JP2007150509A - Wireless lan access point capable of setting repeater function, wireless terminal and repeating route searching method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless LAN access point capable of setting repeater function which can automatically set to allow terminals forming an infrastructure network to perform direct communication with each other as necessary, and to provide the radio terminal and a repeating route searching method. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless LAN access point capable of setting repeater function forms the infrastructure, is connected to a wireless terminal to perform communication, and is provided with a repeater function setting means to allow the wireless terminals to perform direct communication with each other. The access point is provided with a setting operation switching means 4 for setting a repeating mode for enabling to operate the repeater function of the wireless terminals and a normal mode for making the function unable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function that can be automatically set so that a wireless terminal communicates directly between the terminals only when necessary, a wireless terminal that is equipped with this repeater function and can perform area measurement, and this The present invention relates to a relay route search method when a plurality of wireless terminals equipped with a repeater function exist in an area, and these are relayed from outside the area and connected to a wireless LAN access point.

  In recent years, wireless connection technology has become widespread and can be easily connected to a WAN such as the Internet as long as radio waves reach, and because it is easier to install than a wired local network (hereinafter referred to as a LAN). Wireless LAN has become widespread. For example, recently, wireless network cameras have been installed in areas such as offices, homes, factories, etc., configured wireless LANs with wireless LAN access points, connected to terminals via other networks, and transferred image and audio information to remote locations. To provide.

  By the way, a conventional wireless LAN is a network (hereinafter referred to as an infrastructure network) that communicates in an infrastructure mode with a wireless terminal connected to a subordinate wireless terminal using a wireless LAN access point. On the other hand, there is an ad hoc network in which wireless terminals directly communicate one-on-one to construct a network. Since the wireless LAN communicates via a wireless LAN access point, it is useless to support the function of communicating with the subordinate wireless terminal in the ad hoc mode, and the function of directly communicating with the wireless terminal in the conventional wireless LAN is installed. Never. For example, in the wireless LAN of wireless network cameras as described above, there is little need for wireless network cameras to communicate with each other, and these do not support the ad hoc mode.

  However, it may be desirable to have a function of directly communicating between wireless terminals. For example, when a new wireless LAN is constructed, a place where a wireless LAN access point is installed is searched. In such a case, the power supply does not always exist near the planned installation location of the wireless LAN access point. Since the wireless LAN access point is connected to another network by wire, it is often assumed that the wireless LAN access point is connected to a power source. For this reason, in many cases, the power supply work is performed after the installation location of the wireless LAN access point is determined. However, when performing such installation work, if the wireless terminal is equipped with a function that supports the ad hoc mode, the wireless terminal can be regarded as a wireless LAN access point and communicated with other wireless terminals. To find the optimum place to install the wireless LAN access point.

  However, for this purpose, the output of the wireless LAN access point needs to be equal to or larger than those of the wireless terminals, and when this condition is satisfied, the radio waves from the wireless terminal assumed to be a wireless LAN access point are delivered. In this case, it can be determined that at least radio waves from the wireless LAN access point can reliably arrive. However, as described above, it is difficult to expect that a wireless terminal that communicates via an infrastructure network is equipped with an ad hoc mode communication function.

Therefore, conventionally, a separate battery is actually prepared, and a wireless LAN access point is connected to the battery and operated to determine whether or not radio waves reach the area. However, in order to install a wireless LAN access point, it is necessary to prepare a battery, and it is necessary to perform charging work, run out of the battery, or carry the battery.

  By the way, as for the repeater function for relaying between wireless terminals, in the patent document, a terminal equipped with a wireless card equipped with a repeater function is disclosed. From a wireless LAN access point in an area to a wireless terminal outside the area, a repeater function is disclosed. A wireless network that relays on an optimal route via a plurality of wireless terminals having a network is known (see Patent Document 1). However, the wireless LAN is easy to intercept radio waves, easily infiltrate the network and leak communication secrets, and may be ridden by connecting to the WAN.

The route through which a wireless terminal equipped with a repeater function is relayed from a wireless terminal outside the area to a wireless LAN access point within the area often depends on the occasional coincidence. There are some wireless terminals that perform relay operations and terminals that do not perform relay operations, but terminals that do not perform relay operations with such a repeater function are used as entrances for malicious intrusions into the network. There was a possibility.
JP 2002-217822 A

  Thus, in the conventional wireless LAN, when a wireless LAN access point is newly installed, if there is no power supply nearby, a battery is prepared, and if the wireless LAN access point is not connected to this and operated, the radio wave state is inspected. could not. Therefore, even if the wireless terminal is regarded as a wireless LAN access point and communicates with other wireless terminals to find the installation location of the wireless LAN access point, the conventional wireless LAN supports the ad hoc mode. Wireless terminals cannot communicate directly with each other. Even in the case of a wireless terminal in an infrastructure network, it is desirable to be able to communicate directly between wireless terminals as necessary when finding the installation location of the wireless LAN access point.

