JP2005278006A - Radio communication terminal system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform low consumption power operation in a radio communication terminal system which is composed by connecting a radio communication terminal device 1 which is provided with radio communication function parts 12, 13 and 14 for changing over power source states, and a radio communication terminal control device 2 which is provided with a function to change over the on/off of the power source of the radio communication function part. <P>SOLUTION: The radio communication function parts of the radio communication terminal device are provided with radio communication means 12, 13 which carry out communication with a base station device by radio; base station device information memory means 13, 14 which store information regarding to the base station device which is a partner of the radio communication when the power state is switched over from an on-state to an off-state by the radio communication terminal control device; and a radio communication partner base station device determination means 13 which makes a specified base station device as a candidate of a radio communication partner by information regarding to base station devices stored when the power condition is switched from an off-state to an on-state by the radio communication terminal control device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal system configured by connecting a wireless communication terminal apparatus and a wireless communication terminal control apparatus, and more particularly to a wireless communication terminal system for reducing power consumption.

Conventionally, a packet radio performs power control intermittently from a packet control unit (packet radio controller). In addition, the packet control unit also intermittently stops the operation clock in synchronism with the wireless power supply control to enter a standby state to reduce power consumption.
However, since the packet control unit must have a timer for starting its own start timing and the packet radio, there is a problem that the power cannot be turned off and the standby current is always consumed.

  On the other hand, when the power is turned off forcibly to solve this problem, the packet radio unit and the packet control unit search the base station device to be connected again and register the location, etc. There was a problem that the number of In particular, in the case of a fixed installation type device that is not a mobile terminal, location registration is required when there are multiple base station devices in the vicinity, such as when another base station device is captured with the power off and on. Due to the problem of unnecessary radio waves, the power could not be turned off frequently.

As shown in the above conventional example, in the conventional packet radio communication terminal system, it has been insufficient to reduce the power consumption of the packet radio and the packet controller (packet radio controller).
The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional situation, and an object thereof is to provide a wireless communication terminal system capable of reducing power consumption.

  In order to achieve the above object, in a wireless communication terminal system according to the present invention, a wireless communication terminal device including a wireless communication function unit that can be turned on and off, and a power supply state of the wireless communication function unit of the wireless communication terminal device. The wireless communication terminal control device having a function for switching on / off is connected to the device and configured as follows.

  That is, in the wireless communication function unit of the wireless communication terminal device, the wireless communication means communicates with the base station device wirelessly. The base station apparatus information storage means stores information relating to a base station apparatus that is a radio communication partner when the power state is switched from on to off by the radio communication terminal control apparatus. Then, the radio communication partner base station apparatus determining means is specified by information relating to the base station apparatus stored in the base station apparatus information storage means when the power state is switched from off to on by the radio communication terminal control apparatus. A base station apparatus is a candidate for a wireless communication partner.

  Therefore, in the wireless communication function unit of the wireless communication terminal device, information on the base station device that is communicating is stored when the power state is switched from on to off, and according to the information when the power state is switched from off to on In order to make the identified base station device a candidate for communication, in the configuration for turning off the power state of the wireless communication function unit, it is possible to improve the efficiency of communication processing with the base station device when returning to the ON state, Overall, low power consumption can be achieved.

Here, various types of information may be used as the information regarding the base station device, for example, information that can identify the base station device is used, and includes, for example, information on the frequency used for wireless communication. It is.
The base station apparatus information storage means is configured using, for example, a nonvolatile memory.

  In addition, when a certain base station device is a candidate for a wireless communication partner, then, for example, the base station device may actually be a partner for wireless communication, or the base station device is actually wirelessly communicated. A base station device other than the base station device may be a wireless communication partner without being a partner.

  In addition, as an aspect in which the base station apparatus information storage unit stores information about the base station apparatus that is a wireless communication partner when the power state is switched from on to off by the wireless communication terminal control apparatus, for example, wireless communication terminal control According to the switching of the power state from on to off by the device, information regarding the base station device which is the wireless communication partner at that time may be stored, or the power state is switched from on to off by the wireless communication terminal control device Information related to the base station apparatus that is the radio communication partner may be stored before the switching.

Below, the structural example which concerns on this invention is shown further.
As one configuration example, the radio communication partner base station apparatus determining means uses the information related to the base station apparatus stored in the base station apparatus information storage means when the power state is switched from off to on by the radio communication terminal control apparatus. Synchronization processing is performed with the identified base station apparatus, and when synchronization is established, the base station apparatus is set as the (actual) wireless communication partner.

