JP2006067143A - Radio communication system, system managing server and radio communication terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio communication system which manages all contents which a content server belonging to a plurality of radio communication networks possesses. <P>SOLUTION: When a content request terminal 151 participates in a composite radio LAN 141 and one content in the contents possessed by either of content servers 121-123 is desired, managing information becoming the content list of the contents possessed by the content servers 121-123 is transmitted from management server 101 to the content request terminal 151. And, the content request terminal 151 determines to participate in any of the radio LAN 131, 132 according to this managing information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication system in a composite wireless communication network including a plurality of wireless communication networks provided with a content server, and also relates to a system management server and a wireless communication terminal apparatus in the wireless communication system.

  In recent years, with the development of wireless communication technology and information compression technology, it has become possible to wirelessly transmit and receive data with a large amount of information such as audio and video AV data, and a wireless communication system for communicating content using this AV data is provided. Has been. Such a wireless communication system includes a plurality of wireless LANs (Local Area Networks). In one wireless LAN, for example, a content recording / playback apparatus including a recording medium storing content such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) player, a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), or a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) wirelessly transmits the content. It operates as a content server that transmits by communication.

  Such a content server performs wireless communication with an AP (Access Point), so that the content server belongs to a wireless LAN configured by one AP. When a content requesting terminal that receives and plays back content is located in the wireless LAN communication area to which the content server belongs, the content requesting terminal communicates with the AP to participate in this wireless LAN.

  The content requesting terminal that participates in the wireless LAN in this way searches the content server for the content requested by the user by broadcasting through the AP. Then, upon receiving the broadcast from the content requesting terminal, the content server having the requested content transmits a content list possessed by the content server itself to the content requesting terminal via the AP. When the content requesting terminal receives this content list, the content server possessing the requested content is confirmed, and the content list is obtained by receiving the content from the content server that includes the requested content.

  However, if the requested content is not possessed by the content server belonging to the participating wireless LAN, the content requesting terminal leaves the currently participating wireless LAN, and the location where the content requesting terminal is located is within the communication range. Participate in another wireless LAN. Then, by performing the same operation in this other wireless LAN, the content server possessing the requested content is confirmed, and the requested content is searched. For this reason, when the search cannot be performed in the wireless LAN in which the target content participates, the above-described search operation is repeated in a plurality of wireless LANs.

  In addition, when the content requesting terminal can communicate with other wireless LANs via the participating wireless LAN APs, that is, when the wireless LAN APs can communicate with each other, the content requesting terminal is participating in the wireless LAN. A content server in another wireless LAN can be searched via an AP of another wireless LAN that can communicate with the other AP. That is, when there is no requested content in the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal participates and there is requested content in another wireless LAN and communication is possible between the wireless LANs via the AP, the content requesting terminal The requested content can be acquired from another wireless LAN via the wireless LAN AP.

Further, as a conventional technique, there is a cache device that is provided for LAN communication that can be connected to the Internet and stores content acquired from a server on the Internet side, and stores the acquired content together with additional information associated with the content. It has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). Since this cache device holds subtitle information, time information, video rate information, number of accesses, and the like related to the content as additional information, when the content held in the cache device is requested from the terminal device, Additional information can be added and transmitted to the terminal.
JP 2002-185944 A

  As described above, in the conventional communication network, when there is no content requested by the content requesting terminal in the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal participates, the content requesting terminal is connected to another wireless LAN that can be grasped at that time. I need to participate again. Then, until the content requested by the content requesting terminal is found, the content requesting terminal continues to participate in another wireless LAN in which its own device is located within the communication range.

  This participation operation in the wireless LAN may be performed by the number of wireless LANs that can be grasped by the current content requesting terminal. That is, the content requesting terminal may need to continue the operation of joining and leaving a different wireless LAN before obtaining the content to be acquired. If there is no requested content in all the wireless LANs that can be grasped by the content requesting terminal, all the content servers belonging to each wireless LAN are searched while participating in all the wireless LANs.

  In addition, when the APs of the plurality of wireless LANs communicate with each other to enable communication between the plurality of wireless LANs via the AP, the content requesting terminal requests the participating wireless LANs. When the content to be confirmed cannot be confirmed, the requested content can be acquired from another wireless LAN via the AP of the wireless LAN. However, at this time, in order for the content requesting terminal to acquire the content, the frequency band used by the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal participates and the frequency band used by the wireless LAN to which the content server including the requested content belongs. And need to use. For this reason, a plurality of frequency bands are used to acquire one content, and as described above, a limited frequency band is used wastefully compared to the case of repeatedly joining and leaving each wireless LAN. It will be.

  Further, when the frequency band that can be used by the content requesting terminal is different from the frequency band of the wireless LAN to which the content server that owns the content requested by the content requesting terminal belongs, the content requesting terminal and the content server may belong to the same wireless LAN. Impossible. Therefore, the content requesting terminal must acquire the content via the AP using the frequency band of the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal participates and the frequency band of the wireless LAN to which the content server belongs. Therefore, even in this case, since a plurality of frequency bands are used, a limited frequency band is wasted.

  Furthermore, as in Patent Document 1, by providing a cache device, even if content acquired from an external network is held in the cache device, if the content requested by the content requesting terminal is not held in the cache device, Must be obtained from an external network. Therefore, even if a cache device is provided in the wireless LAN, if the content requested by the cache device is not retained, it is necessary to search for a content server that possesses the content requested by another wireless LAN. .

  In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication system that manages all contents possessed by content servers belonging to a plurality of wireless communication networks.

  To achieve the above object, a wireless communication system of the present invention includes at least one wireless communication network including a first wireless communication terminal device storing content, a system management server connected to the wireless communication network, A content list in which the system management server compares the connected wireless communication network with the content recorded in each first wireless communication terminal device in each wireless communication network When the second wireless communication terminal device that records the first management information and plays back the content participates in any of the wireless communication networks and requests acquisition of the content, the second wireless communication terminal device The management server provides the first management information. To.

