JP2005175890A - Wireless communication equipment and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless communication equipment equipped with transmission output control for sure communication with no extra confirmation for communication level with the other party. <P>SOLUTION: If the data to be transmitted is identified to be a broadcasting data based on the judging result by an output analyzer 14 which analyzes the data to be transmitted, a level adjuster 10 is notified to raise a transmission output for controlling the transmission output. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio communication device used for home appliance control at home, facility equipment control at a factory, and the like, and a program thereof.

  Conventionally, in order to stabilize communication according to a change in noise due to disturbance of a wireless communication device, a signal for adjusting the level of a transmission signal on the other station side by detecting the S / N ratio of the signal from the other station is used. A method is conceived in which, when the level adjustment signal is detected on the other station side, the amplifier is controlled to change the transmission output (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The operation of the conventional example will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, when the wireless communication device A receives a level adjustment signal for adjusting the transmission output of the wireless communication device A, the wireless communication device A transmits a radio wave to the wireless communication device B via the level adjustment unit 10 according to this information. The degree of amplification of the carrier frequency power amplifier 12 at that time, that is, the transmission output is controlled. The S / N ratio detector 6 detects the S / N ratio of the received data, and outputs a level adjustment signal from the level adjustment signal generator 7 according to the difference from a preset reference value of the S / N ratio. generate. This signal is for adjusting the transmission output of the wireless communication apparatus B. When transmitting a signal from the wireless communication device A to the wireless communication device B, the signal is transmitted after the information data and notified to the partner station.

  Information data generated by the signal transmitter / receiver 13 of the wireless communication device A and transmitted to the wireless communication device B is modulated by the amplitude modulator 11, amplified by the carrier frequency power amplifier 12 controlled by the level adjustment unit 10, The level adjustment signal transmitted through the transmission / reception switching unit 2 and stored in the memory 8 at the end of the transmission data is transmitted to the wireless communication device B.

  The level adjustment signal is transmitted at the maximum output within the limits of the Radio Law because the surrounding noise level exceeds the transmission output and there is a possibility that the level adjustment signal cannot be transmitted to the other station side. If a level adjustment signal is received, a confirmation signal is transmitted, and if the local station side does not receive a confirmation signal from the other station side, gradually increase the transmission output of the level adjustment signal within the range of the Radio Law. To do.

The configuration of the S / N ratio detection unit 6 is a method for transmitting a fixed pattern signal at a constant interval for digital communication and detecting a bit error when reading this pattern signal on the other station side, and for analog communication, A method of detecting the S / N ratio by comparing the signal level when the own station side receives a signal from the other station side with the noise level.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-311082

  In the wireless communication level adjustment method as described above, the transmission output cannot be adjusted unless communication is performed and the partner station confirms the reception level and the level adjustment signal transmitted from the partner station is not received. For example, broadcast transmission used in ECHONET (R) communication does not require a response from the other party, so it is necessary to increase the reception probability by repeatedly transmitting several times in order to determine whether the other party has received, Furthermore, if there is no response from the other party, the system that retransmits with the same transmission output has a problem that the communication output often fails again due to insufficient transmission output.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device that performs transmission output control capable of reliably performing communication without performing an extra communication level check with a counterpart.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a wireless communication device and a program thereof according to the present invention include an output analysis unit that analyzes data to be transmitted, and data that is transmitted based on a determination result of the output analysis unit is broadcast transmission data. When it is identified that the transmission output is adjusted, a notification for increasing the transmission output is sent to the transmission output adjustment unit.

  As a result, when broadcast data is transmitted, the transmission output adjustment unit can control the transmission output to be high so that more wireless communication devices can receive the broadcast data.

  Since the wireless communication device and the program thereof according to the present invention perform transmission output control according to the transmission contents, communication can be performed more reliably without checking an extra communication level with the other party.

  The first invention provides an output analysis unit for analyzing data to be transmitted, and a transmission output to the transmission output adjustment unit when it is identified from the determination result of the output analysis unit that the data to be transmitted is broadcast transmission data. It is a feature that notification is made to increase. And since the broadcast transmission data can be received by more radio communication devices, the broadcast data can be delivered to the other party more reliably.

  2nd invention is equipped with the output analysis part which analyzes the urgency of the data to transmit, and the transmission output adjustment part which controls transmission output by the determination result of the said output analysis part, and an output analysis part performs transmission When the data includes data indicating an emergency call, the transmission output adjustment unit is notified that the transmission output is increased. Since only the transmission output of transmission data that is actually highly urgent is increased, it is less likely to interfere with other wireless systems by increasing the transmission output unnecessarily.

