JP2007251768A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a MAC(media access control) address of a present station available even when performing communication via a communication unit, in a BHT(barcode handy terminal) comprising a radio LAN communication function. <P>SOLUTION: A BHT 1 is mainly constituted of a terminal control circuit 6 and comprises an optical reader 7, a wireless LAN communication section 10, an infrared communication section 11, a memory 12 and the like. A communication unit 2 comprises a wired LAN communication section 17, an infrared communication section 18, a memory 19 and the like. When information of an information code or the like is read by the optical reader 7 of the BHT 1, this is communicated to a wireless LAN or a wired LAN via the communication unit 2. At such a time, when communication should be performed over the wireless LAN but the communication can not be performed and the MAC address of the present station stored in the memory 12 is designated to the communication unit 2, the communication unit 2 is capable of communicating with another information processing terminal device 4a, 4b by using this MAC address. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system including an information processing terminal device capable of communication by a wireless LAN and a LAN terminal device.

  An information terminal device such as a bar code handy terminal (BHT) transfers data generated by reading information code such as a bar code and a QR code to another information terminal device. In this case, when data is transmitted from the BHT to hardware resources on the network, there is one that performs infrared communication with a communication unit that can be connected to a wired LAN. The communication unit, for example, also serves as a charging stand, and is configured to perform data transfer by performing charging operation to the internal secondary battery and communication by the infrared communication unit in the mounted state. Yes.

  As such a thing, there exist a thing as shown in patent document 1 and 2, for example. In Patent Document 1, when one communication unit connected to a wired LAN communicates with a plurality of BHTs, a plurality of MAC (Media Access Control) addresses are prepared on the communication unit side, and the plurality of BHTs are sequentially provided. A MAC address is given.

Moreover, in the thing of patent document 2, since an application, a TCP / IP protocol, and an infrared driver operate | move separately in an operating system (OS), it makes it reside by adding the virtual MAC address for TCP / IP, There is disclosed an apparatus in which an exchange with a unique MAC address of a communication unit is performed by an infrared driver.
JP 2000-253004 A JP 2002-135272 A

  In the communication unit as described above, when performing infrared communication with the BHT, it is possible to access hardware resources on the network from the BHT via the communication unit using the MAC address of the infrared communication unit. In this case, the BHT is recognized as a communication unit on the network.

In addition, some BHTs are equipped with a wireless LAN function in addition to an infrared communication function, and are configured to use a MAC address unique to the BHT when communicating by a wireless LAN. Therefore, when performing wireless LAN communication, since communication is performed using the MAC address of the BHT on the network, it is recognized as BHT.
The MAC address indicates an ID number unique to the Ethernet card when communicating with a wired LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and includes information such as a manufacturer and a manufacturing serial number. It can be recognized as a unique device connected to the.

  For this reason, it is possible to perform communication using the MAC address for the wireless LAN for which the BHT is set, and communication using the MAC address of the communication unit via the communication unit. When accessing hardware resources, they may be recognized as being different and may cause inconvenience.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical communication function and a wireless LAN communication function when an information processing terminal device performs communication such as data transfer from an information processing terminal device such as a BHT. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system capable of reliably achieving communication processing even in the case of having the above.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the information processing terminal device, when information to be communicated with other information processing terminal devices is generated, the information processing terminal device performs communication using the wireless communication means or the first optical device. The communication operation is performed as follows depending on whether communication is performed through the communication means. First, when information is communicated using wireless communication means, communication is performed with another information processing terminal device by wireless LAN using a MAC address set for itself.

Next, when communication is performed through the LAN terminal device by the first optical communication unit, the first communication control unit specifies whether the communication is performed in the first communication mode or the second communication mode. .
When the information processing terminal device performs communication in the first communication mode using the first optical communication means, the second optical communication so as to designate the MAC address set to itself to the LAN terminal device. Communicate with the means. Thereby, the LAN terminal device communicates with other information processing terminal devices by converting the signal communicated by the second optical communication means by the signal conversion means. At this time, the LAN terminal device communicates with other information processing terminal devices using the MAC address (of the information processing terminal device) designated by the information processing terminal device. As a result, the information processing terminal device can perform communication with other information processing terminal devices using its own MAC address (set in the information processing terminal device).