  At this time, the wireless communication network includes an access point that is wirelessly connected to each of the wireless communication terminal devices, and a plurality of wireless communication networks are connected to the access point by wireless or wired connection to a system management server. A wireless communication system which is a combined composite wireless communication network is configured.

  At this time, when the second wireless communication terminal apparatus acquires the first management information, the first wireless communication network to which the first wireless communication terminal apparatus that recorded the content requested to be acquired belongs, When it is confirmed that the second wireless communication network in which the second wireless communication terminal device is participating is different from the second wireless communication network, the second wireless communication terminal device can participate in the first wireless communication network. The second wireless communication terminal device leaves the second wireless communication network and participates in the first wireless communication network, and the content recorded in the first wireless communication terminal device is transferred to the second wireless communication terminal. Acquired by the device.

  The system management server records second management information indicating the wireless communication network in which each of the second wireless communication terminal devices participates, and the first wireless communication terminal device records the own device. When it is confirmed that the acquisition of the content is requested by the second wireless communication terminal device, the second management information is provided from the system management server to the first wireless communication terminal device, and the first wireless communication terminal device In the communication terminal device, when it is confirmed that the first wireless communication network to which the first wireless communication terminal device belongs and the second wireless communication network in which the second wireless communication terminal device participates are different, When the first wireless communication terminal apparatus can participate in the second wireless communication network, the first wireless communication terminal apparatus is connected to the first wireless communication network. Participating in the second wireless communication network by more disengaged, it may be as to send the content to the second wireless communication terminal.

  At this time, the second management information includes a frequency band to which the second wireless communication terminal device can be connected as information, thereby confirming a wireless communication network in which the second wireless communication terminal device can participate. be able to.

  In each of the wireless communication systems described above, the first management information may include the first wireless communication terminal device that records the content as information, and the first wireless that records the content. Information including a unique ID or a frequency band for identifying the wireless communication network to which the communication terminal device belongs may be used.

  A system management server according to the present invention is a system management server connected to at least one wireless communication network including a first wireless communication terminal device storing content, and is a system management server in any of the above wireless communication systems. It is characterized by being.

The system management server of the present invention is a system management server connected to at least one wireless communication network including a first wireless communication terminal device storing content.
A receiver connected to the wireless communication network and receiving a signal from the wireless communication network; a transmitter connected to the wireless communication network and transmitting a signal to the wireless communication network; and the connected wireless A management information recording unit that records first management information that is a content list that compares the content recorded in each first wireless communication terminal device in each of the communication network and the wireless communication network; The first management information is provided by transmitting the first management information from the receiver through the wireless communication network in which the second wireless communication terminal device participates to the second wireless communication terminal device that reproduces It is characterized by doing.

  In such a system management server, the management information recording unit records the second management information indicating the wireless communication network in which each of the second wireless communication terminal devices participates, and the content recorded by the device itself The second management information is transmitted from the transmitting unit to the first wireless communication terminal device requested to be acquired by the second wireless communication terminal device through the wireless communication network in which the first wireless communication terminal device participates. May be used to provide the second management information.

  A wireless communication terminal device according to the present invention is a second wireless communication terminal device in any one of the above-described wireless communication systems, the receiving unit receiving the first management information transmitted from the system management server, and the transmission A content list output unit that outputs the content list according to the first management information received by the unit.

  When the first wireless communication network to which the first wireless communication terminal device including the content selected from the content confirmed by the content list belongs is different from the currently participating second wireless communication network, the second wireless communication network After leaving the wireless communication network, the content may be acquired from the first wireless communication terminal device by joining the first wireless communication network.

  The wireless communication terminal apparatus of the present invention is a first wireless communication terminal apparatus in any of the above-described wireless communication systems, and the second wireless communication terminal apparatus is requested to acquire the content recorded by the device itself. The second management information is received from the system management server that records the second management information indicating the wireless communication network in which each of the second wireless communication terminal devices participates. When it is confirmed that the first wireless communication network to which the device belongs and the second wireless communication network in which the second wireless communication terminal device participates are different, the own device can participate in the second wireless communication network. The content is transferred from the first wireless communication network to the second wireless communication network and the content is transferred to the second wireless communication network. And transmits to the end device.

  In such a wireless communication terminal device, it is confirmed that the second wireless communication terminal device has requested the acquisition of the content recorded by the device, and the first information to which the device belongs belongs according to the second management information. When it is confirmed that the wireless communication network and the second wireless communication network in which the second wireless communication terminal device participates are different, the second wireless communication terminal device participates in the first wireless communication network If it is confirmed that it is possible, the content in the first wireless communication network is sent to the second wireless communication terminal device that has left the second wireless communication network and rejoined the first wireless communication network. May be transmitted.

  The first wireless communication terminal device described above is a “content server” in the following embodiment, and the second wireless communication terminal device is a “content request terminal” in the following embodiment. Is a “management server” in the following embodiment.

  According to the present invention, for the second wireless communication terminal device that requests content, the system management server transmits the first management information that becomes a content list to the second wireless communication terminal device. Therefore, in the second wireless communication terminal device, the wireless communication network belonging to the first wireless communication terminal device possessing the desired content can be confirmed from the first management information. Therefore, even when the second wireless communication network to which the device belongs is different from the first wireless communication network to which the first wireless communication terminal device belongs, the operation to rejoin the first wireless communication network is performed only once. One wireless communication terminal device can participate in the same wireless communication network. Therefore, it is not necessary to repeat the operation of rejoining the wireless communication network a plurality of times as in the prior art.

  In addition, when the second wireless communication network to which the second wireless communication terminal device participates is different from the first wireless communication network to which the first wireless communication terminal device belongs, the second wireless communication terminal device participates in the first wireless communication network. Or the first wireless communication terminal device can rejoin the second wireless communication network. Therefore, since the first wireless communication terminal device and the second wireless communication terminal device belong to the same wireless communication network and content can be transmitted and received within the same wireless communication network, the frequency band to be used is 1 It is possible to prevent the use of bandwidth in vain.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication system using a composite wireless LAN including a plurality of wireless LANs.

