JP2006135727A - Radio communications terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save power for radio communication terminal equipment to be connected to the access point of a wireless LAN. <P>SOLUTION: A present position information acquisition part 2 acquires present position information of a self apparatus, based on information which is obtained from a position reference device 5. A wireless LAN communication part 4 connects the radio communication terminal equipment 1 to the wireless LAN access point in order to perform communication via the wireless LAN. A wireless LAN communication start part 3 starts the wireless LAN communication part 4 when the present position of the radio communication terminal equipment 1 enters a wireless LAN area. After connection is performed to the wireless LAN access point 7, a content acquisition part 9 performs access to a content server 8 and acquires a content. When the present position of the self apparatus does not enter the communicable area of the wireless LAN, the wireless LAN communication start part 3 can re-start the present position information acquisition part 2 after a prescribed (fixed or variable) waiting time elapses. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal device that can be connected to a wireless LAN access point.

As a method for the public to access a server using wireless communication, a method of accessing from a mobile phone terminal device via a mobile phone network has become widespread.
On the other hand, a communication terminal adapter (wireless LAN communication unit) is connected to a portable personal computer, and the server is connected via a wireless LAN access point in the area where the portable personal computer is actually located, such as a station or store. The method of accessing is also beginning to be used. This method enables higher-speed communication than the above-described cellular phone network.
Recently, a wireless communication terminal device that accesses a server using the above-described cellular phone network or wireless LAN has also been studied (see Patent Document 1).

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a wireless communication system via a mobile phone network or a wireless LAN.
In the figure, 1 is a wireless communication terminal device, which is a mobile phone terminal device capable of communication via a mobile phone network, and an infrastructure mode (Infrastructure mode) capable of communication via a wireless LAN access point. Functions as a wireless LAN communication terminal device (wireless LAN client).
Reference numeral 6 denotes one base station of the mobile phone network, and reference numeral 11 denotes an area (cell) in which the base station 6 and the wireless communication terminal device 1 can communicate.
Reference numerals 7a to 7c denote wireless LAN access points, and reference numerals 12a to 12c denote areas where the wireless LAN access points 7a to 7c can communicate with the wireless communication terminal device 1 (hereinafter referred to as wireless LAN areas).
A content server 8 is connected to each of the wireless LAN access points 7a to 7c via a dedicated line or a backbone network.
The wireless communication terminal device 1 is located in one of the wireless LAN areas (for example, the wireless LAN area 12a), connects to the wireless LAN access point 7a, accesses the content server 8, and downloads the content at high speed. be able to.

Although the wireless LAN areas 12a to 12c are small, they exist only as spots. For this reason, the wireless communication terminal device 1 that is moving has a long time during which it is not in any wireless LAN area.
At this time, since the wireless LAN communication unit of the wireless communication terminal device 1 needs to perform processing for searching for the wireless LAN access points 7a to 7c at least periodically, it can continue the sleep state with low power consumption. There wasn't.
However, the battery capacity of the wireless communication terminal device 1 is limited. For this reason, considering the decrease in the communicable time due to one charge, the advantage of using a high-speed wireless LAN has been halved.
JP 2003-348655 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and aims to save power in a wireless communication terminal device connected to a wireless LAN access point.

In the first aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication terminal device, the current position information acquisition means for acquiring the current position information of the own device, and the wireless LAN connected to the access point of the wireless LAN and performing communication via the wireless LAN A communication means, and a wireless LAN communication activation means for activating the wireless LAN communication means when the current position of the device acquired by the current position information acquisition means enters the wireless LAN communicable area. is there.
Accordingly, when the device itself is not in a wireless LAN communicable area, the wireless LAN communication means is not activated, so that the power consumption of the wireless LAN communication means can be saved. When the device is in a wireless LAN communicable area, it automatically activates the wireless LAN communication means, connects to the wireless LAN access point, and can communicate via the wireless LAN access point.
The above-mentioned current position information acquisition means acquires the current position information of the own apparatus using, for example, a positioning unit of the global positioning system, a radio frequency identification unit of the radio frequency identification system, a reader / writer, a barcode reader, or the like. Is.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication terminal device according to the first aspect, the current position information acquisition means is turned off after acquiring the current position information of the own apparatus, The wireless LAN communication activation unit is configured to acquire the current position information acquisition unit after a predetermined standby time has elapsed when the current position of the own apparatus acquired by the current position information acquisition unit is not within the wireless LAN communication area. Is to restart.
Therefore, when the device itself is not in the wireless LAN communication area, the device is restarted after a predetermined (constant or variable) waiting time until the current position of the device enters the wireless LAN communication area. Since it starts, the power consumption of the current position information acquisition means can be saved.
The wireless LAN communication activation means described above is based on the current position information of the own apparatus acquired by the current position information acquisition means, according to the distance between the current position of the own apparatus and the position of the wireless LAN. If the current position of the local device is not within the wireless LAN communication area, the distance between the current position of the local device and the wireless LAN position is short. It is better to set the predetermined waiting time to be shorter. As a result, it is possible to satisfy both the power saving of the current position information acquisition means and the reliable acquisition of the current position information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication terminal device according to the first aspect, the current position information acquisition unit is configured to change the external device of the external device from one of the external devices installed at a plurality of positions. It is activated by receiving a radio wave modulated with identification information, and acquires the external device identification information as current position information of its own device. The wireless LAN communication activation means is acquired by the current position information acquisition means. The wireless LAN communication means is activated when a radio wave receivable area from the external device specified by the external device identification information is included in the wireless LAN communicable area.
Since the area where radio waves can be received from the external device is limited, the installation position of one external device from which the external device identification information is acquired can be regarded as the current position of the wireless communication terminal device. Accordingly, the external device identification information can be acquired as the current position information of the own device.
The current position information acquisition means can acquire the external device identification information only by demodulating the radio wave modulated with the external device identification information, and thus has a simple configuration because it does not depend on a large-scale system such as a global positioning system. In addition, since the power consumption is small, the received radio wave can be rectified and used as a power source for the current position information acquisition means. Since radio waves are used, the allowable range of the relative positional relationship between the current position information acquisition means and the external device is wide. Therefore, the user does not need to be aware of positioning, or the positioning operation is simple even if positioning is performed.