  A third invention includes a response detection unit that detects a response signal to a transmission signal, and a transmission output adjustment unit that controls transmission output based on a determination result of the response detection unit. The response detection unit is configured to notify the transmission output adjustment unit when the predetermined data is not received within a predetermined time, so that there is no response signal to the transmission signal within a certain time after transmission. Thus, the transmission output is controlled to be high, so that a transmission signal by retransmission or the like can be reliably delivered to the other party.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a level detection unit that detects a reception level at a predetermined time, and a transmission output adjustment unit that controls transmission output based on a determination result of the level detection unit. Since the transmission output is adjusted according to the determination result, it is possible to adjust the transmission output according to the state of the surrounding wireless noise to ensure wireless communication.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a level detection unit for detecting a reception level at a predetermined time, and a level adjustment signal generation unit for generating a level adjustment signal for requesting the other party to change the transmission output based on a determination result of the level detection unit. Because the other party is requested to change the transmission output based on the reception level detection result detected within a predetermined time, the transmission output of the communication partner is adjusted according to the state of the surrounding wireless noise. Wireless reception can be ensured.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, the level detection unit of the fourth or fifth aspect of the invention detects the S / N ratio of the received radio wave based on the received radio wave level during non-communication and the received radio wave level during communication. Since the transmission output is adjusted by detecting the S / N ratio for each communication partner, it is possible to control the fine radio signal level for each communication partner.

  In the seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, the received radio wave level at the time of non-communication of the level detection unit according to any one of the fourth to sixth inventions is determined by using the received radio wave level detected immediately before communication. Since the S / N ratio of the most recent time is detected, the transmission output can be set with reference to the latest ambient radio noise.

  In the eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, the level of the received radio wave at the time of non-communication of the level detection unit according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects is determined in advance by setting an average level for a predetermined time immediately before communication. Since the average level of time is determined to be the current ambient wireless noise, the transmission output is not increased unnecessarily due to instantaneous wireless noise.

  A ninth invention is a program for causing a computer to execute at least a part of the functions of the wireless communication device according to any one of the first to eighth inventions. As a result, it is possible to change or add a program during operation by downloading on a recording medium or a communication line, so that it is possible to cope with a new specification change.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the difference from the configuration of the conventional example shown in FIG. 6 is that the output analysis unit 14 analyzes the urgency of the data generated and transmitted by the signal transmission / reception unit 13, and the level adjustment unit 10 outputs the output. The transmission output is controlled by the determination result of the analysis unit 14.

  Further, when the transmission data is broadcast data that is transmitted without specifying the other party, the output analysis unit 14 determines that it is emergency data and notifies the level adjustment unit to increase the transmission output.

  The operation and action of the wireless communication apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  The transmission data generated by the signal transmission / reception unit 13 in the wireless communication device is subjected to confirmation analysis of the header of the information data by the output analysis unit 14.

  For example, when the transmission data is an ECHONET (R) standard message that has been standardized as a message for a home appliance network, the message format has the configuration shown in FIG. The EHD 21 is provided with a designation bit indicating whether the destination address is individual or broadcast.

  This header is analyzed, and if a bit for broadcasting the transmission destination address is set, the output analysis unit 14 instructs the level adjustment unit 10 to transmit at the maximum output. For example, in the specific low-power communication in the 429 MHz band that can be used without a license, the maximum transmission allowable level is 10 mW, so that the maximum output is 10 mW if broadcast, and the other is 1 mW.

  The transmission data is modulated by the amplitude modulator 11, amplified by the carrier frequency power amplifier 12 controlled by the level adjustment unit 10, and transmitted via the transmission / reception switching unit 2.

  With the above operation, when broadcast data is transmitted, the level adjustment unit 10 controls transmission of the transmission data at the maximum output, so that the broadcast report is received by more receivers or more distant receivers. It is possible to reduce the loss of emergency data.

  In the first embodiment, the output analysis unit 14 notifies the level adjustment unit 10 to increase the transmission output when the data to be transmitted has a header indicating that it is broadcast data. However, if the data to be transmitted includes a data element indicating an emergency call, it is determined that the data is urgent and the level adjustment unit 10 is notified to increase the transmission output. In the case of information communication, since the maximum output is not used, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of unnecessary interference waves for communication devices that do not need to receive.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the wireless communication device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The difference of the configuration of the wireless communication device in the second embodiment of the present invention from the first embodiment is that a response detection unit that detects a response signal from a partner communication device for a transmission signal instead of the output analysis unit 14 15 is provided.

  The operation and action of the wireless communication device 1 configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, transmission data generated by the signal transmission / reception unit 13 is modulated by the amplitude modulator 11, amplified by the carrier frequency power amplifier 12, and transmitted via the transmission / reception switching unit 2. Further, when data is transmitted, the signal transmitting / receiving unit 13 instructs the response detecting unit 15 to start the operation of receiving response data for the transmitted data.

  The signal received via the transmission / reception switching unit 2 is demodulated as reception data via the RF amplifier 3 and the decoder 4.

