JP2007036435A - Modem control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change configuration information of a modem without disconnecting communication during communication. <P>SOLUTION: The modem control method is provided with two logical communication ports 1011 and 1013 against one physical communication port 101 of a terminal device connected to a communication modem, and uses one logical communication port (COM port 1011) for communication with a packet network side while using the other (DLL port) for communication of control data with the communication modem; relating to the terminal device 10 which is housed in the communication modem for communication with the packet network by way of the communication modem or a program stored in the terminal device 10. Since the COM port 1011 is occupied during data communication, an inbound COM port DLL1013 that directly accesses a device driver at a lower layer of the COM port 1011 is used to allow interaction of control signals during communication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a modem control method, and in particular, during communication in a terminal device application programming interface (hereinafter referred to as API) typified by Personal Computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) and Personal Digital Assistants (hereinafter referred to as PDA). In particular, the present invention relates to a modem control method for setting a multi-function wireless modem and obtaining information from the terminal device side.

In recent years, there is a growing need for a multi-function, small-sized wireless modem card as well as broadband in the mobile scene. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example of conventional data communication. As an example, a technique is disclosed in which the wireless modem 20 is directly mounted on a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) interface or a CF interface of the terminal device 10 and connected to the packet network 30 to perform data communication with the opposite terminal device 10. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In addition, a technique for controlling modem settings and the like with an AT command from the terminal device 10 is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP-A-8-65357 JP-A-3-29536

  However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, before starting data communication, setting information such as a communication speed, a communication method, and error detection with a terminal device required for the wireless modem to communicate is transmitted. Generally, a command is set in advance, and then communication is started by connecting to a packet network. Thereafter, if the setting of the wireless modem is changed during data communication, there is a problem that communication is disconnected.

  In addition, when the user confirms the transmission / reception data status and the radio wave status of the wireless modem during communication, it is confirmed on the display unit provided in the wireless modem. However, since the viewpoint of the user during data communication is on the display unit of the terminal device, the act of confirming with the display unit of the modem during data communication has not been an easy-to-use form from the viewpoint of the user interface.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a control method for changing configuration information without disconnecting communication with a communicating modem. Another object of the present invention is to suppress the transmission of extra AT commands when the AT configuration is used to change modem configuration information. In addition, the present invention also has an effect on unnecessary communication caused by the user's operation to continuously change the telephone application and the monitor application, and the influence on other modem control functions. The purpose is to greatly reduce. An object of the present invention is to realize comfortable and stable mobile communication based on the above contents.

  The present invention can dynamically display the status of a modem during communication on a terminal device such as a PC, and can access a multi-function wireless modem from a telephone application or a monitor application installed in the terminal device during communication. An object of the present invention is to monitor status data such as radio wave status and transmission / reception data on a display unit on a terminal device.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is connected to a communication modem in a terminal device accommodated in a communication modem and communicating with a packet network via the communication modem, or in a program stored in the terminal device. Two physical communication ports are provided for one physical communication port of the terminal device to be used, one of the logical communication ports is used for communication with the packet network side, and the other is used for communication of control data with the communication modem. One of the features is that it is used for communication.
Since the COM port is occupied during data communication, control signals during communication can be exchanged by using an in-band COM port DLL that directly accesses a device driver in a lower layer of the COM port.

  In addition, it has a flag addition / detection function for making it possible to identify whether it is control data or communication data in the CF IF of each of the wireless modem and the terminal device. Even if the setting is continuously changed on the terminal device side, if the setting is changed at a certain speed or higher, all request signals are ignored and only valid request signals are transmitted. One of the characteristics is to do.

  When an unnecessary request signal generated in the operation of each application that is a user interface for controlling a multi-function wireless modem in a terminal device is provided with a timer that is not less than the specified value of CF IF, and the timer does not expire Implements processing that does not accept change request processing to reduce the impact of unnecessary traffic on the communication itself and other controls.