  In the wireless communication system of FIG. 1, for example, a composite wireless LAN 141 is configured by a wireless LAN 131 having a used frequency band of 5 GHz and a wireless LAN 132 having a used frequency band of 2.4 GHz. The wireless LAN 131 includes an AP 111 that mediates wireless communication between a plurality of terminals within a communicable area, and a content server 121 that belongs to the wireless LAN 131 by communicating with the AP 111 and belongs to a plurality of contents. The wireless LAN 132 is configured by an AP 112 that mediates wireless communication between a plurality of terminals in a communicable area, and content servers 122 and 123 that belong to the wireless LAN 132 by communicating with the AP 112 and belong to a plurality of contents. .

  Further, by providing the management server 101 to which the APs 111 and 112 are connected for communication, the communication connection between the wireless LANs 131 and 132 is managed, so that a composite wireless LAN 141 by the wireless LANs 131 and 132 is constructed. Also, the unique ID for belonging to the wireless LAN 131 is wlanA, and the unique ID for belonging to the wireless LAN 132 is wlanB. Furthermore, it is assumed that a content requesting terminal 151 that requests content participates in the composite wireless LAN 141 configured as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the composite wireless LAN 141 in which the content requesting terminal 151 participates, the content server 121 having the use frequency band only of 5 GHz possesses the contents c1 and c2, and the use frequency band is only the 2.4 GHz band. Assume that the server 122 possesses the content c3, and the content server 123 that uses only the 2.4 GHz frequency band possesses the content c4. At this time, the management server 101 stores a management table for managing the contents c1 to c4 in the content servers 121 to 123 belonging to the wireless LANs 131 and 132 constituting the composite wireless LAN 141, respectively. The contents c1 to c4 may be stream data such as video and audio, or may be stream data that is further encoded by a variable rate encoding method.

  As described above, the management server 101 in the composite wireless LAN 141 transmits a signal to the receiving unit 201 that receives signals transmitted from the APs 111 and 112 that are connected by wire or wirelessly and the APs 111 and 112 as illustrated in FIG. A transmission unit 202; a management information request detection unit 203 for determining whether a packet received by the reception unit 201 is a management information request packet for requesting management information related to the content of the composite wireless LAN 141; and a management information request detection unit A management information generation unit 204 that generates a management information response packet based on management information related to content when a management information request packet is confirmed in 203; a management information recording unit 205 that records the above-described management table that is management information related to content; , Packets other than the management information request packet obtained by the receiving unit 201 It includes a reception data processing unit 206 sense that, the transmission data processing unit 207 generates a packet transmitted to AP111,112 other than the management information response packet.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the content requesting terminal 151 that intends to participate in the composite wireless LAN 141 receives a signal transmitted by wireless communication from the APs 111 and 112 and wirelessly communicates with the APs 111 and 112 by wireless communication. A wireless transmission unit 302 that transmits a signal; a management information response detection unit 303 that determines whether a packet received by the reception unit 301 is a management information response packet; and a management information response obtained by the wireless reception unit 301 The received data processing unit 304 that processes a packet other than the packet, the management information control unit 305 that confirms the management information of the content from the management information response packet confirmed by the management information response detection unit 303, and the management information control unit 305 operate. A management information request generation unit 306 that generates a management information request packet under control, and a management information control unit 3 5 is stored in the management information recording unit 307 that stores the management information of the content confirmed in 5, the transmission data processing unit 308 that generates packets to be transmitted to the APs 111 and 112 other than the management information request packet, and the management information recording unit 307. A content list control unit 309 that generates a content list based on the content management information, and a content list display unit 310 that displays the content list generated by the content list control unit 309.

  As described above, when the management server 101 and the content requesting terminal 151 are configured, the content requesting terminal 151 can receive signals in both the 2, 4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band in the wireless transmission unit 301 and the wireless reception unit 302, respectively. is there. At this time, the content request terminal 151 includes unique IDs lanA and wlanB for participating in the wireless LANs 131 and 132 in the transmission data processing unit 303. Therefore, when the content request terminal 151 moves within the communication range of each of the APs 111 and 112, it joins the wireless LANs 131 and 132 by communicating with each of the APs 111 and 112, respectively.

  That is, when the content request terminal 151 moves within the communication range of the AP 111, when the wireless reception unit 301 receives a communication control signal in the 5 GHz band from the AP 111, the reception data processing unit 304 confirms the communication control packet from the AP 111. Then, it is confirmed that the wireless LAN 131 is located within the communication range of the AP 111. Then, in order to participate in the wireless LAN 131, a connection request packet to which the unique ID lanA is added is generated by the transmission data processing unit 308, and transmitted from the wireless transmission unit 302 to the AP 111 as a 5 GHz band signal. When the AP 111 receives the connection request signal based on the connection request packet, the participation of the content request terminal 151 in the wireless LAN 131 is permitted by checking the unique ID lanA added to the connection request packet. Therefore, the content request terminal 151 participates in the wireless LAN 131.

  When the content request terminal 151 moves within the communication range of the AP 112 and receives a 2.4 GHz band communication control signal from the AP 112, the connection request packet 2 with the unique ID lanB is added to participate in the wireless LAN 132. .4 GHz band connection request signal is transmitted to the AP 112. When this connection request signal is received by the AP 112, the unique ID lanB added to the connection request packet is confirmed, and the content request terminal 151 participates in the wireless LAN 132.

  In this way, the content request terminal 151 participates in the wireless LAN 131 by the AP 111 or the wireless LAN 132 by the AP 112 by alternately communicating the communication control signal and the connection request signal between each of the APs 111 and 112 and the content request terminal 151. . When the content request terminal 151 is located in the communication area of both the APs 111 and 112, the wireless IDs 131 and 132 to participate in are selected by selecting the unique IDs wlanA and wlanB added to the communication control signal to be transmitted. Then, the content request terminal 151 participates in the wireless LAN for the selected unique ID.

