JP2008228032A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device which improves the probability that communication is established at a location visited for the first time. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicle 100 and other vehicles 200 to 700 can send/receive information between a control center 80 and them. The control center 80 receives location information on each vehicle which established communication and information on a communication history linked to a communication frequency when the communication is established, and then stores them. If the vehicle 100 has not established communication at the location (its current position) in the past, it receives information (new area frequency information) on communication frequencies that the other vehicles 200 to 700 have established communication in the past at the location (the current position of the vehicle 100) from the control center 80, and then selects a communication frequency from them. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus having a communication function, and more particularly, to a communication apparatus characterized by an operation when selecting a communication channel suitable for a communication place.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technology related to a so-called smart system that performs wireless communication between a portable device possessed by a vehicle user and a transmission / reception device provided on the vehicle side and permits the unlocking of the door through the wireless communication. Yes.

  In this type of system, a request signal is transmitted from a transmitting / receiving device on the vehicle side to a predetermined area outside the vehicle. When a portable device is brought into this area, a request signal is received by the portable device, and a signal including an ID code individually set for each portable device (ID) as a response signal of the request signal Code signal) is transmitted from the portable device. And while this signal is received by the transmission / reception apparatus on the vehicle side, collation (ID code collation) as to whether or not the ID code included in it coincides with the reference ID code registered on the vehicle side. It is executed on the vehicle side. When the two ID codes match, it is treated as a legitimate portable device being used. At this time, unlocking of the door is permitted, and this allows the passenger of the portable device to get on. It has become.

  By the way, when considering the current state of the world where various radio waves fly, radio waves in a frequency band close to the frequency of the ID code signal transmitted from the portable device may become noise and interfere with the signal. . In such a case, the ID code signal may be affected by noise and communication failure may occur on the vehicle side. As a result, there is a possibility that the unlocking of the door may not be permitted.

Therefore, a system capable of changing the communication frequency has been proposed in order to solve such a problem. Such a function is called a multi-channel function.
In Patent Document 2, based on the strong relationship between the frequency of a noise radio wave and a communication location, a communication history in which position information by the GPS function is associated with a communication frequency when communication is established at that position is stored. A technique for selecting a communication frequency by referring to a communication history when communication is performed at that position later has been proposed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-029385 (paragraph numbers 0002 to 0007) Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-235784 (paragraph number 0125)

  However, even if the technique proposed in Patent Document 2 is used, there is no communication history for a place visited for the first time, so communication using the selected communication frequency is not always established.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device capable of increasing the probability that communication is established at a place where the user visits for the first time.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a communication device capable of exchanging information with a frequency information utilization device that utilizes information regarding a communication frequency according to a communication location. Position information acquisition means for acquiring position information of a mobile body on which the communication device is mounted, and information on a communication frequency corresponding to a communication location determined from the position information of the mobile body acquired by the position information acquisition means. The gist of the invention is that it comprises frequency information acquisition means acquired from the frequency information utilization device and communication channel selection means for selecting a communication frequency using information relating to the communication frequency acquired by the frequency information acquisition means. .

  According to this configuration, even if the communication history does not exist in the local communication device, such as a place visited for the first time, if information on the communication frequency corresponding to the location is stored in the frequency information utilization device, Through the exchange of information, information on the communication frequency corresponding to the location can be acquired, and the communication frequency can be selected using the information. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the probability that communication is established at a place visited for the first time.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the communication device according to the first aspect, the position information of the mobile unit and the communication frequency when the communication between the own communication device and the communication partner is performed are associated with each other. The gist of the present invention is that it includes communication history providing means for providing information relating to the communication history to the frequency information utilization device.

  According to this configuration, if information related to the communication history given from the own communication device is accumulated in the frequency information utilization device, the same communication device as the own communication device can acquire the information. Therefore, the information stored in the frequency information utilization device can be shared.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the communication device according to the first or second aspect, the frequency information acquisition means is a communication location that is determined from the position information of the mobile object acquired by the position information acquisition means. The communication channel selection means obtains information on the communication frequency when communication is established at the location, and the communication channel selection means uses the information on the communication frequency obtained by the frequency information acquisition means in the past. The gist is to select a communication frequency with which the communication has been established.

