JP2008271177A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system capable of delivering high imager quality and high sound quality communication data, without causing increase in equipment, and the like. <P>SOLUTION: The communication system comprises a plurality of terminal devices 40 having a radio communication function and also having a communication function via a cable 51, wherein each of them is connected to the cable; a relay terminal device 41 arranged in at least two small areas of a plurality of small areas and having the radio communication function and connected to the cable 51 to send out data to the cable 51; a server apparatus 10 for accumulating service data, and an access point device 20, connected to the server apparatus 10 and arranged in each of the small areas for offering the service data to the relay terminal device 41 and the terminal devices 40. Service channels from the access point device 20 are allocated to each small area, in a fashion where the number of service channels may be restricted, and as for a small area containing the relay terminal device 41, service channels are assigned so that a service channel missing in other small area can be complemented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system for the passenger cabin area of a transportation facility such as an aircraft, and in particular, connected to a plurality of terminal devices arranged in a passenger seat and the like and a server device that distributes video, audio and information services. The present invention relates to a communication system for performing wireless communication with a wireless base station device.

  In recent years, wireless communication systems such as IEEE802.11a / b / g are becoming widespread. These are referred to as a wireless local area network system or a wireless LAN system for short, and are communication systems in which the equivalent of Ethernet (registered trademark) used in a wired LAN system is replaced by radio.

  The wireless LAN system was originally assumed to be used in portable and portable personal computers, portable wireless terminal devices, and the like. Thereafter, use in various fields has been widened, and for example, a technique for applying a wireless LAN system to a terminal device whose use position is fixed has been proposed for the purpose of eliminating the complexity of wiring cables and the like.

  As one of such technologies, a technology that uses a wireless LAN system for content distribution services such as video and audio in an aircraft has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). That is, in a plane, a wireless LAN system is arranged as a wireless communication system, and content data is transmitted to a wireless terminal device installed in each passenger seat, thereby providing a content distribution system using the wireless LAN system. As well as forming, complicated wiring cables and the like are reduced.

  As a configuration of such a content distribution system, first, content data corresponding to content to be provided to passengers is stored in a server of the system. Further, a plurality of wireless access points (hereinafter referred to as access points) that are wireless base station devices connected to the server are installed in the aircraft. In addition, a wireless terminal device is installed for each seat, and the position of each access point is set so that one access point covers a plurality of wireless terminal devices.

  At this time, first, the in-flight space is divided into a plurality of small areas, and each access point is assigned to the in-flight so that one access point corresponds to one small area. In addition, the directional antenna of the access point is arranged to emit radio waves to other small areas as much as possible without causing interference and interference, and each radio terminal device in the area uses a fixed communication channel. Set for wireless communication. Also, by configuring one access point and each wireless terminal device in the small area to communicate by dividing the frequency band of the communication channel in time, a plurality of wireless terminal devices can be communicated with one communication channel. Individual content distribution services can be implemented for each.

  By configuring such a wireless LAN system in an aircraft, content data such as video and audio can be sent to a wireless terminal device for each seat without installing a wiring cable such as a wired LAN system. It is possible to suppress the increase in weight due to and to change the layout of the flexible in-flight seat.

Further, for example, in a packet distribution system in which a transmitting station and a plurality of receiving stations are connected via a wireless line and a ground line, and the transmitting station broadcasts packets to a plurality of receiving stations via the wireless line. A technique has been proposed in which when a reception packet abnormality is detected, a normal reception packet is complemented by a master reception station and another reception station (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2006-506899 A JP 2001-94588 A

  However, as in the conventional example of Patent Document 1 described above, one access point arranged in a small area and a plurality of wireless terminal devices in the small area time-divide the frequency band of one allocated channel. In the case of a wireless communication system that communicates with each other, the bandwidth per wireless terminal device becomes narrower along with the delay due to time division. For this reason, if video and audio data are distributed, there is a problem that image quality and sound quality are lowered, video and audio are delayed, and data acquisition time is extremely reduced for information data. In addition, since the bandwidth is limited, for example, it is possible to handle various communications such as a request communication by a passenger using the wireless terminal device to the server side, and exchange of control data between the wireless terminal device and the server. There was also a problem of being restricted.

