JP2005136900A - System, communication apparatus, and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio communication apparatus in which the power source of a function extension device can be efficiently controlled and the convenience of the function extension device is improved when one of a first radio communication apparatus and a second radio communication apparatus is the function extension device on a network where the one apparatus functions as a master apparatus and the other functions as a slave apparatus while the first radio communication apparatus and the second radio communication apparatus are separated from each other. <P>SOLUTION: In the radio communication apparatus, master/slave switching processing is performed when the function extension device is mounted on a mobile information terminal, and the role of the master device born by a short-range radio communication unit of the function extension device is transferred to the mobile information terminal. After Piconet reconstruction processing is performed, the short-range radio communication unit of the function extension device is stopped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to an information device in which a function expansion device can be attached and detached as required, such as a PDA terminal that can be used by attaching and detaching a small camera device. The present invention relates to an information device when mounted, communication control of a function expansion device, and power control.

  With the spread of personal digital assistants such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) in recent years, an external CD recorder is attached to a notebook PC, for example, in order to expand the functions while ensuring the portability of the mobile information terminal. A function expansion device that accommodates a circuit that expands the functions of a portable information terminal and attaches / detaches the portable information terminal by inserting a modem card into a card slot of a PDA or the like is widely used. .

  Even if the function expansion device is separated from the portable information terminal, such as a wireless numeric keypad unit that can be attached to and detached from the portable information terminal, the function expansion device operates using the built-in power supply and is built-in. A function expansion device that performs data communication with a portable information terminal using a short-range wireless communication unit is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In the wireless data communication between the portable information terminal and the function expansion device, when a wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth established in recent years is used as a means for performing short-range wireless communication, the function expansion device is a portable information terminal. In addition, wireless connection can be performed simultaneously with a plurality of terminals.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a conventional network NW11.

  A conventional network NW 11 includes a PDA terminal 1, a small camera unit 2, and a portable storage terminal 3.

The PDA terminal 1 is a portable information terminal, the small camera unit 2 is a function expansion device, and can be attached to and detached from the portable information terminal 1. When separated, the PDA terminal 1 is connected to the portable information terminal 1 by wireless connection. Can be added. The function expansion device 2 is wirelessly connected between the portable information terminal 1 and the portable storage terminal 3, constitutes a piconet with the function expansion device 2 as a master, and carries an image captured by the control from the portable information terminal 1. Data communication such as storage in the storage terminal 3 is performed.
JP 2001-318753 A

  By the way, when the function expansion device is attached to the portable information terminal and the portable information terminal and the function expansion device are integrated, two short-range wireless communication units built in each operate simultaneously.

  Here, when the function expansion device is attached to the portable information terminal, if only one short-range wireless communication unit is stopped and the other short-range wireless communication unit is stopped, the power source can be used efficiently. The built-in power supply with limited capacity can be used more effectively.

  In addition, since the capacity of the power source built into the function expansion device is usually smaller than the capacity of the power source built into the portable information terminal, the viewpoint of efficient use of the power source when the above is installed. Therefore, it is expected that the short-range wireless communication unit of the function expansion device is most effective.

  However, when the small camera unit (function expansion device) 2 serving as the piconet master is attached to the PDA terminal (personal digital assistant) 1 as in the example shown in FIG. When the wireless communication unit is stopped, the master stops, so the link between the master and the slave is disconnected. Therefore, as in the case of wireless communication before mounting, the PDA terminal 1 needs to be wirelessly connected again to the portable storage terminal 3 in order to save the captured data in the portable storage terminal 3.

  In this case, in the piconet, since the PDA terminal 1 that was a slave does not have information regarding the portable storage terminal 3 that was also a slave, the PDA terminal 1 establishes a link with the portable storage terminal 3. It is necessary to execute the process from the device search process. As described above, it takes time to establish a link between the PDA terminal 1 and the portable storage terminal 3 after the mounting. Therefore, immediately after the user mounts the small camera unit 2 on the PDA terminal 1, there is a problem that the user cannot perform shooting and storage operations and is unusable.

  That is, in a state where the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are separated from each other, one of the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device functions as a master device. In a network in which the other functions as a slave device, when the one wireless communication device is a function expansion device, there is a problem that the power of the function expansion device cannot be efficiently controlled, and the function expansion device There is a problem that the usability is not good.

  An object of the present invention is to efficiently control communication in a case where one device functions as a master device and the other functions as a slave device in a state where the devices are separated from each other.