According to the solution of the present invention,
A modem control method for controlling a modem connected to a terminal from a communicating terminal,
When a terminal having an interface having first and second logical communication ports for one physical communication port receives a connection request to the network from a dial-up application for dial-up connection, physical communication of the terminal Transmitting the connection request to a modem having an interface connected to the port via a first logical communication port and the modem interface;
The modem receives the connection request and executes a predetermined connection process to connect the terminal and the network;
The terminal determines that the data from the dial-up application or the predetermined communication application is communication data, and transmits the communication data to the modem via the first logical communication port and the modem interface. Communicating with the network by:
The terminal receives a monitor application for monitoring a state of the modem and a radio wave state of a wireless communication or a telephone application for a voice call using the modem during communication with a network via a first logical communication port. Data including any of a modem setting request, a status acquisition request, or a voice call execution request is control data, and identification information for identifying the control data and control data or communication data Transmitting to the modem via a second logical communication port and the modem interface;
The modem receives communication data and control data through the interface, determines whether the received data is communication data or control data according to the presence or absence of identification information, and determines predetermined communication processing or control data according to the determination result. There is provided the modem control method including the step of performing the corresponding setting, status acquisition and voice call control.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a control method for changing configuration information without disconnecting communication with a communicating modem. In addition, according to the present invention, when the AT configuration is used to change the configuration information of the modem, it is possible to suppress unnecessary transmission of AT commands. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the influence of unnecessary traffic on the communication itself caused by the user's operation to continuously change the telephone application and the monitor application, and the influence on other modem control functions. Can be greatly reduced. According to the present invention, comfortable and stable mobile communication can be realized by the above contents.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to dynamically display the status of a modem during communication on a terminal device such as a PC, and to access a multi-function wireless modem from a telephone application or a monitor application installed in the terminal device during communication. In addition, status data such as radio wave conditions and transmission / reception data can be monitored on the display unit on the terminal device.

(Hardware configuration)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a network in the case where voice communication with the mobile phone 50 or data communication opposite to the wireless modem 20 is performed from the terminal device 10 via the packet network 30 using the multi-function wireless modem 40 with a voice call function. A configuration example is shown.

  The terminal device 10 includes, for example, a telephone application 108 and a monitor application 109. Each application will be described later. The multi-function wireless modem 40 includes a display unit 401, a speaker 402, a microphone 403, and the like. In the case of a voice call, control of the modem during the call is indispensable in order to use the volume setting of the speaker 402 during the call and the Dial Tone Multi Frequency (hereinafter referred to as DTMF) function used for inquiring various telephone services. It becomes. In the case of data communication, it is desirable that the status of the multi-function wireless modem can be displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 10 that is the user's viewpoint, such as the radio wave status and the transmission / reception data status. As a form for realizing these environments, first, the terminal device 10 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the terminal device 10.
The terminal device 10 includes a CF interface unit (CF IF unit) 101, a display unit (display) 102, a serial I / O control unit 103, a CPU (processing unit) 104, a memory 105, a hard disk 106, a CF A connector 107 and a user interface unit (UI unit) 110 are provided. The CF IF unit 101 includes a COM port (first logical communication port) 1011, a DLL port (second logical communication port) 1013, and a CF device driver 1012. The CF IF unit 101 may further include a timer 1014. The hard disk 106 stores appropriate applications such as a dial-up application 107, a telephone application 108, and a monitor application 109, for example. Each application can be read by the CPU 104 and executed. The UI unit 110 includes, for example, a keyboard 1101, a mouse 1102, a touch panel 1103, and a USB IF 1104. Each unit is connected to each other through a bus, for example. Each unit of the UI unit 110 can be connected to the bus via the serial I / O control unit 103.

  In advance, the dial-up application 107 for dial-up connection that is an application that is actually used by the user, the telephone application 108 that is used as a voice call and used as a handset image, the state of the modem and the radio wave environment are monitored in advance on the hard disk 106 as a storage medium A CF application driver 1012 for incorporating a monitor application 109 for enabling the multifunctional wireless modem 40 to be controlled by the terminal device is incorporated. When the multi-function wireless modem 40 is mounted on the CF IF 101, the CF device driver 1012 recognizes the multi-function radio modem 40 and can control the multi-function radio modem from an application on the terminal device 10.