  Further, instead of the distribution method as in the conventional example, for example, the frequency data of one communication channel is time-divided from the access point to each wireless terminal device, and the content data of a plurality of programs is transmitted. A method in which a passenger who uses the device selects a desired program is also conceivable. However, even in such a configuration, since the bandwidth corresponding to one program is narrowed, there is a problem in that the image quality and sound quality are deteriorated and the delay of video and audio occurs as in the case of the conventional example. It was.

  Also, in the case of a communication system that complements an abnormal packet as in Patent Document 2, although communication reliability is improved, it is not suitable for the purpose of increasing the transmission band of content data of one program. Met.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a plurality of terminals arranged in a passenger seat or the like without causing an increase in facilities such as distribution cables in a communication service in a transportation facility such as an airplane. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system that can provide high-quality, high-quality sound, or high-speed information data to an apparatus, and that can also provide various communication services within a transportation facility.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the communication system of the present invention divides a target area into a plurality of different small areas, and transmits service data for a plurality of channels divided by service channels by communication for each small area. A communication system for distribution, which is arranged in a target area, has a wireless communication function, and is electrically connected by a wired cable, each having a communication function via a wired cable, and a plurality of terminal devices A relay terminal device that is disposed in at least one small area of the network, has a wireless communication function, is electrically connected to a wired cable, and transmits data to the wired cable; and a server that accumulates service data Data is connected to the server and server device, and each small area is arranged, including the relay terminal device. A wireless base station device that provides service data supplied from the server device to the included terminal device, and limits the number of service channels in the service data supplied from the server device to the wireless base station device. In addition, the service channel is assigned to each small area, and the small area including the relay terminal device is assigned a service channel so that the service channel missing in the other small areas can be complemented.

  In the communication system of the present invention, the terminal device arranged in each small area acquires service data for the limited number of channels supplied from the radio base station device, and the service superimposed on the wired cable. In this configuration, service data of unacquired channels is selectively acquired from the data.

  In the communication system of the present invention, the wired cable is a cable for supplying power to each terminal device.

  The communication system of the present invention has a configuration in which communication between the radio base station device and the terminal device and communication between the relay terminal device and the terminal device are communication by the multicast method.

  Further, the communication system of the present invention has a configuration in which the target area is a passenger cabin area in a transport that is electromagnetically shielded from the outside.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of service channels transmitted by one radio base station apparatus as compared with the case where one radio base station apparatus transmits all service channels stored in the server apparatus. Become. Further, in each small area, the missing service channels by reducing the number of service channels can be complemented by communication via a wired cable from the relay terminal device. This makes it possible to widen the bandwidth allocated to one service channel of the radio base station apparatus, distribute high-quality, high-quality or high-speed information data to a plurality of terminal apparatuses, and perform various communications. It becomes possible.

  According to the communication system of the present invention, in a communication service in an aircraft or other transportation system, a plurality of wireless communication terminal devices arranged in a passenger seat can be provided with high image quality and high quality without causing an increase in facilities such as distribution cables. It is possible to provide a communication system that can deliver sound quality or high-speed information data, and can also provide various communication services within the transport.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, an example in which the communication system of the present invention is applied to a cabin area in an aircraft, which is one of the transportation electromagnetically shielded from the outside, will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system according to the present embodiment includes a server device 10 that processes content data such as video and audio for distribution, and a plurality of servers connected to the server device 10 via a backbone LAN 11. Power is supplied to the access point device 20, a plurality of terminal devices 40 and relay terminal devices 41 that perform wireless communication with the access point device 20, and the operation state is controlled to each of the terminal devices 40 and the relay terminal devices 41. Or a wired cable 51 for transmitting power and control signals from the power distribution device 50 to each terminal device 40 and the relay terminal device 41. The relay terminal device 41 performs wireless communication with the access point device 20 and transmits data to the wired cable 51. Further, each terminal device 40 is configured to be able to communicate with the relay terminal device 41 via the wired cable 51. In the present embodiment, the description will focus on a system that distributes content data such as video and audio to each terminal device 40 using the communication system configured as described above. A configuration may also be used in which a bandwidth for uplink communication to the server device 10 is also assigned.