  The management server 101 connected to the APs 111 and 112 to construct the composite wireless LAN 141 stores a management table serving as management information for managing the content of the composite wireless LAN 141 in the management information recording unit 205. In the management table stored in the management server 101, as shown in FIG. 4, for each of the contents c1 to c4, the possessed contents server, the unique ID and frequency band of the wireless LAN to which the contents server belongs are stored. To be recorded. That is, in the management table of FIG. 4, for the contents c1 and c2, the content server 121, the unique ID lanA, the frequency band 5 GHz band, and for the content c3, the content server 122, the unique ID lanB, the frequency band 2.4 GHz. For the content c4, a band is recorded for the content server 123, the unique ID wlanB, and the frequency band 2.4 GHz.

  In the wireless communication system using the composite wireless LAN 141 configured as described above, an operation when content acquisition is requested by the content request terminal 151 will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content requesting terminal 151 when an instruction to acquire content is given. First, the content requesting terminal 151 instructed to acquire content participates in the wireless LAN to which the AP belongs by communicating with the AP located in the communication area of the own device (STEP 10).

  When the management information request generation unit 306 generates a management information request packet for acquiring a content list in the composite wireless LAN 141, the content request terminal 151 transmits the management information request signal from the wireless transmission unit 302 (STEP 11). . This management information request signal is transmitted to the management server 101 through the wireless LAN AP in which the content requesting terminal 151 is participating, and the management server 101 is requested for a content list of the composite wireless LAN 141.

  At this time, in the management server 101, when the management information request signal transmitted from the content request terminal 151 is received by the reception unit 201, the management information request detection unit 203 determines that the packet obtained from the management information request signal is a management information request. Confirm that it is a packet. The management information request detection unit 203 that has confirmed the management information request packet instructs the management information generation unit 204 to generate a management information response packet to the content request terminal 151 that is a request source. At this time, the content request terminal 151 that is the request source and the wireless LAN AP in which the content request terminal 151 participates are confirmed from the header information of the management information request packet.

  Therefore, the management information generation unit 204 reads the management table as shown in FIG. 4 stored in the management information recording unit 205 and generates a management information response packet based on the content management information in the composite wireless LAN 141. At this time, header information for designating the content request terminal 151 as a transmission destination and the AP of the wireless LAN in which the content request terminal 151 participates is added to the management information response packet. Then, when a management information response signal based on this management information response packet is generated in the transmission unit 202, it is transmitted to the content requesting terminal 151 via the AP.

  When the management information response signal transmitted from the management server 101 is received by the wireless reception unit 301 via the AP in this way, the content request terminal 151 confirms the management information response packet in the management information response detection unit 303 (STEP 12 ). Therefore, at this time, the management information control unit 305 acquires the management information of the content in the composite wireless LAN 141 from the confirmed management information response packet and records it in the management information recording unit 307. That is, the contents of the management table of FIG. 4 stored in the management information recording unit 205 of the management server 101 are recorded in the management information recording unit 307 of the content requesting terminal 151.

  Then, the content list control unit 309 reads the content management information stored in the management information recording unit 307, generates a content list indicating the content that can be acquired by the composite wireless LAN 141, and displays the content list on the content list display unit 310. The generated content list is displayed (STEP 13). An example of the content list displayed on the content list display unit 310 is shown in FIG. The content list shown in FIG. 6 is generated by management information based on the management table shown in FIG.

  At this time, in the content list of FIG. 6 displayed on the content list display unit 310, the contents c1 to c4 are displayed as selectable contents in the composite wireless LAN 141, and as options when there is no content desired by the user. “No desired content” is also displayed. In the content list of FIG. 6, content that the content requesting terminal 151 cannot obtain from the composite wireless LAN 141 may not be presented to the user.

  FIG. 7 shows another example of the content list displayed on the content list display unit 310. At this time, first, the content servers 121 to 123 belonging to the composite wireless LAN 141 are confirmed from the content management information stored in the management information recording unit 307. As shown in FIG. 123 display lists are displayed on the content list display unit 310. In this display list, “no desired content server” is displayed as an option when there is no content server desired by the user.

  When a content server for which the user desires a content request is selected from the display list, the content possessed by the selected content server is confirmed from the content management information stored in the management information recording unit 307. As shown in FIG. 7B, a content list based on the content possessed by the selected content server is displayed on the content list display unit 310. Also in this content list, “no desired content” is displayed as an option when there is no content desired by the user. FIG. 7B shows a display example of a content list when the content server 121 is selected. Content c1 and c2 are displayed as content that can be selected from the content server 121.

  When the content list is displayed in this way, the user operates an input unit (not shown) of the content request terminal 151 (for example, a touch panel or an input key) and displays it on the content list display unit 310 to present to the user. One content in the selected content list is selected by the user (STEP 14). When the selection operation by the user is performed, the content requesting terminal 151 confirms whether or not content that can be acquired from the composite wireless LAN 141 that is confirmed based on the content management information stored in the management information recording unit 307 has been selected. (STEP 15).

  When the content desired by the user is selected from the content list (Yes), the content requesting terminal 151 determines that the content selected by the user is a content request based on the content management information stored in the management information recording unit 307. It is determined whether or not it is possessed by a content server belonging to the wireless LAN in which the terminal 151 is participating (STEP 16). At this time, if the content selected by the user is possessed by a content server belonging to another wireless LAN to which the content request terminal 151 does not participate (No), the content request terminal 151 participates in the content request terminal 151. The user leaves the wireless LAN (STEP 18). Then, it participates in the wireless LAN to which the content server possessing the content desired by the user belongs (STEP 19).

  At this time, the content requesting terminal 151 confirms the content server possessing the content selected by the user based on the content management information stored in the management information recording unit 307 and recognizes the wireless LAN to which the content server belongs. To do. Then, in order to participate in the recognized wireless LAN, as in STEP 10, by communicating with the AP belonging to the recognized wireless LAN, the wireless LAN belongs to the content server that owns the content selected by the user.

  Then, when it is confirmed in STEP 16 that the content selected by the user is possessed by the content server belonging to the wireless LAN in which the content request terminal 151 participates (Yes), or in STEP 19, the content request terminal 151 is When the content request terminal 151 rejoins the wireless LAN to which the content server having the desired content belongs, the content request terminal 151 acquires the content desired by the user from the content server (STEP 20).