  In addition, a wireless terminal equipped with the repeater function disclosed in Patent Document 1 relays a wireless LAN access point in an area and a wireless terminal outside the area through an optimal route via another wireless terminal, but performs a relay operation. There was a possibility that the wireless terminal that did not become the entrance of the intrusion into the network. This is because the repeater function is installed in the wireless card, so that the terminal is always in the relay mode without performing the relay operation. Furthermore, such a relay method has a problem in that the communication speed decreases.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention provides a wireless LAN access point with a repeater function that can be automatically set so that wireless terminals constituting an infrastructure network can directly communicate with each other only when necessary. For the purpose.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a relay route search method capable of relaying a wireless terminal outside the area and a wireless LAN access point with an optimum route in an infrastructure network and realizing high-security relay. .

  A further object of the present invention is to provide a wireless terminal equipped with a repeater function that is used in an infrastructure network and can communicate directly between terminals only when necessary.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the present invention is a wireless LAN capable of setting a repeater function that is connected to a wireless terminal and communicates wirelessly, and can be provided with a repeater function setting unit to directly perform wireless communication between wireless terminals. The main feature is that the access point is provided with a setting operation switching means for setting a relay mode for operating the repeater function of the wireless terminal or a normal mode for disabling.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the wireless LAN access point which can set a repeater function can be automatically set so that it may communicate directly between terminals with respect to the wireless terminal which comprises an infrastructure network only when needed.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the first invention of the present invention is capable of setting a repeater function that can be connected to a wireless terminal to communicate wirelessly and can be directly wirelessly communicated between wireless terminals by including a repeater function setting means. A wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function provided with setting operation switching means for setting a relay mode for operating a repeater function of a wireless terminal or a normal mode for disabling the wireless terminal. The wireless terminals constituting the infrastructure network can be automatically set to communicate directly between the wireless terminals only when necessary.

  A second invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on the first invention, wherein the wireless terminal temporarily installed by the setting operation switching means is set to the relay mode, and the wireless terminal communicates with another wireless terminal to transmit the radio wave. A wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function for detecting a reachable range, and can be automatically set to communicate directly between wireless terminals when detecting a reachable range of radio waves.

  A third invention of the present invention is an invention subordinate to the second invention, wherein when a new wireless LAN access point is installed, a wireless terminal having an output equal to or smaller than the wireless LAN access point is temporarily installed and set. When the wireless LAN access point is set up with a repeater function in which the operation switching means sets the wireless terminal as a relay mode and detects the installation range of the wireless LAN access point by detecting the range in which the radio wave reaches. Even if the wireless LAN access point is temporarily installed and the radio wave condition is not inspected, the installation position of the wireless LAN access point can be searched by another wireless terminal using the relay mode.

  A fourth invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the setting operation switching means is a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function configured as a physical switch. It's definitely easy to input simply by operating the physical switch.

  A fifth invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the setting operation switching means is a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function configured as a soft switch, Easy-to-understand input using a graphic user interface.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when wireless communication is performed in an infrastructure network, a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function sets a relay mode by a repeater function to a plurality of wireless terminals in the area, and Relay between the wireless terminal and the wireless LAN access point with one of the wireless terminals, leaving only the wireless terminal that has the highest number of times to configure the relay route in several accesses as the relay mode, and other wireless terminals This is a relay route search method for switching to the normal mode as a client, and only the wireless terminal with the highest number of times that the repeater function-configurable wireless LAN access point configures the relay route is set to the relay mode. A wireless LAN access point can be relayed with an optimum route. For normal mode other than the wireless terminals constituting the optimum route, it is possible to realize a high security relay.

  A seventh invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on any one of the fourth to sixth inventions, and leaves only the radio terminal having the largest number of times of configuring the relay route according to claim 6 as the relay mode. Instead, the relay route search method is characterized in that only wireless terminals having a usage frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold level are left as a relay mode. A wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function has a predetermined usage frequency. Since only the wireless terminal at the threshold level or higher is set to the relay mode, the wireless terminal outside the area and the wireless LAN access point can be relayed by the optimal route, and other than the wireless terminal configuring the optimal route is set to the normal mode. , High security relay can be realized.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, an operation mode is changed in response to a request for changing to a relay mode or a normal mode from a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function, and the relay mode is received when a measurement start or end command is received. The wireless terminal starts or ends the transmission of the measurement packet, and can perform communication for measuring the radio wave state by changing the operation mode.

Example 1
A wireless terminal equipped with a repeater function and a wireless terminal equipped with a repeater function according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. 1A is a configuration diagram of a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a configuration diagram of a wireless terminal equipped with a repeater function in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2A is a sequence diagram of repeater function automatic setting in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram of the registration table of the wireless terminal in FIG. 2A, and FIG. 3 is a repeater in the first embodiment of the present invention. Flowchart 4 of the wireless LAN access point automatic setting process capable of setting functions is an explanatory diagram when a wireless LAN access point is installed in the repeater function wireless terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function according to the first embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1A, 1 is a communication interface unit of a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function (hereinafter, the interface is also abbreviated as I / F), 1a is wired via UDP such as 100BASE-T, A wired interface unit for connecting to a network based on a protocol such as TCP / IP, 1b is a wireless protocol (protocol based on a standard such as IEEE802.11a / b / g), and establishes a wireless communication link. The wireless interface unit 2 communicates with the wireless communication terminal 2 and transmits and receives radio waves to and from the wireless communication terminal.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a main control unit that performs system control of a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function. The main control unit 3 is composed of a CPU in terms of hardware, and executes each function with a program loaded from a storage unit 5 or other memory described later.