  For example, when the telephone application 108 is activated, the CPU 104 displays a predetermined screen that can be operated by the user on the display unit 102. A display example of the screen will be described later. When the user operates the keyboard 1101, the mouse 1102, the touch panel 1103, or another input device via the USB IF 1104 in the UI unit 110, the CPU 104 is connected to the UI unit 110 via the serial I / O control unit 103. The information is read from the information, and the read information is reflected (displayed) on the display unit 102. If information indicating that the displayed information is determined is input from the UI unit 110, the CPU 104 sets an application programming interface (hereinafter referred to as API) corresponding to an AT command that conforms to the determined items to the COM port. The voice call is started by transmitting from the CF driver 1012 to the multi-function wireless modem 40 via the DLL block 1013 without going through 1011 (the logical serial port name of Windows (registered trademark)). When transmitting via the DLL block 1013, flag information (first flag) indicating control data is added. The control using the DLL block 1013 without using the COM port 1011 is the same when the monitor application 109 is activated.

  On the other hand, if the connection request is from the dial-up application 107, the CPU 104 reads information from the UI unit 110 of the terminal device 10 and transmits it to the multi-function wireless modem 40 from the CF driver 1012 via the COM port 1011. Data communication is started. The control via the COM port can be the same as the conventional modem control, for example.

Next, the multi-function wireless modem 40 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the wireless modem 10 in the present embodiment.
The wireless modem 10 includes a display unit 401, a speaker (audio output unit) 402, a microphone (audio input unit) 403, an antenna 404, a transmission / reception unit 405, a CPU (processing unit) 406, a memory 407, and an IO. A control unit 408, a voice communication control unit 409, a data communication control unit 410, a CF (PCMCIA) IF 411, and a CF connector 412 are provided.

  The CF connector 412 is a connector that is physically connected to the terminal device 10. The CF IF 411 is a block having a CF interface function. The data communication control unit 410 is a block that controls data communication. The voice call control unit 409 is a block that controls voice calls. The memory 407 includes a data buffer unit 4072 that can temporarily store data, and an operation setting register 4071 for controlling various settings of the multi-function wireless modem 40. The transmission / reception unit 405 performs transmission / reception management of communication data via the antenna 404. The IO control unit 408 is a block that controls the display unit 401, the speaker 402, the microphone 403, and the like.

  When a request signal (or request data) is input from the terminal device 10 to the multi-function wireless modem 40 via the CF IF 411, if the CF IF 411 is configured with a dual port memory, for example, the request data is stored in the data area of the dual port memory. Is stored, and an interrupt signal is notified to the CPU 406. The CPU 406 reads the information, determines whether it is communication data or control data from the flag information (first flag), and instructs the related task to give an instruction. For example, if the data is communication data, the communication data is transmitted from the antenna 404 via the transmission / reception unit 405 from the data communication control unit 410. On the other hand, when it is determined that the data is control data due to the addition of the first flag, flag information (third flag) that can be determined as response information (or control information) is included in the response information. ) Is added to the data area of the CF IF411 dual port memory. Thereby, an interrupt signal is notified to the CPU 104 of the terminal device 10 via the CFIF 101, and the CPU 104 reads out data from the dual port memory and refers to the flag information to determine whether the information is communication data or response information. CPU104 displays response information on the use application of the display part 102, when it is response information. The response information includes, for example, appropriate information or signal indicating connection completion or setting completion for a connection request or setting request, and includes a requested state (for example, radio wave intensity) for a state acquisition request. be able to.

  For example, if the information read by the CPU 406 of the modem is a call request from the telephone application 108, the information is notified to the voice communication control unit 409, and the call request is transmitted from the antenna 404 to the packet network 30 via the transmission / reception unit 405. To do. When the communication is established, the voice communication control unit 409 can perform a voice call using the speaker 402 and the microphone 403 of the modem 40.