  If the response detection unit 15 cannot confirm that the received data is the response data of the counterpart wireless communication device with respect to the transmission data within a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) from the start of the reception operation, the response detection unit 15 To increase the transmission output from the next time.

  For example, if transmission is initially performed at 1 mW, and if there is no response, the transmission output is increased by 1 mW. If the same message is retransmitted from the signal transmission / reception unit 13, the transmission output increases and there is a response. By performing future communication at the current level, transmission at an unnecessarily high level is not performed.

  Note that the transmission output adjustment notification from the response detection unit 15 to the level adjustment unit 10 is a destination address (for example, if the transmission data is an ECHONET (R) message, the DEA 22 which is the transmission destination ECHONET (R) address in FIG. 2). ).

  With the above operation, the transmission output is adjusted by the level adjusting unit 10 so that the response signal reaches each transmission destination, so that an optimal transmission output can be set for each transmission destination.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The difference between the configuration of the wireless communication apparatus in the third embodiment of the present invention and the second embodiment is that level adjustment is performed by a level detection unit 16 that detects the reception level of a wireless signal instead of the response detection unit 15. It is a point to do.

  The operation and action of the wireless communication apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, the signal transmission / reception unit 13 requests the level detection unit 16 to detect a reception level for a predetermined time (for example, 20 milliseconds) immediately before transmitting a signal.

  The level detection unit 16 notifies the signal transmission / reception unit 13 of the reception level. For example, in the case of the 400 MHz band, if there is a reception level of 7 micro V or more, it is considered that another radio is transmitting. 13 defers signal transmission.

  Further, when the reception level detected by the level detection unit 16 is 7 micro V or less, the signal transmission / reception unit 13 starts signal transmission, but the level detection unit 16 transmits to the level adjustment unit 10 according to the reception level. Instructs output adjustment.

  For example, the level adjustment unit 10 controls the carrier frequency power amplifier 12 so that transmission is performed at 1 mW when the reception level is 5 microV or less, and transmission is performed at 10 mW when the reception level exceeds 5 microV.

  With the above operation, if the surrounding noise is large at the time of transmission, the transmission output can be controlled high because there is a possibility that the noise is also large in the vicinity of the counterpart wireless communication device. Can be set.

  In this embodiment, the transmission output is uniquely determined by the reception level. However, if the reception level is higher than the reception level at the previous transmission, the transmission output is increased by one level (for example, 1 mW increase). If the reception level is low, control the transmission output one step lower (for example, lower by 1 mW), or the reception level at the time of the previous signal reception from the wireless communication device that is the transmission destination and the reception level at the time of non-communication The S / N is calculated, and if the S / N is worse than the previous transmission, the transmission output is increased by one step (for example, increased by 1 mW), and if the S / N is improved, the transmission output is decreased by a further step. If (for example, lowering by 1 mW), wireless communication can be performed with the S / N maintained relatively constant.

  In this embodiment, the level detection unit 16 controls the level adjustment unit 10 according to the reception level. However, the level adjustment is performed based on the reception level received by the signal transmission / reception unit 13 from the level detection unit 16. The same effect can be obtained by controlling the unit 10.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a radio communication device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  The difference between the configuration of the wireless communication apparatus in the fourth embodiment of the present invention and the conventional configuration is that the level adjustment signal generation unit 7 is notified of the detection level of the reception level detection unit 16 for detecting the reception level and the level adjustment is performed. Generating a signal.

  The operation and action of the wireless communication apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The signal transmission / reception unit 13 periodically requests the level detection unit 16 to detect the reception level for a predetermined time (for example, 20 milliseconds).

  The level detection unit 16 notifies the level adjustment signal generation unit 7 of the reception level, and the level adjustment signal unit 7 determines the transmission content of the level adjustment signal according to the notified reception level and writes it in the memory 8.

  When the level adjustment signal is written, the memory 8 transmits as a broadcast message that does not specify the other party through the amplitude modulator 11 and the carrier frequency power amplifier 12 via the output switching unit 9.

  The level adjustment signal includes a transmission source address that identifies the wireless communication device and a numerical value as a level adjustment parameter. As the level adjustment parameter, the reception level detected by the level detection unit 16 is inserted as it is. For example, when the reception level is 5 micro V, “5” is inserted as the level adjustment parameter.

  The wireless communication device that has received the level adjustment signal transfers the message demodulated by the decoder 4 to the signal transmission / reception unit 13. The signal transmission / reception unit 13 controls the level adjustment unit 10 to adjust the transmission output during transmission to the transmission source address included in the level adjustment signal.

  The adjustment is performed by the level adjustment parameter. For example, when the level adjustment parameter is “5” or more, the transmission output is 10 mW, and when it is less than “5”, the transmission output is 1 mW.