  Reference numeral 3a denotes a repeater function setting means mounted as one of the functions in the main control unit 3. As will be described in detail later, the repeater function setting unit 3a detects a range within which radio waves of a wireless terminal can reach, for example, when installing a wireless LAN access point, a connection possibility investigation that enables it. In such a case, the wireless parameter of the relay mode is transmitted. In other cases, the wireless parameter of the normal mode is transmitted.

Reference numeral 4 denotes setting operation switching means for setting whether or not the repeater function setting means 3a is in the connectability investigation mode. The connection possibility investigation mode is a mode for inspecting a radio wave condition or the like. Although not shown in the figure, the setting operation switching means 4 is configured as a physical switch, and a mode setting as to whether or not the connection possibility investigation mode is set is directly input to the system via the I / O interface. Because it is a physical switch, you can easily enter it without fail. The setting operation switching means 4 can be configured as a soft switch. That is, for example, the mode setting can be input in software by using a display unit (not shown) so that it can be easily input by a graphical user interface, or by inputting from another terminal via a network. it can. The setting operation switching means 4 registers this setting flag in the wireless setting information unit 6 described later, and can switch the mode between the connectability investigation mode and another mode such as the normal mode.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a storage unit, and 6 denotes a wireless setting information unit that stores wireless parameters and the like provided in the storage unit 5. Modes such as a MAC address, a name (SSID) of a wireless network built around a wireless LAN access point, an encryption key, and a connection possibility investigation mode are registered. 6a is a registration table of each wireless terminal in communication as shown in FIG. The registration table 6a records the operation mode of communication together with the MAC address.

  Next, a wireless terminal to which the repeater function according to the first embodiment is set will be described. Reference numeral 11 denotes a wireless unit that transmits / receives radio waves to / from a wireless LAN access point or a wireless communication terminal that can set a repeater function, 12 is a wireless interface unit for that purpose, and 13 is a main control unit that performs system control. Reference numeral 13a denotes route determination means mounted as one of the function realizing means in the main control unit 13. The route determination means 13a takes out the BSSID (Basic Service Set Indentifier) contained in the packet, and this is either the MAC address of the wireless LAN access point for which the repeater function can be set or the MAC address of the relay terminal in the relay mode By determining whether or not, the communicated route is determined (see FIG. 7). That is, if it is the MAC address of the wireless LAN access point, it is a communication route through the wireless LAN access point, and if it is the MAC address of the wireless terminal, it is a communication route for directly communicating with other wireless terminals in the relay mode. Based on this determination, the route determination unit 13a may display this fact on the display unit of the wireless terminal by the main control unit 13. For example, when a wireless terminal is accessed while moving with a notebook PC or the like, wireless connection is made directly to the wireless LAN access point depending on the location, or wireless connection to the wireless LAN access point is performed by relaying the wireless terminal set as a repeater. There is. Therefore, it is possible to check a range in which wireless connection to a wireless terminal set as a repeater is possible based on BSSID information.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a storage unit, and 15 denotes a wireless setting information unit for storing wireless parameters and the like provided in the storage unit 14. Modes such as a MAC address, wireless LAN access point authentication (SSID), encryption key, and connection possibility investigation mode are stored. Reference numeral 15a denotes a repeater information section that stores whether the repeater function is disabled / enabled.

  Here, the repeater function set by the repeater function setting means 3a will be described. The repeater function for the wireless terminal is set by disabling / enabling the repeater function of the communication port. Basically, by operating the PHY controller according to the settings of the repeater information unit 15a, the contents of this register are partially rewritten in software and the repeater function is executed. In the first embodiment, the repeater function setting means 3a of the wireless LAN access point capable of setting the repeater function sends a mode change command to the wireless terminal, thereby performing the invalid / valid operation of the port of the wireless terminal to perform the repeater. It is a functional wireless terminal.

FIG. 2A shows a repeater function automatic setting sequence for setting a repeater function in a wireless terminal. First, the wireless LAN access point setting operation switching means 4 capable of setting the repeater function inputs that it is in the connectable investigation request mode. As a result, the repeater function setting unit 3 a sets the connectable investigation request mode in the wireless setting information unit 6. Next, when a communication setting request (Request) is sent from the wireless terminal, a wireless LAN capable of setting the repeater function
The access point responds with a wireless parameter for wireless communication. At this time, since it is set to the connectable investigation request mode, a parameter indicating that the communication operation mode is set to the relay mode is transmitted. The wireless terminal receiving this transmits ACK and registers these parameters in the wireless setting information unit 15 and the repeater information unit 15a. Thereby, a repeater function is set in the wireless terminal.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the wireless LAN access point automatic setting process capable of setting the repeater function performed at this time. The wireless LAN access point capable of setting the repeater function waits until there is a communication setting request (Request) (step 1), and if there is a communication setting request, it determines whether or not it is in the connectability investigation mode (step 2). In the connection possibility investigation mode, a message indicating that the communication operation mode is set to the relay mode is transmitted together with a security parameter such as SSID and a parameter such as an encryption key (step 3). As a result, the wireless terminal that has conventionally operated as a client is changed from the normal mode to the relay mode.