If it is a connection request from the dial-up application 107, the CPU 406 similarly reads the request information, notifies the data communication control unit 410, and transmits a connection request from the antenna 404 to the packet network 30 via the transmission / reception unit 405. When communication is established, a network application such as the Internet or mail can be used from the terminal device 10.
If it is a modem status acquisition request from the monitor application 109, the CPU 406 acquires the requested status from the IO control unit 408, appropriate memory, management unit, etc., and adds flag information indicating response information. To the terminal device 10.

(Display example corresponding to each application)
FIG. 7 is a configuration example of the user interface of the dial-up application. When the dial-up application 107 is activated, for example, a screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 102. In the figure, connection 1071 is a dial-up connection request button, disconnect 1072 is a dial-up connection disconnect button, and end 1073 is a dial-up application end button. ID 1074 is an ID authentication ID input field, and Password 1075 is an authentication password input field.

  FIG. 8 is a configuration example of the user interface of the telephone application. When the telephone application 108 is activated, for example, a screen illustrated in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 102. For example, the antenna bar 1081 displays reception intensity, and the display unit 1082 is a part / area for displaying dial information and the like. Numbers / symbols 1083 are buttons for inputting 0 to 9 and **, call 1084 is a call button, call ending 1085 is a button for ending a call, and clear 1086 deletes information displayed on the display unit 1082. Button. An end 1087 is a button for ending the telephone application, and a volume 1088 is a dial key for adjusting the speaker volume.

FIG. 9 is a configuration example of the user interface of the monitor application. When the monitor application 10 is activated, for example, the screen illustrated in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display unit 102. For example, the antenna bar 1091 displays the reception intensity, the reception data 1092 is a reception data status display, and the transmission data 1093 is a transmission data status display. A clear 1094 is a button for clearing the status of transmission / reception data. The display unit ON / OFF is a button for controlling ON / OFF of the display unit 401 of the multi-function wireless modem 40. An end 1096 is a button for ending the monitor application.
Note that the above-described display examples are merely examples, and other appropriate displays may be performed.

(Operation sequence)
First, an outline of the processing will be described.
The modem 40 connected to the terminal 10 is controlled from the communicating terminal 10. The terminal 10 having the interface 101 having the first and second logical communication ports 1011 and 1013 for one physical communication port receives a connection request to the network 30 from the dial-up application 107 for dial-up connection. Then, the connection request is transmitted to the modem 40 having an interface connected to the physical communication port of the terminal 10 via the first logical communication port 1011 and the interface 411 of the modem 40. The modem 40 receives the connection request and executes a predetermined connection process to connect the terminal 10 and the network 30. The terminal 10 determines that the data from the dial-up application 107 or a predetermined communication application is communication data, and transmits the communication data to the modem 40 via the first logical communication port 1011 and the interface 411 of the modem 40. To communicate with the network 30.

  During communication with the network 30 via the first logical communication port 1011, the terminal 10 is used for a voice call using the monitor application 109 or the modem 40 for monitoring the state of the modem 40 and the radio wave state of wireless communication. In order to determine that data including either a modem setting request, a status acquisition request, or a voice call execution request from the telephone application 108 is control data, and to identify the control data and control data or communication data Is transmitted to the modem 40 via the second logical communication port 1013 and the interface 411 of the modem 40. The modem 40 receives communication data and control data via the interface 411, determines whether the received data is communication data or control data according to the presence or absence of identification information, and performs predetermined communication processing or control data according to the determination result. Depending on the setting, status acquisition and voice call control are performed.

FIG. 5 is a control sequence diagram of the multi-function wireless modem 40. The process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
First, taking control at the time of data communication as an example, when the CPU 104 detects pressing of the connection button 1071 by the UI unit 110 (S101), the dial-up application 107 notifies the connection request to the CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 ( S102). Further, a network connection request AT command corresponding to the connection request is transmitted from the CF driver 1012 to the CF IF 411 of the multi-function wireless modem 40 via the COM port 1011 (S103). Note that the CPU 104 can be set to determine that the data from the dial-up application 107 is communication data. For example, the AT command is stored in the dual port memory of the CF IF 411, and an interrupt signal can be notified to the CPU 406.

