JP2008118580A - Wireless communication device, wireless communication control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a wireless communication device which can control transmission power or reception sensitivity of desired wireless communication with high certainty. <P>SOLUTION: In the wireless communication device, a communication attribute acquisition section 105 identifies and acquires a data class, a communicating party and a communication protocol from transmission data as attributes of wireless communication with the communicating party. A transmission power control section 106 controls transmission power for the wireless communication on the basis of the data class, the communicating party and the communication protocol which are the communication attributes acquired by the communication attribute acquisition section 105. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, a wireless communication control method, and a program, and more particularly to a communication operation control technique in relatively short-range wireless communication based on a wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

  In recent years, portable terminal devices such as battery-powered mobile phones and mobile PCs have become widespread. These terminal devices are often provided with a wireless communication function for connecting with peripheral devices existing around the terminal without using a cable and transmitting / receiving data and control information with the peripheral devices. Yes. In addition, security devices such as keyless entry systems have become widespread using such a relatively short-range wireless communication function.

  On the other hand, in general, battery-driven mobile terminals have been developed with various power-saving technologies to ensure a long continuous operation time. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a power saving control technique for a wireless communication module that controls wireless communication.

  In the electronic device described in Patent Document 1, a baseband unit of a wireless communication module is equipped with a basic function of wireless communication conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) protocol, in addition to the basic function. The wireless communication throughput is calculated by BER, and the reception sensitivity is calculated by SNR. The baseband unit monitors the communication quality of the wireless communication based on the throughput calculated by the BER and the reception sensitivity calculated by the SNR, and instructs the RF unit to reduce the transmission power of the transmission data when it is determined to be good. On the other hand, a technique for reducing unnecessary transmission power and realizing low power consumption by instructing the RF unit to increase the transmission power of transmission data when it is determined to be in a poor state is disclosed. ing.

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the communication quality of wireless communication is monitored and transmission power control is performed based on the communication quality, and transmission power control according to the attribute of wireless communication cannot be performed.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 2 describes that the transmission output level is variably controlled according to a protocol used for wireless communication, and Patent Document 3 receives data according to the type of packet in wireless communication. It describes that the sensitivity is variably controlled.

JP 2004-208008 A JP-A-2005-080120 JP 2004-072594 A

  In the techniques described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, transmission power control and reception sensitivity control according to wireless communication attributes can be performed, but only one attribute such as a protocol or a packet type is identified as a communication attribute, Since only the control corresponding to this is performed, the control may be performed not only at a desired communication to be controlled but also at an unnecessary communication.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device, a wireless communication control method, and a program that can control transmission power or reception sensitivity of desired wireless communication with high accuracy.

  A wireless communication device according to the present invention is acquired by a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with an external device, a communication attribute acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of attributes of wireless communication performed by the wireless communication unit, and the communication attribute acquisition unit. Control means for controlling at least one of transmission power and reception sensitivity of wireless communication by the wireless communication means based on a combination of communication attributes.

  In the wireless communication device, the control means includes a table in which a predetermined combination of the communication attributes and a value of the transmission power or reception sensitivity to be controlled are recorded in association with each other, with reference to the table, It is characterized by control.

  The wireless communication device includes means for detecting a remaining battery level of the wireless communication device, and the control unit includes a plurality of the tables, and selects a table used for the control based on the remaining battery level. And

  The wireless communication device includes means for measuring communication quality of wireless communication performed by the wireless communication means, and the control means includes a plurality of tables, and selects a table to be used for the control based on the communication quality. It is characterized by that.

  A wireless communication control method according to the present invention is a wireless communication control method for a wireless communication device provided with wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with an external device, and communication for acquiring a plurality of attributes of wireless communication performed by the wireless communication means. An attribute acquisition step, and a control step of controlling at least one of transmission power and reception sensitivity of wireless communication in the wireless communication means based on a combination of communication attributes acquired by the communication attribute acquisition step. Features.

  A program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute a wireless communication control method of a wireless communication device including a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with an external device, and an attribute of wireless communication performed by the wireless communication unit And a control process for controlling at least one of transmission power and reception sensitivity of wireless communication in the wireless communication means based on a combination of communication attribute acquisition processing for acquiring a plurality of communication attributes and communication attributes acquired by the communication attribute acquisition processing It is characterized by including.

  The characteristics of wireless communication may vary depending on the individual communication unit depending on the communication purpose and the stage of the communication procedure, identification of the communication partner, etc. In the wireless communication device according to the present invention, The communication characteristics are acquired from the received data as communication attributes by the communication attribute acquisition means, and the control means controls at least one of transmission power and reception sensitivity of the wireless communication using these communication attributes as control parameters. I have to.