  On the other hand, if there is no input to the connection possibility investigation mode, it is transmitted together with parameters such as the SSID and encryption key that it is the normal mode that normally operates as a client (step 4). In response to this, the wireless terminal transmits ACK (step 5). The wireless LAN access point capable of setting the repeater function that has received ACK registers the communication operation mode together with the MAC address of the wireless terminal in the registration table 6a (step 6).

  Now, an application example will be described in which the repeater function described above is used to find an optimal installation location of a newly installed wireless LAN access point. FIG. 4 shows a case in which when a wireless LAN access point for a wireless LAN with a wireless network camera is newly installed, a wireless LAN access point AP which is connected to a power source and can be set with a temporary provisional repeater function is used. Assuming that the wireless terminal, here the wireless network camera B, is newly installed as a wireless LAN access point, communication is performed with the other wireless terminals A-1 and A-2 to find the installation location of the wireless LAN access point. Shows the case. The wireless network camera must have an output equivalent to or slightly smaller than that of the wireless LAN access point.

  First, the wireless network camera B, which is assumed to be a wireless LAN access point, is temporarily installed at a place where a newly installed wireless LAN access point is to be installed. Next, the mode setting of the connection possibility investigation mode is performed by the setting operation switching means 4 of the wireless LAN access point AP capable of setting the provisional repeater function. The wireless network camera B makes a communication setting request, and the operation mode is automatically set to the relay mode (corresponding to the inspection mode for inspecting the radio wave state here). Subsequently, the wireless terminals A-1 and A-2 are requested to communicate with the wireless LAN access point AP capable of setting the repeater function, and the communication operation mode is set to the normal mode.

  The wireless terminals A-1 and A-2 are moved little by little around the wireless network camera B. In FIG. 4, the wireless terminal A-1 is relayed by the repeater function of the wireless network camera B and connected to the wireless LAN access point AP. On the other hand, the wireless terminal A-2 is directly connected to the wireless LAN access point AP outside the area of the wireless network camera B.

The wireless terminal according to the first embodiment includes the route determination unit 13a as described above, and determines the route based on the BSSID. In the case of FIG. 4, the wireless terminal A-1 is connected to the wireless network camera B. And the fact that the wireless terminal A-2 is connected to the wireless LAN access point AP is displayed. As a result, the position where the wireless terminal A-2 exists is inappropriate in relation to the wireless network camera B. If the position where the wireless terminal A-2 exists is included as an area, the wireless LAN access point will be installed. It is necessary to change the ground.

  As described above, the wireless LAN access point and the wireless terminal capable of setting the repeater function of the first embodiment can not only configure the wireless LAN and communicate in the normal mode, but also in the connection possibility investigation mode. By setting a relay mode (inspection mode) in the wireless terminal, the area can be confirmed in place of a newly installed wireless LAN access point, and there is no need to prepare a battery or the like as in the prior art.

(Example 2)
A relay route search method according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The relay route search method of the second embodiment is a case where there are a plurality of wireless terminals within the area of the wireless LAN access point where the repeater function can be set, and using some of these, the communication outside the area is optimal. A wireless terminal that is relayed by a relay route and does not perform a relay operation does not set a repeater function as a normal mode so as not to be an entrance for intrusion into the network.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of wireless LAN relay in the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function in the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7B is a MAC header configuration diagram of the wireless LAN standard of the packet in FIG. 7A. The repeater function settable wireless LAN access point and repeater function wireless terminal of the second embodiment are basically the same in configuration as the repeater function settable wireless LAN access point and repeater function wireless terminal of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are used. Since the same content is shown, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, wireless terminals A-1, A-2, and A-3 exist in the area of the wireless LAN access point AP where the repeater function can be set. Further, the wireless terminal B-1 exists outside this area. In the second embodiment, all wireless terminals are wireless network cameras. The wireless terminal B-1 can be linked to the wireless LAN access point AP capable of setting the repeater function using any of the wireless terminals A-1, A-2, and A-3. Should be either one or a condition suitable for the purpose.

  FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 6, 1 is a communication interface unit, 1a is a wired interface unit, 1b is a wireless interface unit, and 2 is a wireless unit. 3 is a main control unit, and 3a is a repeater function setting means. 4 is a setting operation switching means, 5 is a storage unit, 6 is a wireless setting information unit for storing wireless parameters and the like provided in the storage unit 5, and 6a is a registration table of each wireless terminal in communication. Since the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment indicate the same contents, the description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 6, 3 b is a relay terminal detecting means for determining which of the wireless terminals has relayed and received, and 3 c is a counter means for counting how many times the number of relays has been made at a predetermined time for each wireless terminal, as will be described later. 3d is a time measuring means for measuring the predetermined time. The relay terminal detecting unit 3b corresponds to the route determining unit 13a of the wireless terminal set with the repeater function of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the counter means 3c is used for counting the relayed maximum number of times. Instead, the counter means 3c is used as a counter means for counting when the use frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold level. You can also Further, a button for manually inputting the end of measurement may be provided instead of time-out by the time measuring means 3d.