Further, in the wireless communication terminal device according to claim 1, the current position information acquisition unit described above responds to transmitting radio waves to one external device installed at a plurality of positions from the external device. By receiving the radio wave modulated with the identification information of the external device, the external device identification information is acquired as the current position information of the own device, and the wireless LAN communication activation unit described above is the current position information acquisition unit described above. The wireless LAN communication means may be activated when the area in which the radio wave response can be received by the external device specified by the external device identification information acquired by the above is included in the wireless LAN communicable area.
Even in this case, the current position information of the device itself can be acquired without depending on a large-scale system such as GPS. Since radio waves are used, the user does not need to be aware of positioning, or the positioning operation is simple even if positioning is performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication terminal device according to any one of the first to third aspects, a mobile phone network communication means for performing communication via a base station of the mobile phone network is provided. I have it.
Therefore, the user has a wide service area, but there is a limit to speeding up, and the communication is via a mobile phone network base station, and via a wireless LAN that allows high-speed communication but the service area is limited. Can be used for communication.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication terminal device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the wireless communication terminal device includes a mobile phone network communication means for performing communication via a base station of the mobile phone network, The communication activation means activates the current position information acquisition means when the wireless LAN communicable area is included in a cell of the cellular phone network where the device is located.
Therefore, when the device itself is located in a cell that does not have a wireless LAN area, the current position information acquisition unit is not activated, and wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.
In addition, the user has a wide service area, but there is a limit to speeding up communication via a mobile phone network base station and a wireless LAN that allows high-speed communication but has a limited service area. Can be used for communication.

According to the present invention, when the wireless communication terminal device is not located in the wireless LAN area, power consumption by the wireless LAN communication means can be eliminated, and the wireless communication terminal device can save power. is there.
When the wireless communication terminal device is not located in the wireless LAN area, the current position information acquisition unit can be saved in power by restarting the current position information acquisition unit with a predetermined standby time.
As a result, when the wireless LAN is available, the wireless LAN communication unit 4 is automatically activated, and the user can receive the advantages of high-speed mobile wireless data communication via the wireless LAN without being aware of it.

FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram of a wireless communication terminal device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
A mode used as a wireless LAN communication terminal device will be described.
The wireless communication terminal device 1 includes a current position information acquisition unit 2 and a wireless LAN communication unit 4, and a wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 that activates the wireless LAN communication unit 4.
There is also a mode for use as a mobile phone terminal device, and although not shown, mobile phone network communication means for performing communication via the base station 6 of the mobile phone network is also provided.

The current position information acquisition unit 2 acquires the current position information of the own device based on the information obtained from the position reference device 5.
For example, as described later, current position information is acquired using a GPS (Global Positioning Systems), an RF-ID (Radio Frequency Identification) system, or a barcode system. Conventionally, a module on which a dedicated IC chip (semiconductor integrated circuit) is mounted, and an adapter that can be detached from the wireless communication terminal device 1 via a connector are known.

The wireless LAN communication unit 4 connects the wireless communication terminal device 1 to a wireless LAN access point in order to perform data communication via the wireless LAN.
The wireless LAN communication unit 4 is in an off state (sleep state) until it is activated by the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3, and is supplied with power from a battery of the wireless communication terminal device 1 only to a minimum circuit. The search for the wireless LAN access point 7 is also stopped. In the above-described off state, the power supply of the wireless LAN communication unit 4 may be completely cut off.
Conventionally, the wireless LAN communication unit 4 is known to be a module on which a dedicated IC chip is mounted or an adapter that can be removed from the wireless communication terminal device 1 via a connector.
The wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 activates the wireless LAN communication unit 4 when the current position of the wireless communication terminal device (own device) 1 enters the wireless LAN area (communication area), and turns off the wireless LAN communication unit 4 (sleep state or sleep state). Switch from the power-off state to the on state. As a result, the power consumed by the wireless LAN communication unit 4 when the wireless communication terminal device 1 is located outside the wireless LAN area can be reduced.

The current position information acquisition unit 2 is first activated when the wireless communication terminal device 1 is powered on or switched to the wireless LAN mode. Alternatively, in order to reduce power consumption, the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 first activates the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 when the cell of the cellular phone network where the device is located is included.
The current position information acquisition unit 2 is preferably in an off state (sleep state or power-off state) after acquiring the current position information of the own device. In this case, the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 restarts the current position information acquisition unit 2 after elapse of a predetermined (constant or variable) waiting time when the current position of the own device is not in the wireless LAN area.
The wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 is realized by program-controlling a CPU (not shown) built in the wireless communication terminal device 1.

