JP2006180183A - Method of managing network configuration and communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically reenter a network by efficiently using the communication band of a network when a communication terminal rejected from the network reenters the network. <P>SOLUTION: A method of managing the network configuration includes a step S303 for allowing the rejected communication terminal to receive participation terminal information transmitted from a management terminal, when the communication terminal participating in the network is rejected from the network; a step S307 for confirming whether the rejected communication terminal can receive data transmitted from the communication terminal participating in the network, based on the received participation terminal information; and a step S308 for allowing the rejected communication terminal to transmit a reentrance request for obtaining the authorization of participation to the network to the management terminal when it is confirmed that the data can be received from all communication terminals participating in the network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for managing a configuration of a network constructed so that a plurality of communication terminals can directly communicate with each other, and a communication terminal constituting the network. It relates to the re-entry method for joining the network.

  In recent years, wireless networks have become popular in companies and homes because of the advantages of removing the troublesomeness of wiring in wired networks and flexibly changing the layout of terminals. As a method of constructing a wireless network, there are a method of using an access point and performing all communication between terminals via the access point, and a method of performing direct communication between terminals without using the access point.

  In the method using an access point, communication between each terminal is always performed via the access point, so if communication is possible between each terminal and the access point, communication with all other terminals is possible. It becomes. However, when a wireless network is constructed using a method using an access point, an access point is always required, and communication between terminals cannot be performed without an access point.

  On the other hand, in a system in which direct communication is performed between terminals without using an access point, a special device called an access point is not required, and a wireless network can be constructed using only the terminal. However, in the method using an access point, if communication between each terminal and the access point is possible, communication between all terminals is possible, whereas in the method in which communication is performed directly between terminals, each terminal If direct communication is not possible, communication within the network is not guaranteed.

  Patent Document 1 discloses communication reachability between a terminal newly joining the network and all other terminals in the wireless network in a wireless network using a method of performing direct communication between terminals without using an access point. A wireless communication system to be guaranteed, a wireless communication terminal, and a participation method in the wireless communication system are shown.

  In a wireless network, communication may be disconnected due to a change in communication status. However, in order to perform communication again when communication is disconnected, it is necessary to reconnect communication.

  In Patent Document 2, when communication is disconnected due to deterioration of the wireless environment, the user does not perform reconnection processing, but automatically resumes communication when the wireless environment recovers, and communication can be continued. A device has been proposed.

JP 2003-318917 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-243053

  However, in a wireless network, the wireless environment changes with time, so even if communication between terminals is guaranteed at a certain time, communication between terminals may become impossible at another time.

  The invention described in Patent Document 1 is intended to guarantee communication reachability with all terminals participating in a wireless network when the terminal newly joins the wireless network. It is not guaranteed that a terminal participating in the communication can always communicate with all other terminals participating in the wireless network.

  The invention described in Patent Document 2 can set a communication reconnection time when communication is disconnected due to deterioration of the wireless environment, and can automatically resume communication when the wireless environment recovers. However, regardless of whether there is a possibility that the wireless environment is recovered, data for reconnection is transmitted, and thus there is a possibility that the wireless communication band is wasted.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and when a communication terminal excluded from the network re-enters the network, the communication bandwidth of the network is efficiently reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide a network configuration management method for automatically re-entering a network and guaranteeing communication reachability between terminals participating in the network and a communication terminal constituting the network. To do.

  The network configuration management method of the present invention comprises a plurality of communication terminals having unique terminal identifiers, wherein one of the communication terminals serves as a management terminal, and the communication terminal can directly communicate with another communication terminal. In a network in which a communication status confirmation result confirming whether or not is transmitted from each communication terminal to the management terminal, and participating terminal information based on the communication status confirmation result is periodically transmitted from the management terminal to each communication terminal, A method for managing the configuration of a network, wherein each communication terminal is based on the communication status confirmation result by the management terminal so that all communication terminals participating in the network can directly communicate with each other. Is permitted or excluded from the network, and communication terminals participating in the network are allowed to participate in the network. When the excluded communication terminal receives the participation terminal information transmitted from the management terminal, and when the excluded communication terminal is excluded from the work, the excluded communication terminal is based on the received participation terminal information; Checking whether data transmitted from a communication terminal participating in the network can be received, and confirming that data from all communication terminals participating in the network can be received. In this case, the excluded communication terminal has a step of transmitting a re-entry request for requesting permission to participate in the network to the management terminal.