  According to the present invention, by acquiring a plurality of wireless communication attributes and controlling at least one of the transmission power and reception sensitivity of the wireless communication based on the combination of the acquired communication attributes, the desired wireless communication can be performed with high accuracy. The effect that the transmission power or the reception sensitivity can be controlled is obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a wireless communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a diagram showing a configuration of a transmission side of the wireless communication device, and (b) is a reception side of the wireless communication device. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the transmission side configuration includes a HOST (main control unit) 1, a transmission control unit 2, a wireless transmission unit 3, a transmission power control unit 4, and a transmission antenna 5. Composed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1B, the receiving side configuration includes a HOST 21, a reception control unit 22, a radio reception unit 23, a reception sensitivity control unit 24, and a reception antenna 25.

  As an operation on the transmission side, data transmission is performed based on a request from an application operating in HOST1. In this case, transmission information including information such as transmission data, a transmission command, or an attribute of an application requesting transmission is transferred to the transmission control unit 2 as HOST transmission data.

  The transmission control unit 2 interprets the HOST transmission data from the HOST 1 and recognizes a communication partner, a data type, a communication protocol, and the like. Also, based on the recognized attribute information such as the communication partner and communication protocol, the transmission data is converted into a transmission packet and output to the wireless transmission unit 3. The wireless transmission unit 3 converts the input transmission packet into a wireless signal in accordance with the specification according to the specified attribute, and transmits it from the transmission antenna 5.

  On the other hand, the transmission control unit 2 interprets the HOST transmission data from the HOST 1 and outputs the identified communication attributes to the transmission power control unit 4, and the transmission power control unit 4 transmits the transmission power control signal based on these communication attributes. And output to the wireless transmission unit 3. As a result, the transmission power can be dynamically changed for each transmission request from the HOST 1.

  As an operation on the reception side, the radio signal received by the reception antenna 25 is demodulated by the radio reception unit 23 and transferred to the reception control unit 22 as a reception packet. The reception control unit 22 analyzes the received data, recognizes attributes related to communication such as a communication partner, a communication protocol, and a data type, and then transfers the HOST received data to the HOST 21. In the HOST 21, the received data is delivered to the application, and the receiving operation is completed.

  On the other hand, the reception control unit 22 interprets the received data and outputs the identified communication attributes to the reception sensitivity control unit 24. The reception sensitivity control unit 24 generates a reception sensitivity control signal based on these communication attributes. Output to the wireless receiver 23. This makes it possible to dynamically change the reception sensitivity for each transmission from the HOST.

  In addition, the communication attribute identified from the HOST 21 is sent to the reception sensitivity control unit 24 so that the reception sensitivity can be controlled by an instruction from the application to which the reception data is delivered (that operates on the HOST). You may make it give.

  In FIG. 1, the HOST 1, the transmission control unit 2, and the transmission power control unit 4 are described as independent components, but these may be configured to be shared by the processing functions in the HOST 1. In addition, although the HOST 21, the reception control unit 22, and the reception sensitivity control unit 24 are described as independent components, they can be configured to be shared by the processing functions in the HOST 21.

  In FIG. 1B, the wireless reception unit 23 detects the status of the wireless communication channel, the strength of the received signal (RSSI), and the like, and the reception sensitivity control unit 24 has a function of controlling the reception sensitivity based on this. However, since these functions are known techniques, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Further, FIG. 1 shows a configuration when the present invention is applied to both the transmission side and the reception side, but the present invention can be applied to only one of the transmission side and the reception side.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the transmission side of the wireless communication device shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the transmission side includes a HOST 101, a transmission control unit 102, a baseband processing unit 103, a wireless transmission unit 104, a communication attribute acquisition unit 105, a transmission power control unit 106, and a transmission antenna 107. It consists of and.

  The communication attribute acquisition unit 105 includes a data type identification unit 31, a communication destination MAC address identification unit 32, a communication protocol identification unit 33, and a decoder 34. The transmission control unit 102 and the communication attribute acquisition unit 105 correspond to the transmission control unit 2 in FIG.

  Data transmission is performed based on a request from an application operating in the HOST 101. In this case, transmission data, a transmission command, and the like are transferred to the transmission control unit 102. The transmission control unit 102 interprets transmission data from the HOST and analyzes a communication partner, a data type, a communication protocol, and the like.

  Then, the transmission control unit 102 converts the transmission data into a transmission packet based on the analyzed transmission attribute information such as a communication partner and a communication protocol, transfers the transmission data to the baseband processing unit 103, and performs transmission signal processing (baseband modulation processing). )I do. The transmission signal that has undergone transmission signal processing is input to the wireless transmission unit 104, subjected to high frequency modulation, and then transmitted from the transmission antenna 107.