According to the same configuration, since a communication frequency with a history of establishing communication in the place in the past is selected, it is possible to increase the probability that the current communication is established.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the communication device according to the first or second aspect, the frequency information acquisition means is a communication location that is determined from the position information of the mobile object acquired by the position information acquisition means. The communication channel selection means uses the information about the communication frequency acquired by the frequency information acquisition means in the past, and acquires information about the communication frequency when communication fails at the frequency information utilization device. The main point is to select a communication frequency other than the communication frequency that caused the communication failure.

  According to this configuration, since a communication frequency other than the communication frequency that has failed in the past in the place is selected, it is possible to increase the probability that the current communication is established.

Since this invention is comprised as mentioned above, there exist the following effects.
According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the probability that communication is established at a place visited for the first time.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the smart system 1 is applied to the automobile of the present embodiment. The smart system 1 includes a portable device 2 possessed by a vehicle user and a security device 3 provided on the vehicle side, and is capable of bidirectional communication between the two.

  The portable device 2 has a reception function by wireless communication and a transmission function by wireless communication, and includes a reception antenna 21, a reception circuit 22, a microcomputer 23, a transmission circuit 24, and a transmission antenna 25.

  The receiving antenna 21 is a medium for receiving a signal (WAKE signal or request signal) transmitted from the security device 3. The receiving circuit 22 demodulates a signal (WAKE signal or request signal) received by the receiving antenna 21 to generate a received signal and outputs the received signal to the microcomputer 23.

  The microcomputer 23 includes a nonvolatile memory 23a, and an ID code (an ID code of the portable device 2) set individually for each portable device 2 is stored in the memory 23a. When the reception signal related to the WAKE signal is input from the reception circuit 22, the microcomputer 23 generates an ACK signal that is a response signal to the WAKE signal and outputs the ACK signal to the transmission circuit 24. In addition, when the reception signal related to the request signal is input from the reception circuit 22, the microcomputer 23 generates a signal (ID code signal) including the ID code of the portable device 2 in order to respond to the request signal, and the ID The code signal is output to the transmission circuit 24.

  The transmission circuit 24 modulates a signal (ACK signal or ID code signal) input from the microcomputer 23 into a radio wave having a predetermined frequency. The transmission antenna 25 is a medium for transmitting a signal (ACK signal or ID code signal) modulated by the transmission circuit 24.

  The security device 3 has a transmission function by wireless communication and a reception function by wireless communication, and includes a transmission circuit 31, a transmission antenna 32, a reception antenna 33, a reception circuit 34, and a verification device 35.

  The transmission circuit 31 modulates a signal (WAKE signal or request signal) input from the verification device 35 into a radio wave having a predetermined frequency. The transmission antenna 32 is a medium for transmitting a signal (WAKE signal or request signal) modulated by the transmission circuit 31.

  Here, a signal (WAKE signal or request signal) from the transmission antenna 32 is transmitted outside the vehicle so as to cover an area with a radius of about 1 m centering on the door outside handle. In FIG. 2, this area is indicated by a two-dot chain line as a predetermined area A32 outside the vehicle. In the predetermined area A32 outside the vehicle, bidirectional communication between the portable device 2 and the security device 3 is possible.

  That is, when the portable device 2 is brought into the predetermined area A32 outside the vehicle while the WAKE signal is transmitted in the predetermined area A32 outside the vehicle, the WAKE signal is received by the portable device 2 and the portable device 2 2 transmits an ACK signal. Further, when the portable device 2 is brought into the predetermined area A32 outside the vehicle in a state where the request signal is transmitted in the predetermined area A32 outside the vehicle, the request signal is received by the portable device 2 and the portable device 2 2 transmits an ID code signal.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the receiving antenna 33 receives an ACK signal transmitted from the portable device 2 as a response signal to the WAKE signal and an ID code signal transmitted from the portable device 2 as a response signal to the request signal. It is a medium. The reception circuit 34 demodulates a signal (ACK signal or ID code signal) received by the reception antenna 33 to generate a reception signal, and outputs the reception signal to the verification device 35.