  The communication terminal of the present invention includes a plurality of communication terminals having unique terminal identifiers, and one of the communication terminals is a management terminal, and whether the communication terminal can directly communicate with another communication terminal. A communication status confirmation result confirming whether or not is transmitted from each communication terminal to the management terminal, and participation terminal information based on the communication status confirmation result is periodically transmitted from the management terminal to each communication terminal, The management terminal permits the communication terminals to participate in the network based on the communication status confirmation result or the network so that all the communication terminals participating in the network can directly communicate with each other. In the communication terminal constituting the network to be excluded from the network, whether the communication terminal participating in the network is the network When excluded, the excluded communication terminal receives the participation terminal information transmitted from the management terminal, and the excluded communication terminal is based on the received participation terminal information. Confirming whether data transmitted from communication terminals participating in the network can be received, and confirming that data from all communication terminals participating in the network can be received. In addition, the excluded communication terminal includes a control unit that transmits a re-entry request for requesting permission to participate in the network to the management terminal.

  According to the present invention, even if the communication terminal is excluded from the network due to a temporary change in the communication status or the like, if the communication status returns to the original state after that, the excluded communication terminal automatically enters the network. Has the effect of being able to re-enter.

  In addition, when a communication terminal that has been excluded from the network due to a temporary change in the communication status re-enters this network, after confirming that communication with all communication terminals in the network is possible, re-enter Since the request is transmitted, unnecessary packets are not transmitted in the network, the transmission data from itself can be reduced as much as possible, and the communication band can be effectively used to re-enter. .

  In addition, the number of times re-entry operations are performed is stored, and when the re-entry operations are performed a predetermined number of times, the user can install the communication terminal when the possibility of re-entry is low. Measures such as moving the place can be taken.

  Furthermore, when the possibility of re-entry is low, it is possible to suppress the confirmation operation of the communication status with other communication terminals by taking measures such as the user moving the installation location of the communication terminal. Consumption can be suppressed.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a wireless network 10 to which the configuration management method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless network 10 in the first embodiment includes communication terminals 100, 200, 300, and 400. The communication terminals 100, 200, 300, and 400 include, for example, a plurality of mobile phone devices, a plurality of personal computers (PCs), a combination of a PC and its peripheral devices, or a plurality of video devices (broadcast receivers, video A plurality of communication devices having a wireless communication function, such as a recording device and a video display device. The communication terminals 100, 200, 300, and 400 are configured to be able to directly communicate with each other without using an access point. In FIG. 1, a double-headed arrow drawn with a solid line indicates that communication reachability is guaranteed between communication terminals. Although FIG. 1 shows a case where the wireless network 10 is composed of four communication terminals, the number of communication terminals constituting the wireless network 10 is not limited to four. Further, in the communication terminals 100, 200, 300, and 400, for example, one management terminal device (hereinafter, also referred to as “management terminal”) having a function of managing the configuration of the wireless network 10 exists. Here, a case where the communication terminal 100 is a management terminal will be described. In addition, since the communication terminals 100, 200, 300, and 400 are communication terminals participating in the wireless network 10 (that is, communication terminals that allow the management terminal to participate in the wireless network), the communication terminals 100, 200, 300, and 400 are also referred to as participating terminals. To tell.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the management terminal 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the management terminal 100 includes a communication unit 101 that performs wireless communication with other communication terminals, a control unit 102 that can execute an operation based on wireless network management software, a semiconductor, And a storage unit 103 such as a memory. The management terminal 100 also includes an operation unit (not shown) as a user interface, a display unit 104 such as a liquid crystal screen, a voice output unit (not shown) such as a speaker, and a voice input unit such as a microphone as necessary. (Not shown), various components such as a power supply unit (not shown) are provided. The control unit 102 can also be configured by a circuit (hardware).

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing participation terminal information stored in the storage unit 103 of the management terminal 100. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the participating terminal information is information regarding participating terminals participating in the wireless network 10. In the participating terminal information, information identifying the participating terminals participating in the wireless network 10 by a unique terminal identifier and whether the participating terminals are in a communicable state where communication between the participating terminals is possible (indicated as “Yes” in FIG. 3). ) Or communication enable / disable determination result information (that is, the communication enable / disable determination result of the entire wireless network 10) indicating whether communication between the participating terminals is not possible. In the following description, the terminal identifiers of the communication terminals 100, 200, 300, and 400 are “100”, “200”, “300”, and “400”, respectively.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 is capable of executing an operation based on a communication unit 201 that performs wireless communication with other communication terminals and wireless network participation software. Unit 202 and a storage unit 203 such as a semiconductor memory. In addition, the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 each have an operation unit (not shown) as a user interface, a display unit 204 such as a liquid crystal screen, an audio output unit (not shown) such as a speaker, a microphone, as necessary. Various configurations such as a voice input unit (not shown) such as a power supply unit (not shown) are provided. The control unit 202 can also be configured by a circuit (hardware).