  At this time, the content request terminal 151 first generates a content request packet for acquiring user-desired content in the transmission data processing unit 308, and the content server confirmed from the content management information is the transmission destination. And header information indicating that the device is the transmission source is added to the content request packet. Then, in the wireless transmission unit 302, the content request packet to which the header information is added is used as a content request signal and transmitted to the content server that is the transmission destination via the AP.

  When this content request signal is received by the content server via the AP, after the content data of the content confirmed from the content request signal is packetized, header information with the transmission destination as the content request terminal 151 is added. . When the content data to which the header information is added is transmitted from the content server, the content data is received by the wireless reception unit 301 of the content requesting terminal 151 via the AP. Then, when the received content data is given to the received data processing unit 304 via the management information response detecting unit 303, the content requesting terminal 151 decrypts the packetized content data and stores it in a memory (not shown). To do.

  In STEP 14, when no content that can be acquired from the composite wireless LAN 141 confirmed from the content management information stored in the management information recording unit 307 is selected (No), the content requesting terminal 151 is connected to the management server 101. It is determined that there is no content desired by the user in all connected wireless LANs (STEP 17), and the operation for acquiring the content is terminated. At this time, for example, when a content list as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the content list display unit 310 and the user selects “no desired content”, the content requesting terminal 151 acquires content. Exit.

  A specific example when the content requesting terminal 151 performs an operation of acquiring user-desired content according to the flowchart of FIG. 5 is shown below. In this specific example, first, in STEP 10, if the content request terminal 151 participates in the wireless LAN 131 by communicating with the AP 111, in STEP 11, the content request terminal 151 transmits management information to the management server 101 through the AP 111. Send a request signal. Then, in the management server 101 that has received the management information request signal, a management information response signal is generated based on the management information regarding the contents c1 to c4 possessed by the content servers 121 to 123 belonging to the wireless LANs 131 and 132 to which the management server 101 is connected. Then, this management information response signal is transmitted to the content request terminal 151 via the AP 111.

  Upon receiving this management information response signal, the content request terminal 151 confirms the management information as shown in FIG. 4 regarding the contents c1 to c4 from the management information response signal in STEP 12, and stores them in the management information recording unit 307. Then, when the management information stored in the management information recording unit 307 is read, a content list as shown in FIG. 6 with the contents c1 to c4 is displayed on the content display unit 310 in STEP13. In STEP 14, based on the content list displayed on the content display unit 310 in this way, the content desired by the user is selected. At this time, if there is content desired by the user in the content list of FIG. 6, the user selects any of the contents c1 to c4, and if there is no content desired by the user, the user selects no desired content. .

  At this time, when the user selects the contents c1 and c2 from the contents c1 to c4 displayed in the contents list of FIG. 6, first, in STEP 15, it is confirmed that there is a content desired by the user. Further, since it is confirmed in STEP 16 that the contents c1 and c2 are possessed by the content server 121 belonging to the currently connected wireless LAN 131, in STEP 20, the contents c1 and c2 possessed by the contents server 121 are stored. The content requesting terminal 151 is acquired via the AP 111.

  Further, when the user selects contents c3 and c4 from the contents c1 to c4 displayed in the contents list of FIG. 6 in STEP14, as in the case where the contents c1 and c2 are selected, in STEP15, first, the contents desired by the user are selected. It is confirmed that there is. Further, since it is confirmed in STEP 16 that the contents c3 and c4 are possessed by the content servers 122 and 123 belonging to a wireless LAN 132 different from the currently connected wireless LAN 131, in STEP 18, the content requesting terminal 151 Disconnects from the participating wireless LAN 131.

  In STEP 19, the content request terminal 151 communicates with the AP 112 to participate in the wireless LAN 132. Thereafter, when the content c3 is selected, in STEP 20, the content request terminal 151 acquires the content c3 possessed by the content server 122 via the AP 112, and when the content c4 is selected, The content request terminal 151 acquires the content c4 possessed by the content server 123 via the AP 112.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to check content existing in a composite wireless LAN including a plurality of wireless LANs including the wireless LAN without leaving the currently connected wireless LAN. Therefore, when a content server belonging to each wireless LAN constituting the composite wireless LAN is possessed and the content server belongs to a wireless LAN different from the wireless LAN in which the device participates, the different wireless LAN The number of times of re-joining is only required once, and the time for acquiring content can be shortened. Further, at this time, the content is acquired by participating in the wireless LAN to which the content server having the desired content belongs. Therefore, since only the frequency band used by the wireless LAN is occupied, use of a plurality of frequency bands can be prevented. Further, even when there is no desired content in the composite wireless LAN, it is not necessary to participate in all the wireless LANs constituting the composite wireless LAN as in the prior art, and only once in one wireless LAN in the composite wireless LAN. You can check just by participating.

<Second Embodiment>
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment has a configuration represented by the block diagram of FIG. 1 as in the first embodiment. Also, the internal configurations of the management server and the content requesting terminal in this embodiment are the configurations represented by the block diagrams of FIGS. 2 and 3 as in the first embodiment.

  In the wireless communication system of the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the frequency band that can be used by the content requesting terminal 151 is only 5 GHz and can participate only in the wireless LAN 131, and the content server 123 is in the 2.4 GHz band. It is possible to participate in wireless LANs 131 and 132 in both frequency bands of 5 GHz and 5 GHz. When the content requesting terminal 151 participates in the composite wireless LAN 141, it is assumed that the content server 122 belongs to the wireless LAN 132 using the 2.4 GHz band as shown in FIG. In such a wireless communication system, the operations of the management server 101, the APs 111 and 112, the content servers 121 to 123, and the content requesting terminal 151 are the same as those in the first embodiment except for the operations at the time of content acquisition. Therefore, the detailed description thereof will be omitted with reference to the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the operation when content acquisition is requested by the content request terminal 151 in the wireless communication system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing operations of the content requesting terminal 151 and the content server 123 when content acquisition is instructed. In the flowchart of FIG. 8, the same operation steps as those in the flowchart of FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  First, when the content requesting terminal 151 instructed to acquire content participates in a wireless LAN to which an AP located within the communication range belongs, the content requesting terminal 151 transmits a management information request signal to the management server 101 and then receives a management response from the management server 101. The signal is received, and the management information of the content in the composite wireless LAN 141 is recorded (STEP 10 to STEP 12). Then, after the content list as shown in FIG. 4 based on the recorded content management information is displayed on the content list display unit 310, the content desired by the user is selected from this content list (STEP 13 and STEP 14).