  The verification device 35 includes a non-volatile memory 35a, and the memory 35a has an ID that is the same as the ID code of the portable device 2 (= the regular portable device 2) that fits the automobile on which the security device 3 is mounted. A code (reference ID code) is stored. The collation device 35 determines whether or not a portable device (this is not necessarily a regular portable device 2) that is a target of bidirectional communication with the security device 3 exists in the predetermined area A32 outside the vehicle. In order to monitor, a WAKE signal is output to the transmission circuit 31 in a state where the door is locked. That is, in this case, the collation device 35 executes communication object presence / absence monitoring control. As a result, a WAKE signal is transmitted from the transmission antenna 32.

  The collation device 35 becomes a target of bidirectional communication with the security device 3 when the reception signal related to the ACK signal is input from the reception circuit 34 in association with the execution of the communication object presence / absence monitoring control. It is recognized that the portable device (this is not necessarily the regular portable device 2) exists in the predetermined area A32 outside the vehicle. In other words, when the reception signal related to the ACK signal is input from the reception circuit 34, the verification device 35 performs bidirectional communication with the portable device (this is not necessarily the regular portable device 2). Affirmative determination is made that Note that the WAKE signal corresponds to a trigger signal for establishing bidirectional communication between the portable device (this is not necessarily the regular portable device 2) and the security device 3.

  Then, the collation device 35 determines whether or not the portable device existing in the predetermined area A32 outside the vehicle is the regular portable device 2 when the reception signal related to the ACK signal is input from the reception circuit 34 as described above. Therefore, a signal that requests the portable device to transmit its own ID code, that is, a request signal is output to the transmission circuit 31. That is, in this case, the collation device 35 executes ID code request control. As a result, a request signal is transmitted from the transmission antenna 32.

  When the received signal related to the ID code signal is input from the receiving circuit 34 as a result of executing the ID code request control, the collating device 35 matches the ID code included in the received signal with the reference ID code. Determine whether you are doing it. That is, in this case, the collation device 35 performs ID code collation. And when both ID codes correspond by ID code collation, the collation apparatus 35 recognizes that the regular portable machine 2 was utilized, and in this case, in order to permit boarding by the holder of the portable machine 2 The door unlocking permission signal is output to the door control device 40. As a result, when the owner of the portable device 2 touches the door outside handle in the state where the unlocking of the door is permitted in this way, the door is unlocked by the door control device 40 and thereby the portable device 2 is unlocked. Boarding by the owner of this is allowed.

Next, characteristic points of the smart system 1 will be described.
As described above, in wireless communication by the smart system 1, a WAKE signal and a request signal are transmitted from the security device 3, and an ACK signal and an ID code signal are transmitted from the portable device 2. Here, the signal (ACK signal or ID code signal) transmitted from the portable device 2 is used in the external environment of the smart system 1 rather than the signal (WAKE signal or request signal) transmitted from the security device 3. It is known that radio waves are easily affected by noise. This is because radio waves in a frequency band close to the frequency of signals (ACK signal and ID code signal) transmitted from the portable device 2 are actively used in the external environment of the smart system 1.

  Therefore, in order to establish communication even in a situation where such noise radio waves are flying, in the smart system 1 of the present embodiment, when the ACK signal and the ID code signal are transmitted from the portable device 2, two types of signals are transmitted. They are transmitted at the communication frequency. That is, the smart system 1 of this embodiment has a multi-channel function.

  It should be noted that the frequency of such noise radio waves is considered to be strongly related to the communication location, that is, if communication has been established in a certain location in the past, If a communication frequency with a track record of establishing communication at a place is selected, this communication is also considered to be established. Based on this point, the memory 35a of the verification device 35 stores a communication history in which the position information of the vehicle on which the security device 3 is mounted and the communication frequency when communication is established at that position are associated. ing. The position information acquisition device 50 is electrically connected to the verification device 35, and the position information acquisition device 50 acquires the position information of the vehicle by the GPS function and outputs it to the verification device 35. It is like that.

