to the change of the network identifier of the wireless communication device as a second time limit. Communications system. The wireless communication device,
19. The wireless communication system according to claim 18, further comprising means for changing a network identifier of the wireless communication device when the second time limit is reached. The wireless communication device,
20. The wireless communication system according to claim 13, further comprising channel storage means for storing in advance frequency channels that can be used when performing digital data communication. The wireless communication device,
21. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for defining a time from a start of the first time limit to a change of a frequency channel used when performing digital data communication as a third time limit. Wireless communication system. The wireless communication device,
When the third time limit has been reached, one of the frequency channels stored in the channel storage means is selected, and the frequency channel used when performing digital data communication is the selected frequency channel. 22. The wireless communication system according to claim 21, further comprising: means for changing to (i). In a wireless communication device wirelessly connected to a bridge device connected to a wired path,
A disconnection unit that disconnects a wireless connection with the bridge device when receiving the bridge device and the detection information about the abnormal state of the wired path from the bridge device,
After disconnecting the connection with the bridge device, a search unit that performs a search process of a bridge device to be newly connected,
Means for wirelessly connecting to the bridge device searched by the search means. A control program for executing a control method of a wireless communication device wirelessly connected to a bridge device connected to a wired path,
A disconnection step of disconnecting a wireless connection with the bridge device when the bridge device and the detection information regarding the abnormal state of the wired path are received from the bridge device,
A search step of performing a search process for a bridge device to be newly connected after disconnecting the connection with the bridge device,
Wirelessly connecting to the bridge device searched in the search step.

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