  Further, when all areas to be communicated by the communication system in the aircraft are set as the target area, in the present embodiment, the target area is divided into a plurality of different small areas. This communication system divides the inside of an aircraft into such small areas, arranges one access point device 20 in each small area, and the access point device 20 includes a plurality of terminal devices 40 and relays included in the small area. It is configured to communicate with the terminal device 41. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the target area is divided into a plurality of small areas from the small areas A1 and A2 to the small areas N1 and N2.

  Furthermore, in this Embodiment, in order to supply electric power and a control signal to each terminal device 40 or each relay terminal device 41, as shown in FIG. 1, an example provided with the some power distribution apparatus 50 is shown. That is, for example, power is supplied from the power distribution device 50 via the wired cable 51 for each class such as an economy class, a business class, and a first class in an aircraft. In addition, although the example which supplies electric power etc. with respect to two small areas from the one electricity distribution apparatus 50 is given in FIG. 1, it is not limited to the number of small areas made into two, but one Any configuration may be used as long as power is supplied from the power distribution device 50 to a plurality of small areas. For example, power is supplied from one power distribution device 50 to three or more small areas. Also good. Further, FIG. 1 shows an example in which two power distribution devices 50 are arranged, but the number of power distribution devices 50 is not limited to two, and one or a plurality of power distribution devices 50 are arranged. Any configuration may be used. For example, only one power distribution device 50 may be arranged and power may be supplied from the power distribution device 50 to a plurality of small areas. Further, a plurality of power distribution devices 50 may be arranged, and at that time, the number of small areas for one power distribution device 50 may be different.

  The communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention has such a basic configuration, for example, as a service for each passenger in an aircraft, content such as a movie or a music program is transmitted from the server device 10 via the access point device 20. The information is distributed to the terminal device 40 arranged in front of each passenger's seat. The server device 10 classifies the content to be distributed as a service channel for each program and stores it as service data for each service channel. Service data for such a plurality of service channels is supplied from the server device 10 to the access point device 20 arranged in each small area via the backbone LAN 11. In particular, in the communication system according to the present embodiment, in addition to service data for a plurality of service channels directly supplied from the access point device 20, a relay terminal device 41 and a wired cable arranged in a predetermined small area The service data of a part of service channels can be acquired by indirect communication via the communication channel 51.

  In order to implement such a content distribution communication service, in the communication system of the present embodiment, first, the server device 10 stores service data for a plurality of service channels provided to passengers. In FIG. 1, service identification is divided into service channels for 16 channels by channel identification such as service channels ch-1 to ch-16, and services for 16 programs from program A to program P corresponding to each service channel. An example of accumulating data is given. Passengers can receive presentation of program content corresponding to the channel selected from the image display unit or audio output unit of the terminal device 40 by performing channel selection on the terminal device 40 arranged in front of the seat. it can. That is, when the passenger designates ch-1 as a channel, the video and audio of program A corresponding to ch-1 are presented to the terminal device 40. As described above, the communication system according to the present embodiment distributes content by communication based on a multicast method for transmitting data to a plurality of partners.

