JP2004357052A - Wireless network connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless network connection device with high flexibility to an applied environment at low cost. <P>SOLUTION: Before operating a wireless network connection device 100, the required number of wireless units 21-24 are connected to wireless unit interfaces 31-34. A management device 40 detects the wireless units 21-24 connected to the unit interfaces 31-34, starts a power supply to the wireless units 21-24 to be operated, and then performs an operation control of the wireless units 21-24 and abnormality detection to be managed in a unified way. A power supply device 50 is provided with a power supplying function of supplying to the management device 40 and the wireless units 21-24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wireless network connection device that accommodates terminal devices and facilities in a network by wireless communication, such as an access point used in a wireless LAN system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Wireless LANs are expected to have a very wide variety of system configurations. Conventionally, a form used as a replacement for a wired LAN in a general home or office has been the mainstream, but recently, NWA (Nomadic Wireless Access) provided by a communication carrier, FWA (Fixed Wireless Access), and furthermore, It is also being used as a private line to connect major facilities and buildings, and it is expected that various system configurations will be conceived in the future.
[0003]
In order to cope with these various system configurations, it is necessary for an access point for accommodating a terminal device, a facility, and the like in a network by wireless communication to cope with various configurations.
For example, in a case where transmission is performed while relaying between main facilities such as a city hall and a school via a wireless LAN, the relaying facility (relay station) prepares two access points having directional antennas directed to the relay target, and And a switching hub. To accommodate a station in the relay station, a third access point is added and accommodated in the switching hub.
[0004]
As other systems, in a FWA accommodating fixed stations in a relatively large area, a single access point with an omnidirectional antenna may be accommodated, or a plurality of antennas may be accommodated to accommodate a large number of subscribers. There may be a configuration in which an area is sectorized by using the access points and access points are prepared by the number of antennas.
[0005]
As can be seen from the above example, it is expected that a plurality of access points will be arranged at one place in the future. At this time, in the conventional configuration, a configuration in which a plurality of access points are simply connected by a switching hub is inevitable.
[0006]
In such a conventional configuration, there is a problem that a function that can be shared by a plurality of access points needs to be provided for each device, resulting in a high cost. For example, a housing constituting an access point corresponds to this.
[0007]
On the other hand, conventionally, a wireless communication device in which a plurality of wireless devices are housed in one housing, which wireless device is used for communication, and communication control is performed has been considered (for example, Patent Document 1). 1).
[0008]
However, in the case of such a configuration, although a plurality of wireless devices are mounted, there is a problem that the number of wireless devices is not always suitable for an applied environment, and flexibility to an applied environment is poor.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-339391 A (Page 3-4, FIG. 1)
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a conventional wireless network connection device, although a plurality of wireless devices are mounted, the wireless devices are not always provided with the number of wireless devices appropriate for the applied environment, and there is a problem that flexibility in the applied environment is poor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a wireless network connection device that is low in cost and highly flexible in an application environment.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a wireless unit for communicating with a plurality of wireless devices and wirelessly communicating with the wireless devices in a wireless network connection device capable of switching connection between the wireless devices. , A plurality of interface means which can be attached and detached, and a control means for accommodating the interface means, controlling the wireless unit through the interface means, and communicating with the wireless device.
[0012]
The wireless network connection device having the above configuration includes a plurality of interface units to which the wireless unit can be attached and detached, and the control unit controls the wireless unit through the interface unit to realize communication with the wireless device.
[0013]
Therefore, according to the wireless network connection device having the above-described configuration, a required number of wireless units can be mounted and operated, so that a low-cost, highly flexible network can be constructed.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a wireless network connection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The wireless network connection device 100 includes antennas 11 to 14, wireless units 21 to 24, wireless unit interfaces 31 to 34, a management device 40, and a power supply device 50.
[0015]
Each of the antennas 11 to 14 is a directional antenna or a non-directional antenna. When a sector configuration is formed by a plurality of radio zones, a sector antenna is used. Further, a part of the antennas 11 to 14 may be used for communication with an access point, and the other may be used for communication with a terminal device.
[0016]
The wireless units 21 to 24 transmit and receive wireless signals from communication devices such as terminal devices and other access points through the corresponding antennas 11 to 14, respectively, and have mechanisms that can be attached to and detached from the wireless unit interfaces 31 to 34, respectively. And is accommodated in the management device 40 via the wireless unit interfaces 31 to 34.
[0017]