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing participation terminal information stored in the storage unit 203 of the communication terminal 200. As shown in FIG. 5, the participating terminal information includes information (information received from the management terminal 100) that identifies a participating terminal participating in the wireless network 10 by a unique terminal identifier, and the self and other participating terminals. Communication availability indicating whether communication is possible (indicated by “OK” in the figure) or communication disabled state (indicated by “impossible” in the figure) where communication between itself and other participating terminals is not possible. And judgment result information. Note that the participation terminal information stored in the storage unit of the communication terminal 300 or 400 has the same content as that shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 5 (the content of its own communication availability determination result is different).

  Next, an outline of network configuration management will be described. In the wireless network 10, the configuration of the wireless network is managed as follows.

  In step A, the management terminal 100 first transmits participating terminal information held by itself. The participating terminal information transmitted here is the participating terminal information updated based on the communication status confirmation result that the management terminal 100 receives from the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 in Step D described later. However, in the stage before the management terminal 100 receives the participation terminal information (such as the initial stage of construction of the wireless network 10), the participation terminal information may be initialized by a user operation or the like.

  In step B, the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 receive the participating terminal information transmitted from the management terminal 100.

  Next, in step C, the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 receive communication confirmation data transmitted from communication terminals other than themselves participating in the wireless network 10 based on the received participation terminal information. Thus, it is determined whether or not communication with a communication terminal other than itself is possible. When a network capable of direct communication at a transmission rate equal to or higher than a predetermined transmission rate between all communication terminals in the network is configured, the communication confirmation data is transmitted and received by each communication terminal in the network. It suffices to operate so as to confirm the communication status by performing transmission / reception at a higher transmission rate.

  Next, in step D, the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 transmit the communication availability determination result (that is, the communication status confirmation result) obtained by determining whether or not communication is possible to the management terminal 100.

  In step E, the management terminal 100 determines participating terminals to be excluded from the wireless network 10 based on the received communication availability determination result. As this determination method, for example, when it is determined that it should be excluded when communication is impossible for a predetermined number of times, it should be excluded when there are more than a predetermined number of communication impossible relationships within a predetermined period. When determining, there is a case where it is determined that a participating terminal with a lower priority among participating terminals having a communication incapability relationship is to be excluded by setting a priority for each participating terminal. By deleting the participating terminal to be excluded from the wireless network 10 from the participating terminal information, the participating terminal information held by the management terminal 100 is updated. When there is a participating terminal to be excluded from the wireless network 10, the management terminal 100 transmits an exclusion notification that notifies the participating terminal to be excluded from the wireless network 10 that it is excluded from the wireless network 10.

  Further, in step F, in the wireless network 10, the above-described steps A to E are repeated, for example, periodically.

  As an example, the wireless network 10 is composed of four communication terminals 100, 200, 300, and 400 as shown in FIG. 1, but the communication status changes, and both directions marked with X in FIG. A case will be described in which communication between the communication terminal 200 and the communication terminal 300 and between the communication terminal 300 and the communication terminal 400 are disabled as indicated by arrows (broken lines). In this case, in step C, the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 determine whether communication with communication terminals other than themselves participating in the wireless network 10 is possible. Then, the communication availability determination result obtained by this determination is transmitted to the management terminal 100. As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, the communication availability determination result information held by the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 at the time of transmission is between the communication terminal 200 and the communication terminal 300, and the communication terminal, respectively. Communication between the communication terminal 300 and the communication terminal 400 is impossible (indicated by “impossible” in the figure). In step E, the management terminal 100 determines a participating terminal to be excluded from the wireless network 10 based on the received communication availability determination result, and deletes the participating terminal to be excluded from the wireless network 10 from the participating terminal information. Thus, the participation terminal information held by the management terminal 100 is updated. As shown in FIG. 10, the participation terminal information held by the management terminal 100 after the update is shown in FIG. 10. The management terminal 100 receives the communication availability determination result, and immediately after the communication terminal 200 and the communication terminal 300 are received. Communication between the terminal 300 and the communication terminal 400 is impossible (indicated by “impossible” in the figure).

  Next, a case where the management terminal 100 excludes the communication terminal 300 from the wireless network 10 in step E will be described. In this case, the configuration of the wireless network 10 is switched from the configuration shown in FIG. 6 to the configuration shown in FIG. As a result, the participating terminal information held by the management terminal 100 is composed of information on the communication terminals 100, 200, and 400 as shown in FIG. Further, the communication terminal information held by the participating terminals 200 and 400 is also updated by step A executed again in the above step F, and the communication terminal information held by the participating terminals 200 and 400 is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, respectively. It comes to be.

  As described above, by managing the configuration of the wireless network 10, it is possible to continue to guarantee communication reachability among all communication terminals participating in the wireless network.

  Next, a configuration management method for the wireless network 10 will be described in detail. FIGS. 15A and 15B are flowcharts showing the operation of the management terminal 100. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400. As already described, the management terminal 100 has participation terminal information composed of terminal information of communication terminals participating in the wireless network 10. Based on this participation terminal information, the management terminal 100 and the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 can grasp the communication terminals participating in the wireless network 10.