  On the other hand, the HOST 101 also transfers transmission data, a transmission command, and the like to the communication attribute acquisition unit 105. In the communication attribute acquisition unit 105, the data type identification unit 31 specifies and outputs the type of transmission data (security data communication data, image data, audio data, etc.), and the communication destination MAC address identification unit 32 determines the MAC address of the communication partner. The address is specified and output, and the communication protocol identification unit 33 specifies and outputs the communication protocol used for the communication (step S1 in FIG. 4).

  The decoder 34 collects each communication attribute information (data type, communication partner, communication protocol) input from the data type identification unit 31, the communication destination MAC address identification unit 32, and the communication protocol identification unit 33, and sends it to the transmission power control unit 106. Output.

  The transmission power control unit 106 has a table (not shown) in which a correspondence relationship between a predetermined combination of communication attribute information and a transmission power level is recorded, and the combination of communication attribute information input from the decoder 34 is in the table. Is referred to (step S2 in FIG. 4). When there is a combination of communication attribute information from the decoder 34, the transmission power control unit 106 acquires a transmission power level corresponding to the combination from the table, generates a transmission power control signal, and outputs it to the wireless transmission unit 104. Then, transmission power control is performed (step S3 in FIG. 4). If the combination of communication attribute information from the decoder 34 is not in the table, for example, the transmission power level in the previous transmission may be maintained.

  The transmission power control unit 106 does not have one table (not shown), but includes a plurality of tables each having different transmission power level values associated with a predetermined combination of communication attribute information. Also good. In this case, a method for selecting a table used for transmission power control based on the remaining amount of a battery (not shown) of the wireless communication device and a table used for transmission power control based on communication quality of wireless communication are selected. A method is conceivable.

  When a table used for transmission power control is selected based on the remaining battery level, the remaining battery level is detected by a function of the HOST 101 that detects the remaining battery level of the wireless communication device. If the detected remaining battery level is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the transmission power control unit 106 performs transmission power control using a table that can achieve the most power saving among the plurality of tables. In addition, a table used for transmission power control may be selected based on the remaining battery level.

  When a table used for transmission power control is selected based on the communication quality of wireless communication, the received signal level measured by an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) measuring unit 208 in FIG. For example, the transmission power control unit 106 controls the communication quality of wireless communication by performing transmission power control using a table that can perform transmission with the highest transmission power level among the plurality of tables. Based on this, a table used for transmission power control may be selected.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the receiving side of the wireless communication device shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the reception side includes a HOST 201, a reception control unit 202, a baseband processing unit 203, a wireless reception unit 204, a communication attribute acquisition unit 205, a reception sensitivity control unit 206, and a reception antenna 207. And an RSSI measurement unit 208.

  The communication attribute acquisition unit 205 includes a data type identification unit 41, a communication destination MAC address identification unit 42, a communication protocol identification unit 43, and a decoder 44. The reception control unit 202 and the communication attribute acquisition unit 205 correspond to the reception control unit 22 in FIG.

  A radio signal received by the reception antenna 207 is transferred to the reception control unit 202 as a reception packet via the radio reception unit 204 and the baseband processing unit 203. The reception control unit 202 outputs the received packet as HOST reception data to the HOST 201 and the communication attribute acquisition unit 205. In the HOST 201, the received data is delivered to the application.

  On the other hand, in the communication attribute acquisition unit 205, the data type identification unit 41 specifies and outputs the type of received data (security data communication data, image data, audio data, etc.), and the communication destination MAC address identification unit 42 communicates with the communication partner. The MAC address is specified and output, and the communication protocol identifying unit 43 specifies and outputs the communication protocol used for the communication (step S11 in FIG. 5).

  The decoder 44 collects each piece of communication attribute information (data type, communication partner, communication protocol) input from the data type identification unit 41, the communication destination MAC address identification unit 42, and the communication protocol identification unit 43 to the reception sensitivity control unit 206. Output.

  The reception sensitivity control unit 206 has a table (not shown) in which a correspondence relationship between a predetermined combination of communication attribute information and a reception sensitivity level is recorded, and the combination of communication attribute information input from the decoder 44 is in the table. Is referred to (step S12 in FIG. 5). When there is a combination of communication attribute information from the decoder 44, the reception sensitivity control unit 206 acquires a reception sensitivity level corresponding to this from the table, generates a reception sensitivity control signal, and outputs it to the wireless reception unit 204. Then, reception sensitivity control is performed (step S13 in FIG. 5). If the combination of communication attribute information from the decoder 44 is not in the table, for example, the reception sensitivity level in the immediately preceding reception may be maintained.