The wireless unit interfaces 31 to 34 are interfaces for accommodating the wireless units 21 to 24 in the management device 40.
The management device 40 controls and controls each unit of the wireless network connection device 100, and exchanges and connects a communication device that wirelessly communicates with the wireless units 21 to 24 to another communication device through a wired network or the wireless units 21 to 24. Things. As a control function for this, a function of detecting the wireless units 21 to 24 connected to the wireless unit interfaces 31 to 34, a function of controlling power supply to the wireless units 21 to 24, and a function of controlling the wireless units 21 to 24 are provided. It has a check function to detect the abnormalities that occur.
The power supply device 50 has a power supply function sufficient to supply the management device 40 and the wireless units 21 to 24.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the wireless network connection device 100 having the above configuration will be described. Before operating the wireless network connection device 100, the necessary number of wireless units 21 to 24 are connected to the wireless unit interfaces 31 to 34. Then, the management device 40 detects the wireless units 21 to 24 connected to the wireless unit interfaces 31 to 34, starts power supply to the wireless units 21 to 24, and operates the wireless units 21 to 24. Performs operation control and abnormality detection.
[0019]
Wireless signals from communication devices such as terminal devices and other access points are received from space through antennas 11 to 14. Here, a case where communication is performed through the antenna 11 will be described as an example.
After the radio signal received through the antenna 11 is down-converted into a baseband signal in the radio unit 21 and demodulated, desired reception data is extracted and output to the management device 40 through the radio unit interface 31. On the other hand, the management device 40 transmits the received data to a desired communication partner through a wired network or another wireless unit 22 to 24.
On the other hand, transmission data received through a wired network or another wireless unit 22 to 24 is output to the wireless unit 21 through the management device 40 and the wireless unit interface 31. On the other hand, the radio unit 21 generates a radio signal modulated based on the transmission data, and transmits the radio signal from the antenna 11 to a desired communication device.
[0020]
The operations of the wireless units 22 to 24 and the wireless unit interfaces 32 to 34 are the same as the operations performed through the wireless unit 21 and the wireless unit interface 31 as described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0021]
As described above, in the wireless network connection device 100 having the above configuration, a required number of wireless units 21 to 24 can be mounted or removed through the wireless unit interfaces 31 to 34 according to the intention of the maintenance person. The management device 40 centrally manages the power supply and operation of the wireless unit.
[0022]
Therefore, according to the wireless network connection device having the above configuration, the power supply and operation of the wireless unit to be mounted can be centrally managed, so that the cost is low, and the number of wireless units can be mounted and operated as needed, so that the wireless network connection device can be applied. High environmental flexibility.
[0023]
Therefore, for example, when relaying between access points, as shown in FIG. 2, the wireless network connection device 100 is mounted with two wireless units 21 and 22 and the antennas 11 and 12 are directional antennas. realizable.
For example, when realizing relay between access points and communication with a terminal device, as shown in FIG. 3, three wireless units 21 to 23 are mounted, antennas 11 and 12 are directional antennas, By using a non-directional antenna or the like.
[0024]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying constituent elements in an implementation stage without departing from the scope of the invention. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the above embodiments. Further, for example, a configuration in which some components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment is also conceivable. Further, components described in different embodiments may be appropriately combined.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, a plurality of interface units to which the wireless unit can be attached and detached are provided, and the control unit controls the wireless unit through the interface unit to realize communication with the wireless device.
Therefore, according to the present invention, since a required number of wireless units can be mounted and operated, it is possible to provide a wireless network connection device that is low in cost and highly flexible to an application environment.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a wireless network connection device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation example of the wireless network connection device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation example of the wireless network connection device shown in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
11 to 14 antennas, 21 to 24 wireless units, 31 to 34 wireless unit interfaces, 40 management units, 50 power supply units, 100 wireless network connection units.

Claims (3)

In a wireless network connection device that can communicate with a plurality of wireless devices and exchange-connect these wireless devices,
A plurality of interface means detachable wireless unit for wireless communication with the wireless device,
A wireless network connection device, comprising: a control unit that receives the interface unit, controls the wireless unit through the interface unit, and communicates with the wireless device. Further, a power supply unit for supplying power for operating the wireless unit,
The wireless network connection device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit supplies the power generated by the power unit to the wireless unit through the interface unit. The wireless network connection device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit connects a wireless device that wirelessly communicates with the wireless unit to a wired network.

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