7 is a parameter communication setting command for all registered wireless terminals in order to set all wireless terminals registered in the wireless LAN access point AP capable of setting the repeater function to the relay mode in the relay terminal registration optimum setting investigation mode. It is a relay terminal optimum setting investigation input means for broadcasting or unicasting (hereinafter, mode change command). This relay terminal optimum setting investigation input means 7 is configured as a physical switch, and when a relay registration optimum setting investigation button is pressed, a setting input for setting the relay terminal registration optimum setting investigation mode is performed via the interface. The relay terminal optimum setting investigation input means 7 can also be configured as a soft switch.

  Further, 8 is an optimum relay terminal setting input means for broadcasting or unicasting a mode change command to wireless terminals other than this relay terminal when an optimum relay terminal is determined. This optimum relay terminal setting input means 8 is also configured as a physical switch, and when a button is pressed, it is possible to perform input to change the mode to the normal mode all at once, leaving one terminal as the relay mode. The optimum relay terminal setting input means 8 can also be configured as a soft switch.

  In the second embodiment, in order to optimize the relay route of the relay terminal, the wireless terminals A-1, A-2, A-3 are automatically set to the normal mode in the wireless LAN access point AP capable of setting the repeater function. sign up. This automatic setting process has already been described with reference to FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8A, the registration table 6a registers the MAC addresses of the wireless terminals A-1, A-2, and A-3, the operation mode, and the normal mode. The The wireless terminal B-1 is registered as the normal mode without any change because the radio wave does not reach. In FIG. 8A, all permission / prohibition flags for relay are set to have no permission restriction.

  Here, when the button of the relay terminal optimum setting investigation input means 7 is pressed, the mode change command is broadcast or unicast all at once to the registered wireless terminals A-1, A-2, and A-3. As a result, the radio terminals A-1, A-2, A-3 are all switched to the relay mode as shown in FIG. Since the wireless terminal B-1 is out of the area, it remains in the normal mode. Thereafter, if the position of the wireless terminal B-1 needs to be moved, the wireless terminal B-1 moves to investigate whether the wireless terminal B-1 is connected via the wireless terminals A-1, A-2, or A-3. I do.

  First, a measurement start command is transmitted to the wireless terminal B-1 that is not in the relay mode. The wireless terminal B-1 transmits a test image for the relay terminal optimum setting investigation. Further, the wireless terminal B-1 repeatedly transmits a test image for investigating the optimum setting of the relay terminal at regular time intervals, and the measurement is terminated when the time measuring means 3d measures, for example, one hour. The relay terminal detection means 3b determines which of the wireless terminals A-1, A-2, and A-3 has transmitted the test image during this period to the wireless LAN access point AP that can be set for the repeater function. .

  FIG. 7A shows a packet configuration of the wireless LAN standard (IEEE 802.11) transmitted from the wireless terminal B-1 to the wireless LAN access point AP capable of setting the repeater function. In the IEEE802.11 MAC header, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), together with the source MAC address, destination MAC address, and destination MAC address, the received packet is a wireless terminal that has entered the relay. The MAC address of A-1 is written, and the relay terminal detecting means 3b relays from the MAC address of the wireless terminal A-1 that the relay means is relayed via the wireless terminal A-1. Count the number of times once.

  The count number when the time measuring means 3d measures, for example, one hour is as shown in FIG. According to this, the wireless terminal A-1 has the highest number of relays 53 times, the wireless terminal A-2 has the next highest number of relays 43 times, and the wireless terminal A-3 has the lower number of relays 4 times. As a result, when considering the maximum number of relays, the optimum relay terminal is a route via the wireless terminal A-3. In response to this result, when the input button of the optimum relay terminal setting input means 8 is pressed, a mode change command for changing the mode to the normal mode at the same time while leaving one terminal as the relay mode is broadcast or unicast.

  Next, a flowchart of the relay route search method of the second embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a change diagram of a wireless LAN access point registration table in which the repeater function can be set according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the relay route search method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in order to optimize the relay route of the relay terminal, all the wireless terminals are registered in the normal mode by the automatic setting process in the wireless LAN access point AP capable of setting the repeater function (step 11). At this time, it is checked whether or not the relay terminal registration optimum setting investigation start button has been pressed (step 12). If it is not pressed, a standby state is entered, and if it is pressed, the wireless terminal registered as available for relay is selected. Change to relay mode all at once and reset all the counters of the wireless terminals that were able to change to relay mode. At the same time, measurement of the measurement time by the time measuring means is started (step 13), and for example, waiting for 3 minutes of standby time until the wireless terminal changes the mode and establishes a wireless link (step 14), and then measurement starts for the wireless terminal that is not in the relay mode. A command is transmitted (step 15).

  In response, the wireless terminal transmits, for example, a predetermined relay terminal optimum setting investigation test image, for example, a test pattern. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, the wireless terminal in the normal mode puts a character string indicating that it is a measurement packet in the data part (Data) and transmits it. At this time, the count value may be inserted and transmitted. When transmitting, the P port number 60011 defined by the measurement protocol is used. In the second embodiment, a TCP packet is used, but a UDP packet is also possible. When the packet transmitted from the wireless terminal is relayed by the relay terminal as shown in FIG. 7B, the 802.11 header information of the packet is changed. Thereafter, the wireless LAN access point AP that has received the measurement packet extracts and determines the MAC address (Transmitter Mac address) of the relay terminal contained in the changed 802.11 header.