Moreover, it aims at controlling a power supply efficiently.

  In the present invention, in a state where the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are separated from each other, one of the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device serves as a master device. A master / slave function switching means for changing a function of each other when the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are mounted in a system that functions and the other functions as a slave device; After the master / slave function switching, the data transfer path change process is performed between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, and the wireless communication unit of the first wireless communication device is stopped. A system and a control method comprising: a wireless communication unit stopping unit of a first wireless communication device.

Further, a wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating with another device as a master device or a slave device, a wired communication means for performing wired communication with the other device, and a wired connection with the other device are detected. A switching unit that performs master / slave function switching between the detection unit and the other device according to detection by the detection unit, and a wireless communication path and wired communication after the master / slave function switching by the switching unit. An information device and a control method comprising: a changing unit that performs a route changing process with a route.

  According to the present invention, when the devices are mounted, the master / slave function is switched and the route between the wireless communication route and the wired communication route is changed, so that communication can be continued efficiently.

  In addition, by stopping one of the wireless communications, there is an effect that the power source can be used efficiently.

Further, even if the devices are mounted and the master / slave function is switched, the network is reconstructed, so that communication can be continued efficiently.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network NW1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The network NW1 includes a PDA terminal 10 that is an example of a portable information terminal, an imaging device 20 that is an example of a function expansion device, and a portable storage terminal 30 that is an example of a wireless terminal.

  In the network NW1, the imaging device 20 adds an imaging function to the PDA terminal 10 and operates as a function expansion device of the detachable PDA terminal 10.

  In particular, when the imaging device 20 and the PDA terminal 10 are separated, the imaging device 20 operates as a remote camera, and the user of the PDA terminal 10 uses the wireless data communication based on the Bluetooth wireless communication technology to capture the imaging device 20. To control.

  In addition to the PDA terminal 10, the imaging device 20 can perform wireless data communication by Bluetooth with the portable storage terminal 30 and store the image data captured by the imaging device 20 in the portable storage terminal 30. . In the first embodiment, the PDA terminal 10, the imaging device 20, and the portable storage terminal 30 constitute a piconet that uses the imaging device 20 as a master.

  Next, the configuration of the PDA terminal 10 in the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the PDA terminal 10 according to the first embodiment.

  First, the PDA terminal 10 includes a short-range wireless communication unit 11, a power supply unit 12, a PDA connector unit 13, a control unit 14, a PDA main function unit 15, a user interface unit 16, and an attachment / detachment detection unit 17. Have.

  The short-range wireless communication unit 11 performs wireless communication with surrounding terminals using a short-range wireless communication method. In the first embodiment, Bluetooth wireless communication technology is used as the short-range wireless communication means.

  The power supply unit 12 supplies power to each functional block according to the control unit 14.

  The PDA connector unit 13 is connected to the connector unit of the imaging device 20 to perform data communication between the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20 via the connector unit, and from the power supply unit 12 to the imaging device 20. Power can be supplied.

  The PDA main function means 15 is a means for performing processing for providing a user with functions as the PDA terminal 10 such as processing of an imaging device control application installed in the PDA terminal 10.

  The user interface unit 16 can be used by a user as an operation unit such as an application or an OS, or a switch unit that switches power on and off.

  The attachment / detachment detection unit 17 monitors the connection state of the PDA connector unit 13 and sends a state change signal to the control unit 14 when the PDA connector unit 13 is attached to or detached from the imaging device 20.

  Next, the configuration of the imaging device 20 in the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the imaging apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment.

  The imaging device 20 includes a short-range wireless communication unit 21, a power supply unit 22, an imaging device connector unit 23, an imaging unit 24, a control unit 25, and an attachment / detachment detection unit 26.

  Next, the operation of the imaging device 20 will be described.

  The short-range wireless communication unit 21 uses a short-range wireless communication method to perform wireless communication with surrounding terminals. In the first embodiment, Bluetooth wireless communication technology is used as short-range wireless communication means.

  The power supply unit 22 supplies power to each functional block. However, in the first embodiment, each functional block can receive power from the power supply unit 12 of the PDA terminal 10 via a connector when connected to the PDA terminal 10.

  The imaging device connector unit 23 is connected to the connector unit of the PDA terminal 10 to perform data communication between the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20 through the connector unit and receive power from the PDA terminal 10.

  The imaging unit 24 is a unit that performs processing for providing an imaging function as an extended function of the PDA terminal 10 to the user.