More specifically, the wireless communication terminal device 1 includes a wireless LAN position information storage unit 10 that stores wireless LAN position information. Based on the current position information of the own device acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 2 and the position information of the wireless LAN stored in the wireless LAN position information storage unit 10, the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 , The wireless LAN communication unit 4 is activated.
Alternatively, the wireless LAN location information storage unit 10 described above may be provided in a management server connected via the base station 6 instead of being provided in the wireless communication terminal device 1.
The current location information of the own device acquired by the current location information acquisition unit 2 is transferred from the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 to the management server via the base station 6 of the mobile phone network.
The management server notifies the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 via the base station 6 when it detects that the current position of the wireless communication terminal device 1 (self device) has entered a wireless LAN communicable area. On the other hand, when the management server detects that the current position of its own device is not within the wireless LAN communication area, the current position information acquisition unit 2 is restarted after a predetermined (constant or variable) waiting time has elapsed. As such, the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 may be notified via the base station 6.

There are several types of wireless LAN systems that are standardized. For example, in IEEE 802.11 / 802.11b, a direct spread spectrum (DS-SS) method using a 2.4 GHz band is employed.
The wireless LAN communication unit 4 performs transmission / reception between the transmission / reception unit, spread spectrum / despreading / modulation / demodulation unit that performs data modulation / demodulation, creation and decomposition of wireless packets, wireless LAN access control, and main body of the wireless communication terminal device 1. It has a control part.

When activated, the wireless LAN communication unit 4 starts processing for searching for the wireless LAN access point 7. When the wireless LAN access point 7 is detected, wireless LAN identification information, for example, SSID (Service Set Identify), An authentication process using ESSID (Extended SSID) is performed, and the wireless LAN access point 7 is connected. Thereafter, communication via the network connected to the wireless LAN access point 7 becomes possible.
When there are a plurality of connectable wireless LAN access points 7, it is only necessary to automatically connect to the one with the highest transmission quality.
The content acquisition unit 9 accesses the content server 8 on the dedicated line or the backbone network via the wireless LAN access point 7 and acquires the content. Conversely, the content server 8 can access the wireless communication terminal device 1 to cause the content acquisition unit 9 to acquire content.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a wireless communication system in a case where the current position information of the wireless communication terminal device 1 is acquired using GPS as an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG.
The cell identification information for identifying the cell 11 of the cellular phone network is “Cell A”, and the wireless LAN identification information (Wireless Name, eg, SSID, ESSID) having the wireless LAN areas 12a to 12c is “Wireless LAN a”. ~ “Wireless LAN c”.
Reference numeral 13 denotes a movement path of the wireless communication terminal device 1, and reference numerals 13a to 13f denote movement positions thereof.
Reference numeral 14 denotes a GPS positioning unit mounted on the wireless communication terminal device 1.

FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the wireless communication terminal device 1 used in the embodiment shown in FIG.
A GPS positioning unit 14 is used as the current position information acquisition unit 2 shown in FIG. A plurality of GPS satellites are the position reference device 5 shown in FIG. The current position information of the device is acquired by processing the GPS signals transmitted from these.
Here, the GPS positioning includes what is called AGPS (Wireless Assisted GPS). In AGPS, the base station 6 of the mobile phone network is also involved in positioning and can acquire position information at high speed.
The GPS positioning unit 14 consumes power during the process of acquiring the current position information of the device itself.

The cell identification information acquisition unit 21 acquires, from the base station 6, cell identification information (Cell ID) for identifying a cell of the mobile phone network in which the device is located.
The reception of the cell identification information is usually performed in a cellular mobile phone terminal device. In the third generation mobile phone network, the mobile phone terminal device estimates the scramble code (spreading code) unique to each cell in the downlink CPICH (Common Pilot Channel) from the base station 6, The cell identification information of the cell in the service area can be acquired.
The wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 activates the GPS positioning unit 14 when an area where wireless LAN communication is possible is included in the cell of the mobile phone network in which the device is located.

More specifically, “wireless LAN location information,” which stores “wireless LAN location information, cell identification information (Cell Table)” including cell identification information for identifying a cell of a cellular phone network in which at least one wireless LAN area exists , Cell identification information "storage unit 22 is used. This storage unit is a part of the nonvolatile internal memory of the wireless communication terminal device 1.
When the cell identification information acquired by the cell identification information acquisition unit 21 is stored in the “wireless LAN location information, cell identification information” storage unit 22, in other words, the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 exists. The GPS positioning unit 14 is activated only when the own device is in the cell to be operated.

FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of contents stored in the “wireless LAN location information, cell identification information (Cell Table)” storage unit 22 illustrated in FIG. 3.
In the illustrated example, for each cell identification information, wireless LAN identification information (Wireless Name, for example, SSID, ESSID) for specifying a wireless LAN area (communication area) existing in this cell, and position information (longitude of each wireless LAN) Latitude information) and access history information (Access Log) are stored in a table format.
In the illustrated example, position information (longitude / latitude information) of each wireless LAN access point 7 is used as the position information of each wireless LAN.
The access history information is information indicating whether information has been acquired by accessing the corresponding wireless LAN in the past. If an access flag is set, this indicates that the wireless LAN has been accessed. As a specific example, a case where no access flag is set is shown.

Provide a service that automatically downloads local content (such as station timetables and local information in the wireless LAN area) corresponding to the wireless LAN area from the content server 8 via the wireless LAN access point 7 There is a case.
In such a case, when the wireless communication terminal device 1 stays in the same wireless LAN area or goes in and out of the same wireless LAN area, there is a possibility that the same regional content is repeatedly acquired.
Therefore, if the access flag is set corresponding to the wireless LAN identification information when the regional content is acquired, the activation process of the wireless LAN communication unit 4 is repeated in the same wireless LAN area, or the same regional content is repeatedly acquired. You do n’t have to. However, since the regional content is updated, the access flag may be returned to 0 when a predetermined time or a predetermined number of days have elapsed.