  First, the participation terminal information transmission operation of the management terminal 100 will be described based on FIG. The management terminal 100 transmits participating terminal information at a predetermined cycle. The management terminal 100 first sets a participation terminal information transmission timer (step S1), and determines whether or not the participation terminal information transmission timer has expired (step S2). If the participation terminal information transmission timer has not expired in step S2, the process returns to the beginning of step S2 again, and the management terminal 100 enters a state of waiting for participation terminal information transmission. When the participation terminal information transmission timer has expired in step S2, the management terminal 100 transmits the participation terminal information held by itself to the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 constituting the wireless network 10 by broadcasting. (Step S3), the participation terminal information transmission timer is reset (Step S4). Thereafter, the management terminal 100 periodically repeats transmission of participating terminal information (steps S2 to S4).

  Next, based on FIG. 15 (b), a communication availability determination result reception operation of the management terminal 100 will be described. The management terminal 100 receives the communication feasibility determination result from the communication terminals 200, 300, 400 (step S11). The communication possibility determination result confirms whether or not each communication terminal 200, 300, 400 can directly communicate with all the communication terminals other than the self participating in the wireless network 10, and The communication terminal which can communicate and the communication terminal which cannot communicate are shown. The management terminal 100 determines which communication terminal can continue to participate in the wireless network 10 using the received communication availability determination result (step S12), and determines whether there is a communication terminal to be excluded from the wireless network 10. Judgment is made (step S13). There are various methods for determining which communication terminal is excluded from the wireless network 10 using the communication determination result. For example, if priority is given to each communication terminal in advance, and there is a communication terminal that cannot be communicated in the communication determination result, it can be determined by removing the communication terminal in descending order of priority. It can be decided whether to exclude the communication terminal. Further, there is a method of determining communication terminals to be excluded using one or more communication availability determination results received within a certain period of time so that the maximum number of communication terminals can continue to participate in the wireless network.

  When there is no communication terminal to be excluded from the wireless network 10, the management terminal 100 is in a state of receiving the communication availability determination result again. When there is a communication terminal to be excluded from the wireless network 10, the management terminal 100 updates the participation terminal information by deleting the terminal information of the communication terminal to be excluded from the participation terminal information held by the management terminal 100 (step S14). An exclusion notification is sent to the communication terminal excluded from the network 10 (step S15). And the management terminal 100 will be in the state (step S11) which receives a communication availability determination result again.

  As described above, when the management terminal 100 updates the participation terminal information, the updated participation terminal information is periodically transmitted from the management terminal 100 to each communication terminal 200, 300, 400. The communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 can know that the wireless network 10 has been reconstructed by receiving the updated participation terminal information and checking the updated participation terminal information. In addition, even when communication with the management terminal 100 becomes impossible and the communication determination result from the communication terminal cannot be received, the management terminal 100 deletes the terminal information of the communication terminal from the participation terminal information and participates in the terminal information. Can be excluded from the wireless network 10. When the communication terminal is excluded from the wireless network, the management terminal 100 displays a means for displaying, for example, the terminal identifier of the communication terminal excluded on the liquid crystal display unit (LCD). To notify the user. Then, the user can know which communication terminal has been excluded and the configuration of the wireless network has changed, and can take appropriate measures such as installing the excluded communication terminal in a place where communication is possible. it can.

  Next, the operation of the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 configuring the wireless network of the first embodiment will be described using FIG. First, the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 set a participation terminal information reception timer to determine whether or not the participation terminal information periodically transmitted from the management terminal 100 by broadcast can be received (step S21). Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not the participation terminal information reception timer has expired (step S22). When the timer expires in step S22, the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 determine that communication with the management terminal 100 is disabled, and determine that participation in the wireless network 10 is disabled. If the timer has not expired in step S22, the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 confirm whether or not the participation terminal information transmitted from the management terminal 100 has been received (step S23), and receive the participation terminal information. If not, the participation terminal information reception timer expires again. When receiving the participation terminal information in step S23, the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 reset the participation terminal information reception timer (step S24), and join the wireless network other than the self using the terminal information of the participation terminal information. It is confirmed whether or not direct communication with the communication terminal is possible, and it is determined whether or not communication with each communication terminal is possible (step S25). As a method for determining whether or not communication with each communication terminal is possible, for example, the communication terminals communicate with each other, and when communication is performed normally, communication between the communication terminals is possible. Can be determined. Then, after the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 determine whether communication with each communication terminal participating in the wireless network 10 is possible or not, based on the determination result, which communication terminal is currently capable of communication is determined. The communication availability determination result shown is transmitted to the management terminal 100 (step S26).