  Note that the table (not shown) of the reception sensitivity control unit 206 is not one but includes a plurality of tables each having different reception sensitivity level values associated with a predetermined combination of communication attribute information. Also good. In this case, a method for selecting a table used for reception sensitivity control based on the remaining amount of a battery (not shown) of the wireless communication device and a table used for reception sensitivity control based on the communication quality of wireless communication are selected. A method is conceivable.

  When a table used for reception sensitivity control is selected based on the remaining battery level, the remaining battery level is detected by a function of the HOST 201 that detects the remaining battery level of the wireless communication device. If the detected remaining battery level is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the reception sensitivity control unit 206 performs reception sensitivity control using a table that can realize the most power saving among the plurality of tables. In addition, a table used for reception sensitivity control may be selected based on the remaining battery level.

  Also, when selecting a table used for reception sensitivity control based on the communication quality of wireless communication, if the reception signal level measured by the RSSI measurement unit 208 is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold, the reception sensitivity control unit 206 may Select the table to be used for reception sensitivity control based on the communication quality of wireless communication, such as performing reception sensitivity control using the table that can receive at the highest reception sensitivity level. That's fine.

  The processing operation of the wireless communication device according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is such that a program stored in advance in a storage medium such as a ROM is read by a computer serving as a CPU (control unit) in the terminal. Of course, it can be realized by executing it.

It is a figure which shows the basic composition of the radio | wireless communication apparatus by embodiment of this invention, (a) is a figure which shows the structure of the transmission side of a radio | wireless communication apparatus, (b) is the structure of the receiving side of a radio | wireless communication apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of one Example of the transmission side of the radio | wireless communication apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of one Example of the receiving side of the radio | wireless communication apparatus of FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation on a transmission side of the wireless communication device in FIG. 2. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation on the receiving side of the wireless communication device of FIG. 3.

Explanation of symbols

1,2,101,201 HOST
2,102 Transmission control unit
3,104 Wireless transmitter
4,106 Transmission power control unit
5,107 Transmit antenna
22,202 Reception control unit
23,204 Wireless receiver
24,206 Reception sensitivity control unit
25,207 Receiving antenna
31, 41 Data type identification unit
32, 42 Communication destination MAC address identification unit
33, 43 Communication protocol identification unit
34,44 decoder
103, 203 Baseband processing unit
105, 205 Communication attribute acquisition unit

Claims (9)

A wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with an external device;
Communication attribute acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of attributes of wireless communication performed by the wireless communication means;
Control means for controlling at least one of transmission power and reception sensitivity of wireless communication in the wireless communication means based on a combination of communication attributes acquired by the communication attribute acquisition means machine.   The control means includes a table in which a predetermined combination of the communication attributes and a value of the transmission power or reception sensitivity to be controlled are recorded in association with each other, and the control is performed with reference to the table. The wireless communication device according to claim 1.   3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for detecting a remaining battery level of the wireless communication device, wherein the control means includes a plurality of the tables and selects a table to be used for the control based on the remaining battery level. Wireless communication equipment.   The communication means includes means for measuring communication quality of wireless communication performed by the wireless communication means, and the control means includes a plurality of the tables, and selects a table to be used for the control based on the communication quality. Item 3. A wireless communication device according to Item 2. A wireless communication control method of a wireless communication device provided with wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with an external device,
A communication attribute acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of attributes of wireless communication performed by the wireless communication means;
And a control step of controlling at least one of transmission power and reception sensitivity of wireless communication by the wireless communication means based on a combination of communication attributes acquired by the communication attribute acquiring step. Control method.   The control step performs the control with reference to a table in which a predetermined combination of the communication attributes and a value of the transmission power or reception sensitivity to be controlled are recorded in association with each other. Wireless communication control method.   The wireless communication device includes a plurality of the tables, and further includes a step of detecting a remaining battery level of the wireless communication device, and the control step selects a table used for the control based on the remaining battery level. The wireless communication control method according to claim 6.   The wireless communication device includes a plurality of the tables, and further includes a step of measuring communication quality of wireless communication performed by the wireless communication unit, and the control step includes a table used for the control based on the communication quality. The wireless communication control method according to claim 6, wherein the wireless communication control method is selected. A program for causing a computer to execute a wireless communication control method of a wireless communication device provided with wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with an external device,
A communication attribute acquisition process for acquiring a plurality of attributes of wireless communication performed by the wireless communication means;
And a control process for controlling at least one of transmission power and reception sensitivity of wireless communication by the wireless communication means based on a combination of communication attributes acquired by the communication attribute acquisition process.

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