  The service data for each service channel stored in the server device 10 is supplied to the access point device 20 arranged in each small area via the backbone LAN 11. At this time, in the communication system of the present embodiment, the service data supplied from the server device 10 to the access point device 20 is allocated to each small area so as to limit the number of service channels. That is, in the communication system of the present embodiment, service data for all service channels stored in the server device 10 is not supplied to all access point devices 20, and the number of service channels is limited. Supply. In FIG. 1, the server apparatus 10 stores service data for 16 service channels from ch-1 to ch-16, whereas the small area A1 and the small area N1 in FIG. Service channels restricted to 8 service channels up to ch-8 are assigned, and service channels restricted to 8 service channels from ch-9 to ch-16 are assigned to small area A2 and small area N2. An example is shown.

  The access point device 20 provided in each small area is a radio base station device provided for wireless connection with the terminal device 40 and the relay terminal device 41. In the wireless LAN system as described above, a base station called an access point that provides such wireless connection is installed in order to connect the terminal device and the server using wireless. Further, as one of the usage forms of the wireless LAN system, there is a system in which a plurality of terminal devices wirelessly connected to an access point centering on such an access point communicate. The communication system of the present embodiment constitutes a wireless LAN system in which data is connected between the access point device 20 and each terminal device 40 and relay terminal device 41 in the small area in each small area centering on the access point device 20. is doing. Further, in order to suppress such interference and failure in wireless communication between small areas, an optimal communication channel is assigned to each small area.

  Furthermore, in order to supply service data for the service channel supplied from the server device 10 to each terminal device 40 and the relay terminal device 41 in the small area, the access point device 20 uses one communication channel, for example, The service data is divided and divided into service data for each service channel. For example, when a transmission rate of 16 Mbps is possible as a communication channel of one access point device 20, it is time-divided into 8 corresponding to the 8 service channels supplied from the server device 10, and 2 Mbps per service channel. Deliver service data at the transmission rate. Each terminal device 40 extracts service data of a predetermined service channel based on a passenger's instruction or the like from the service data supplied in this time division.

  Further, each terminal device 40 and the relay terminal device 41 arranged in the aircraft are supplied with electric power for electrical operation via the wired cable 51, for example, the power of the entire terminal device 40 and the relay terminal device 41. A control signal for disconnecting is supplied. In FIG. 1, power and control signals are first supplied sequentially from the power distribution device 50 to the plurality of relay terminal devices 41 via the wired cable 51, and further branched from the relay terminal device 41 to each terminal device 40. Examples are provided. As described above, configuring a communication system using a wireless LAN eliminates the need for a cable for communication in a wired LAN, but wiring for power supply such as the wired cable 51 is necessary as in the past. It is. The communication system according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the communication system includes communication using such an indispensable wired cable 51.

  In order to perform communication via such a wired cable 51, in the communication system of the present embodiment, the relay terminal device 41 is arranged in at least two small areas of a plurality of small areas. The relay terminal device 41 is a terminal device that can communicate with the access point device 20 as well as the terminal device 40 and can communicate with each terminal device 40 via the wired cable 51. Further, the relay terminal device 41 acquires a predetermined service channel from each service channel supplied from the access point device 20, and sends service data in the acquired service channel to the wired cable 51.

  Further, the communication system according to the present embodiment allocates service channels to such a small area including the relay terminal device 41 so that the service channels lost in other small areas can be complemented by the small areas. Yes. That is, in FIG. 1, with respect to the small area A1 including the relay terminal device 41, the service channels ch-1 to ch-8 that are missing in the other small area A2 can be complemented in the small area A2. Thus, service channels from ch-1 to ch-8 are allocated. The relay terminal device 41 acquires service channels that are missing in other small areas based on such service channel assignment, and sends the service data of the acquired service channels to the wired cable 51.