  In addition, when the information processing terminal device performs communication in the second communication mode using the first optical communication unit, the information processing terminal device does not designate a MAC address to the LAN terminal device and communicates with the second optical communication unit. Communicate. As a result, the LAN terminal device communicates with other information processing terminal devices in the same manner as described above, but at this time, the other information processing terminal device with the MAC address set in itself (LAN terminal device). To communicate with. As a result, the information processing terminal device performs communication with other information processing terminal devices using the MAC address of the LAN terminal device.

  According to the invention of claim 2, in the configuration described above, the first communication control means performs the first communication via the LAN terminal device when the wireless LAN communication by the wireless communication means of the information processing terminal device cannot be performed. Since communication is performed in the mode, when it is necessary to perform communication using the MAC address of the information processing terminal device, it can be communicated with other information processing terminal devices regardless of whether or not the wireless LAN can be used. Communication can be achieved.

  According to the invention of claim 3, in each of the above-mentioned inventions, the information processing terminal device includes a battery as a drive power supply, and further includes a detection means for the remaining power capacity of the battery, and transmission data to be communicated by wireless communication means When it occurs, it is determined whether or not transmission data can be transmitted with the remaining power capacity of the battery detected by the detection means, and if possible, communication by wireless communication means is performed. Since the first optical communication means performs communication in the first communication mode, the necessary communication can be quickly achieved without being limited by the power supply capacity.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows an overall electrical block configuration, and this system includes a barcode handy terminal (BHT) 1 as an information processing terminal device and a communication unit 2 as a LAN terminal device. The communication unit 2 is a pedestal that also serves as a charger for the BHT 1, and when the BHT 1 is placed, a charging electrode (to be described later) is brought into a contact state so that the charging operation is automatically performed. Yes.

  The communication unit 2 is linked to a wired LAN 3 and can access other information processing terminal devices 4a and 4b linked to the wired LAN 3. Further, the BHT 1 includes a communication unit that can be connected to a wireless LAN, as will be described later, and can access a wireless LAN I / F 5 serving as an access point linked to the wired LAN 3.

  Next, the configuration of the BHT 1 will be described. The BHT 1 is provided with a terminal control circuit 6 as a first communication control unit mainly composed of a microcomputer, and is configured to perform image reading control, operation input or display control, and communication control. The terminal control circuit 6 is connected to an optical reading unit 7 for optically reading a bar code, a QR code and the like. The optical reading unit 7 reads pattern information such as a bar code and a QR code, and the terminal control circuit 6 performs image processing from the image information read by the optical reading unit 7 and data included in the code Is decrypted.

  The main body of the BHT 1 is provided with a trigger switch for starting optical reading and various key switches, and these are connected to the terminal control circuit 6 as an operation unit 8. A display unit 9 provided on the BHT 1 main body for displaying various information is also connected to the terminal control circuit 6.

  The terminal control circuit 6 is connected to a wireless LAN communication unit 10 as a wireless communication unit, an infrared communication unit 11 as a first optical communication unit, and a memory 12. The wireless LAN communication unit 10 is a communication unit that can be accessed via a wireless LAN I / F 5 provided at an access point of the wired LAN 3, and uses the IP address of BHT1 and the MAC address of BHT1 preset and stored in the memory 12 Thus, data communication with other information processing terminal devices 4a and 4b linked to the wired LAN 3 can be performed. The infrared communication unit 11 is for performing optical communication with the communication unit 2 using an infrared signal. The memory 12 stores various data in addition to the above IP address and MAC address, and also stores information necessary for communication.

  The power of the BHT 1 is configured to be supplied from the battery 13 which is a built-in secondary battery via the power supply circuit 14. The battery 13 is configured to be charged via the charge control circuit 15 from the communication unit 2 connected to the external connector 15a.

Next, the configuration of the communication unit 2 will be described. The communication unit 2 is mainly composed of a communication control circuit 16 as second communication control means and signal conversion means. Connected to the communication control circuit 16 are a wired LAN communication unit 17 as a wired LAN communication unit, an infrared communication unit 18 as a second optical communication unit, and a memory 19.
The wired LAN communication unit 17 is connected to the wired LAN 3 and performs communication using the IP address and the MAC address stored and set in the memory 19. At this time, as will be described later, the IP address and the MAC address to be used can be unique to the communication unit 2 and different ones stored and set by the setting process from the BHT 1.

