JP2007060256A - Communication terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication terminal device for improving convenience. <P>SOLUTION: The device transmits and receives data by radio. The device sends out response request signals as radio signals, receives opposite party response signals to the response request signals from at least one of the other communication terminal equipment, and sends out response signals to at least a part of them as the radio signals of signal strength different from the response request signals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication terminal device that transmits and receives information, such as a portable game machine that performs wireless communication.

  In recent years, wireless transmission / reception of information has been widely performed from mobile phones and wireless LAN devices in personal computers to portable game devices. Under these circumstances, for example, when a four-player game such as a mahjong game is performed using a portable game machine, the network information of the game machine of another user is set in the game machine of each user who performs the battle. Thus, mutual communication of data relating to the game is performed.

  However, there may be a wireless communication device of a user who is performing other information communication or a user who is not involved in the communication of the game machine in the vicinity of the user who wants to communicate and in a range where wireless communication is possible. In this case, for example, information of communicable opponents may be displayed in a list, and the user of the game machine may select which communication terminal device to play the game with.

  However, simply sending response requests to other communication terminal devices, for example, and displaying them in the order of responses to the response requests, does not necessarily mean that the communication state is good or the actual distance from the communication partner. Since the list is displayed regardless, the convenience in the operation of selecting the other party is low.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a communication terminal device capable of improving the convenience of selecting a communication partner.

  The present invention for solving the problems of the above-described conventional example is a communication terminal device that wirelessly transmits and receives data to and from other communication terminals that are in a wireless communicable range. Means for displaying a list of communication partner candidates using the strength of a signal received from another communication terminal device within a wireless communication range when selecting a communication partner from other communication terminal devices And means for accepting from the user an instruction to select another communication terminal device as a communication partner from the displayed list.

  Further, the present invention for solving the problems of the above-described conventional example is a communication terminal device for transmitting and receiving data wirelessly, a means for transmitting a response request signal as a wireless signal, and a counterparty response to the response request signal Means for receiving a signal from at least one other communication terminal apparatus and transmitting a response signal as a radio signal having a signal strength different from that of the response request signal to at least a part of the signal. It is characterized by.

  Here, it may further include means for accepting designation of the transmission strength of the response request signal. Means for receiving a partner response signal from a plurality of other communication terminal devices and using the received strength of the partner response signal to list and display information for identifying other communication terminal devices; and the display And a means for accepting from the user an instruction to select another communication terminal device as a communication partner from the list.

  Further, the communication apparatus further includes a means for acquiring communication number information relating to the number of communication partners, and when the number of other communication terminal devices related to the received counterpart response signal exceeds the communication number information, the counterpart response Information specifying other communication terminal devices may be listed and displayed using the received signal strength, and the selection from the user may be accepted.

  Further, the signal strength of the response signal may be determined based on the signal strength of the response received from the other communication terminal device.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The communication terminal device according to the present embodiment is, for example, a portable game machine, and as shown in FIG. 1, a control unit 11 such as a CPU, a storage unit 12, an operation unit 13, and a display control unit 14. The communication unit 15, the optical disk drive 16, and the power supply unit 17 are included.

  The control unit 11 operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 12. This control part 11 performs the process relevant to a game. In the present embodiment, the control unit 11 executes processing related to wireless communication. Specific processing contents of the control unit 11 as an authentication device will be described later.

  The storage unit 12 is a RAM, for example, and holds a game program read from the optical disc drive 16. The storage unit 12 includes a nonvolatile storage element and stores a program executed by the control unit 11. Furthermore, the storage unit 12 also operates as a work memory for the control unit 11.

  The operation unit 13 is a game controller, and outputs the instruction operation content of the player to the control unit 11. The display control unit 14 is a graphic board, and displays a game screen on a display device such as a liquid crystal display in accordance with an instruction input from the control unit 11. The communication unit 15 is a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) interface, and transmits and receives data to and from other communication terminal devices, access points, and the like wirelessly. Further, the communication unit 15 controls the wireless transmission strength of the signal according to an instruction input from the control unit 11.

  The optical disk drive 16 is, for example, a DVD-ROM drive or a Blu-ray disk drive, and reads information such as a program from a storage medium such as a DVD, Blu-ray disk, or UMD disk and outputs the information to the control unit 11. The power supply unit 17 includes a battery and supplies power to each unit.

  Note that although a portable game machine is described as an example of the embodiment here, the communication terminal device of the present embodiment is not limited to this and may be a stationary game machine. In addition, it is not necessarily a game-dedicated device, and may be a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone.