  The CPU 406 on the multi-function wireless modem 40 side determines that the received data received by the CF IF 411 is a connection request, and instructs the data communication control unit 412 to make a connection request (S104-1). The data communication control unit 412 transmits a connection request from the transmission / reception unit 405 to the packet network 30 (S104-2, 3). Note that the connection request can include appropriate information for network connection or authentication, such as an ID and a password.

  Next, when the transmission / reception unit 405 receives a connection completion notification from the packet network 30 (S105-1), the transmission / reception unit 405 transmits a connection completion notification to the data communication control unit 412 (S105-2). The data communication control unit 412 transmits a connection completion AT command from the CF IF 411 of the multi-function wireless modem 40 to the CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 (S105-3, S106). In the terminal device 10, the dial-up application 107 receives a connection completion notification via the CF IF 101 (S107). With the above processing, the status during data communication is obtained (S108). Note that the CPU 104 can determine that data from the dial-up application 107 or a predetermined communication application is communication data, and can transmit the data via the COM port 1011.

A case where the setting of the wireless modem 40 is changed from a state during data communication will be described. As an example, a case will be described in which the terminal device 10 is operated to set the display unit 401 mounted on, for example, the multi-function wireless modem 40 to all off.
When the CPU 104 detects pressing of the display unit OFF button 1095 by the UI unit 110 (S201), a display unit setting change request API is notified from the monitor application 109 to the terminal device side CF IF unit 101 (S202).

  When receiving the change request API, the CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 determines that it is a modem control command (control data), not actual data used for communication, since it is a request from the monitor application 109, and requests a command ( A control command flag (first flag) indicating control data is set in the display unit state setting command). Further, the display unit state setting command is transmitted to the CF IF 411 on the modem card 40 side via the DLL 1013 for in-band COM port that directly accesses the device driver 1012 that is positioned below the COM port (S203). In FIG. 5, symbol # indicates that a flag is added. Further, arrows between the CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 and the CF IF 411 of the wireless modem 40 indicate a signal transmitted / received via the COM port 1011 by a solid line and a signal transmitted / received via the DLL 1013 by a dotted line. .

  The CPU 406 on the multi-function wireless modem 40 side receives the display unit state setting command via the CF IF 411, detects the control command flag, and determines that the control data is not communication data. Further, the CPU 406 performs display unit OFF setting to the IO control unit 408 in accordance with the command (S204-1). The IO control unit 408 turns off the display unit 401 (S204-2). In addition, the CPU 406 sets a control command flag in the setting completion notification command and transmits it to the CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 (S205).

  The CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 detects the control command flag and determines that it is not communication data but control data. In accordance with the control data, the CPU 104 instructs the monitor application 109 to update the status display of the display unit ON / OFF button (S206). The monitor application 109 changes the display of the display unit ON / OFF button displayed on the display unit 102 from, for example, “display unit OFF” to “display unit ON”. In addition, when displaying the current status, it is changed to “display unit OFF”.

Next, an example of radio wave display update control during communication will be described.
The telephone / monitor application 108/109 periodically notifies the radio wave state request to the CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 (S301). The CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 sets a control command flag, and transmits a radio wave state acquisition AT command from the DLL 1013 for in-band COM port to the CF IF 411 of the multi-function wireless modem 40 (S302). For example, the CPU 104 can be set to determine that data from the telephone application 108 or the monitor application 109 is control data.

  The CF IF 411 of the multi-function wireless modem 40 detects the control command flag and determines that it is control data, and the CPU 406 notifies the current radio wave state request to the transmission / reception unit 405 according to the control data (S303). After receiving the radio wave status response from the transmission / reception unit 405 (S304), the CPU 406 sets a control command flag and transmits a radio wave status response signal to the CF IF 101 on the terminal device 10 side (S305). The CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 detects the control command flag and determines that it is control data, and the CPU 104 instructs the telephone / monitor application 108/109 to update the radio wave display according to the control data (S306). The telephone / monitor application 108/109 updates the radio field intensity display (for example, the display 1081 in FIG. 8 and the display 1091 in FIG. 9) on the display unit. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to set the multi-function wireless modem 40 from the terminal device 10 during communication.