The infrared communication unit 18 can communicate with the infrared communication unit 11 of the BHT 1, and is provided so as to be opposed to the BHT 1 when placed on the communication unit 2. The optical communication is performed by infrared signals.
When power is supplied from an external power supply, the power supply circuit 20 converts the voltage into a predetermined DC voltage to supply power to the internal components, and also charges the battery 13 of the BHT 1 connected to the charging terminal 21a via the charge control circuit 21. It is comprised so that it may perform. The charging control circuit 21 is connected to a display unit 22 for performing lighting display with an LED or the like during the charging operation.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. As a basic operation of the BHT 1, there is an optical code reading process for information codes such as barcodes and QR codes, but this is the same as a general optical reading process, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the communication processing program of the BHT 1, and FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the communication processing program of the communication unit 2. In BHT1, when information such as an information code is read by the optical reading unit 7, the communication processing program of FIG. 2 is started when processing for transferring the information code is performed.

  At this time, the terminal control circuit 6 of the BHT 1 first sets which communication means transmits data to be transferred by communication. That is, whether to access the wired LAN 3 using the wireless LAN and communicate using the MAC address of the local station (self), or whether to communicate using the MAC address of the communication unit via the communication unit 2 specify. This, for example, each other to decide whether to choose the communication in advance depending on the type of data, so as to determine the terminal control circuit 6.

  When the communication method determined as described above uses a wireless LAN, the terminal control circuit 6 determines the wireless LAN communication when the program is started (step S1), and then whether the wireless LAN can be used. If the wireless LAN communication unit 10 communicates with another information processing terminal device 4a or 4b via the wireless LAN I / F 5 of the wired LAN 3 (step S2: YES) S3). In this case, the communication using the wireless LAN is performed by the terminal control circuit 6 using the IP address and MAC address of the local station stored and set in the memory.

  In the above-described case, whether or not the wireless LAN can be used (step S2) depends on the wireless LAN communication unit 10, the wireless LAN I / F 5 or a communication failure due to some cause, or the position of the BHT 1 is This corresponds to a case where communication with the wireless LAN I / F 5 is difficult and communication cannot be performed normally.

  When the wireless LAN cannot be used (NO in step S2), the terminal control circuit 6 places the BHT 1 on the communication unit 2 and the infrared communication unit 11 performs optical communication with the communication unit 2 side. When possible (YES in step S4), communication is performed as follows. That is, the terminal control circuit 6 requests the communication unit 2 to set the communication unit 2 to communicate using the IP address and MAC address of the local station that are set and stored in the memory 12 of the local station (step S5). .

  Here, as a method of making a link connection request from the terminal control circuit 6 of the BHT 1 to the communication unit 2, the signal from the BHT 1 side is stored in the memory 12 with the IP address of the BHT 1 and the requested MAC address in the header. And the necessary code is added. On the other hand, the communication unit 2 returns a signal in which the IP address of the communication unit and the set MAC address of the BHT 1 are added to the header.

  Subsequently, when the terminal control circuit 6 confirms that the communication unit 2 has set the IP address and the MAC address in response to the setting process described above, the infrared communication unit 11 performs infrared communication of the communication unit 2. Optical communication is performed with the unit 18 using infrared signals, and data transfer processing and the like are executed (step S6).

  Even when communication is performed with the communication unit 2 using the infrared communication unit 11 as described above, the communication originally intended to be performed by the BHT 1 is exchange of information necessary for communication using a wireless LAN. In response to the fact that the wireless LAN cannot be used, another information processing terminal device 4a is connected via the communication unit 2 using the MAC address set in the own station, that is, the BHT 1 itself. Or it can communicate with 4b etc. Such communication corresponds to the first communication mode referred to in the present invention.

  Further, when information to be communicated is generated, the terminal control circuit 6 exchanges data by performing infrared communication with the communication unit 2 when communication is not performed via wireless LAN (NO in step S1). When performing, the execution timing of the communication processing program starts on the condition that the BHT 1 is placed on the communication unit 2.

  When the BHT 1 is placed on the communication unit 2, the terminal control circuit 6 recognizes this and starts the communication processing program. Here, the terminal control circuit 6 performs infrared communication by the communication method originally performed with the communication unit 2 (step S7). At this time, the terminal control circuit 6 makes a link connection request to the communication unit 2, and the signal from the BHT 1 side is “0” (that is, does not request) as the IP address of the BHT 1 and the requested MAC address in the header. ) And a necessary code. On the other hand, the communication unit 2 returns a signal in which the IP address of the communication unit and the set MAC address of the communication unit 2 are added to the header. Such communication corresponds to the second communication mode in the present invention.