  The attachment / detachment detection unit 26 monitors the connection state of the imaging device connector unit 23 and sends a state change signal to the control unit 25 when the imaging device connector unit 23 is attached to or detached from the PDA terminal 10.

  Here, the operation of the master / slave switching process performed by each short-range wireless communication unit when the imaging device 20 is mounted on the PDA terminal 10 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operation of the master / slave switching process performed by each short-range wireless communication unit when the imaging apparatus 20 is mounted on the PDA terminal 10.

  In step S <b> 501, the PDA terminal 10 transmits a master / slave conversion request signal to the imaging device 20.

  In step S <b> 502, the imaging device 20 transmits a response signal to the master / slave request signal to the PDA terminal 10.

  In step S <b> 503, the new master PDA terminal 10 sets the difference in the start value of the master-to-slave (master to slave) slot between the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20 so as to match the clock of the PDA terminal 10. And sent to the imaging device 20 through the LMP message for time alignment.

  In step S504, the PDA terminal 10 transmits an FHS packet having a new active member address (AM_ADDR) value to the imaging device 20.

  In step S505, the imaging device 20 sends a response to the FHS to the PDA terminal.

  In step S506, the PDA terminal 10 switches the timing of data transfer with the imaging device 20.

  The master and slave between the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20 are switched by the above procedure.

  Next, an operation that is started after the master / slave switching process between the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20 is completed, and the operation of the piconet reconstruction process of the PDA terminal 10 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is an operation started after the master / slave switching process between the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20 is completed in the first embodiment, and shows the operation of the piconet reconstruction process of the PDA terminal 10 It is a chart.

  In step S601 and step S602, the newly mastered PDA terminal 10 sends the same time-aligned LMP to the portable storage terminal 30 that has been the piconet slave in the master-slave conversion process. Send a message and an FHS packet.

  In step S <b> 603, the PDA terminal 10 receives an FHS response packet from the portable storage terminal 30.

  Through the process of steps S601 to S603, the portable storage terminal 30 that was a slave of the piconet whose master is the imaging device 20 transmits and receives data in synchronization with the clock of the PDA terminal 10 that is the new master, Get member address.

  In step S604, the PDA terminal 10 switches at its own timing, and transmits a poll packet to the portable storage terminal 30 to confirm that the portable storage terminal 30 has been switched at its own timing.

  By the above procedure, a piconet with the PDA terminal 10 as a new master is reconstructed.

  Next, the operation of the data transfer path change process when the imaging device 20 is mounted on the PDA terminal 10 in the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a time chart illustrating the operation of the data transfer path change process when the imaging device 20 is attached to the PDA terminal 10 in the first embodiment.

  In step S701, the control unit 14 of the PDA terminal 10 transfers the transfer route change request to the imaging device 20 using a wired route via the connector unit.

  In step S702, when receiving the route change request, the control unit 25 of the imaging device 20 switches the transfer route for camera control data and the like to the PDA terminal 10 from the wireless route up to that to the wired route via the connector unit, A response to the route change request is transmitted to the PDA terminal 10.

  In step S703, upon receiving the path change response, the control unit 14 of the PDA terminal disconnects the wireless link established with the imaging device 20, and thereafter, when the imaging device 20 is mounted, the control unit 14 passes through the connector unit. Data transfer with the imaging device 20 is performed using the wired path.

  The data transfer path between the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20 is changed by the above procedure.

  Next, the operation of the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20 when the imaging device 20 is attached to the PDA terminal 10 in the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20 when the imaging device 20 is mounted on the PDA terminal 10 in the first embodiment.

  Processing is performed when the attachment / detachment detection unit 17 of the PDA terminal 10 detects that the imaging device 20 is attached to the PDA terminal 10 and the control unit 14 of the PDA terminal receives the attachment notification message from the attachment / detachment detection unit 17. Is started.

  In step S801a and step S801b, the master / slave switching process is performed between the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20, and the PDA terminal becomes a new master.

  In step S <b> 802, the imaging apparatus 20 transfers information related to the connection with the slave of the piconet built as a master to the PDA terminal 10 as piconet configuration information.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a detailed example of piconet configuration information.

  The piconet configuration information is composed of the Bluetooth address of the slave terminal and profile information used in wireless communication between the slave terminal and the imaging device 20. In the case of the first embodiment, the Bluetooth address of the portable storage terminal 30 as the piconet configuration information and the file transfer profile (FTP) used in the communication between the imaging device 20 and the portable storage terminal 30 are transferred to the PDA terminal 10. Is done.

