JP2008061154A - Wireless apparatus and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless apparatus which suppresses battery consumption of a wireless key in the wireless apparatus which periodically communicates with the wireless key and restricts the use of an electrical appliance provided additionally when a communication failure is judged. <P>SOLUTION: A RSSI(Received Signal Strength Indicator) measurement in reception of periodic communication is performed at the side of a wireless apparatus 100 and when the RSSI is lower than or equal with a threshold value, it is judged that a distance between the wireless apparatus 100 and a wireless key 110 is extended. The use of an electrical appliance 120 is restricted by a use restricting means 106 and a caution request signal is transmitted to the wireless key 110 by a caution request means 105 to the wireless key 110, so that the wireless key 110 raises a caution using a caution means 113. At such a time, at the side of the wireless key 110, it is not necessary to measure the RSSI in every reception of period communication, so that battery consumption can be suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless device that monitors the communication level with a wireless key and restricts the use of an electrical device below a threshold value and a program thereof.

  FIG. 3 shows a conventional wireless device that restricts the use of electrical equipment.

  The wireless key 10 and a wireless device provided integrally with the device subject to use restriction are provided, and both the wireless key and the wireless device are provided with a transmitter and a receiver. An identification code signal from the wireless key 10 is received by the wireless device, a use restriction release signal is output based on the signal, and the wireless key 10 returns to a normal state if there is a confirmation code signal sent back.

  When the wireless device and the wireless key are separated by a predetermined distance or more, the threshold processing unit 11d lowers the RSSI (RECEIVED SIGNAL STRENGTH INDICATOR) level at the time of reception, and thereby the wireless device stops the use restriction release signal and the wireless key 10 It is configured to give a warning.

As a result, when using a target device whose use is restricted, the wireless key 10 is put in a pocket or the like, and the use of the target device is restricted because the target device leaves the wireless key 10 when the target device is stolen or misplaced. Thus, there is an effect that unauthorized use can be prevented, and further, by being warned from the wireless key 10, loss can be immediately noticed (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-88499

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, it is necessary to perform RSSI measurement by the threshold processing unit 11d on the wireless key side, and this is to perform RSSI measurement before confirming the identification signal, that is, from a partner that is not the original communication partner. Even when a signal is received, RSSI measurement is always performed every time it is received.

  Therefore, there is a problem that battery consumption increases by performing measurement every time a radio signal is received.

  Since the wireless key is assumed to be a small key holder, the battery capacity is small, and it is required to suppress battery consumption as much as possible.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the present invention performs RSSI measurement for each signal reception on the wireless device side attached to the electric device so that it is not necessary to measure RSSI for each signal reception on the wireless key side. When the key and the wireless device are separated from each other, an alarm request signal requesting that an alarm be issued from the wireless device to the wireless key is transmitted.

  The present invention can suppress battery consumption on the wireless key side by performing RSSI measurement at the time of signal reception on the wireless device side.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided: a wireless transmission means for transmitting a wireless signal; a wireless reception means for receiving a wireless signal; an RSSI measurement means for measuring RSSI (RECEIVED SIGNAL STRENGTH INDICATOR) representing the intensity of the received signal; A wireless device including a use restriction means for restricting the use of electrical equipment attached to the wireless device, and performing wireless communication with an identification signal that distinguishes from other signals with a wireless key provided with an alarm means. When the wireless device and the wireless key are within a predetermined distance and the wireless communication is established, the use restriction unit permits the use of the electric device, and the wireless device and the wireless key are more than a predetermined distance apart. When the RSSI of the wireless communication is measured by the RSSI measuring means and becomes below a predetermined level, the usage restriction With restricting the use of the electric apparatus by the step, sending an alarm request signal requesting to issue a warning to the radio key from the wireless transmitting means.

  Thus, the RSSI measurement is performed every time a signal is received on the wireless device side attached to the electrical device, and when the wireless key and the wireless device are separated from each other, an alarm request signal requesting that the wireless device issue an alarm to the wireless key Is configured to transmit.

  The second invention is a program for causing a computer to execute at least a part of the wireless device of the first invention. Since it is a program, it is possible to easily realize at least a part of the wireless device of the present invention by operating hardware resources such as an electric / information device, a computer, and a server. In addition, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording on a recording medium or distributing the program using a communication line.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the wireless device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the wireless device.

  In FIG. 1, the wireless device 100 of the present invention can exchange wireless signals with other wireless devices by the wireless transmission unit 101 and the wireless reception unit 102.

  Further, RSSI at the time of signal reception can be measured by the RSSI measurement means 103, and communication is sufficiently performed when the reception level is equal to or higher than the RSSI threshold 104 by performing a comparison operation with the RSSI stored and measured by the RSSI threshold 104. It can be determined that the wireless key 110 is within a possible distance, and if the RSSI threshold value is 104 or less, it can be determined that the distance between the wireless key 110 and the wireless device is large.

  Further, the wireless key 110 includes a wireless transmission unit 111 and a wireless reception unit 112 for communicating with an identification signal 130 that can be distinguished from each other even if the wireless device 100 and other wireless devices are mixed, and sound, vibration, light, etc. The alarm means 113 for issuing an alarm is provided, and an alarm is issued when an alarm request signal transmitted by the alarm request means 105 of the wireless device 100 is received.