  The communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 transmit the communication determination result to the management terminal 100, and then check whether or not the exclusion notification from the management terminal 100 has been received, and the communication terminal continues to the wireless network. It is determined whether or not participation is possible (step S27). If the communication terminal 200, 300, 400 determines that its own communication terminal has been excluded from the wireless network 10, the communication terminal 200, 300, 400 blinks, for example, a red LED flashing. The user is notified using means such as Then, the user can know that the communication terminal has been excluded, and the user can take appropriate measures such as moving the installation location with respect to the excluded communication terminal. If the communication terminals 200, 300, and 400 do not receive the rejection notification from the management terminal 100 and determine that their communication terminals can continue to participate in the wireless network 10, the participation terminal information reception timer expires again. It will be in a waiting state (step S22).

  As described above, the communication terminals constituting the wireless network can be managed according to the first embodiment, and even when the communication status between the communication terminals changes and communication becomes impossible, A wireless network capable of direct communication between all the communication terminals participating in the wireless network can be constructed. In addition, each communication terminal can immediately know the participating terminal excluded from the network by transmitting an exclusion notification informing the participating terminal to be excluded from the network. Further, by periodically repeating the determination in step C, the participating terminal information can always be updated. Further, when the participating terminal excluded from the network performs a display for notifying the user that its own communication terminal has been excluded from the network, the user can take measures against the exclusion from the network (for example, a device). Etc.) can be taken immediately.

  Next, a network configuration management method according to the first embodiment, particularly a network re-entry method will be described. FIG. 17 shows a network composed of three communication terminals 100, 200, and 300 in which the communication terminal 400 in the network 10 of FIG. 1 is excluded from the network 10 due to, for example, temporary power interruption or deterioration of the communication status. It is a figure which shows that 10a was comprised. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a network configuration management method according to the first embodiment, particularly a re-entry operation to the network by the communication terminal 400 excluded from the network. Note that the processing shown in FIG. 18 is performed when the communication terminal is removed from the network due to temporary power interruption or deterioration of the communication status, etc., but temporary power interruption or deterioration of the communication status. It can also be applied when the communication terminal is excluded from the network for reasons other than the above, and can also be applied whenever the communication terminal is excluded from the network.

  As shown in FIG. 18, when the communication terminal 400 is excluded from the network, the communication terminal 400 determines whether or not the participation terminal information transmitted from the management terminal 100 at a certain period is receivable. Then, the participation terminal information reception timer is set (step S301). In the first embodiment, the participation terminal information reception timer is set to a predetermined time (a time equal to or longer than the cycle T1 at which the management terminal transmits the participation terminal information). The excluded communication terminal 400 can grasp the communication terminals participating in the network 10a by referring to the participating terminal information transmitted from the management terminal 100, for example, periodically.

  Next, the excluded communication terminal 400 checks whether or not the participation terminal information reception timer has expired (step S302). When the participation terminal information reception timer expires, the excluded communication terminal 400 determines that communication with the management terminal 100 of the network 10a is impossible, and again sets the participation terminal information reception timer (step S301). Return to. If the participation terminal information reception timer has not expired, the excluded communication terminal 400 confirms whether or not the participation terminal information transmitted from the management terminal 100 has been received (step S303) and receives the participation terminal information. If not, the process returns to the expiration confirmation state of the participating terminal information reception timer (step S302).

  When the excluded communication terminal 400 receives the participation terminal information transmitted from the management terminal 100 in the confirmation process (step S303) of whether or not the participation terminal information has been received, the communication terminal 400 receives the communication terminal 400 from the communication terminals participating in the network 10a. In order to determine whether or not communication is possible, a communication status confirmation timer is set (step S304). In the first embodiment, the communication status confirmation timer has a predetermined time (period T2 at which each communication terminal transmits communication confirmation data including its own terminal identifier to a communication terminal other than itself participating in the network 10. Set to the above time).

  Next, the excluded communication terminal 400 confirms whether or not the communication status confirmation timer has expired (step S305). When the communication status confirmation timer expires, the excluded communication terminal 400 has one or more communication terminals that are not capable of communicating with the communication terminal 400 among the communication terminals 100, 200, and 300 participating in the network 10a. It is determined that there is, and the process returns to the participation terminal information reception timer setting process (step S301), and the re-entry operation is performed again.

  If the communication status confirmation timer has not expired, the excluded communication terminal 400 confirms whether data can be received from the communication terminals 100, 200, 300 participating in the network 10a, and confirms the communication status. This is performed (step S306). The communication terminals 100, 200, and 300 participating in the network 10a check the communication status of each other, and configure their own networks that allow direct communication among all the communication terminals. Including communication confirmation data. The excluded communication terminal 400 can confirm the communication status (that is, determine whether communication is possible) by receiving the communication confirmation data.