  When the collation device 35 outputs the WAKE signal to the transmission circuit 31, the communication device refers to the communication history and is associated with the vehicle position information (current position information) input from the position information acquisition device 50. Whether or not the frequency exists is checked, and when it exists, the communication frequency is selected as the current communication frequency, and a WAKE signal to which information on the communication frequency is added is output to the transmission circuit 31. As a result, in the present embodiment, a WAKE signal to which information (frequency command code) related to a communication frequency is added is transmitted from the transmission antenna 32.

  And when such a WAKE signal is transmitted into the predetermined area A32 outside the vehicle, when the portable device 2 is brought into that area, the WAKE signal is received and an ACK signal is transmitted. However, at this time, the ACK signal is transmitted from the portable device 2 at the communication frequency suggested by the frequency command code included in the WAKE signal. Note that the communication frequency suggested by the frequency command code is a communication frequency that has been established in the past in the place, so even if some noise radio wave exists in the external environment of the smart system 1. The ACK signal transmitted at this frequency is highly likely to be normally received by the security device 3.

  Then, when such an ACK signal is received by the security device 3, a request signal is then transmitted. At this time, the verification device 35 uses the same frequency command as that added to the WAKE signal in this communication. The request signal with the code added is output to the transmission circuit 31. As a result, in the present embodiment, a request signal to which such a frequency command code is added is transmitted from the transmission antenna 32.

  Then, when such a request signal is received by the portable device 2, an ID code signal is transmitted from the portable device 2, and at this time, at the communication frequency suggested by the frequency command code included in the request signal. An ID code signal is transmitted from the portable device 2. For the same reason as described above, there is a high possibility that the ID code signal transmitted at this frequency is normally received by the security device 3.

  In this embodiment, the frequency command code is added to the WAKE signal and the frequency command code is also added to the request signal. However, it is not always necessary to add the frequency command code to the request signal. This is because the portable device 2 can grasp the frequency of the signal to be transmitted to the security device 3 based on the frequency command code included in the WAKE signal when the WAKE signal is received. This is because it can be understood that the ID code signal may be transmitted at the same frequency as the frequency at which the ACK signal is transmitted.

  By the way, in the place visited for the first time, even if the communication history is referred to, there is no communication frequency associated with the vehicle position information (current position information) input from the position information acquisition device 50. In the present embodiment, consideration is given so that communication can be established even in such a case.

  That is, in this connection, the frequency information transfer device 60 is electrically connected to the verification device 35, and the frequency information transfer device 60 communicates with the control center 80 via the external communication network 70. Exchange of information is possible.

  When the communication frequency associated with the vehicle position information (current position information) input from the position information acquisition device 50 does not exist even when referring to the communication history, the verification device 35 An instruction is issued to the frequency information transmitting / receiving device 60 to inquire of the control center 80 whether or not there is a communication frequency that has been established in the past (current position of the vehicle). When receiving such an instruction, the frequency information exchanging device 60 determines whether or not there is a communication frequency that has been established in the past at this place (current position of the vehicle). The control center 80 is inquired via

  In addition, when the collation device 35 issues the above-described instruction to the frequency information transmission / reception device 60, the information related to the communication history of the vehicle stored in the memory 35a is output to the frequency information transmission / reception device 60. At the same time, it instructs the frequency information transfer device 60 to transmit it to the control center 80. When receiving such an instruction, the frequency information exchanging device 60 transmits information related to the communication history of the own vehicle to the control center 80 via the external communication network 70.

  When the control center 80 receives the above inquiry from the frequency information transmitting / receiving device 60, the control center 80 checks whether or not information relating to the communication history corresponding to the inquiry is stored in the own center, and when it is stored. Then, information regarding the communication frequency with which the communication has been established in the past at the place (the current position of the vehicle that has made the inquiry) is transmitted to the frequency information transmitting / receiving device 60 via the external communication network 70.

  Further, when the control center 80 receives the communication history transmitted together with the above inquiry, if it is new information, that is, information other than the communication history accumulated in the control center 80, the control center 80 Are accumulated as new information.