  The wireless device 100 is attached to an electric device 120 (for example, a mobile phone or a portable information device), the wireless device 100 is connected to the wireless device connection I / F 121, and the use restriction unit 106 restricts the use of the electric device 120. it can.

  The use restricting means 106 can restrict part or all of the functions of the electric device 120 in terms of hardware or software.

  The radio apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to a flowchart showing the operation of the radio apparatus in FIG. Here, assuming that the wireless device 100 is attached to the mobile phone as the electric device 120, the operation of the wireless device 100 when receiving the periodic identification signal 130 from the wireless key 110 will be described.

  In FIG. 2, first, at the timing of step S <b> 201, the wireless device 100 starts a signal reception operation and prepares to receive the identification signal 130 from the wireless key 110.

  In step S202, if the reception signal times out without receiving the identification signal 130 from the wireless key 110 within a predetermined time, it is determined that the wireless key 110 and the wireless device 100 are separated, and in step S207, the use restriction unit 106 uses the mobile phone. Restrict.

  If no signal is received in step S203 without timing out in step S202, the process returns to step S202 and waits for reception of the identification signal.

  When the identification signal 130 is received in step S203, the RSSI is measured by the RSSI measuring means 103 in step S204.

  If the RSSI is equal to or greater than the RSSI threshold 104 in step S205, it is determined that the mobile phone and the wireless key 110 are sufficiently close to each other, and the reception process is exited. After this reception process, a process for adjusting the transmission / reception timing of the next communication may be performed, or a signal for confirming that the signal from the wireless key 110 has been received may be transmitted.

  Here, when determining using RSSI, it is not a simple size comparison but stores past RSSI so that it does not respond immediately to a sudden drop, rapid degradation of the signal due to multipath of the radio signal, etc. Devices such as making it possible to deal with spatial features may be added.

  If it is determined in step S205 that the distance between the mobile phone and the wireless key 110 is long, in step S206, the alarm requesting unit 105 causes the wireless key 110 to transmit the wireless key 110 in order to cause the wireless key 110 to perform an alarm operation. Send an alarm request signal to

  When the wireless key 110 receives this warning request signal, the warning means 113 issues a warning and informs the user of the above.

  Further, even if the wireless key 110 cannot receive the alarm request signal at this time, the wireless key 110 detects that the distance has been increased because the periodic identification signal from the wireless device cannot be received for a predetermined time or longer. An alarm can be issued by means.

  In addition, it is desirable that the RSSI threshold 104 is set to a large value rather than the vicinity of the reception sensitivity of the wireless device so that the wireless key 110 can receive the alarm request signal.

  In step S207, the wireless device 100 further restricts the use of the mobile phone by the use restricting means 106 so that it is not used without permission.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the RSSI is measured only on the wireless device side and the wireless key 110 is configured to issue an alarm using the alarm request signal, so that the wireless key 110 with a small battery capacity can be used. A wireless device that can reduce battery consumption can be provided.

  The means described in the first embodiment is implemented in the form of a program for cooperating hardware resources such as a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a storage / recording device, an electric / information device having an I / O, a computer, a server, etc. You may do it. In the case of a program, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording on a recording medium such as a magnetic medium or an optical medium, or by using a communication line such as the Internet.

  In this embodiment, the RSSI measuring means is provided on the electric device side and the alarm request is transmitted. However, depending on the configuration of the battery, this may be reversed, and the RSSI measuring means is provided on the wireless key side to issue the alarm request. May be transmitted from the wireless key side.

  As described above, the present invention can provide a wireless device that suppresses battery consumption of a wireless key that performs communication, and thus can be applied to a car, a safe, a computer, and the like that perform communication restrictions with a wireless key. .

1 is a block configuration diagram showing a configuration of a radio apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the radio | wireless apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Block configuration diagram showing the configuration of a wireless device that restricts the use of conventional electrical equipment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Radio | wireless apparatus 101, 111 Wireless transmission means 102, 112 Wireless reception means 103 RSSI measurement means 104 RSSI threshold 105 Alarm request means 106 Use restriction means 110 Wireless key 113 Alarm means 120 Electric equipment (cell phone)
121 Wireless device connection I / F
130 Identification signal

Claims (2)

Radio transmission means for transmitting a radio signal, radio reception means for receiving a radio signal, RSSI measurement means for measuring RSSI (RECEIVED SIGNAL STRENGTH INDICATOR) representing the intensity of the received signal, and use restriction of attached electrical equipment A wireless device comprising use restriction means for performing
When wireless communication is performed with an identification signal that distinguishes it from other signals with a wireless key provided with an alarm means, the wireless device and the wireless key are within a predetermined distance, and when the wireless communication is established, Permit the use of the electrical equipment by the use restriction means,
When the wireless device and the wireless key are separated from each other by a predetermined distance, the RSSI of the wireless communication is measured by the RSSI measuring unit, and the use restriction unit causes the use of the electric device when the RSSI is below a predetermined level. A wireless device that transmits an alarm request signal that restricts and requests the wireless key to issue an alarm. A program for causing a computer to execute at least a part of the wireless device according to claim 1.

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