  In step S <b> 803, the PDA terminal 10 that newly becomes the master reconstructs the piconet constructed by the imaging device 20 by performing the above-described piconet reconstruction processing. The PDA terminal performs wireless communication with the portable storage terminal 30 using the profile indicated in the piconet configuration information based on the received piconet configuration information.

  In step S804a and step S804b, the route change process is performed between the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20.

  In step S805, the control unit 25 of the imaging device 20 stops power supply from the power supply unit 22 to the short-range wireless communication unit 21 of the imaging device 20, and the power supply unit of the PDA terminal 10 via the imaging device connector unit 23. 12 to power supply.

The imaging device 20 is attached to the PDA terminal 10 by the above procedure.

  In the first embodiment, after the imaging device 20 is mounted on the PDA terminal 10, the master-slave switching process is automatically performed, the PDA terminal becomes the master, the piconet is reconfigured, and the short-range wireless communication unit of the imaging device 20 To stop.

  In the first embodiment, it is assumed that it is more efficient to stop the power supply of the short-range wireless communication unit of the imaging device 20 than to stop the power supply of the short-range wireless communication unit of the short-range wireless communication unit of the PDA terminal 10. However, when the image pickup apparatus 20 has more power capacity when mounted or the image pickup apparatus 20 supports a larger number of Bluetooth profiles than the PDA terminal 10 at the time of mounting. Contrary to the case of 1, it may be appropriate to operate the short-range wireless communication unit of the imaging device 20.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, when the imaging device 20 is attached to the PDA terminal 10, a communication unit selection process for selecting a short-range wireless communication unit to be operated after the PDA terminal 10 is attached, and the selection result is determined. It is an Example which performs a communication control process and a power supply control process. According to the second embodiment, the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20 can select and perform more efficient processing at the time of wearing according to various situations.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the short-range wireless communication unit of the imaging apparatus 20 is operated after the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging apparatus 20 are mounted in the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, it is assumed that the process at the time of mounting is performed in a state where the remaining power of the imaging device 20 is greater than that of the PDA terminal 10.

  In step S <b> 1001, the control unit 25 of the imaging device 20 transfers selection information used by the communication unit selection process to the PDA terminal 10. This selection information includes, for example, the remaining power of the power supply unit 22 of the imaging device 20, information on the Bluetooth profile supported by the imaging device 20, and the short-range wireless communication unit 21 of the imaging device 20 at the time of wearing. Parameters that serve as comparison elements when selecting a communication unit to be operated after installation, such as the number of wireless links, are stored.

  In step S1002, the control unit 14 of the PDA terminal 10 activates a communication unit selection process and selects a short-range wireless communication unit to be operated after being mounted. This communication unit selection process compares the selection information from the imaging device 20 transferred in step S1001 with the state information of the PDA terminal 10 itself, and is more appropriate based on the amount of remaining power, the number of support profiles, and the like. Select a short-range wireless communication unit. In the second embodiment, since the remaining power of the imaging device 20 is greater than that of the PDA terminal 10, the control unit 14 selects the short-range wireless communication unit 21 of the imaging device 20 as a short-range wireless communication unit that operates after being mounted.

  In step S1003a and step S1003b, the route change process is performed between the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20.

  In step S <b> 1004, the control unit 14 of the PDA terminal 10 stops the power supply from the power supply unit 12 to the short-range wireless communication unit 11 of the PDA terminal 10, and the power supply unit 22 of the imaging device 20 via the PDA connector unit 13. Change to power supply from.

  The imaging device 20 is attached to the PDA terminal 10 by the above procedure.

  When the short-range wireless communication unit 11 of the PDA terminal 10 is selected in the communication unit selection process in step S1002, the imaging device 20 is attached to the PDA terminal 10 by performing the processes in steps S801 to S805. Is done.

  In the communication unit selection process in step S1002, it is most appropriate for the control unit 14 to operate both the short-range wireless communication unit 11 of the PDA terminal 10 and the short-range wireless communication unit 21 of the imaging device 20. If it is determined, after the communication unit selection process, only the data transfer path change process is performed, and the process at the time of installation ends.

  In the above embodiment, when the portable information terminal and the function expansion device are connected, the master / slave conversion is performed between the portable information terminal and the function expansion device, and the new portable information terminal becomes the function expansion. The piconet is reconstructed by receiving piconet configuration information from the device.