  When the frequency information exchanging device 60 receives information about the communication history transmitted from the control center 80 (this can be said to be frequency information of a new area in the case of the own vehicle), the frequency information exchanging device 60 receives the information. Output to. Then, the verification device 35 additionally stores this information as new information in the memory 35a, selects this communication frequency as the current communication frequency, and adds a WAKE signal to which information related to the communication frequency is added to the transmission circuit 31. Output. As a result, a WAKE signal to which information (frequency command code) related to such a communication frequency is added is transmitted from the transmission antenna 32.

  And when such a WAKE signal is transmitted into the predetermined area A32 outside the vehicle, when the portable device 2 is brought into that area, the WAKE signal is received and an ACK signal is transmitted. However, at this time, the ACK signal is transmitted from the portable device 2 at the communication frequency suggested by the frequency command code included in the WAKE signal. Note that the communication frequency suggested by the frequency command code is based on information collected from a plurality of vehicles including the own vehicle by the control center 80. Since this is a communication frequency that has been proven to be established at a location, even if some noise radio wave exists in the external environment of the smart system 1, the ACK signal transmitted at this frequency is normally received by the security device 3. The possibility is high.

  Then, when such an ACK signal is received by the security device 3, a request signal is then transmitted. At this time, the verification device 35 uses the same frequency command as that added to the WAKE signal in this communication. The request signal with the code added is output to the transmission circuit 31. As a result, in the present embodiment, a request signal to which such a frequency command code is added is transmitted from the transmission antenna 32.

  Then, when such a request signal is received by the portable device 2, an ID code signal is transmitted from the portable device 2, and at this time, at the communication frequency suggested by the frequency command code included in the request signal. An ID code signal is transmitted from the portable device 2. For the same reason as described above, there is a high possibility that the ID code signal transmitted at this frequency is normally received by the security device 3.

  In this embodiment, the frequency command code is added to the WAKE signal and the frequency command code is also added to the request signal. However, it is not always necessary to add the frequency command code to the request signal. . Since this reason is the same as the reason mentioned above, description here is omitted.

Next, an operation mode when selecting a communication channel using such network communication will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the own vehicle 100 and other vehicles 200 to 700 can exchange information with the control center 80, and the control center 80 can communicate with each other at each location. When the information about the communication history associated with the vehicle position information and the communication frequency at that time is received, the information is stored.

  Here, when focusing on the own vehicle 100, when the own vehicle 100 performs two-way communication with the portable device 2, the past communication has been established at that place (the current position of the own vehicle 100). When there is, the communication frequency of the own vehicle 100 memorize | stored in the memory 35a is referred, and the communication frequency linked | related with the place is selected.

  On the other hand, when there is no track record in the past (the current position of the own vehicle 100), the other vehicle 200-700 has established communication in the past at the location (the current position of the own vehicle 100). In addition to receiving information (new area frequency information) relating to the communication frequency with a proven track record from the control center 80, the communication frequency is selected. At this time, the host vehicle 100 gives the control center 80 information related to the communication history of the host vehicle 100 stored in the memory 35a. The information accumulated in the control center 80 in this way (in this case, information related to the communication history of the own vehicle 100 is newly accumulated in the control center 80) is stored in the own vehicle 100 and the control center 80. The other vehicles 200-700 can receive in the same manner as the exchange of information with the other cars.

  In the present embodiment, the control center 80 corresponds to a frequency information utilization device. The position information acquisition device 50 (position information acquisition means), the frequency information transmission / reception device 60 (frequency information acquisition means, communication history assignment means), and the verification device 35 (communication channel selection means) constitute a communication device. The portable device 2 corresponds to a communication partner of the security device 3. Furthermore, the own vehicle 100 and the other vehicles 200 to 700 correspond to moving bodies.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained.
(1) Even when the communication history does not exist in the own vehicle 100 such as a place visited for the first time, if information on the communication frequency corresponding to the place is accumulated in the control center 80, the information between them Through the exchange, information on the communication frequency corresponding to the location can be acquired, and the communication frequency can be selected using the information. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the probability that communication is established at a place visited for the first time. In other words, it is possible to provide a system that is effective as a noise countermeasure in places visited for the first time.