  For example, the control unit 11 of the present embodiment selects a communication partner from other communication terminal devices within a range in which wireless communication can be performed by the communication unit 15, and communicates with the other communication terminal device selected as the communication partner. Between them, send and receive data wirelessly to play games and chat. Hereinafter, the process for this will be described.

  In this embodiment, when an instruction to start communication with another communication terminal device is received from the user, the user first becomes a game or chat host, or is held on the host side. The display control unit 14 is displayed for inquiring whether the player is to participate in the game or chat being played. And it waits until a user responds with respect to the said inquiry via the operation part 13. FIG.

  Here, the process differs depending on whether the game or chat is hosted (host-side operation) or the host-hosted game or chat (client-side operation). Each will be explained separately.

  First, the communication terminal device according to the present embodiment that performs host-side operations is functionally configured as shown in FIG. 2 by the control unit 11 executing a program stored in the storage unit 12. It becomes. That is, the communication terminal device includes a response request signal strength specifying unit 21, a response request signal transmitting unit 22, a client response signal receiving unit 23, a list display control unit 24, a selection receiving unit 25, and a response signal transmitting unit. 26.

  The response request signal strength designation unit 21 accepts a setting related to the transmission strength of the response request signal by a user operation on the operation unit 13, and stores the value of the transmission strength determined by the setting in the storage unit 12.

  The response request signal transmission unit 22 refers to the value of the transmission strength of the response request signal stored in the storage unit 12, and controls the communication unit 15 so that the transmission strength according to the referenced transmission strength value is obtained. The response request signal transmitter 22 transmits a beacon signal including a preset network identifier at a rate of 1 megabit per second (1 Mbps) via the communication unit 15. Further, the response request signal transmission unit 22 broadcasts a predetermined response request signal at a rate of 2 Mbps.

  The client response signal receiving unit 23 receives a client response signal (corresponding to the other party response signal of the present invention) from the communication terminal device that is the other party of communication via the communication unit 15. This client response signal is the same as the response signal sent out by the response request signal transmitter 22. The client response signal receiving unit 23 extracts the network identifier of the counterpart communication terminal device that is the transmission source from the received client response signal. In addition, signal strength information (for example, RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)) of the client response signal is detected and associated with the extracted network identifier and stored in the storage unit 12 as client strength information (FIG. 3).

  The list display control unit 24 refers to the client strength information stored in the storage unit 12 by the client response signal reception unit 23 and uses the reception strength of the client response signal. For example, in order of increasing reception strength, the other communication terminal devices Is specified and displayed on the display control unit 14 as communication partner candidates (FIG. 4). Here, the client response signals are displayed in the descending order of reception strength. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. May be displayed in a list in association with information (P) for identifying the other party, such as a network identifier of a communication terminal device operating as a client.

  The selection receiving unit 25 operates the operation unit 13 from the list displayed by the display control unit 14 and outputs the network identifier of the other party selected by the user to the response signal transmission unit 26.

  The response signal transmission unit 26 transmits a signal with a predetermined transmission strength irrespective of the setting of the transmission strength of the response request signal to the network identifier of the other party specified by the information input from the selection receiving unit 25. The communication unit 15 is controlled to transmit a response signal.

  Hereinafter, the control unit 11 transmits and receives data related to the game and chat with the client (the other party) that has returned an acknowledgment signal (ACK) in response to the transmission of the response signal.

  Furthermore, the communication terminal apparatus according to the present embodiment that performs the client-side operation is functionally configured as shown in FIG. 6 when the control unit 11 executes a program stored in the storage unit 12. It becomes. That is, this communication terminal apparatus includes a reception signal storage unit 31, a client response signal transmission unit 32, a response signal reception unit 33, and a communication start control unit 34.

  When receiving the beacon signal or the response request signal from the communication terminal device operating as the host side, the reception signal storage unit 31 includes, for example, information for identifying the communication terminal device of the transmission source (information concerned) The network identifier of the communication terminal device of the transmission source) is stored in the storage unit 12. Here, there are a plurality of communication terminal devices operating as the host side, and when receiving beacon signals and the like from the plurality of host sides, the network identifiers and the like of each host side are held in the storage unit 12.

  The client response signal transmission unit 32 transmits a client response signal with a predetermined signal strength to the selected host side in accordance with a selection instruction on the host side which is performed by the user from the operation unit 13. This client response signal is the same as the response signal transmitted by the response request signal transmission unit 22 on the host side. In addition, the client response signal transmission unit 32 outputs information (network identifier or the like) specifying the selected host side to the communication start control unit 34.