  Here, when continuous control is repeated from the terminal device 10 side, a large number of request signals are transmitted to the multi-function wireless modem 40. Since the control is essentially serial control, the telephone application 108 may affect the voice call itself and other modem status management control by continuous operation such as volume setting. In the monitor application 109, since a large number of request signals are also transmitted to the multi-function wireless modem 40 in the continuous operation of the display unit control setting and transmission / reception data counter clear, the data communication itself and the update and transmission / reception of the radio wave intensity display are performed. There is an influence such as a slow update operation of the data counter. These problems can be improved by the following configuration and processing.

  For example, in the case where the telephone application 108 is used, the volume of the speaker 402 of the multi-function wireless modem 40 may be changed by operating the volume setting bar 1088 as an operation often performed during a call. When the CPU 104 detects an operation of the volume setting bar 1088 with the mouse 1102 or the like of the UI unit 110, for example, during a call (S401), the telephone application 108 notifies the CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 of a request for changing the speaker volume (S402). ). The CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 sets a control command flag and transmits a speaker volume change request signal from the in-band COM port DLL 1013 to the CF IF 411 of the multi-function wireless modem 40 (S403).

The CF IF 411 of the multi-function wireless modem 40 detects the control command flag and determines that it is control data, and the CPU 406 instructs the IO control unit 410 to set the volume according to the control data (S404). The IO control unit 410 changes the volume according to the instruction (S405). Further, the CPU 406 sets a control command flag in the setting completion notification AT command, and transmits it to the CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 via the in-band COM port DLL 1013 (S406).
The CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 detects the control command flag, determines that the control data is control data, and instructs the telephone application 108 to update the speaker volume display status (S407). The telephone application 108 updates the speaker volume status display according to the instruction.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of processing for reducing unnecessary traffic by continuous operation. The continuous operation of the speaker volume setting operation by the user is very easy, and there are cases where a large number of speaker volume change AT commands (S403) are transmitted to the multi-function wireless modem 40. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the change request (S402) by the speaker volume continuous operation of the UI unit 110 is not transmitted from the in-band COM port DLL 1012 as a speaker volume change signal (S403). In the CF IF 101 of the apparatus 10, for example, when a timer 1014 of 0.1 seconds is provided and the timer 1014 does not expire, a process of not accepting the change request (S402) can be implemented. For example, when a certain request is received, the timer is started, and control data indicating the same request can be prevented from being accepted until the timer has elapsed for a predetermined time. Other control data may be accepted or may not be accepted. As the timer time, an appropriate time other than 0.1 seconds can be set in advance. Further, the CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 may discard the change request (S402) received during the timer period or may not receive it. In the figure, the change request (S402) for 0.1 seconds, which is the same as that of the timer, is shown. However, for example, when change requests are continuously generated for 0.3 seconds, an AT command (from the CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10) ( S403) is three, and in the wireless modem 40, for example, the volume is set according to the AT command transmitted last. With the above processing, it is possible to reduce unnecessary traffic between the CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 and the CF IF 411 on the multi-function wireless modem side, and the influence on voice communication and other controls can be reduced.

  However, it is a key that is likely to be pressed quickly. For example, a continuous pressing operation (S408) of the numeric key 1083 is notified by adding flag information (second flag) for distinguishing from other keys by the telephone application 108. It may be done (S409). In the figure, the added flag is represented by N. The CF IF 101 of the terminal device 10 does not execute the process using the above-described timer for the change request process (S409) in which the flag information is detected even during the processing time of the timer 1014. A request signal can be transmitted to the CF IF 101 (S410).

  That is, the interface (CF IF) 101 of the terminal 10 follows the presence or absence of the second flag, and for the control data to which the second flag is not added, a predetermined time elapses after receiving the control data. Until the control data of the same request is not accepted or discarded, the control data to which the second flag is added is not changed even if a predetermined time has not passed. You may make it accept.

  Also, the modem 40 adds a third flag indicating response information to response information including information indicating completion of setting for control data or information on a requested state, and transmits the response information to the terminal. The modem 40 may transmit communication data from the network to the terminal 10. Further, the terminal 10 receives the response information and the communication data, determines whether the response information is communication data or the communication data according to the presence or absence of the third flag, and displays the received response information on the display unit according to the determination result or predetermined communication Processing may be executed.