  (2) If the information regarding the communication history given from the own vehicle 100 is accumulated in the control center 80, the other vehicles 200 to 700 having the same type as the own vehicle 100 can acquire the information. Therefore, information stored in the control center 80 can be shared.

(3) Since a communication frequency with a history of establishing communication at the place in the past is selected, the probability that the current communication is established can be increased.
(4) When selecting a communication frequency suitable for the place, the vehicle 100 does not search itself but merely receives the communication frequency from the control center 80, so that the communication frequency suitable for the place is immediately selected. Can be determined.

  (5) Even if the communication history stored in the memory 35a has been erased for some reason, it is possible to receive the same one from the control center 80, and therefore backup means relating to the communication history of the vehicle 100. As an example, the control center 80 can be used.

  (6) Information from many vehicles can be stored in the control center 80, and the information can be provided to many vehicles as the latest information. That is, by sharing frequency information among multiple vehicles through network communication, it is possible to receive information even in a new area, and thus an optimal communication channel can be selected.

  (7) The own vehicle 100 and the other vehicles 200 to 700 receive information from the control center 80 only when the communication history of the own vehicle (100 to 700) at the current position does not exist. Does not require memory. Therefore, it can contribute to the reduction in size and weight of the vehicle.

  (8) When inquiring to the control center 80 whether or not the information necessary for the host vehicle is stored, the information about the host vehicle is given to the control center 80. It is convenient.

In addition, the said embodiment can also be changed and actualized as follows.
The information acquired from the control center 80 may be information regarding a communication frequency when communication has failed in the past at that location. In this case, the verification device 35 uses the information to select a communication frequency other than the communication frequency at which communication has failed in the past. With this configuration, a communication frequency other than the communication frequency that has failed in the past in the place is selected, so that the probability that the current communication is established can be increased.

  -As a communication history, in addition to a communication place (vehicle position information), a communication time associated with a communication frequency may be used. This is because the frequency of the noise radio wave is considered to be strongly related to the communication time in addition to the communication location.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the smart system applied to the motor vehicle of this embodiment, and its periphery. Explanatory drawing which shows the predetermined area | region outside a vehicle. Explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement aspect at the time of the communication channel selection using network communication.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Portable machine (communication partner of security apparatus 3), 35 ... Verification apparatus (communication apparatus, communication channel selection means), 50 ... Position information acquisition apparatus (communication apparatus, position information acquisition means), 60 ... Frequency information transmission / reception apparatus (Communication device, frequency information acquisition means, communication history giving means), 80 ... control center (frequency information utilization device), 100 ... own vehicle (moving body), 200-700 ... other vehicles (moving body).

Claims (4)

A communication device capable of exchanging information with a frequency information utilization device that utilizes information related to a communication frequency according to a communication location,
Position information acquisition means for acquiring position information of a moving body on which the communication device is mounted;
Frequency information acquisition means for acquiring information on the communication frequency according to the communication location determined from the position information of the moving body acquired by the position information acquisition means from the frequency information utilization device;
A communication apparatus comprising: a communication channel selection unit that selects a communication frequency using information on a communication frequency acquired by the frequency information acquisition unit. The communication device according to claim 1,
Communication history providing means for providing the frequency information utilization device with information relating to a communication history in which the position information of the moving body and the communication frequency are associated when communication is performed between the communication device and the communication partner. A communication device comprising: The communication device according to claim 1 or 2,
The frequency information acquisition unit acquires information on a communication frequency when communication is established at a communication location determined from the position information of the moving body acquired by the position information acquisition unit from the frequency information utilization device,
The communication apparatus, wherein the communication channel selection unit selects a communication frequency with a track record of establishing communication in the place in the past using information on the communication frequency acquired by the frequency information acquisition unit. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2,
The frequency information acquisition unit acquires information on a communication frequency when communication fails at a communication location calculated from the position information of the moving body acquired by the position information acquisition unit from the frequency information utilization device,
The communication channel selecting unit selects a communication frequency other than the communication frequency that has failed in the past in the past using the information on the communication frequency acquired by the frequency information acquiring unit. .

Images