  Next, the communication processing operation of the communication unit when a communication request is transmitted from the BHT 1 to the communication unit 2 as described above will be described with reference to FIG. In the communication unit 2, when the communication processing program is started by the communication control circuit 16, the communication unit 2 waits until a communication connection request from the BHT 1 is received (step P 1). If YES, it is determined whether there is an address setting request. (Step P2).

  At this time, if the MAC address of the BHT 1 is designated from the BHT 1 side as described above, the communication control circuit 16 stores and designates the designated IP address and MAC address in the memory 19 as a use address (step P3). Further, when the MAC address is not designated from the BHT 1 side, that is, when “0” is set in the designated address portion, the communication control circuit 16 self-stores the communication unit 2 in advance in the memory 19. Is stored and set in the memory 19 as a use address (step P4).

  Thereafter, the communication control circuit 16 uses the used address stored in the memory 19 as an IP address and a MAC address in response to a communication request from the BHT 1, and establishes a communication connection to other information processing terminal devices 4a, 4b, etc. Request (step P5). At this time, as described above, when the used address stored in the memory 19 is the IP address and the MAC address of the BHT 1, the first communication mode using the address is set, and the own station, that is, the IP of the communication unit 2 itself is used. In the case of an address and a MAC address, the second communication mode using the address is set.

  When the communication control circuit 16 receives a communicable response from the communication partner (YES in step P6), the communication control circuit 16 transmits a response indicating that communication is possible to the BHT 1 (step P7). Thereby, the communication control circuit 16 executes predetermined communication based on the information received from the BHT 1 in order to mediate communication between the BHT 1 and another information processing terminal device 4a or 4b (step P8). Is completed, a predetermined termination process is executed (step P9), and the program is terminated.

  In the above flow, when the terminal control circuit 6 determines NO in step S4 and ends the communication processing program, the terminal control circuit 6 stores that data to be communicated by the wireless LAN remains. The communication processing program is executed periodically or at the timing when the BHT 1 is placed on the communication unit 2. As a result, the remaining data to be communicated can be reliably transferred.

  According to the present embodiment, the BHT 1 communicates with other information processing terminal devices 4a, 4b, etc. via the communication unit 2 when the data of the information code read by the optical reading unit 7 is transmitted. Even now, it is possible to communicate in the first communication mode using the MAC address set for the wireless LAN in the own station, that is, the BHT 1, so that it is properly used according to the communication partner and the type of data. In such a case, it is possible to switch between the first communication mode and the second communication mode by selectively using the MAC address of the local station and the MAC address of the communication unit 2, A communication system with a high degree of freedom can be constructed.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, since it is configured as described above, even when the wireless LAN communication unit 10 cannot perform communication using the wireless LAN in the BHT 1, the MAC of the local station is transmitted through the communication unit 2. Communication can be achieved in the first communication mode using the address. Thereby, for example, even when the wireless LAN communication unit 10 is out of order or when the communication environment is poor due to the usage environment of the BHT 1 and it is difficult to access the wireless LAN I / F 5, communication processing equivalent to communication using the wireless LAN is performed. Will be able to achieve.

(Second Embodiment)
FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, when the wireless LAN is not usable due to a failure or an external factor, the local station is connected via the communication unit 2. This is a case where communication using a MAC address is performed, but in this embodiment, even when a wireless LAN is usable, a configuration in which similar communication is performed due to other internal factors is added. .

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a battery capacity determination unit 23 is provided as detection means for determining the remaining power capacity of the battery. This is to determine the power supply capacity remaining in the battery 13 by storing a history such as the voltage, discharge state or charge state of the battery 13 and output this to the terminal control circuit 6.

  Based on the signal from the battery capacity determination unit 23, the terminal control circuit 6 determines whether or not it is sufficient to compare with an estimated value of communication power required to transmit data to be transferred from now on. Can be switched.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a communication processing program executed by the terminal control circuit 6. Here, steps S8 and S9 are added to the flowchart of FIG. When starting the communication process, the terminal control circuit 6 estimates the power required for communication from the capacity of data to be transferred by communication and the amount of information necessary for communication.

  Then, when the communication processing program is started, the terminal control circuit 6 determines that the signal indicating the battery capacity is input from the battery capacity determination unit 23 after step S1 and S2 are set to YES (step S8). The terminal control circuit 6 determines whether or not the power necessary for communication from now on can be covered by the current battery capacity (step S9). If YES, the wireless LAN communication unit 10 performs normal wireless LAN communication. To implement. In the case of NO, communication is performed in the first communication mode using the MAC address of the own station via the communication unit 2 on condition that the process proceeds to step S4 and is placed on the communication unit 2. (Steps S5 and S6).