As described above, the terminal device 10 can control the multifunction wireless modem 40 more comfortably. A mode is realized in which the multi-function wireless modem 40 having a function such as a voice call is controlled by the terminal device 10 during communication. In addition, when the setting is continuously changed on the rear terminal 10 side, unnecessary traffic is generated between the terminal device 10 and the multi-function wireless modem 40 by issuing an unnecessary request signal in operation. Unnecessary processing of the terminal device / multifunction wireless modem due to the unnecessary request signal is reduced.
The modem control method or apparatus / system of the present invention can be stored in a wireless terminal and a modem and executed by a modem control program for causing a computer to execute each procedure.

  The present invention can be used, for example, in industries related to communication via a modem, a communication device, and the like.

A network configuration example when only data communication is performed between a terminal device and a modem. An example of a network configuration when performing multi-communication with a terminal device and a modem. The basic block diagram with the form with which this technology by the side of the terminal device was applied. The basic block diagram in the form with which this technology by the side of a multifunctional radio modem was applied. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of various multifunction wireless modem control sequences from the terminal device. The processing sequence figure of the unnecessary traffic reduction by continuous operation. A user interface configuration example of a dial-up application. The user interface structural example of a telephone application. An example of a user interface configuration of a monitor application.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 11 Terminal device 20 Wireless modem 30 Packet network 40 Multifunction wireless modem 50 Mobile phone 101 CF interface part (CF IF part)
102 Display (display)
103 Serial I / O Control Unit 104 CPU (Processing Unit)
105 Memory 106 Hard Disk 107 CF Connector 110 User Interface Unit (UI Unit)
1011 COM port 1013 DLL port 1012 CF device driver

Claims (4)

A modem control method for controlling a modem connected to a terminal from a communicating terminal,
When a terminal having an interface having first and second logical communication ports for one physical communication port receives a connection request to the network from a dial-up application for dial-up connection, physical communication of the terminal Transmitting the connection request to a modem having an interface connected to the port via a first logical communication port and the modem interface;
The modem receives the connection request and executes a predetermined connection process to connect the terminal and the network;
The terminal determines that the data from the dial-up application or the predetermined communication application is communication data, and transmits the communication data to the modem via the first logical communication port and the modem interface. Communicating with the network by:
The terminal receives a monitor application for monitoring a state of the modem and a radio wave state of a wireless communication or a telephone application for a voice call using the modem during communication with a network via a first logical communication port. Data including any of a modem setting request, a status acquisition request, or a voice call execution request is control data, and identification information for identifying the control data and control data or communication data Transmitting to the modem via a second logical communication port and the modem interface;
The modem receives communication data and control data through the interface, determines whether the received data is communication data or control data according to the presence or absence of identification information, and determines predetermined communication processing or control data according to the determination result. The modem control method including the step of performing the corresponding setting, status acquisition and voice call control. The interface of the terminal further includes a step of not accepting control data of the same request or discarding the control data until a predetermined time elapses after receiving the control data. Modem control method. The processing unit of the terminal adds second identification information to control data by a predetermined key that is likely to be quickly pressed and transmits the control data to the interface of the terminal;
According to the presence / absence of the second identification information, the interface of the terminal receives the same request for the control data to which the second identification information is not added until a predetermined time elapses after receiving the control data. The control data to which the control data is not accepted or the control data is discarded and the second identification information is added further includes a step of accepting the same control data even if a predetermined time has not elapsed. The modem control method according to claim 2. The modem adds third identification information indicating response information to response information including information indicating completion of setting for control data or information on a requested state, and transmits the response information via an interface. Transmitting to the terminal;
The modem transmits communication data from a network to the terminal via an interface;
The terminal receives response information and communication data, determines whether it is response information or communication data according to the presence or absence of the third identification information, and displays the received response information on the display unit according to the determination result or predetermined communication The modem control method according to claim 1, wherein the process is executed.

Images