In the specific example shown in FIG. 2, since the wireless communication terminal device 1 is located in the cell 11 of the mobile phone network, the cell identification information “Cell A” for specifying this cell is acquired.
In the “wireless LAN location information and cell identification information” shown in FIG. 4A, “Wireless LAN a”, “Wireless LAN b”, and “Wireless LAN c” are registered in “Cell A”. The GPS positioning unit 14 is activated.
Next, the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 determines the current position (longitude / latitude) of the own device and the positions (specifically, the wireless LAN areas 12a to 12c stored in the “wireless LAN position information, cell identification information” storage unit 22). Specifically, the difference (distance) from the wireless LAN access points 7a to 7c is calculated.
Based on the calculated distance, for example, if the distance to a certain wireless LAN area becomes a predetermined value (for example, 100 m) or less, it is determined that the device has entered the wireless LAN area and the wireless LAN communication unit 4 is activated. .

FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of GPS activation timing management information (GPS Timing Table) stored in the GPS activation timing management information storage unit 23 shown in FIG. This storage unit is a part of the nonvolatile internal memory of the wireless communication terminal device 1.
This is management information in the form of a table relating to the waiting time (GPS Timing) until the GPS positioning unit 14 is restarted according to the distance (L) from the wireless LAN area closest to the current position of the device itself. The shorter this distance is, the shorter the waiting time until restarting, so that when restarting, the wireless LAN area is not passed. If the waiting time is fixed, the management information in the table format described above is not necessary.
Instead of storing the management information, a relational expression between the distance and the standby time may be stored.

Here, the wireless LAN distance “100 m” in which “0 sec” is designated as the waiting time (GPS Timing) represents a threshold value for determining that the wireless LAN distance is within the wireless LAN area.
In the illustrated example, the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 refers to the GPS activation timing management information storage unit 23, and the distance from the wireless LAN area (for example, 12c) closest to the current position of the own device exceeds 100 m. Determines that its current position is not within the wireless LAN area.
In addition, the GPS activation timing management information storage unit 23 is referred to according to the distance from the wireless LAN area closest to the current position of the own device, and the GPS positioning unit 14 that is off in the initial state is restarted. Set the waiting time until. For example, if the shortest distance exceeds 1000 m and is 2000 m or less, the system is restarted after “100 seconds”, and the restart is repeated until the shortest distance is 100 m or less.
Even if the wireless LAN communication unit 4 is activated immediately if the device is located in a cell including the wireless LAN area without using the current position information acquisition unit 2 such as the GPS positioning unit 14. Good. However, since the cells are wide, the current position of the own device is not always located in the wireless LAN area. Therefore, the current position information acquisition unit 2 such as the GPS positioning unit 14 that can narrow down the current position more precisely than the cell is used.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing algorithm of radio communication terminal apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
In an initial state immediately after turning on the power switch to the wireless communication terminal device 1, as shown in S31, the wireless LAN communication unit 4 is not activated and is in an off state.
In S <b> 32, the wireless communication terminal device 1 acquires cell identification information (Cell ID) from the base station 6.
In S33, referring to the “wireless LAN location information, cell identification information (Cell Table)” storage unit 22 shown in FIG. 4A, the acquired Cell ID is a Cell ID existing in the Cell Table. Determine whether.
If “Cell A” is a cell in which the wireless LAN areas 12a to 12c exist as in the illustrated example, the process proceeds to S34. On the other hand, if the cell does not have any wireless LAN area, the process returns to S31 to continue the wireless LAN off state and wait for acquisition of a new Cell ID.

In S34, the GPS positioning unit 14 in the off state shown in FIG. 3 is activated and turned on. In S35, the GPS positioning unit 14 is caused to acquire current position information of the own device.
In S36, the Cell Table described above belongs to the Cell specified by the Cell ID acquired in S32, and no access flag is set in the access history information (Access Log) (Access Flag = 0), one or more Determine whether there is a wireless LAN. If there is, the process proceeds to S37, and if not, the process returns to S31.
In S37, the one or more wireless LAN areas 12a to 12c (wireless LAN access points 7a to 7c) are designated, the position information is acquired, the distance from the current position acquired in S35 is calculated, and in S38, The GPS positioning unit 14 is turned off.

In S39, based on the calculation result in S37, the wireless LAN area closest to the own apparatus is designated.
In the configuration diagram of the wireless communication system shown in FIG. 2, when the wireless communication terminal device 1 is at the moving position 13a, the position of the wireless LAN area 12c (the position of the wireless LAN access point 7c) is closest to the own apparatus. .
The GPS activation timing management information (GPS Timing Table) shown in FIG. 4B is referred to according to the distance to the closest wireless LAN area 12c.

In S40, it is determined whether or not the acquired GPS Timing is “0 sec”. The GPS activation timing management information storage unit 23 is created assuming that the wireless LAN area is 100 m or less. As a result, the determination described above determines whether or not the own device is in the wireless LAN area. If “0 sec”, the process proceeds to S41.
If it is not “0 sec”, the process proceeds to S42, and after the GPS Timing acquired in S39, the GPS positioning unit 14 is activated again, and the process returns to S34.
The processes of S34 to S40 and S42 are repeated until the wireless communication terminal device 1 enters any wireless LAN area.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the wireless communication terminal device 1 is closest to the wireless LAN area 12c (wireless LAN access point 7c) at the movement position 13a. If the distance is “1500 m”, “100 sec” is acquired as the GPS Timing. The GPS positioning unit 14 is restarted at the movement position 13b after "100 sec" has elapsed.
However, since it is not in any of the wireless LAN areas 12a to 12c, the GPS positioning unit 14 is turned off and restarted at the movement positions 13c to 13e in the same manner. After the movement position 13d, it is closest to the wireless LAN area 12a (wireless LAN access point 7a).
In S40, when NO is repeated even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the process may be returned to S31.