  Then, when the selected user-desired content cannot be acquired by the composite wireless LAN 141 (No in STEP 15), the content acquisition operation is terminated assuming that the user-desired content cannot be acquired (STEP 17). When the selected user-desired content can be acquired by the composite wireless LAN 141 (Yes in STEP 15), the user-selected content is possessed by the content server belonging to the wireless LAN to which the content requesting terminal 151 participates. It is determined whether or not (STEP 16). If the content server possessing the content selected by the user belongs to the wireless LAN participating in the content requesting terminal 151 (Yes), the communication with the content server is performed via the AP as in the first embodiment. To acquire the content possessed by the content server (STEP 20).

  In STEP 16, if the content server possessing the content selected by the user belongs to a wireless LAN different from the wireless LAN participating in the content requesting terminal 151 (No), the content belonging to the other wireless LAN A content request signal is transmitted to make a content request to the server (STEP 21). At this time, the content request terminal 151 confirms the content server possessing the desired content confirmed from the content management information stored in the management information recording unit 307 and the wireless LAN to which the content server belongs. Then, header information for specifying the confirmed content server and wireless LAN as the transmission destination is added to the content request packet generated by the transmission data processing unit 308, and a content request signal is generated via the AP. Transmit to the management server 101.

  When the management server 101 receives the content request signal, the reception data processing unit 206 receives the content server serving as the transmission destination and the wireless LAN to which the content server belongs from the header information added to the content request packet by the content request signal. Confirm. At this time, when the content request terminal 151 that transmitted the content request signal is confirmed from the header information, the management information generation unit 204 generates a management information packet including management information related to the content transmission terminal device 151 that is the transmission source. Then, the content request packet is transmitted as a content request signal via the AP to the content server confirmed as the transmission destination together with the content request packet.

  That is, when the content request terminal 151 requests the content c3 when participating in the wireless LAN 131 using the 5 GHz band, the content request signal including header information indicating the content server 122 and the wireless LAN 132 is transmitted via the AP 111. To the management server 101. Then, in the management server 101, the management information related to the content request terminal 151 recorded in the management information storage unit 205 is read out. As the management information of the content request terminal 151, the frequency band that can be used by the content request terminal 151 and the participating wireless LAN are recorded. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. As a wireless LAN 131 and a wireless LAN 131 as a participating wireless LAN.

  Thereafter, a content request packet for requesting the content c3 based on the received content request signal, and a management information packet indicating that the content requesting terminal 151 has a usable frequency band of 5 GHz and participates in the wireless LAN 131. A new content request signal is generated. When the content request signal generated in this way is transmitted from the management server 101, the content server 122 receives the content request signal via the AP 112.

  Then, the content server 122 confirms that the content c3 is requested from the content requesting terminal 151 participating in the 5 GHz band wireless LAN 131. Therefore, when the content data of the content c3 is transmitted to the management server 101 via the AP 112, the content data of the content c3 is transmitted from the management server 101 to the content requesting terminal 151 via the AP 111. That is, the content request terminal 151 acquires the content c3 using both the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band in the wireless LANs 131 and 132 (STEP 20). When the content c3 is transmitted from the content server 122, information for identifying the content requesting terminal 151 and the wireless LAN 131 as the transmission destination is added as header information of a signal for transmitting the content data of the content c3. .

  In STEP 21, when the content request terminal 151 requests the content c4 when participating in the wireless LAN 131 using the 5 GHz band, a content request signal including header information indicating the content server 123 and the wireless LAN 132 is received. It is transmitted to the management server 101 via the AP 111. Then, the management server 101 transmits a content request signal newly generated by a content request packet for requesting the content c4 and a management information packet based on management information regarding the content request terminal 151 shown in FIG.

  At this time, the content server 123 participates in the wireless LAN 131 so as to belong to the wireless LAN 131 after leaving the wireless LAN 132. Then, by participating in the wireless LAN 131 in which the content request terminal 151 participates, the content data of the content c4 is transmitted from the content server 123 to the content request terminal 151 via the AP 111. In this way, the content request terminal 151 acquires the content c4 possessed by the content server 123 (STEP 20).

  When the content requesting terminal operates in this way, the content servers 121 to 123 operate according to the flowchart of FIG. In the following, the content servers 121 to 123 according to the flowchart of FIG. 9 will be described. In the following description, the content servers 121 to 123 will be described as the content server 120. At this time, first, the content server 120 receives a content request signal transmitted from the management server 101 or the content requesting terminal 151 via the wireless LAN AP to which the content server 120 belongs (STEP 100).

  It is confirmed from the content request packet included in the received content request signal that the content requesting terminal 151 is requesting acquisition of the content (STEP 101). Then, by confirming whether or not the management information packet is included in the content request signal, it is confirmed whether or not the content request signal is transmitted via the management server 101, and the content request terminal 151 is participating. It is determined whether or not the wireless LAN is the same as the wireless LAN to which the content server 120 belongs (STEP 102).

  At this time, if the management information packet is confirmed and it is determined that the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal 151 participates is different from the wireless LAN to which the content server 120 belongs (No), The management information of the content requesting terminal 151 is confirmed (STEP 103). Based on the management information of the content requesting terminal 151, it is confirmed whether or not the content requesting terminal 151 can participate in the wireless LAN to which the content server 120 belongs (STEP 104).