  The response signal receiving unit 33 waits until the response signal is received from the communication terminal device on the host side after the client response signal transmission unit 32 transmits the client response signal, and when the response signal is received, A signal indicating that is output to the communication start control unit 34.

  The communication start control unit 34 receives input of information specifying the host side from the client response signal transmission unit 32, and transmits an acknowledgment signal (ACK) to the host side that is the transmission source of the response signal.

  Hereinafter, the communication terminal device that operates on the client side transmits and receives information related to games, chats, and the like to and from the communication terminal device that operates on the host side.

  The communication terminal device according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, and thus operates as follows when performing communication related to a game or chat.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 11 of the communication terminal device on the host side instructs the communication unit 15 to transmit a signal at the first signal strength specified by the user (S1). A beacon signal including a preset network identifier is transmitted at a rate of 1 megabit per second (1 Mbps), and a response request signal is broadcasted at a rate of 2 Mbps (S2). The host side repeatedly transmits the beacon signal and the response request signal (process S2).

  When the beacon signal and response request signal sent from the host side arrive, the communication terminal device on the client side receives these signals and specifies the communication terminal device that is the transmission source (the communication that became the host A response request reception record including the network address and network identifier of the terminal device is stored in the storage unit 12. Here, when response request signals received by the client side are received from a plurality of hosts, a response request reception record including information specifying each host may be generated and stored.

  A user who operates a communication terminal device on the client side uses a response request reception record stored in the storage unit 12 to participate in a game or chat held by a host identified by any network identifier or the like. When instructed, the communication terminal device on the client side broadcasts a client response signal including the network identifier of the host selected by the instruction at a speed of 2 Mbps (S3). Each host receives this client response signal, and when the network identifier included in the received client response signal matches a preset network identifier (network identifier included in the beacon signal), the received client From the response signal, the network identifier of the communication terminal device of the other party that is the transmission source is extracted. In addition, signal strength information (for example, RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)) of the client response signal is detected, and client strength information is generated in association with the extracted network identifier, and communication is performed using the client strength information. A list of clients that are candidates for the other party is presented to the user (S4).

  The control unit 11 of the host-side communication terminal device uses a signal strength determined by a method different from the first signal strength in the process S1 for at least one client-side communication terminal device selected from the list. An instruction is given to transmit a signal at a certain second communication strength (S5), and a response signal is sent to the selected client (S6).

  The client that has received this response signal from the host side transmits an acknowledgment signal (ACK) signal to the host that has transmitted the response signal (S7), and starts data exchange between the host and the client (S8). Mutual setting information (player name, etc.) is transmitted and received to start a game or chat.

  As in this process S4, the client strength information is used to present a list of clients that are candidates for the communication partner to the user, so that the communication partner can be selected from other communication terminal devices within the wireless communication range. When selecting, it becomes easy for the user to select a signal having a desired signal strength.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, if the display control unit 14 lists and displays information specifying other communication terminal devices in the order of strong reception strength of the client response signal, the reception signal strength is weak. It is possible to prevent a game or chat from being started with an opponent whose communication sustainability is low, and to start a game or chat with an opponent located at a relatively short distance.

  In the present embodiment, since the user can set the initial first communication strength, if the first communication strength is weakened, the reach range of the response request signal is limited, and the distance is relatively short. It is possible to notify the start of a game or chat only to the opponent who is located, and by increasing the first communication strength, the reach range of the response request signal is expanded, and the position according to the strength is positioned. The start of the game or chat can be notified to the other party.

  Further, in addition to displaying the client response signals in the descending order of reception strength, as shown in FIG. 5, information (S) about the reception strength and information for specifying the other party such as the network identifier of the communication terminal device operating as the client ( P) may be displayed in association with each other. In this case as well, communication partner candidates can be listed and displayed in relation to the distance to the other party with reference to the received signal strength. . Here, the information related to the reception strength is not limited to information expressing the strength as a numerical value, but may be information obtained by symbolizing and displaying the level of the strength with an icon, or may be converted into an approximate distance.

  In addition to the examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, the user can specify a condition related to the reception strength of the client response signal, and a list of clients that satisfy the specified condition can be displayed. May be. For example, if a reception intensity range (lower limit min or more, less than upper limit max, etc.) is specified as a condition, candidates in a distance range (presumed to be a donut-shaped area) corresponding to the reception intensity range are candidates. The list can be presented.