  As one configuration example, the radio communication partner base station apparatus determining means uses the information related to the base station apparatus stored in the base station apparatus information storage means when the power state is switched from off to on by the radio communication terminal control apparatus. A synchronization process is performed with the identified base station apparatus, and when the synchronization is not established, a process for searching for a base station apparatus as a wireless communication partner is executed.

As one configuration example, packet communication is performed.
As one configuration example, the power state of the wireless communication function unit of the wireless communication terminal device is intermittently switched on and off.
As one configuration example, the power of the wireless communication function unit of the wireless communication terminal apparatus is supplied from the wireless communication terminal control apparatus.

As one configuration example, the wireless communication function unit of the wireless communication terminal device includes a wireless function, a wireless control function, and a memory function. Specifically, the wireless communication function unit includes a packet wireless device that is a wireless function, and a wireless control function. It consists of a packet radio controller and a non-volatile memory that is a memory function.
As one configuration example, the wireless communication terminal device is a packet wireless communication terminal device.
As an example of the configuration, the wireless communication terminal control device is configured using a data terminal device (DTE: Data Terminal Equipment).

  As described above, according to the wireless communication terminal system of the present invention, the wireless communication terminal device including the wireless communication function unit that can be switched on and off of the power state, and the power state of the wireless communication function unit of the wireless communication terminal device It is configured by connecting a wireless communication terminal control device having a function of switching on and off. The wireless communication function unit of the wireless communication terminal device communicates with the base station device wirelessly, and the power state is turned on by the wireless communication terminal control device. Information related to the base station apparatus with which communication is performed when being switched from OFF to OFF, and specified by the information regarding the base station apparatus stored when the power state is switched from OFF to ON by the wireless communication terminal control apparatus Since the base station device is a candidate for a base station device that is a wireless communication partner, the power state of the wireless communication function unit is turned off. In the structure that the communication process with the base station apparatus at the time when returning to the on can be more efficient as a whole, it is possible to reduce the power consumption.

An embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a wireless communication terminal system (packet wireless communication terminal system) to which the present invention is applied.
The wireless communication terminal system of this example is configured by connecting a wireless communication terminal device (packet wireless communication terminal device) 1 and a data terminal device (DTE) 2 via a signal line 3 and a reference power supply line 4.

The wireless communication terminal device 1 includes an antenna 11, a packet wireless device 12, a packet wireless controller 13, a nonvolatile memory 14, and a power supply control unit 15.
In this example, data is transmitted / received and power is supplied between the DTE 2 composed of a personal computer or the like and the wireless communication terminal device 1, and the wireless communication terminal device 1 communicates with a base station device (not shown). Packet communication is performed wirelessly.

  The DTE 2 performs data transmission / reception with the radio communication terminal apparatus 1 as a source of data communication with the base station apparatus. In addition, when the power consumption of the wireless communication terminal device 1 is reduced, the packet wireless controller 13 is controlled to start and stop the power-off and low-power consumption mode with a signal at an arbitrary timing. Further, the reference power supply to the power supply control unit 15 is stopped and started.

The signal line 3 transmits a data signal between the packet radio controller 13 and the DTE 2.
The reference power supply line 4 transmits a power source that generates power for the power supply control unit 15 from the DTE 2 to the power supply control unit 15.

The wireless communication terminal device 1 will be described.
The antenna 11 transmits and receives radio signals.
The packet radio 12 uses the antenna 11 to perform radio communication with a base station apparatus that performs packet communication.
The power control unit 15 supplies power to the packet radio controller 13.

  The packet radio controller 13 supplies power to the packet radio 12, performs radio communication with the base station apparatus using the packet radio 12, transmits / receives data to / from the DTE 2, and stores the nonvolatile memory 14. Control. For example, transmission / reception radio section data with the base station apparatus is generated, and data communication is performed with a data format with DTE2. In addition, power is supplied to the packet radio 12. In addition, when the local station channel frequency of the base station apparatus in which the location is registered is specified from DTE2 and the special mode of power-off and low power consumption is specified from DTE2, the local station channel information such as the local station base station information is displayed. Write to the nonvolatile memory 14. In addition, when the power is turned off (OFF), it is controlled by a control flow when the power is turned on, which will be described later, and shifts to a standby state.