  At this time, when it is confirmed that the content requesting terminal 151 cannot participate in the wireless LAN to which the content server 120 belongs (No), based on the management information of the content requesting terminal 151, the content requesting terminal 151 The wireless LAN in which 151 participates is confirmed, and it is determined whether the content server 120 can participate in the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal 151 participates (SETP105). If it is determined that the content request terminal 151 can participate in the participating wireless LAN (Yes), the content server 120 leaves the participating wireless LAN (STEP 106). At this time, if there is a terminal device that communicates with the content server 120, a notification of leaving may be sent to the terminal device. Then, the content server 120 participates in the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal 151 participates (STEP 107).

  Thus, when the content server 120 participates in the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal 151 participates, or in STEP 102, the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal 151 participates is the wireless LAN to which the content server 120 belongs. When it is confirmed that they are the same (Yes), or when it is confirmed in STEP 104 that the content requesting terminal 151 can participate in the wireless LAN to which the content server 120 belongs (Yes). The content data of the content requested by 151 is transmitted in the same wireless LAN through the AP (STEP 108).

  Also, in STEP 105, when it is not possible to participate in the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal 151 participates (No), the content data of the content requested by the content requesting terminal 151 is transmitted between different wireless LANs via the management server 101. (STEP 109).

  When the content servers 121 to 123 operate in this manner, if the content request terminal 151 requests the content c1 and c2, the content server 121 that owns the content c1 and c2 belongs to the same wireless LAN 131 as the content request terminal 151. It is confirmed in STEP102. Therefore, the process proceeds to STEP 108, and the content data of the contents c1 and c2 are transmitted to the content request terminal 151 via the AP 111 in the wireless LAN 131.

  Further, when the content request terminal 151 requests the content c3, the STEP 104 confirms that the content request terminal 151 cannot participate in the wireless LAN 132 to which the content server 122 that owns the content c3 belongs. It is confirmed in STEP 105 that it is impossible to participate in the same wireless LAN 131 as the requesting terminal 151. Therefore, the process proceeds to STEP 109, and the content data of the content c3 is transmitted to the content requesting terminal 151 via the APs 111 and 112 and the management server 151 in the composite wireless LAN 141 using the wireless LANs 131 and 132.

  When the content request terminal 151 requests the content c4, the STEP 104 confirms that the content request terminal 151 cannot participate in the wireless LAN 132 to which the content server 123 that owns the content c4 belongs. It is confirmed in STEP 105 that it is possible to participate in the same wireless LAN 131 as the requesting terminal 151. Therefore, in STEP 106 and STEP 107, after the content server 123 belonging to the wireless LAN 132 leaves the wireless LAN 132, it joins the wireless LAN 131. Then, the process proceeds to STEP 108, and the content data of the content c4 is transmitted to the content request terminal 151 via the AP 111 in the wireless LAN 131.

  In addition, when the content request terminal 151 can participate in both the wireless LANs 131 and 132 as in the first embodiment and the content request terminal 151 requests acquisition of the content c3, the content server 122 that owns the content c3 It is confirmed in STEP 104 that the content requesting terminal 151 can participate in the wireless LAN 132 to which it belongs. Therefore, since the content request terminal 151 leaves the wireless LAN 131 and participates in the wireless LAN 132, the process proceeds to STEP 108, and the content data of the content c 3 is transmitted to the content request terminal 151 via the AP 111 in the wireless LAN 132.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when it is impossible to participate in the wireless LAN to which the content server having the content requested by the content requesting terminal belongs, the content server participates in the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal participates. be able to. Therefore, content acquisition is performed within the wireless LAN in which the content requesting terminal participates. Therefore, since only the frequency band used by the wireless LAN is occupied, use of a plurality of frequency bands can be prevented.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the management server may include the usage rate of each band of the wireless LAN connected to the management server as management information. Thus, by providing the usage rate of each wireless LAN band as management information, the band required by the content requesting terminal and the content server can be determined. At this time, the content requesting terminal determines the bandwidth usage rate of each wireless LAN from the management information of the management server, and receives the requested content when the wireless LAN usage bandwidth to which the device belongs is narrow. It is also possible to rejoin a wireless LAN having a necessary bandwidth. Further, the content server determines the bandwidth usage rate of each wireless LAN from the management information of the management server, and when the bandwidth used by the wireless LAN to which the device belongs is narrow, the content server has a wireless bandwidth required to transmit the requested content. You may rejoin a certain other wireless LAN.

  Further, the management server may instruct the content server participating in the wireless LAN without the content requesting terminal to turn off the power or enter the low power mode. At this time, if the content server is instructed to turn off the power by the management server, the content server is turned off. Transition to power mode. Thus, when there are two or more wireless LANs, there are few content requesting terminals, and there is a wireless LAN that is not communicating at all, the power of the terminal device belonging to the wireless LAN that is not communicating at all is turned off or the low power mode By doing so, power consumption of the entire composite wireless LAN can be suppressed.

  When two or more wireless LANs in the composite wireless LAN have wireless LANs having the same usable frequency band, the management server converts the wireless LANs having the same usable frequency into one wireless LAN. It doesn't matter if it can be done. At this time, for each terminal device participating in the wireless LAN having the same usable frequency band, a new unique ID for making one wireless LAN from the management server via the AP of each wireless LAN Notify the available frequency band. In this way, by notifying each terminal device belonging to each wireless LAN having the same usable frequency of the new unique ID and the usable frequency band, the notified terminal device can newly enter one wireless LAN. it can.

  Further, a new wireless LAN may be created in a composite wireless LAN provided with a management server. At this time, first, an AP for configuring a new wireless LAN generates a new unique ID and confirms a usable frequency band, thereby creating a new wireless LAN. Thereafter, all the terminal devices participating in the new wireless LAN participate in the newly created wireless LAN, so that the new wireless LAN to which the plurality of terminal devices belong constitutes a single wireless LAN. It is formed as a LAN.

  The composite wireless LAN system of the present invention can be used in a system that performs wireless communication with an output device that outputs audio or video, a tuner device, or a recording medium drive device.