  The host-side communication terminal device may control the second signal strength, which is the transmission strength of the response signal, based on the received signal strength of the client response signal received from the client side. For example, the control value of the second signal strength is stored in advance as shown in FIG. 8 in association with the level of the RSSI value of the client response signal, and the second signal strength control corresponding to the RSSI value of the received client response signal is stored. Determine the value. As an example of the setting of the second signal strength, the second signal strength may be reduced as the RSSI value of the client response signal is increased to prevent disturbance to surrounding communication conditions.

  Further, the list display control unit 24 of the communication terminal device on the host side further acquires information on the number of communication partners from the side of the program that performs communication, such as a game or chat, and the client is more than the information on the number of communication partners. When the number of clients included in the strength information is large, list display control may be performed. In this case, when the number of clients included in the client strength information is smaller than the number of communication partners acquired from the program side, the list display control unit 24 sends the client strength information to the response signal transmission unit 26. Information identifying each client included in the response signal, and the response signal transmission unit 26 sends a signal to the other party identified by the information at a transmission intensity determined regardless of the transmission intensity setting of the response request signal. The communication unit 15 may be controlled to transmit the response signal and the response signal may be transmitted.

  In other words, in this case, when there are fewer clients responding than the number of people specified by the program, a game or chat is immediately held.

  Further, the control unit 11 of the communication terminal device on the client side may include information on the strength of the signal received from the communication terminal device on the host side in a client response signal or the like and feed back to the host side. The control unit 11 of the communication terminal device on the host side may control the second signal strength and the strength of the transmission signal in the subsequent game or chat based on the feedback signal strength information. . For example, when information indicating that the received signal strength from the host side on each client side is large is received, the control unit 11 on the host side reduces the transmission signal strength. When information indicating that the received signal strength from the host side on the client side is low is received, the control unit 11 on the host side increases the transmission signal strength.

  In the description so far, in the process S4, the list is displayed using the reception intensity of the signal (client response signal or the like) received from the client side until the time when the process is executed. Then, send the response signal to the source of the client response signal, then receive the ACK signal, etc., and acquire the reception strength of the received signal on the client side in the subsequent communication with the client Then, the list may be displayed using the received reception strength.

It is a block diagram of the configuration of a communication terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram at the time of operate | moving as a host of the communication terminal device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of a recording of the received signal strength of the communication terminal device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the list display example of the candidate of a communicating party in the communication terminal device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing another example of the list display of the candidate of a communicating party in the communication terminal device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram at the time of operate | moving as a client of the communication terminal device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the operation example of the communication terminal device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of a setting of the signal strength in the communication terminal device which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Control part, 12 Memory | storage part, 13 Operation part, 14 Display control part, 15 Communication part, 16 Optical disk drive, 17 Power supply part, 21 Response request signal strength designation part, 22 Response request signal transmission part, 23 Client response signal reception part , 24 list display control unit, 25 selection acceptance unit, 26 response signal transmission unit, 31 reception signal storage unit, 32 client response signal transmission unit, 33 response signal reception unit, 34 communication start control unit.

Claims (6)

A communication terminal device that wirelessly transmits and receives data to and from other communication terminals in a wireless communicable range,
When selecting a communication partner from other communication terminal devices in a wireless communicable range, using the strength of the signal received from the other communication terminal device in the wireless communicable range, the communication partner candidate A list of
Means for accepting, from the user, an instruction to select another communication terminal device as a communication partner from the displayed list;
A communication terminal device. A communication terminal device that transmits and receives data wirelessly,
Means for sending a response request signal as a radio signal;
The other party response signal for the response request signal is received from at least one other communication terminal device, and at least a part of the response signal is transmitted as a radio signal having a signal strength different from that of the response request signal. Means to
A communication terminal device comprising: The communication terminal device according to claim 2,
The communication terminal apparatus further comprising means for accepting designation of transmission intensity of the response request signal. The communication terminal device according to claim 2 or 3,
Receiving counterparty response signals from multiple other communication terminal devices,
Means for listing and displaying information for identifying other communication terminal devices using the reception strength of the counterparty response signal;
Means for accepting from the user an instruction to select another communication terminal device to be a communication partner from the displayed list;
A communication terminal device. The communication terminal device according to claim 4,
It further has means for acquiring information on the number of correspondents related to the number of communication partners,
When the number of other communication terminal devices related to the other party response signal received exceeds the number-of-communications information, the information identifying the other communication terminal device is listed using the reception strength of the other party response signal. A communication terminal device that accepts a selection from a user. In the communication terminal device according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
A communication terminal apparatus that determines a signal intensity of the response signal based on a signal intensity of a response received from the other communication terminal apparatus.

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