  The nonvolatile memory 14 is a memory that stores the power-off low power consumption mode state from the DTE 2 and the local station channel information of the base station device, and retains the stored data even when the power is turned off.

  With reference to FIG. 2, an example of the control flow at the time of power-on performed by the wireless communication terminal device 1 of this example is shown. This process is performed by the packet radio controller 13. In this example, a PDC packet radio system is taken as an example.

  First, when the power is turned on (step S1), the state of the power-off low-power consumption mode flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 is confirmed, and if the power-off low-power consumption mode is activated (step S2). ) Designate the own channel when the power is turned off (step S3). Then, frame synchronization and SF (superframe) synchronization processing is performed for the designated local channel (step S4), it is determined whether or not synchronization is established (step S5), and when synchronization is established. Performs reception of BCCH (broadcast information channel) (step S6).

  On the other hand, frame synchronization and SF synchronization processing is performed for the designated local station channel (step S4), it is determined whether or not synchronization is established (step S5), and if synchronization is not established, synchronization is established. All the perch channels are scanned for a base station device that can be established (step S11), and a reception level table is created for all channels (step S12). Then, the local station reception level and the surrounding zone reception level are detected (step S13). Then, frame synchronization and SF synchronization are established for the local channel (step S14), and BCCH is received (step S6).

  Even when the power-off low power consumption mode is not activated (step S2), similarly, a perch all-channel scan is performed (step S11), and a reception level table is created for all channels (step S12). ). Then, the local station reception level and the surrounding zone reception level are detected (step S13). Then, frame synchronization and SF synchronization are established for the local channel (step S14), and BCCH is received (step S6).

  Specifically, frame synchronization and SF synchronization processing is performed on the local channel designated as described above (step S4), and it is determined whether synchronization has been established (step S5). When not established or when the power-off low power consumption mode is not activated as described above (step S2), first, all the perch channels of the packet base station apparatus are scanned, that is, the reception electric field is Monitor and measure the radiated electric field level of the base station apparatus (step S11), then create a table of reception levels of all channels in descending order of reception level, and set the channel with the highest reception level as its own channel (Step S12), and control is performed so as to detect the reception level of the local station and other perch channels as the peripheral zone reception level (step S12). S13). Then, frame synchronization and SF synchronization processing is performed (step S14), and BCCH is received (step S6).

  Whether or not it is the base station apparatus whose final location is registered before the power is turned off by receiving basic data such as the frame configuration of the own station, information on the surrounding zone, and the frame configuration. Alternatively, it is determined whether or not the notification information has been changed (step S6), and if the information is the same, the position is not registered and a transition is made to the standby state (step S9), and intermittent reception is performed (step S10).

  On the other hand, in the above determination (step S6), if it is a new base station device or the broadcast information has been changed, a new location is registered with the base station device (step S7), and the new base station device The local channel information regarding the station device is stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 (step S8). Then, a standby state is entered (step S9). After waiting, when preparation for intermittent reception is completed, the state transits to the intermittent reception state (step S10), and intermittent power control is performed on the packet radio 12.

  As described above, the wireless communication terminal system of the present example includes the wireless communication terminal device 1 and the DTE 2 that performs transmission / reception of communication data and power saving control, and the wireless communication terminal device 1 includes the antenna 11, The packet radio 12, the packet radio controller 13 that performs packet radio control based on the control of the packet radio 12 and the power saving information from the DTE 2 terminal, the nonvolatile memory 14, and the packet radio 12 and the power supplied from the DTE 2 The power supply control unit 15 supplies power to the packet radio controller 13. Then, the power consumption of the packet radio 12 and the packet radio controller 13 is reduced to reduce power consumption.

  Further, in the wireless communication terminal system of this example, when the DTE 2 is not communicating, the power supply is switched on / off with respect to the wireless communication terminal apparatus 1, data communication is performed when the power supply is turned on, and packet radio The machine 12 communicates with the packet radio base station apparatus, and the packet radio controller 13 stores the base station information of the packet radio base station apparatus in the non-volatile memory 14, and when the power is turned on, the non-volatile memory If a predetermined condition is satisfied based on the base station information stored in 14, the same base station apparatus is again synchronized and transitioned to a standby state.