  The wireless LAN access point AP checks whether or not the packet is relayed and received (step 16). If the packet is not relayed, the wireless LAN access point AP does not count and proceeds to step 21. When the wireless LAN access point AP receives the relayed packet, the MAC address of the transmission source terminal and the relay terminal is extracted (step 17).

  The relay terminal detecting means 3b searches the registration table 6a using this MAC address as a key (step 18). If the search is successful (step 19), 1 is added to the counter of this relay terminal (step 20), and the search is unsuccessful. If not, it is determined whether or not the time up or measurement end button has been pressed without counting (step 21). If the time-up or measurement has not ended, the process returns to step 16 to repeat the count. If the time-up or measurement has ended, the operation mode is the normal mode in the registration table 6a and the count value is greater than zero. Search is performed (step 22).

  It is determined whether or not the wireless terminal detected in the search result is the wireless terminal that has transmitted the measurement start command in step 15 (step 23). In the case of the wireless terminal that transmitted the command, the registration table 6a is relayed. The permission / prohibition flag is set to the prohibition flag (step 24). As a result, the repeater function is canceled for the wireless terminal that transmitted the command, and the possibility of intrusion from the outside using this wireless terminal is eliminated.

Next, a search is made in the registration table 6a for the operation mode being the relay mode and the maximum count value (step 25). If this can be retrieved (step 26), the operation mode of the wireless terminal other than the wireless terminal whose operation mode is the relay mode in the registration table 6a and which has the maximum count value is set to the normal mode. The setting is changed (step 27). By pressing the input button of the optimum relay terminal setting input means 8, the mode change command for changing the mode to the normal mode is broadcast or unicast all at once.

  In the relay route search method according to the second embodiment described above, in step 25, the registration table 6a is searched for the operation mode is the relay mode and the count value is the maximum. However, the threshold level is set with respect to the use frequency. For example, a search may be made such that a usage frequency of 40% or more is left as a relay mode. In this case, since the count value of the wireless terminal A-2 illustrated in FIG. 8C is 43, the relay mode is set together with the wireless terminal A-1.

  As described above, the relay route search method according to the second embodiment relays only the wireless terminal that is most effective for relaying among the relay routes from the wireless terminal B-1 outside the area to the wireless LAN access point AP for which the repeater function can be set. Since the remaining wireless terminals in the area are used as normal clients in the normal mode, wireless relays with high security can be performed and wireless terminals that can set the repeater function with wireless terminals outside the area in the best communication conditions It is possible to relay the LAN access point AP with the optimum route.

(Example 3)
A relay route search method according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The relay route search method of the second embodiment is a relay route search method that optimizes the relay route from one wireless terminal outside the area and sets the remaining wireless terminals in the normal mode. The method is a relay route search method that can optimize a relay route when a plurality of wireless terminals outside the area are simultaneously accessed and set the remaining wireless terminals in a normal mode.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating relaying of a wireless LAN according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a counter table for investigating the optimum relay terminal of a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function according to the third embodiment of the present invention. It is a change figure of registered terminal management table. The wireless LAN access point and the repeater function wireless terminal that can set the repeater function of the third embodiment are basically the same in configuration as the wireless LAN access point and the repeater function wireless terminal that can set the repeater function of the first and second embodiments. Since the reference numerals indicate the same contents, the description is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 10, wireless terminals A-1, A-2, and A-3 exist in the area of the wireless LAN access point AP where the repeater function can be set. Further, a plurality of wireless terminals B-1 and B-2 exist outside this area. In the third embodiment, all wireless terminals are wireless network cameras. The wireless terminal B-1 can be linked to the wireless LAN access point AP using either the wireless terminal A-1 or A-2, but the wireless terminal B-2 can be linked only to the wireless terminal A-3. .

  FIG. 11 shows the configuration of a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 11, 1 is a communication interface unit, 1a is a wired interface unit, 1b is a wireless interface unit, and 2 is a wireless interface unit. Part. 3 is a main control unit, 3a is a repeater function setting means, 3b is a relay terminal detecting means, 3c is a counter means, and 3d is a time measuring means. 4 is a setting operation switching means, 5 is a storage unit, and 6 is a wireless setting information unit for storing wireless parameters and the like provided in the storage unit 5. 7 is a relay terminal optimum setting investigation input means for broadcasting or unicasting a mode change command to registered wireless terminals all at once, and 8 is a mode for all wireless terminals other than this relay terminal when an optimum relay terminal is determined. It is an optimum relay terminal setting input means for broadcasting or unicasting a change command.

  In FIG. 11, 3e is a registered terminal management table management means for registering a wireless terminal that can communicate with a registered terminal management table 6b, which will be described later, and 3f, a plurality of wireless terminals when the optimum relay terminal is searched for. The counter table management means manages each of the terminal investigation counter tables 6c.

  6b corresponds to the registration table 6a provided in the wireless setting information unit 6 in the second embodiment, in which a plurality of transmission source wireless terminals and relay terminals are registered, and their respective MAC addresses, operation modes, and relay It is a registered terminal management table in which permission / prohibition is registered. 6c is an optimum relay terminal investigation counter table in which the relay terminals are counted for each transmission source wireless terminal as shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b). In the counter table 6c for optimum relay terminal investigation, the MAC address, the MAC address of each relayed wireless terminal, and the count value are stored in the counter table [i] (i = 1 to n) of each transmission source wireless terminal. Written. 6d is an optimum relay terminal list containing a list of wireless terminals in the optimum relay mode obtained by the relay route search method of the third embodiment.