These are block diagrams which show the structure of the radio | wireless communications system of the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a management server in the wireless communication system. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a content request terminal in the wireless communication system. These are figures which show an example of the management table stored in the management server of FIG. These are flowcharts which show operation | movement of the content request | requirement terminal when acquisition of a content is instruct | indicated in the radio | wireless communications system of 1st Embodiment. These are figures which show an example of the content list displayed. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the displayed content list. These are flowcharts which show operation | movement of the content request | requirement terminal when acquisition of a content is instruct | indicated in the radio | wireless communications system of 2nd Embodiment. These are the flowcharts which show operation | movement of a content server when acquisition of a content is instruct | indicated in the radio | wireless communications system of 2nd Embodiment. These are figures which show an example of the management information of the content request | requirement terminal stored in the management server of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

101 Management server 111, 112 AP (access point)
121-123 Content server 131, 132 Wireless LAN
141 complex wireless LAN system 151 content request terminal 201 receiving unit 202 transmitting unit 203 management information request detecting unit 204 management information generating unit 205 management information recording unit 206 received data processing unit 207 transmission data processing unit 301 wireless receiving unit 302 wireless transmitting unit 303 Management information response detection unit 304 Reception data processing unit 305 Management information control unit 306 Management information request generation unit 307 Management information recording unit 308 Transmission data processing unit 309 Content list control unit 310 Content list display unit

Claims (14)

In a wireless communication system including at least one wireless communication network including a first wireless communication terminal device storing content, and a system management server connected to the wireless communication network,
The system management server records first management information as a content list in which the connected wireless communication network and the content recorded in each first wireless communication terminal device in each of the wireless communication networks are compared. With
When the second wireless communication terminal device that reproduces the content participates in one of the wireless communication networks and requests acquisition of the content, the management server sends the first management information to the second wireless communication terminal device. A wireless communication system characterized by being provided. A first wireless communication network to which the first wireless communication terminal device recording the content requested to be acquired by the second wireless communication terminal device acquiring the first management information; When it is confirmed that the second wireless communication network in which the two wireless communication terminal devices are participating is different,
When the second wireless communication terminal device can participate in the first wireless communication network, the second wireless communication terminal device leaves the second wireless communication network and participates in the first wireless communication network. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication terminal apparatus acquires the content recorded in the first wireless communication terminal apparatus. The system management server records second management information indicating the wireless communication network in which each of the second wireless communication terminal devices participates, and
When the first wireless communication terminal device confirms that the acquisition of the content recorded by its own device is requested by the second wireless communication terminal device,
The second management information is provided from the system management server to the first wireless communication terminal apparatus, and in the first wireless communication terminal apparatus, a first wireless communication network to which the first wireless communication terminal apparatus belongs, When it is confirmed that the second wireless communication network in which the two wireless communication terminal devices are participating is different,
When the first wireless communication terminal device can participate in the second wireless communication network, the first wireless communication terminal device leaves the first wireless communication network and participates in the second wireless communication network. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the content is transmitted to the second wireless communication terminal device.   The wireless communication system according to claim 3, wherein the second management information includes, as information, a frequency band to which the second wireless communication terminal device can be connected.   The wireless communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first management information includes the first wireless communication terminal device that records each of the contents as information.   The first management information includes, as information, a unique ID for identifying the wireless communication network to which the first wireless communication terminal device that records the content belongs. The wireless communication system according to 1.   The said 1st management information is provided with the frequency band of the said radio | wireless communication network to which the said 1st radio | wireless communication terminal device which records each said content belongs as information. Wireless communication system. In a system management server connected to at least one wireless communication network including a first wireless communication terminal device storing content,
A receiving unit connected to the wireless communication network and receiving a signal from the wireless communication network;
A transmitter that is connected to the connected wireless communication network and the wireless communication network and transmits a signal to the wireless communication network;
A management information recording unit that records first management information that is a content list that compares the content recorded in each of the first wireless communication terminal devices in each of the wireless communication networks;
With
By transmitting the first management information from the transmission unit to the second wireless communication terminal device that reproduces the content through the wireless communication network in which the second wireless communication terminal device participates, the first management information A system management server characterized by providing The management information recording unit records second management information indicating the wireless communication network in which each of the second wireless communication terminal devices participates, and
For the first wireless communication terminal device that is requested by the second wireless communication terminal device to acquire the content recorded by the own device, the transmission is performed through the wireless communication network in which the first wireless communication terminal device participates. The system management server according to claim 8, wherein the second management information is provided by transmitting the second management information from a unit. In a system management server connected to at least one wireless communication network including a first wireless communication terminal device storing content,
A system management server in the wireless communication system according to claim 1. A second wireless communication terminal apparatus in the wireless communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A receiving unit for receiving the first management information transmitted from the system management server;
A content list output unit for outputting the content list according to the first management information received by the receiving unit;
A wireless communication terminal device comprising: When the first wireless communication network to which the first wireless communication terminal device comprising the content selected from the content confirmed by the content list belongs is different from the currently participating second wireless communication network,
12. The wireless communication terminal apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the content is acquired from the first wireless communication terminal apparatus by joining the first wireless communication network after leaving the second wireless communication network. . A first wireless communication terminal apparatus in the wireless communication system according to any one of claims 3 to 7,
When it is confirmed that the second wireless communication terminal device requests acquisition of the content recorded by the own device,
While receiving the second management information from a system management server that records second management information indicating the wireless communication network in which each of the second wireless communication terminal devices is participating,
When it is confirmed that the first wireless communication network to which the device belongs is different from the second wireless communication network in which the second wireless communication terminal device is participating,
When the own device is able to participate in the second wireless communication network, it leaves the first wireless communication network, joins the second wireless communication network, and transmits the content to the second wireless communication terminal device A wireless communication terminal device. The second wireless communication terminal device confirms that the content recorded by the device is requested by the second wireless communication terminal device, and the second management information and the second wireless communication network to which the device belongs. When it is confirmed that the second wireless communication network in which the communication terminal device is participating is different,
When confirming that the second wireless communication terminal device can participate in the first wireless communication network,
The content is transmitted within the first wireless communication network to the second wireless communication terminal device that has left the second wireless communication network and rejoined the first wireless communication network. The wireless communication terminal device according to claim 13.

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