  As an example of supplementing the service channel using such a wired cable 51, in FIG. 1, in the small area A1, service channels from ch-1 to ch-8 are supplied by the access point device 20 and the relay terminal device 41 is provided. Acquires the service channels ch-1 to ch-8 that are missing in the other small area A2 and complements the missing channels in the small area A2 to the wired cable 51 from the service channels ch-1 to ch-. Service data up to 8 is sent out. On the other hand, in the small area A2, the service channels from ch-9 to ch-16 are supplied by the access point device 20, and the relay terminal device 41 receives the service channels ch-9 to ch-16 that are missing in the other small area A1. Service data for service channels ch-9 to ch-16 are transmitted to the wired cable 51 so as to complement the missing channels in the small area A1.

  The terminal device 40 arranged in each small area obtains service data for a plurality of service channels supplied directly from the access point device 20 by the configuration as described above, and relays other small areas. Service data corresponding to the missing service channel transmitted indirectly via the wired cable 51 by the terminal device 41 is acquired. That is, in this communication system, each terminal device for each small area acquires service data for the limited number of service channels supplied from the access point device 20, and among the service data superimposed on the wired cable 51. The service data of service channels that have not been acquired from the service channel is selectively acquired.

  Thus, each terminal device 40 can acquire service data for all service channels stored in the server device 10. For example, in FIG. 1, the terminal device 40 arranged in the small area A1 can acquire service data from the service channels ch-1 to ch-8 through wireless communication with the access point device 20, and the wired cable 51 is connected. The service data for the missing service channels ch-9 to ch-16 can be acquired by wired communication with the relay terminal device 41 in the small area A2 via the network. On the other hand, the terminal device 40 arranged in the small area A2 can acquire service data from the service channels ch-9 to ch-16 by wireless communication with the access point device 20, and can also acquire the small area via the wired cable 51. The service data of the missing service channels ch-1 to ch-8 can be acquired by wired communication with the relay terminal device 41 of A1. FIG. 1 shows an example in which similar communication is performed in the small area N1 and the small area N2.

  As described above, the communication system of the present embodiment divides the cabin area in the aircraft as the target area into a plurality of different small areas, and the service data for a plurality of channels divided by the service channel A plurality of communication systems that are arranged in a target area, have a wireless communication function, are electrically connected by a wired cable 51, and also have a communication function via the wired cable 51. Terminal device 40 and a relay terminal that is arranged in at least two small areas of the plurality of small areas, has a wireless communication function, is electrically connected to the wired cable 51, and transmits data to the wired cable 51 Device 41, server device 10 for storing service data, and data connection to server device 10, And an access point device 20 that provides service data supplied from the server device 10 to a terminal device 40 included in a small area including the relay terminal device 41 and arranged for each rear. In the service data supplied to the device 20, it is assigned to each small area so as to limit the number of service channels, and the small area including the relay terminal device 41 can be supplemented with service channels that are missing in other small areas. Thus, the service channel is assigned.

  Since the communication system according to the present embodiment has such a configuration, it uses wired communication using the relay terminal device 41 and the wired cable 51 while limiting the number of service channels supplied from each access point device 20. Accordingly, it is possible to supply service data for all service channels stored in the server device 10 to each terminal device 40. In particular, since the communication system of the present embodiment limits the number of service channels supplied from each access point device 20, it is assigned to one service channel in a communication band that can be used by one access point device 20. It becomes possible to widen the band. In addition, the communication system according to the present embodiment uses the wired cable 51 for supplying power that has been installed as a means for transmitting service data for supplementation. There is no need to provide it. Therefore, according to the communication system of the present invention, in a content distribution service in a transportation facility such as an aircraft, a plurality of terminal devices arranged in a passenger seat can be connected to a plurality of terminals without causing an increase in facilities such as distribution cables. It is possible to provide a communication system capable of providing a delivery service for image data, high sound quality, or high-speed information data.