  Therefore, in the wireless communication terminal system of this example, it is possible to reduce useless standby current and reception current by turning off the power to the packet radio controller 13 and the packet radio 12 during the time when the DTE 2 does not communicate. . Further, when the DTE 2 performs communication, the packet radio controller 13 and the packet radio 12 are turned on, so that the base station apparatus before the power is turned off in a short time without performing a full channel scan of the perch channel. It is possible to communicate synchronously.

  As a result, it is possible to reduce current consumption for performing all channel scans of the perch channel and shorten the rise time until the base station apparatus is captured. In addition, in order to capture the base station device before the power is turned off, even if a plurality of base station devices exist around the packet terminal (wireless communication terminal device 1), Unnecessary radio waves for registration and the like can be reduced, and power consumption can be reduced.

In the wireless communication terminal system of this example, a wireless communication terminal control device connected to the wireless communication terminal device 1 is configured by the DTE 2.
In the wireless communication terminal device 1 of this example, the function of the wireless communication function unit is configured by the function of the packet wireless device 12, the function of the packet wireless controller 13, and the function of the nonvolatile memory 14.

  Further, in the wireless communication terminal device 1 of this example, the packet wireless device 12 and the packet wireless controller 13 constitute a wireless communication means by the function of performing wireless communication with the base station device using the antenna 11, and the packet wireless controller The base station device information storage means is configured by the function of storing in the nonvolatile memory 14 information specifying the base station device and channel of the wireless communication partner when the power source 13 is turned off. Based on the information stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 when it is turned on, it is determined whether or not the base station apparatus that was the wireless communication partner at the previous power-on is actually set as the wireless communication partner candidate The wireless communication partner base station apparatus determining means is configured by the function of determining the wireless communication partner.

The background of the technology related to the present invention will be described below. Note that the matters described here are not necessarily limited to the conventional technology.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a control flow at power-on performed by the packet radio controller of the radio communication terminal device of the radio communication terminal system to which the present invention is not applied. In this example, a packet radio system of the PDC system is taken as an example.
As shown in the figure, this control flow generally includes the processing in step S1, the processing in steps S11 to S14, the processing in steps S6 and S7, the processing in steps S9 and S10 shown in FIG. The process is combined.

Here, the configurations of the wireless communication terminal device, the wireless communication terminal control device, the wireless communication terminal system, and the like according to the present invention are not necessarily limited to those described above, and various configurations may be used. The present invention can also be provided as, for example, a method or method for executing the processing according to the present invention, a program for realizing such a method or method, or a recording medium for recording the program. It is also possible to provide various devices and systems.
The application field of the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described fields, and the present invention can be applied to various fields.

In addition, as various processes performed in the wireless communication terminal device, the wireless communication terminal control device, the wireless communication terminal system, and the like according to the present invention, for example, in a hardware resource including a processor and a memory, the processor is a ROM (Read Only Memory). A configuration controlled by executing a control program stored in () may be used, and for example, each functional means for executing the processing may be configured as an independent hardware circuit.
Further, the present invention can also be grasped as a computer-readable recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a CD (Compact Disc) -ROM storing the above control program, or the program (itself). The processing according to the present invention can be performed by inputting a program from the recording medium to a computer and causing the processor to execute the program.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the radio | wireless communication terminal system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the procedure of the process performed in the radio | wireless communication terminal system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the procedure of the process performed in a radio | wireless communication terminal system.

Explanation of symbols

1 .. Wireless communication terminal equipment, 2. Data terminal equipment (DTE),
3. ・ Signal line, 4. ・ Reference power line,
11. ・ Antenna, 12. ・ Packet radio,
13. Packet radio controller, 14. Non-volatile memory,
15. Power supply control unit,

Claims (1)

A wireless communication terminal device having a wireless communication function unit that can be switched on / off of the power state is connected to a wireless communication terminal control device that has a function of switching on / off the power state of the wireless communication function unit of the wireless communication terminal device. In the configured wireless communication terminal system,
The wireless communication function unit of the wireless communication terminal device includes wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating with the base station device,
Base station device information storage means for storing information about a base station device that is a wireless communication partner when the power state is switched from on to off by the wireless communication terminal control device;
When the power state is switched from OFF to ON by the wireless communication terminal control device, the base station device specified by the information about the base station device stored in the base station device information storage means is a wireless communication candidate A communication partner base station apparatus determining means,
A wireless communication terminal system.

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