  Next, the excluded communication terminal 400 determines whether or not communication of all the communication terminals 100, 200, 300 participating in the network 10a is possible based on the participation terminal information received in step S303 (step S303). S307) If communication with all the communication terminals 100, 200, 300 participating in the network 10a is possible, a re-entry request to the network is transmitted to the management terminal 100 (step S308). Then, the management terminal 100 that has received the re-entry request updates the participation terminal information and distributes the participation terminal information to each communication terminal, thereby reconfiguring the network (configuration shown in FIG. 1).

  If it is determined in step S307 that the excluded communication terminal 400 has at least one communication terminal that cannot communicate with the communication terminal 400 among the communication terminals 100, 200, and 300 participating in the network 10a. The communication status confirmation timer again waits for expiration (step S305).

  In step S302 or S305, if it is determined that the participation terminal information reception timer has expired or the communication status confirmation timer has expired and re-entry into the network has failed, the excluded communication terminal 400 is, for example, It is also possible to make a configuration such that the user is notified using means such as blinking the red LED lamp (for example, the display unit 204 in FIG. 4). In this case, the user of the communication terminal 400 can know that the communication terminal has failed to re-enter the network 10a, and accordingly, take appropriate measures such as moving the installation location of the communication terminal. Can do.

  As described above, according to the network configuration management method according to the first embodiment, even when the communication terminal is excluded from the network due to temporary power interruption of the communication terminal, deterioration of the communication status, or the like, it is excluded. The communication terminal automatically re-enters the network and can reconfigure a network that can communicate with all the communication terminals participating in the network. In addition, the excluded communication terminal checks the communication status with each communication terminal in the network, and transmits a re-entry request when communication with all communication terminals is possible. Therefore, it is possible to re-enter using the communication band effectively.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a network configuration management method according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in particular, a re-entry operation to the network by the communication terminal 400 excluded from the network. 19, steps that are the same as or correspond to the steps shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 19, steps S301 to S305 of the re-entry operation when the communication terminal 400 is excluded from the network due to power interruption, deterioration of communication status, or the like operate in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, in the communication status confirmation operation in step S311, each communication terminal 100, 200, 300 participating in the network 10a can directly communicate with all the communication terminals. In order to configure a secure network and to determine whether communication is possible at a predetermined transmission rate or higher, communication confirmation data including its own terminal identifier is transmitted at a predetermined cycle in a predetermined cycle. Send at a rate or higher. The excluded communication terminal 400 confirms the communication status depending on whether or not data transmitted at a predetermined transmission rate or higher from each communication terminal 100, 200, 300 participating in the network 10a can be received (step S311). Based on the participation terminal information received in step S303, it is determined whether or not communication with all communication terminals participating in the network 10a is possible at a predetermined transmission rate or higher (step S312). In step S312, if it is determined that the excluded communication terminal 400 can communicate with all communication terminals participating in the network 10a at a predetermined transmission rate or higher, the management terminal 100 is connected to the network. A re-entry request is transmitted (step S308). Then, the management terminal 100 that has received the re-entry request updates the participation terminal information and distributes the participation terminal information to each communication terminal, thereby reconfiguring the network (configuration shown in FIG. 1).

  In step S312, the excluded communication terminal 400 determines that one or more of the communication terminals 100, 200, 300 participating in the network 10a cannot communicate with the communication terminal 400. The communication status confirmation timer again waits for expiration (step S305).

  As described above, according to the network configuration management method according to the second embodiment, even when the communication terminal is excluded from the network due to a temporary power interruption of the communication terminal, deterioration of the communication status, or the like, it is excluded. The communication terminal automatically re-enters the network, and can reconfigure a network that can communicate with all communication terminals participating in the network at a predetermined transmission rate or higher. In addition, the excluded communication terminal confirms the communication state with each communication terminal in the network, and transmits a re-entry request when communication with all communication terminals at a predetermined transmission rate or higher is possible. Transmission data from itself can be reduced as much as possible, and re-entry can be performed by effectively using the communication band.

  In the second embodiment, points other than those described above are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a network configuration management method according to the third embodiment of the present invention, particularly a re-entry operation to the network by the communication terminal 400 excluded from the network. 20, steps that are the same as or correspond to those shown in FIG. 18 are given the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 20, when the communication terminal 400 is excluded from the network due to power interruption, deterioration of communication status, or the like, the communication terminal 400 first stores the number of times of re-entry after being excluded from the network. Set the re-entry counter to 0. The operations in steps S301, S303, S304, and S306 to S308 in FIG. 20 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  If the participation terminal information reception timer expires in step S324, or if the communication status confirmation timer expires in step S325, the communication terminal 400 determines that re-entry into the network has failed, The value is increased by 1 (step S322). And the communication terminal 400 confirms the value of a re-entry counter, and when a re-entry counter value is less than a predetermined threshold value, it performs re-entry operation | movement again from step S301. Further, the communication terminal 400 ends the re-entry operation when the value of the re-entry counter is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. When the re-entry operation is completed without performing the re-entry request operation, the communication terminal 400 determines that the re-entry into the network has failed, and uses a means such as blinking the red lamp of the LED, for example. Notice. In this case, since the user can know that the communication terminal has failed to re-enter the network, the user can take appropriate measures such as moving the installation location of the communication terminal.