  With the above operation, when the ambient noise is large, it is difficult to receive a signal from the counterpart wireless communication device, and thus the optimum counterpart transmission output can be set according to the environment by controlling the transmission output from the counterpart high.

  In this embodiment, the transmission output is uniquely determined by the level adjustment parameter. However, if the parameter value is larger than the previous level adjustment parameter, the transmission output is further increased (for example, by 1 mW), If the parameter value is small, the transmission output can be set more precisely according to the environment if the transmission output is controlled one step lower (for example, by 1 mW).

  In addition, although it has been described that the transmission output is adjusted using the level adjusting unit 10, the transmission output may be adjusted by other means / methods.

  In this embodiment, the reception level detected by the level detection unit 16 is used as it is as the level adjustment parameter. However, the reception level at the time of the previous signal reception from the wireless communication device that is the transmission destination and the reception level at the time of no communication. If the S / N is calculated and the level adjustment signal is transmitted to the wireless communication device of the transmission destination using the S / N as the level adjustment parameter, the transmission output can be further set for each communication destination. Can do.

  In this embodiment, the level detection unit 16 notifies the reception level to the level adjustment signal generation unit 7. However, the level adjustment is performed based on the reception level received by the signal transmission / reception unit 13 from the level detection unit 16. The same effect can be obtained by generating and sending a signal.

  In the third and fourth embodiments, the detection of the reception level at the time of non-communication is performed in a short time (for example, 20 milliseconds), but a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) for transmission or reception is performed. ), It is not necessary to increase the transmission output unnecessarily due to instantaneous noise.

  Moreover, it is realizable using a computer by implement | achieving all or one part of each function of these radio | wireless communication apparatuses with a program or data. For example, the means described in this embodiment causes hardware resources such as a CPU (or microcomputer), a RAM, a ROM, a storage / recording device, an electric / information device including an I / O, a computer, a server, and the like to cooperate. You may implement with the form of a program. Also, using a recording medium such as magnetic media or optical media that records the program or data makes it easy to write software to the control memory of a general-purpose microcomputer or move data to another terminal. It is possible to cope with a new specification change by changing or adding a program during operation by downloading on a recording medium or a communication line.

  The wireless communication device and program of the present invention can improve the reliability of communication even in wireless communication in which the surrounding wireless noise easily changes and there are a plurality of communication destinations at different distances. It can also be used for applications such as equipment control in factories.

1 is a block configuration diagram of a wireless communication device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The figure which shows the communication telegram of the radio | wireless communication apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention Block configuration diagram of a wireless communication device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Block configuration diagram of a wireless communication device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention Block diagram of a wireless communication device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention Block diagram of a wireless communication device in a conventional example

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Antenna 2 Transmission / reception switching part 3 RF amplification part 4 Decoder 5 Level adjustment signal detection part 6 S / N ratio detection part 7 Level adjustment signal generation part 8 Memory 9 Output switching part 10 Level adjustment part (transmission output adjustment part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Amplitude modulation part 12 Carrier frequency power amplification part 13 Signal transmission / reception part 14 Output analysis part 15 Response detection part 16 Level detection part

Claims (9)

An output analysis unit for analyzing data to be transmitted, and a notification for increasing the transmission output to the transmission output adjustment unit when the transmission data is identified based on the determination result of the output analysis unit as broadcast transmission data A wireless communication device. An output analysis unit that analyzes an urgency level of data to be transmitted, and a transmission output adjustment unit that controls transmission output based on a determination result of the output analysis unit, wherein the output analysis unit indicates that the data to be transmitted indicates an emergency call A wireless communication device characterized in that, when data is included, a notification for increasing a transmission output is sent to a transmission output adjustment unit. A response detection unit that detects a response signal to the transmission signal; and a transmission output adjustment unit that controls a transmission output based on a determination result of the response detection unit, the response detection unit within a predetermined time after transmission A wireless communication device, characterized in that, when predetermined data is not received, a notification for increasing a transmission output is sent to a transmission output adjustment unit. A wireless communication apparatus comprising: a level detection unit that detects a reception level at a predetermined time; and a transmission output adjustment unit that controls transmission output based on a determination result of the level detection unit. Wireless communication comprising: a level detection unit that detects a reception level at a predetermined time; and a level adjustment signal generation unit that generates a level adjustment signal that requests a partner to change transmission output based on a determination result of the level detection unit Machine. 6. The wireless communication device according to claim 4, wherein the level detection unit detects the S / N ratio of the received radio wave based on the received radio wave level when not communicating and the received radio wave level when communicating. The radio communication device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the received radio wave level at the time of non-communication of the level detection unit uses a received radio wave level detected immediately before communication. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the received radio wave level when the level detection unit is not communicating is an average level of a predetermined time immediately before communication. The program for making a computer perform at least one part of the function of the radio | wireless communication apparatus of any one of Claims 1-8.

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