When the wireless communication terminal device 1 is restarted at the movement position 13e, the wireless communication terminal device 1 has entered the wireless LAN area 12a (wireless LAN access point 7a).
In S41, the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 automatically activates the wireless LAN communication unit 4. The wireless LAN communication unit 4 searches for a wireless LAN access point.
For example, radio waves from the access point are detected in S41, and one or more wireless LAN identification information (Wireless Name, for example, SSID, ESSID) is automatically listed from the detected radio waves in S43. The wireless LAN identification information (Wireless Name, for example, SSID, ESSID) of the wireless LAN previously specified in S39 is selected from those uploaded, and the wireless LAN access point 7a specified thereby is connected.

In S45, the wireless LAN communication unit 4 accesses the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the location of the management server via the wireless LAN access point 7a, and the latest “wireless LAN location information, cell identification information” (Cell Table) and GPS activation timing management information (GPS Timing Table) are acquired, and the storage contents of the “wireless LAN position information, cell identification information” storage unit 22 and the storage contents of the GPS activation timing management information storage unit 23 are updated. This update addresses the increasing number of wireless LAN access point installations on a daily basis.
In S46, the information acquisition service is started. The content acquisition unit 9 designates a URL indicating the location of the content server 8 shown in FIG. 1, and automatically downloads various information via the wireless LAN access point 7a.
In S47, the download ends. If the downloaded information is display information, the acquired information is displayed in S48. At the same time, in S49, the "wireless LAN location information, cell identification information" shown in FIG. 4A corresponds to the wireless LAN identification information (Wireless Name, eg, SSID, ESSID) of the wireless LAN access point connected this time. An access flag is set in the access history information (Access Flag = 1), and the wireless LAN is turned off in S50. Thereafter, the process restarts from S31.
Note that access history information may also be stored for the cell, and if the cell ID of the cell from which the information has been downloaded is acquired once again in S32, NO may be set in S33.

In the above description, the “wireless LAN position information and cell identification information” in all cells is stored in the “wireless LAN position information and cell identification information” storage unit 22 shown in FIG.
Instead, “wireless LAN location information, cell identification information” in all cells may be stored in the management server. After the cell identification information obtaining unit 21 obtains the cell identification information from the base station 6 of the mobile phone network, the wireless LAN area included in the cell currently located by accessing the management server via the base station 6 May be stored in the “wireless LAN position information, cell identification information” storage unit 22 via the base station 6.
In this case, the storage capacity of the “wireless LAN position information, cell identification information” storage unit 22 can be reduced, and the process of S41 is not necessary.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the “wireless LAN position information, cell identification information” storage unit 22 may be provided in the management server instead of being provided in the wireless communication terminal device 1. In addition, the GPS activation timing management information storage unit 23 may also be provided in the management server.
When the current position information of the own device acquired by the GPS positioning unit 14 is transferred to the management server and the management server detects that the current position of the wireless communication terminal device 1 has entered any wireless LAN area, The wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 is notified. On the other hand, when it detects that it is not in the wireless LAN area, it sets the waiting time until restarting according to the distance to the wireless LAN area (wireless LAN access point), and after this waiting time has elapsed, You may notify the wireless LAN communication starting part 3 so that the information acquisition part 2 may be restarted.

  In the above description, the GPS positioning timing management information storage unit 23 is used to restart the GPS positioning unit 14 according to the wireless LAN distance. However, the GPS positioning unit 14 is restarted after a certain elapsed time regardless of the distance. May be. In addition, when the wireless LAN area varies greatly depending on the individual wireless LAN system, the GPS activation that differs depending on the wireless LAN system, such as setting the distance threshold to determine that you are in the wireless LAN area to a different value depending on the wireless LAN A timing table may be used.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a wireless communication system in a case where current position information of the wireless communication terminal device 1 is acquired using an RF-ID (Radio Frequency Identification) system as an embodiment of the present invention. It is.
The RF-ID reader / writer is arranged at a plurality of positions as an external device. The RF-ID portion may refer only to a “tag” of a product, but in this specification, a non-contact reading type IC card is also included.
That is, the RF-ID unit responds to reception of a radio wave modulated with the external device identification information from an RF-ID reader / writer (reading and writing device) that is an external device, In general, the external device is made to read out its own identification information.

Various types of RF-ID system standards such as close contact type (4.9MHz, ISO10536, etc.), proximity type (13.56MHz, ISO14443, etc.), proximity type (125-500KHz, 13.56MHz, ISO15693, etc.), remote type 2.45GHz, etc. New standards are being proposed as well. The distance that can be transmitted and received varies greatly depending on the method, but a maximum distance of about 2 m has been proposed.
A typical RF-ID unit has a non-volatile IC chip storing its own identification information and does not need to supply power. Even if power is supplied, power consumption is low.
The RF-ID unit receives the radio wave modulated by the RF-ID reader / writer identification information emitted from the RF-ID reader / writer, rectifies it, starts as a power source, and is stored in the IC chip The RF-ID identification information is transmitted to the RF-ID reader / writer by load-modulating the radio wave with the RF-ID identification information.