  In the above description, the content distribution service using the communication system has been mainly described. However, the communication system can be used for communication other than the distribution service. That is, since the communication system of the present invention limits the number of service channels supplied from each access point device 20, a bandwidth that is freed by this limitation can be allocated to communication other than the distribution service. As an example of this, it can be used for uplink communication in which data is transmitted from the terminal device 40 to the server device 10. In this case, since this communication system can widen the bandwidth used for uplink communication as compared with the prior art, the amount of data transmitted to the server device 10 can be increased and the data transmission speed can be increased. In addition, as an example using such uplink communication, for example, a function that allows a crew member to access the server device 10 and processes voice data is provided, and a passenger calls a crew member from the terminal device 40, There is a usage mode in which passengers and crew members have conversations through communication of voice data. In addition, as another example used for communication other than the distribution service, a band that is free due to the limitation of the number of service channels can be used for transmission of control data. In this case, the communication system is compared with the conventional one. More data can be sent out. Further, as another example used for communication other than the distribution service, a band vacated due to the limitation on the number of service channels can be allocated to error correction data of video data or audio data to be distributed. Can add more error correction data than conventional. To improve the overall quality of communication using this communication system and diversify communication modes by using the band that is free due to the limitation of the number of service channels for communication other than the distribution service. Is possible.

  Further, in the above description, the service data of the missing service channel is complemented by exchanging the data via the wired cable 51 between the two small areas, such as the small area A1 and the small area A2 in FIG. Although an example of the configuration has been described, all the terminal devices 40 in the target area may be configured so that all service channels accumulated in the server device 10 can be acquired. If the service data for the limited number of service channels supplied from the device 20 is acquired, the service data of the unacquired channel is selectively acquired from the service data superimposed on the wired cable 51. It may be changed as appropriate.

  In the above description, an example in which the relay terminal device 41 that is distinguished from the terminal device 40 is provided has been described. However, one or more terminal devices 40 in a small area may be connected to the relay terminal as described above. The function of the device 41 may be added, and such a specific terminal device 40 and other small area terminal devices 40 may be configured to supplement service data for the service channel that is missing.

  In the above description, an example applied to a cabin area in an aircraft has been described as an example of the communication system of the present invention provided in a transportation facility, but electromagnetically from the outside such as a train or a bus. The communication system of the present invention can also be applied to a shielded transportation system, and also to an electromagnetically shielded room.

  Since the present invention can provide high-quality, high-quality sound, or high-speed information data distribution services to a plurality of wireless communication terminal devices arranged in a passenger seat without causing an increase in facilities such as distribution cables, for example, an aircraft It is very useful when used in a system for providing an information distribution service installed in a transportation facility such as

The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication system in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Server device 11 Basic LAN
20 Access point device (radio base station device)
40 Terminal device 41 Relay terminal device 50 Power distribution device 51 Wired cable

Claims (5)

A communication system that divides a target area into a plurality of different small areas and distributes service data for a plurality of channels divided by service channels by communication for each of the small areas,
A plurality of terminal devices arranged in the target area, having a wireless communication function, each electrically connected by a wired cable, and also having a communication function via the wired cable;
A relay terminal device disposed in at least two small areas of the plurality of small areas, having a wireless communication function, electrically connected to the wired cable, and transmitting data to the wired cable;
A server device for storing the service data;
A radio base station apparatus that is connected to the server apparatus and is arranged for each small area and provides service data supplied from the server apparatus to terminal apparatuses included in the small area including the relay terminal apparatus And
In the service data supplied from the server apparatus to the radio base station apparatus, it is assigned to each small area so as to limit the number of service channels, and the small area including the relay terminal apparatus includes other small areas. A communication system, characterized in that service channels are allocated so as to be able to complement the service channels that are missing. Each terminal device arranged in each of the small areas acquires service data for a limited number of channels supplied from the radio base station device and has not yet acquired from the service data superimposed on the wired cable. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein service data of the channels is selectively acquired. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the wired cable is a cable for supplying power to each of the terminal devices. The communication between the radio base station apparatus and the terminal apparatus and the communication between the relay terminal apparatus and the terminal apparatus are communication based on a multicast method. Communications system. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the target area is a cabin area in a transportation facility that is electromagnetically shielded from the outside.

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