  As described above, according to the network configuration management method according to the third embodiment, even when the communication terminal is excluded from the network due to temporary power interruption of the communication terminal, deterioration of the communication status, or the like, it is excluded. The communication terminal automatically re-enters the network and can reconfigure a network that can communicate with all the communication terminals participating in the network. In addition, the excluded communication terminal checks the communication status with each communication terminal in the network, and transmits a re-entry request when communication with all communication terminals is possible. Therefore, it is possible to re-enter using the communication band effectively. In addition, the number of re-entry operations performed by the re-entry counter is stored, and when the number of re-entry operations is performed more than a certain number of times, the re-entry operation is terminated and the user is notified that the re-entry operation has failed. If the possibility of entering is low, the user can take measures such as moving the installation location, and the operation to check the communication status with other communication terminals can be suppressed, thus reducing power consumption. It becomes possible.

  In the third embodiment, points other than those described above are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a network configuration management method according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, in particular, a re-entry operation to the network by the communication terminal 400 excluded from the network. In FIG. 21, the same or corresponding steps as those shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, the network configuration management method according to the fourth embodiment employs steps S311 and S312 instead of steps S306 and S307 in FIG. 20 (third embodiment). This is different from the network configuration management method according to mode 3.

  In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, in the communication status confirmation operation in step S311, each communication terminal 100, 200, 300 participating in the network 10a can directly communicate with all the communication terminals. In order to configure a secure network and to determine whether communication is possible at a predetermined transmission rate or higher, communication confirmation data including its own terminal identifier is transmitted at a predetermined cycle in a predetermined cycle. Send at a rate or higher. The excluded communication terminal 400 confirms the communication status depending on whether or not data transmitted at a predetermined transmission rate or higher from each communication terminal 100, 200, 300 participating in the network 10a can be received (step S311). Based on the participation terminal information received in step S303, it is determined whether or not communication with all communication terminals participating in the network 10a is possible at a predetermined transmission rate or higher (step S312). In step S312, if it is determined that the excluded communication terminal 400 can communicate with all communication terminals participating in the network 10a at a predetermined transmission rate or higher, the management terminal 100 is connected to the network. A re-entry request is transmitted (step S308). Then, the management terminal 100 that has received the re-entry request updates the participation terminal information and distributes the participation terminal information to each communication terminal, thereby reconfiguring the network (configuration shown in FIG. 1).

  In step S312, the excluded communication terminal 400 determines that one or more of the communication terminals 100, 200, 300 participating in the network 10a cannot communicate with the communication terminal 400. The communication status confirmation timer again waits for expiration (step S305).

  As described above, according to the network configuration management method according to the fourth embodiment, even when the communication terminal is excluded from the network due to temporary power interruption of the communication terminal, deterioration of the communication status, or the like, it is excluded. The communication terminal automatically re-enters the network, and can reconfigure a network that can communicate with all communication terminals participating in the network at a predetermined transmission rate or higher. In addition, the excluded communication terminal confirms the communication state with each communication terminal in the network, and transmits a re-entry request when communication with all communication terminals at a predetermined transmission rate or higher is possible. Transmission data from itself can be reduced as much as possible, and re-entry can be performed by effectively using the communication band. In addition, the number of re-entry operations performed by the re-entry counter is memorized, and when a certain number of times or more are performed, the re-entry operation is terminated, and the user is notified that the re-entry has failed, so that the user can re-enter If the possibility is low, the user can take measures such as moving the installation location, and the operation of checking the status of communication with other communication terminals can be suppressed, thus reducing power consumption. Is possible.