  Also in the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, in order to optimize the relay route with a plurality of transmission source wireless terminals, the wireless terminals A-1, A- 2, A-3 are registered in the normal mode by the automatic setting process. This automatic setting process has already been described with reference to FIG. Thereby, in the registered terminal management table 6b, as shown in FIG. 13A, the respective MAC addresses and operation modes of the wireless terminals A-1, A-2, A-3 are in the normal mode. A certain fact is registered. Since the radio terminals B-1 and B-2 do not receive radio waves, the normal mode remains registered without any change. In FIG. 13A, all the permission / prohibition flags for relay are permission flags, and no restriction is set.

  Here, when the button of the relay terminal optimum setting investigation input means 7 is pressed, the wireless LAN access point AP broadcasts a mode change command to the registered wireless terminals A-1, A-2, A-3 all at once or Unicast. As a result, the radio terminals A-1, A-2, A-3 are all switched to the relay mode as shown in FIG. Since the wireless terminals B-1 and B-2 are outside the area, they remain in the normal mode. Thereafter, if it is necessary to move the positions of the wireless terminals B-1 and B-2, the wireless terminal B-1 moves through which of the wireless terminals A-1, A-2, and A-3. Check if connected.

  First, a measurement start command is transmitted from the wireless LAN access point AP to the wireless terminals B-1 and B-2 that are not in the relay mode. From the wireless terminals B-1 and B-2, a test image for the relay terminal optimum setting investigation is transmitted. The wireless terminals B-1 and B-2 repeatedly transmit a test image for investigating the optimum setting of the relay terminal at regular time intervals, and the measurement is terminated when the time measuring means 3d measures, for example, one hour. The relay terminal detecting means 3b determines whether the test image during this period is transmitted to the wireless LAN access point AP capable of setting the repeater function via the wireless terminal A-1, A-2, or A-3. .

As described in the second embodiment, the relay terminal detection unit 3b counts the number of relays once from the MAC address of the relayed wireless terminal, assuming that the relay is performed via the wireless terminal, by the counter unit 3c. For each of the wireless terminals B-1 and B-2 not in each relay mode, the counting means 3d obtains the respective count numbers when, for example, one hour is counted. Each of the wireless terminals B-1 and B-2 determines the relay terminal having the maximum count value by the wireless terminal that constitutes the optimum route for relaying, and inputs the optimum relay terminal setting input means 8 of the wireless LAN access point AP. When the button is pressed, each of the wireless terminals B-1 and B-2 leaves one terminal as a relay mode, and others broadcast or unicast a mode change command for changing the mode simultaneously to the normal mode.

  Subsequently, a flowchart of the relay route search method of the third embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the relay route search method according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in order to optimize the relay route of the relay terminal, all wireless terminals are registered in the normal mode by the automatic setting process in the wireless LAN access point AP capable of setting the repeater function (step 31). At this time, it is checked whether or not the relay terminal registration optimum setting investigation start button has been pressed (step 32). If it is not pressed, a standby state is entered. If it is pressed, a wireless terminal registered as available for relay is selected. At the same time, the mode is changed to the relay mode, and the optimum relay terminal investigation counter table 6c and the optimum relay terminal list 6d are initialized. At the same time, the time measuring unit 3d starts measuring the time (step 33), and waits for 3 minutes, for example, a waiting time until the wireless terminal changes the mode and establishes a wireless link (step 34), and then the wireless terminals that are not in the relay mode. A measurement start command is transmitted to each (step 35).

  From each of the plurality of wireless terminals, for example, a test image for a predetermined relay terminal optimum setting investigation is transmitted. At this time, the wireless LAN access point AP checks whether or not the received packet is relayed (step 36). If the packet is not relayed, the wireless LAN access point AP does not count and proceeds to step 42. When the wireless LAN access point AP receives the relayed packet, the MAC address of the transmission source terminal and the relay terminal is extracted (step 37). The relay terminal detection means 3b searches the optimum relay terminal investigation counter table 6c corresponding to the transmission source wireless terminal by using this MAC address as a key (step 38), and when the MAC address search is successful (step 39), 1 is added to the counter of this relay terminal (step 41). If the search is unsuccessful, a new counter table is created in the optimum relay terminal investigation counter table 6c (step 40), and this relay terminal is added to the new counter table to set the count value to 1 (step 41). ).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the time-up or measurement end button has been pressed (step 42). If the time-up or measurement has not been completed, the process returns to step 36 to repeat the count. In order to detect the optimum relay terminal in each counter table [i] (i = 1 to n) of the optimum relay terminal investigation counter table 6c, first, i = 1 is set as the counter table number i (step 43).