  In this case, since the time slot is already synchronized with the other terminals constituting the portable information terminal and the piconet, the portable information terminal is transferred to the other terminals more quickly than the conventional paging process. Connection processing can be performed.

In addition, after the reconstruction, the data communication between the portable information terminal and the function expansion device is switched from the wireless route to the wired route via the connector unit, and after the route change is completed, the portable information terminal and the function expansion device The wireless link between them is disconnected, and the short-range wireless communication unit of the function expansion device is stopped.

It is a figure which shows network NW1 which is Example 1 of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PDA terminal 10 in Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging device 20 in Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operation of master / slave switching processing performed by each short-range wireless communication means when the imaging device 20 is mounted on the PDA terminal 10. 6 is a time chart illustrating an operation that is started after the master / slave switching process between the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging apparatus 20 is completed in the first embodiment, and illustrates the operation of the piconet reconstruction process of the PDA terminal 10. 6 is a time chart illustrating an operation of a data transfer path change process when the imaging device 20 is mounted on the PDA terminal 10 in the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20 when the imaging device 20 is mounted on the PDA terminal 10 in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the detailed example of piconet structure information. In Example 2, it is a flowchart which shows operation | movement in the case of operating the short distance radio | wireless communication part of the imaging device 20 after the mounting | wearing in the process at the time of the mutual mounting | wearing of the PDA terminal 10 and the imaging device 20. It is a figure which shows the conventional network NW11.

Explanation of symbols

NW1 ... Network,
10: PDA terminal (mobile terminal device, slave),
11, 21 ... Near field communication unit,
12, 22 ... power supply,
13 ... PDA connector,
14 ... control unit,
15 ... PDA main function means,
16 ... user interface part,
17: Attachment / detachment detection means,
20 ... Imaging device (function expansion device, master),
23 ... Imaging device connector section,
24. Imaging means,
25. Control unit,
26. Attachment / detachment detection means,
30: A portable storage terminal.

Claims (10)

In a state where the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are separated from each other, one of the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device functions as a master device, and the other In a system that functions as a slave device,
Master / slave function switching means for changing the function of each other when the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are attached;
After the master / slave function switching, a data transfer path change process is performed between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, and the wireless communication unit of the first wireless communication device is stopped. Wireless communication unit stopping means of one wireless communication device;
The system characterized by having. In claim 1,
The wireless communication device newly mastered by the master / slave function switching means communicates with the terminal that constituted the network before performing the function conversion based on the network information transferred from the other wireless communication device. A system characterized by being a means for reconfiguring a network by making a wireless connection. In claim 1,
In the case of changing the data transfer route, the wireless route is switched to a wired route via a connector unit, and the wireless link is disconnected after the route change. Wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating with other devices as a master device or a slave device;
Wired communication means for performing wired communication with the other device;
Detecting means for detecting a wired connection with the other device;
Switching means for performing master / slave function switching with the other device in response to detection by the detection means;
A change means for performing a route change process between the wireless communication path and the wired communication path after the master / slave function is switched by the switching means;
An information device comprising: In claim 4,
An information apparatus characterized by stopping the operation of the wireless communication means in response to a route change by the changing means. In claim 4,
A power supply;
Power supply switching means for switching power supply from the power supply unit to power supplied from the other device;
An information device comprising: In claim 4,
Having a discrimination means for discriminating information related to the other device;
The switching device performs master / slave function switching according to the determination by the determination unit. In claim 4,
Having a discrimination means for discriminating information related to the other device;
An information apparatus characterized by stopping the operation of the wireless communication means in accordance with the determination by the determination means. In a state where the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are separated from each other, one of the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device functions as a master device, and the other In the control method of the system that functions as a slave device,
A master / slave function switching step of changing each other's functions when the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are attached;
After the master / slave function switching, a data transfer path change process is performed between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, and the wireless communication unit of the first wireless communication device is stopped. A wireless communication unit stopping step of the wireless communication device of 1;
A method for controlling a system, comprising: In a method for controlling an information device having a wireless communication function for wireless communication as another device and a master device or a slave device, and a wired communication function for wired communication with the other device,
A detection step of detecting a wired connection with the other device;
A switching step of switching the master / slave function with the other device according to the detection in the detection step;
A change step of performing a route change process between the wireless communication route and the wired communication route after the master / slave function switching in the switching step;
A method for controlling an information device, comprising:

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