  As a result, even if the wireless LAN is not broken, infrared communication can be performed with the communication unit 2, and at this time, communication can be performed using the MAC address set for the wireless LAN of the own station, that is, BHT1. As a result, communication can be achieved in a state recognized as BHT1 on the network with respect to the other information processing terminal device 4a or 4b as the communication partner.

  In such a situation, when the terminal control circuit 6 determines NO in step S4 and terminates the communication process, for example, it is placed on the communication unit 2 with respect to the user. In order to prompt the user, it is effective to display the fact on the display unit 9 or to notify by sound that data transfer is not possible. For example, if the user notices it by displaying a message such as “The battery capacity is insufficient to transfer the data to be transferred. Can be placed immediately. As a result, the battery can be charged and the data transfer process can be performed quickly.

  According to such 2nd Embodiment, since it can be operated as mentioned above, in addition to the effect in 1st Embodiment, the following effect can be acquired. In other words, BHT1 started communication over a wireless LAN, but due to a lack of battery capacity, it is possible to avoid problems such as data transfer being interrupted or being unable to communicate, and data transfer. Can be ensured and wasteful consumption of the power source can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
In the first embodiment, when a wireless LAN communication is not possible, it is effective to display a message on the display unit 9 in order to notify the user of this situation.

In the BHT 1, the user may be able to manually set whether or not to communicate with the communication unit 2 using the MAC address of the local station.
In the second embodiment, the battery capacity determination unit 23 is provided separately, but may be provided in the terminal control circuit 6 in a software manner.
The present invention can also be applied to information processing terminal devices other than BHT.

Electrical block diagram showing the first embodiment of the present invention Flow chart of BHT communication processing program Flow chart of communication processing program of communication unit FIG. 1 equivalent diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention 2 equivalent diagram

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a barcode handy terminal (BHT) (information processing terminal device), 2 is a communication unit (LAN terminal device), 3 is a wired LAN, 4a and 4b are information processing terminal devices (other information processing terminal devices). 5 is a wireless LAN I / F, 6 is a terminal control circuit (first communication control unit), 7 is an optical reading unit, 10 is a wireless LAN communication unit (wireless communication unit), and 11 is an infrared communication unit (first optical unit). Communication means), 12 a memory, 13 a battery, 16 a communication control circuit (second communication control means, signal conversion means) 17 a wired LAN communication unit (wired LAN communication means), 18 an infrared communication unit (second communication unit) Optical communication means), 19 is a memory, and 23 is a battery capacity determination unit (detection means).

Claims (3)

In a communication system composed of an information processing terminal device and a LAN terminal device,
The information processing terminal device
Wireless communication means for communicating with another information processing terminal device by wireless LAN using a MAC (media access control) address set in itself;
First optical communication means for communicating with the LAN terminal device by an optical signal;
When communicating with the LAN terminal device using the first optical communication means, the first communication mode that is performed by designating the MAC address set in itself and the second communication that does not designate the MAC address First communication control means capable of switching between modes,
The LAN terminal device
Second optical communication means for communicating with the first optical communication means of the information processing terminal device by an optical signal;
Wired LAN communication means for communicating with other information processing terminal devices by wired LAN;
Signal conversion means for performing signal conversion between an optical signal transmitted and received by the second optical communication means and an electrical signal transmitted and received by the LAN communication means;
When the information processing terminal device accesses the second optical communication means, control is performed so as to communicate with other information processing terminal devices via the signal conversion means and the LAN communication means. In the communication using the wired LAN, when the MAC address designated by the information processing terminal device is requested, the MAC address is used, and when not designated, the MAC address set corresponding to the own device is used. And a second communication control means for performing the communication using the communication system. The communication system according to claim 1,
The first communication control means controls to perform communication in the first communication mode when wireless LAN communication by the wireless communication means of the information processing terminal device cannot be performed. system. The communication system according to claim 1 or 2,
The information processing terminal device
Provided with a battery as a drive power supply, and a means for detecting the remaining power capacity of the battery,
When transmission data to be communicated by the wireless communication means is generated, it is determined whether or not the transmission data can be transmitted with the remaining power capacity of the battery detected by the detection means. A communication system characterized in that communication by the wireless communication means is performed, and communication by the first optical communication means is performed in the first communication mode when impossible.

Images