  In the counter table [i], it is determined whether or not the MAC address of the transmission source wireless terminal is valid from the counter table [1] (step 44). If it is not valid, the process proceeds to step 47. The MAC address of the wireless terminal is searched in the registered terminal management table 6b, and the relay permission / prohibition flag is set to prohibited (step 45). Subsequently, the counter table [i] having the largest count value is searched for and registered in the optimum relay terminal list 6d (step 46). For example, in FIGS. 13B and 13C, the wireless terminals A-1 and A-3 are registered in the optimum relay terminal list 6d.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether i ≦ n (step 47). If i is n or less, the process returns to step 44 and 1 is added to i (step 48). In step 47, if i> n, among the registered terminal management table 6b, the relay permission / prohibition flag that is permitted is not registered in the optimum relay terminal list 6d, for example, FIG. ), Since the wireless terminal A-2 is not registered in the optimum relay terminal list 6d, the relay mode in FIG. 13B is changed to the normal mode in FIG. To make this change, when the input button of the optimum relay terminal setting input means 8 is pressed, the mode change command for changing the mode to the normal mode is broadcast or unicast all at once.

  The relay route search method of the third embodiment described above is also a search that sets a threshold level for the usage frequency as in the second embodiment, and leaves, for example, those with a usage frequency of 40% or more as a relay mode. Also good.

  As described above, the relay route search method according to the third embodiment is the most relay route among the relay routes to the wireless LAN access point AP for which the repeater function can be set, even when many wireless terminals outside the area are accessed simultaneously. Only the wireless terminals that are effective in the relay mode are set to the relay mode, and the remaining wireless terminals in the area are used as normal clients in the normal mode. It is possible to relay an external wireless terminal and a wireless LAN access point AP for which a repeater function can be set via an optimum route.

  The present invention can be applied to a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function that can be automatically set so that wireless terminals can communicate directly between terminals only when necessary.

(A) Configuration diagram of a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function in the first embodiment of the present invention, (b) Configuration diagram of a wireless terminal equipped with a repeater function in the first embodiment of the present invention. (A) Repeater function automatic setting sequence diagram according to the first embodiment of the present invention, (b) Explanatory diagram of a wireless terminal registration table of (a) Flowchart of automatic setting process of wireless LAN access point capable of setting repeater function in embodiment 1 of the present invention Explanatory drawing when installing a wireless LAN access point in the repeater function wireless terminal in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Wireless LAN relay explanatory diagram in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Configuration diagram of wireless LAN access point capable of setting repeater function in embodiment 2 of the present invention (A) Packet configuration diagram of wireless terminal in embodiment 2 of the present invention, (b) MAC header configuration diagram of wireless LAN standard of packet of (a) FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a change in the registration table of wireless LAN access points in which the repeater function can be set in Embodiment 2 Flowchart of Relay Route Search Method in Embodiment 2 of the Present Invention Wireless LAN relay explanatory diagram in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Configuration diagram of wireless LAN access point capable of setting repeater function in embodiment 3 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the counter table for optimal relay terminal investigation of the wireless LAN access point which can set a repeater function in Example 3 of this invention FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a change in the registered terminal management table of the wireless LAN access point in which the repeater function can be set in the third embodiment of the present invention. Flowchart of Relay Route Search Method in Embodiment 3 of the Present Invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication interface part 1a Wired interface part 1b Wireless interface part 2 Radio | wireless part 3 Main control part 3a Repeater function setting means 3b Relay terminal detection means 3c Counter means 3d Time measuring means 3e Registered terminal management table management means 3f Counter table management means 4 Setting Operation switching means 5 Storage section 6 Wireless setting information section 6b Registered terminal management table 6c Counter table for optimum relay terminal investigation 6d Optimal relay terminal list 7 Relay terminal optimum setting investigation input means 8 Optimal relay terminal setting input means

Claims (8)

A wireless LAN access point that can be connected to a wireless terminal and communicates wirelessly and has a repeater function setting means, and can be directly wirelessly communicated between wireless terminals. The wireless LAN access point is capable of setting a repeater function, and has a repeater function of the wireless terminal. A wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function, comprising setting operation switching means for setting a relay mode for operation or a normal mode for non-operation. 2. The repeater function can be set according to claim 1, wherein a wireless terminal temporarily installed by the setting operation switching unit is set to a relay mode, and the wireless terminal communicates with another wireless terminal to detect a radio wave reachable range. Wireless LAN access point. When a new wireless LAN access point is installed, a wireless terminal having an output equal to or smaller than that of the wireless LAN access point is temporarily installed, and the setting operation switching means uses this wireless terminal as a relay mode to detect a radio wave reachable range. 3. The wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function according to claim 2, wherein the installation position of the wireless LAN access point is searched for by the following. The wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the setting operation switching means is configured as a physical switch. The wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the setting operation switching means is configured as a soft switch. When performing wireless communication in an infrastructure network, a wireless LAN access point capable of setting a repeater function sets a relay mode by a repeater function for a plurality of wireless terminals in the area, and a wireless terminal outside the area and the wireless LAN access point The wireless terminal is relayed by one of the wireless terminals, and only the wireless terminal that has the highest number of times of configuring the relay route in several accesses is left as the relay mode, and the other wireless terminals are set in the normal mode as a client. A relay route search method characterized by the above. Instead of leaving only the wireless terminal having the highest number of times of configuring the relay route according to claim 6 as the relay mode, leaving only the wireless terminal having a use frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold level as the relay mode. A characteristic route search method. The operation mode is changed in response to a change request to the relay mode or normal mode from the wireless LAN access point that can be set to the repeater function, and transmission of the measurement packet in the relay mode is started when the measurement start or end command is received or A wireless terminal that is terminated.

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