  The fourth embodiment is the same as the first to third embodiments except for the points described above.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where a wireless network (IEEE802.11, IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g, UWB, etc.) is used as the network has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Rather, communication with communication terminals in the network becomes impossible due to changes in the communication status between each communication terminal as in a wireless network, a high-speed PLC (network using a power line), a network using an RF line, Even if it is applied to Ethernet, etc., it consists of a plurality of communication terminals having unique terminal identifiers, one of the communication terminals being a management terminal, and all the participating communication terminals can directly communicate with each other The present invention can be applied to a network and can provide the same effect.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a wireless network to which a configuration management method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a management terminal in the first embodiment. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating participation terminal information held by a management terminal according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a communication terminal other than the management terminal in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a communication feasibility determination result held by a communication terminal other than the management terminal according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a case where communication failure occurs in the wireless network of FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the communication availability determination result which communication terminals other than a management terminal hold | maintain in the case of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the communication availability determination result which communication terminals other than a management terminal hold | maintain in the case of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the communication availability determination result which communication terminals other than a management terminal hold | maintain in the case of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the participating terminal information which a management terminal hold | maintains in the case of FIG. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram illustrating a state in which one communication terminal is excluded from the wireless network of FIG. 6. It is explanatory drawing which shows the participating terminal information which a management terminal hold | maintains in the case of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the communication availability determination result which communication terminals other than a management terminal hold | maintain in the case of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the communication availability determination result which communication terminals other than a management terminal hold | maintain in the case of FIG. (A) is a flowchart which shows the participating terminal information transmission operation | movement of the management terminal in Embodiment 1, (b) is a flowchart which shows the communication availability determination result receiving operation of the management terminal in Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of a communication terminal other than the management terminal in the first embodiment. In Embodiment 1 thru | or 4, it is a block diagram which shows the radio | wireless network from which one communication terminal was excluded from the network. 3 is a flowchart showing a re-entry operation of a communication terminal excluded in the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a re-entry operation of a communication terminal excluded in the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a re-entry operation of a communication terminal excluded in the third embodiment. 14 is a flowchart showing a re-entry operation of a communication terminal excluded in the fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10, 10a wireless network, 100 communication terminal (management terminal), 200, 300 communication terminal (communication terminal other than the management terminal), 400 communication terminal (communication terminal that re-enters), 101, 201 communication unit, 102, 202 control Part, 103, 203 storage part, 104, 204 display part.

Claims (10)

A communication status confirmation result that is composed of a plurality of communication terminals having unique terminal identifiers, one of the communication terminals is a management terminal, and confirms whether or not the communication terminal can directly communicate with another communication terminal. A method for managing the configuration of the network in a network that is transmitted from each communication terminal to the management terminal, and participation terminal information based on the communication status confirmation result is periodically transmitted from the management terminal to each communication terminal. ,
The management terminal permits the communication terminals to participate in the network based on the communication status confirmation result or the network so that all the communication terminals participating in the network can directly communicate with each other. Is excluded from
When a communication terminal participating in the network is excluded from the network,
The excluded communication terminal receiving the participating terminal information transmitted from the management terminal;
Confirming whether or not the excluded communication terminal can receive data transmitted from the communication terminal participating in the network based on the received participation terminal information;
When it is confirmed that data from all communication terminals participating in the network can be received, the excluded communication terminal re-enters the management terminal for permission to participate in the network. A network configuration management method comprising: a step of transmitting a request.   The step of confirming whether or not the data can be received is such that the excluded communication terminal can receive data transmitted from a communication terminal participating in the network at a predetermined transmission rate or higher. The network configuration management method according to claim 1, further comprising a process of confirming whether or not.   When there are one or more communication terminals that cannot communicate with the excluded communication terminal among the communication terminals participating in the network, the excluded communication terminal cannot re-enter the network. The network configuration management method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of notifying the user of the existence.   4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of terminating the re-entry operation by the excluded communication terminal when the step of transmitting the re-entry request is performed a predetermined number of times. The network configuration management method described in 1.   The network configuration according to claim 4, further comprising a step of notifying the user that the re-entry operation has been stopped by the excluded communication terminal when the re-entry operation is terminated. Management method. A communication status confirmation result that is composed of a plurality of communication terminals having unique terminal identifiers, one of the communication terminals is a management terminal, and confirms whether or not the communication terminal can directly communicate with another communication terminal. All networks that are transmitted from each communication terminal to the management terminal and in which participation terminal information based on the communication status confirmation result is periodically transmitted from the management terminal to each communication terminal, and are all participating in the network In order to allow terminals to communicate directly with each other, the management terminal determines the network for which each communication terminal is allowed to participate in the network or excluded from the network based on the communication status confirmation result. In the communication terminal to be configured,
Receiving means for receiving the participation terminal information transmitted from the management terminal when the communication terminal participating in the network is excluded from the network;
Based on the received participation terminal information, the excluded communication terminal confirms whether it is possible to receive data transmitted from the communication terminal participating in the network, and is participating in the network. When it is confirmed that data from all communication terminals can be received, the excluded communication terminal transmits a re-entry request for requesting permission to participate in the network to the management terminal. And a communication terminal.   Whether or not the data can be received is confirmed by confirming whether or not the data transmitted from a communication terminal participating in the network can be received at a predetermined transmission rate or higher. The communication terminal according to claim 6.   It further has a notification means for notifying the user that re-entry into the network is impossible when there are one or more communication terminals that are unable to communicate among the communication terminals participating in the network. The communication terminal according to claim 6 or 7.   The communication terminal according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the re-entry operation is terminated when the re-entry request is transmitted a predetermined number of times.   The communication terminal according to claim 9, further comprising another notification unit that notifies the user of the stop of the re-entry operation to the network when the re-entry operation is terminated.

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