However, in this embodiment, the current position information of the own apparatus is acquired by using a part of the functions of the RF-ID system described above. That is, the function of acquiring RF-ID reader / writer identification information is used on the RF-ID unit side.
In the figure, the same parts as those in FIGS. 10 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 51 denotes an RF-ID reader / writer area (area where radio waves transmitted from the RF-ID reader / writer can be received). Among them, those in any one of the wireless LAN areas 12a to 12c are designated as 51a to 51g.
Some RF-ID readers / writers do not exist in the wireless LAN areas 12a to 12c. They are shown as 51h-51k.
An RF-ID reader / writer is shown at the center of each RF-ID reader / writer area.
Reference numeral 52 denotes an RF-ID unit (for example, a device such as an RF-ID module on which an RF-ID chip is mounted) attached to the wireless communication terminal device 1.
53 is a movement route of the wireless communication terminal device 1, and 53a to 53c are movement points thereof.
The RF-ID reader / writer may be an RF-ID reader / writer already provided for other purposes, such as an automatic ticket gate for transportation, a gate in a premises or event venue, etc. It may be installed so that the user is completely unaware of its existence.

FIG. 7 is a functional configuration diagram of the wireless communication terminal device 1 used in the embodiment shown in FIG.
As the current position information acquisition unit 2 shown in FIG. 1, the RF-ID unit (radio frequency identification unit) 52 described above is used, and an RF-ID management information storage unit 61 is provided.
When the RF-ID unit 52 incorporated in the wireless communication terminal device 1 approaches one of the RF-ID readers / writers arranged at a plurality of positions, the RF-ID unit 52 It is activated by receiving a radio wave modulated with RF-ID reader / writer identification information for identifying a writer, and RF-ID reader / writer identification information is acquired by demodulating the radio wave.

Since the RF-ID reader / writer areas 51a to 51k are very narrow, the installation position of the RF-ID reader / writer from which the RF-ID reader / writer identification information is acquired is regarded as the current position of the wireless communication terminal device 1. be able to. Therefore, the RF-ID reader / writer identification information can be acquired as the current position information of the own device.
The wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 recognizes the RF-ID reader / writer area identified by the RF-ID reader / writer identification information, which is regarded as the current position information of the own device, acquired by the RF-ID unit 52. When included in the wireless LAN areas 12a to 12c, the wireless LAN communication unit 4 is activated by assuming that the current position of the own apparatus has also entered the wireless LAN area.

Specifically, for example, the RF-ID management information storage unit 61 is used.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of RF-ID management information (RF-ID Table) stored in the RF-ID management information storage unit 61 shown in FIG. This storage unit is a part of the nonvolatile internal memory of the wireless communication terminal device 1.
In the RF-ID management information storage unit 61, reader / writer identification information for identifying an RF-ID reader / writer in which the radio wave reception area exists in any one of the wireless LAN areas 12a to 12c, and access History information (Access Log) is stored.
Therefore, if the acquired reader / writer identification information is stored in the RF-ID management information storage unit 61, the position of the RF-ID reader / writer specified by the acquired reader / writer identification information is You can see that you are in the wireless LAN area.
The access history information (Access Log) is the same as that described above with reference to FIG. 4, and is a flag indicating whether or not information has been acquired by accessing the corresponding wireless LAN. is there. If 1 stands, it indicates that this wireless LAN has been accessed. As a specific example, a case where no access flag is set is shown.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a processing algorithm of radio communication terminal apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
In the initial state immediately after the power switch is turned on to the wireless communication terminal device 1, as shown in S71, the wireless LAN is not activated and is in the off state.
In S72, the RF-ID unit 52 is activated by receiving a radio wave transmitted from any RF-ID reader / writer, and demodulates the radio wave to obtain reader / writer identification information (ID). . In S73, it is determined whether or not the obtained reader / writer identification information (ID) is an ID existing in the RF-ID management information (RF-ID Table) shown in FIG.
If it exists, the process proceeds to S74. If it does not exist, the process returns to S71, maintains the wireless LAN off state, and waits for acquisition of new RF-ID reader / writer identification information.
Whether or not the access history information (Access Log) of the wireless LAN identification information (Wireless Name, eg, SSID, ESSID) corresponding to the existing reader / writer identification information is not flagged (Access Flag = 0) in S74 Determine. If the flag is not set, the process proceeds to S75, the wireless LAN identification information (Wireless Name, for example, SSID, ESSID) is designated, and the process proceeds to S76. If it is set, the process returns to S71.

In the specific example shown in FIG. 6, when the wireless communication terminal device 1 is at the moving position 53a, it is located within the receivable range 51h of the radio wave transmitted from the RF-ID reader / writer. Writer identification information is acquired. However, since this RF-ID reader / writer identification information is not included in the RF-ID management information (RF-ID Table) shown in FIG. 8, the wireless LAN continues in the off state.
At the moving position 53b, new RF-ID reader / writer identification information is also acquired. Similarly, this RF-ID reader / writer identification information is included in the RF-ID management information (RF-ID Table). Since the wireless LAN is not, it will remain off.
Since the moving position 53c is located within the receivable range 51a of the radio wave transmitted from the RF-ID reader / writer, “RF-ID a” is acquired as the RF-ID reader / writer identification information. It is included in the RF-ID management information (RF-ID Table).
As a result, in S76, the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 automatically activates the wireless LAN communication unit 4. The wireless LAN communication unit 4 searches for a wireless LAN access point.
For example, radio waves from the access point are detected, wireless LAN identification information (Wireless Name, for example, SSID, ESSID) is listed from the detected radio waves in S77, and the wireless LAN identification information listed in S78 The wireless LAN identification information (Wireless Name, for example, SSID, ESSID) of the wireless LAN designated in S75 is selected, and the wireless LAN access point is connected.

In S79, the wireless LAN communication unit 4 accesses the URL indicating the location of the management server via the wireless LAN access point 7a, and acquires the latest RF-ID reader / writer identification information (RF-ID Table). Then, the RF-ID management information storage unit 61 shown in FIG. 8 stored in the own apparatus is updated.
This update addresses the daily increase in the number of wireless LAN access point installations and changes and increases in the location of RF-ID reader / writers.
In S80 to S82, as in S46 to S48 of FIG. 5, an information acquisition service is started, and various information is automatically downloaded via the wireless LAN access point 7a to display the acquired information. At the same time, in S83, the wireless LAN identification information (Wireless Name, eg, SSID, ESSID) of the wireless LAN access point connected this time is stored in the RF-ID management information (RF-ID Table) storage unit 61 shown in FIG. An access flag is set in the corresponding access history information (Access Log) (Access Flag = 1), and the wireless LAN is turned off in S84. Thereafter, the process restarts from S71.

The RF-ID management information storage unit 61 described with reference to FIG. 8 stores all the RF-ID reader / writer identification information. Instead, all the RF-ID reader / writer identification information may be stored in the management server.
The same cell identification information acquisition unit 21 as shown in FIG. 3 is provided, and after the cell identification information acquisition unit 21 acquires the cell identification information from the base station 6, it is managed via the base station 6 of the mobile phone network. The server may be accessed and only the identification information of the RF-ID reader / writer included in the currently located cell may be stored in the RF-ID management information storage unit 61.
The storage capacity of the RF-ID management information storage unit 61 can be reduced, and the update process in S79 is not necessary.

In addition, as described with reference to FIG. 1, there is a method in which the RF-ID management information storage unit 61 is not provided.
All RF-ID reader / writer identification information is stored in the management server, and the RF-ID reader / writer identification information acquired by the RF-ID unit 52 is transmitted to the management server via the base station of the mobile phone network. Detects that one of the wireless LAN areas has an area that can receive radio waves from the RF-ID reader / writer specified by the transferred RF-ID reader / writer identification information. When it is done, the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 may be notified.

In the description with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, the case where the RF-ID 52 is attached to the wireless communication terminal device 1 has been described.
However, conversely, the RF-ID 52 may be arranged at a plurality of locations (for example, pasted on a station premises or a store wall), and an RF-ID reader / writer may be attached to the wireless communication terminal device 1. .
In this case, the functional configuration diagram shown in FIG. 7 is changed as follows.
The RF-ID part is assumed to be an external device arranged at a plurality of locations. Replacing what is attached to the wireless communication terminal device 1 with an RF-ID reader / writer and transmitting radio waves to the RF-ID unit, thereby receiving radio waves modulated with RF-ID identification information from the RF-ID unit Thus, the RF-ID identification information is acquired as the current position information of the own device.
The RF-ID management information storage unit 61 stores RF-ID identification information of an RF-ID unit having a radio wave response receivable area in any wireless LAN area. Replace with storage.

RF-ID identification information of the RF-ID unit is obtained by outputting radio waves from the RF-ID reader / writer and demodulating the modulated signal of the radio wave response by the activated RF-ID unit.
The wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 refers to the RF-ID identification information storage unit, and the radio wave response receivable area by the RF-ID unit specified by the acquired RF-ID identification information is any wireless LAN area. When it is detected that they exist in 12a to 12c, the wireless LAN communication unit 4 is activated on the assumption that the current position of its own device has entered any wireless LAN communicable area.

Since the RF-ID reader / writer outputs radio waves, it consumes a lot of power. Therefore, like the GPS positioning unit 14 shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable to control the first activation and the second activation by the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3.
Therefore, the same cell identification information acquisition unit 21 as shown in FIG. 3 is provided, and the RF-ID identification information storage unit stores the cell identification of the cell in which the RF-ID exists in the identification information of the RF-ID. The information added is stored in the RF-ID identification information section.
Only when the RF-ID exists in the cell in which the wireless communication terminal device 1 is located, the RF-ID reader / writer is activated and is detected to be present in any one of the wireless LAN areas. Until a predetermined (constant or variable) waiting time is provided, the RF-ID reader / writer is restarted.

In this case, the longitude and latitude information of all RF-IDs is stored in the RF-ID identification information storage unit, and the identification information of the RF-ID unit that does not have a radio wave response receivable area in the wireless LAN area is acquired. When calculating the distance between the wireless LAN area and the RF-ID unit having a radio wave response receivable area, as in the embodiment using the GPS positioning unit 14 described with reference to FIG. A variable waiting time until the RF-ID reader / writer is restarted can be set.
Alternatively, the RF-ID identification information of the RF-ID part that does not have a response area in the wireless LAN area includes the distance information from the location of the RF-ID part to the wireless LAN area (wireless LAN access point). You may make it memorize | store beforehand.

The above-described RF-ID identification information is stored in a management server connected via the base station 6, and the RF-ID identification information acquired by the RF-ID reader / writer is transferred to the management server, Based on the acquired RF-ID identification information and the RF-ID identification information stored in the management server, the current position of the wireless communication terminal device 1 has entered the wireless LAN communicable area on the management server side. May be detected, and when detected, the wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 may be notified.
On the other hand, when it is detected that the wireless LAN is not in the communicable area, set a fixed or variable waiting time until restart according to the distance to the wireless LAN area (wireless LAN access point) The wireless LAN communication activation unit 3 may be notified so that the RF-ID reader / writer is restarted after the standby time has elapsed.

In the embodiment using the RF-ID unit and the RF-ID reader / writer described above, either one of the identification information is acquired as the current position information of the own apparatus.
Here, instead of the RF-ID portion, the identification information of the external device may be displayed by a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode, and may be installed at a plurality of locations. The wireless communication terminal device may be provided with a barcode reader using a camera or the like.

In the above description, the access history information is included in the “wireless LAN location information, cell identification information” in FIG. 4 or the RF-ID management information in FIG. Instead of this, for the above-described access history information, the wireless LAN identification information of the wireless LAN access point with the access history may be stored as an independent access history management table. In this case, there is no need to transfer access history information when updating “wireless LAN location information, cell identification information” or RF-ID management information.
In addition, the above-described access history information is stored so as not to repeatedly acquire regional content corresponding to the wireless LAN area. On the other hand, if the user arbitrarily accesses the website after being connected to the wireless LAN access point, it may be repeatedly connected to the same wireless LAN access point. It is not necessary to perform the processing in steps S36 and S49 in FIG. 5 and the processing in S74 and S83 in FIG.

In the above description, the GPS positioning unit 14 as shown in FIG. 3 is used as the current position information acquisition unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 and the RF-ID unit 52 shown in FIG. The embodiment using the RF-ID reader / writer and bar code reader replaced with is described.
Instead of these, as the current position information acquisition unit 2, the GPS positioning unit 14 and the other RF-ID unit 52 are automatically switched to an appropriate one according to the user's selection operation or according to the situation. Also good.
For example, although GPS positioning is highly accurate, it cannot be performed in a building or in a building where GPS signals cannot be received. When GPS positioning cannot be performed in this way, switching to the RF-ID unit 52 or the like is performed.

In the above description, the cellular phone network 6 has been described as a cellular cellular phone network. Alternatively, PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) may be used. As long as the wireless communication terminal device 1 is assumed to move, a network dedicated to data communication may be used.
Further, the wireless communication terminal device 1 may have no mobile phone function. Data communication via the base station 6 of the mobile phone network may not be possible.

This wireless communication terminal device 1 communicates by moving the position of its own device like a portable personal computer or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), and is always located in the wireless LAN area. When not limited, it is possible to realize power saving by applying the algorithm of the present invention that automatically activates the wireless LAN communication unit only in the wireless LAN area.
The wireless LAN access point may be accessible only by a client terminal device registered as a subscriber, or may be a so-called free spot without user restrictions. The wireless LAN access point may be an indoor wireless LAN access point with a communication range within the office or home.

After the wireless LAN communication unit 4 is connected to the wireless LAN access point 7 according to each embodiment described above, the content acquisition unit 9 shown in FIG. 1 accesses the content server 8 to acquire content or broadcast Alternatively, the content can be acquired as a PUSH service.
In this way, data communication using a wireless LAN broadband bearer becomes possible, and various content services that cannot be provided by a cellular phone network can be provided.
The data communicated via the wireless LAN access point is not limited to content files and mail messages, but voice data of calls that occur in real time may be transmitted using the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) method. .

It is a functional block diagram of the radio | wireless communication terminal device which is one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of a wireless communication system in a case where current position information of a wireless communication terminal device is acquired using GPS as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a function block diagram of the radio | wireless communication terminal device used for one Embodiment shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of "wireless LAN position information, cell identification information" and GPS starting timing management information. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a processing algorithm of the wireless communication terminal apparatus shown in FIG. 3. 1 is a configuration diagram of a wireless communication system in a case where current position information of a wireless communication terminal apparatus is acquired using an RF-ID system as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a function block diagram of the radio | wireless communication terminal device used for one Embodiment shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of RF-ID management information. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the processing algorithm of the radio | wireless communication terminal device shown in FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional wireless communication system via a mobile phone network or a wireless LAN.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wireless communication terminal device, 2 ... Current location information acquisition part, 3 ... Wireless LAN communication starting part, 4 ... Wireless LAN communication part, 5 ... Location reference | standard apparatus, 6 ... Base station of a mobile telephone network, 7, 7a-7c ... Wireless LAN access point, 11 ... Cellular phone network cell, 12a to 12c ... Wireless LAN area, 13 ... Movement route, 13a to 13c ... Movement position, 14 ... GPS positioning unit

Claims (5)

Current position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information of the own device;
A wireless LAN communication means for connecting to a wireless LAN access point and performing communication via the wireless LAN;
Wireless LAN communication activation means for activating the wireless LAN communication means when the current position of the own device acquired by the current position information acquisition means enters the wireless LAN communicable area;
A wireless communication terminal apparatus comprising: The current position information acquisition means is turned off after acquiring the current position information of the own device,
The wireless LAN communication activation means acquires the current position information after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed when the current position of the device itself acquired by the current position information acquisition means is not within the communicable area of the wireless LAN. Is to restart the means,
The wireless communication terminal device according to claim 1. The current position information acquisition means is activated by receiving a radio wave modulated with the external device identification information of the external device from one of the external devices installed at a plurality of positions, and automatically acquires the external device identification information. It is acquired as the current position information of the device,
The wireless LAN communication activation unit is configured such that a radio wave receivable area from the external device specified by the external device identification information acquired by the current position information acquisition unit is included in the wireless LAN communication area. , Activate the wireless LAN communication means,
The wireless communication terminal device according to claim 1. Having a mobile phone network communication means for performing communication via a base station of a mobile phone network;
The wireless communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication terminal device is a wireless communication terminal device. Having a mobile phone network communication means for performing communication via a mobile phone network base station;
The wireless LAN communication activation means activates the current location information acquisition means when the wireless LAN communication area is included in a cell of the mobile phone network where the device is located,
The wireless communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication terminal device is a wireless communication terminal device.

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