JP2010081233A - Communication terminal, wireless communication system, control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To diagnose the communication function of a communication terminal without using polling from a base station. <P>SOLUTION: For communication terminals A, B, C, D, a circulation order is set as A→B→C→D→A→ ..., this machine (considered as the communication terminal C) receives an abnormality diagnostic signal addressed to this machine from the previous communication terminal B in the order, and transmits the abnormality diagnostic signal addressed to the following communication terminal D. When this machine does not receive the abnormality diagnostic signal addressed to this machine from the communication terminal B for a time Tout1 or over (S40 positive), a mode is switched to 2 (S42), and a transmission output increase request signal is transmitted to the communication terminal B (S54). After that, when this machine does not receive the abnormality diagnostic signal addressed to this machine for a time Tout2 or over from the communication terminal B (S43 positive), it is determined that the transmission function of the communication terminal B is abnormal (S44: mode=3). Thus, the communication terminals A, B, C, D diagnose transmission functions of the previous communication terminals in the circulation order, respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication terminal, a wireless communication system, a control method, and a program for diagnosing a communication function.

  In Patent Document 1, a base station performs polling to a plurality of slave stations in order, and registers the ID in the valid ID list, assuming that the slave station responding to the polling is a valid slave station. (S32 → S34 in FIG. 4 and FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 2 discloses a wireless device equipped with a man-down sensor and a GPS receiver (FIG. 1 of Patent Document 2). The mount-down sensor detects, for example, the tilt angle of the wireless device by using mercury contact with the contact point to detect that the user has fallen (paragraph 0012 of Patent Document 2). In the wireless device, when the carrier falls down, the fact that the carrier has fallen down and its location are automatically transmitted (S466 in FIG. 5 of Patent Document 2).

Patent Document 3 discloses a wireless device equipped with an emergency key (emergency notification key) (FIG. 2 of Patent Document 3). In the wireless device, when the audible setting is made, when the user presses and holds the emergency key, an alert is activated to notify the surroundings with a sound and wirelessly transmit that fact (see FIG. 5 of Patent Document 3). S56 positive → S65 → S66). Further, when the user performs a few short presses, the alert is not sounded, that is, the occurrence of an emergency is transmitted wirelessly without being noticed by a nearby criminal that the user has operated the emergency key (Patent Document 3). S56 NO → S74 in FIG. 5).
JP 2007-88788 A JP 2007-166197 A JP 2008-112298 A

The problem of the validity determination of the communication terminal of the polling method in Patent Document 1 is as follows.
(A1) The number of communication terminals with which one base station can confirm the effectiveness cannot be increased so much.
(A2) The load on the base station increases with the number of communication terminals.
(A3) Since the distance between the communication terminal and the base station is long, the communication terminal needs to increase the transmission power of the response to polling, and the power consumption increases.

  The wireless devices of Patent Documents 2 and 3 need to maintain the transmission / reception function normally at all times in order to notify that in the event of a man-down or an emergency situation. No measures are disclosed. If the polling method of Patent Document 1 is applied to the wireless devices of Patent Documents 2 and 3, the emergency transmission / reception function can be guaranteed, but the problems (a1) to (a3) described above are still solved. It remains without being. In addition, in the application, the base station can grasp the radio that is incapable of communication, but the radio itself cannot detect that the communication function is in an abnormal state, and the user cannot Carrying it without noticing the abnormal state of the communication function of the machine.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal, a wireless communication system, a control method, and a program capable of efficiently detecting an abnormal state of a communication function between communication terminals.

  According to the present invention, the first and second communication terminals are set for the communication terminal. The communication terminal receives an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the present apparatus from the first communication terminal, and periodically transmits an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the second communication terminal from the present apparatus. Then, the transmission function of the first communication terminal is diagnosed based on the reception of the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus from the first communication terminal.

  The first and second communication terminals may be the same. That is, a communication format in which two communication terminals are paired and send and receive an abnormality diagnosis signal to each other may be used. The machine and the first and second communication terminals belong to the same group, for example, and the communication terminals in the same group are often relatively close to each other. Therefore, the abnormality diagnosis signal can be transmitted with relatively low power.

The communication terminal of the present invention includes the following.
Signal receiving means for receiving an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus from the first communication terminal;
The signal transmission means for periodically transmitting an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the second communication terminal from the machine, and the presence or absence of reception of the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the machine from the first communication terminal Abnormality determination means for determining an abnormality in the transmission function.

  The wireless communication system of the present invention includes two or more of the communication terminals described above.

The communication terminal control method of the present invention comprises the following steps.
A signal receiving step for receiving an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus from the first communication terminal;
A signal transmission step of periodically transmitting an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the second communication terminal from the machine, and the presence or absence of reception of an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the machine from the first communication terminal. An abnormality determination step for determining an abnormality in the transmission function.

  The program of the present invention causes a computer to function as each means of the communication terminal described above.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the communication function of a communication terminal can be diagnosed between communication terminals instead of a base station.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a wireless communication system 10. The wireless communication system 10 includes a plurality of communication terminals and one base station. In FIG. 1, for convenience of illustration, there are four communication terminals, communication terminals A, B, C, and D, but the number of communication terminals in the actual wireless communication system 10 may be two or more. Hereinafter, description will be made assuming that the communication terminals included in the wireless communication system 10 are only the communication terminals A, B, C, and D.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of each transmission mode. In transmission mode 1 (the left end in FIG. 2), the abnormality diagnosis signal is cyclically transmitted in order of communication terminal A → communication terminal B → communication terminal C → communication terminal D → communication terminal A →. ing. Each communication terminal is configured to transmit an abnormality diagnosis signal on the same channel (= radio wave of the same frequency), and the timing at which the abnormality diagnosis signal is transmitted from each communication terminal will be described later with reference to FIG. In this way, the time slots are assigned different times. In transmission mode 1, the transmission power of the abnormality diagnosis signal is set low (Low-Power).

  Since the operations of the communication terminals A, B, C, and D are the same, for convenience of description, the communication terminal C is selected as a representative thereof, and the operation or processing of the communication terminal C will be described below. In the transmission mode 1, the communication terminal C receives an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this apparatus from the communication terminal B and transmits an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the communication terminal D.

  In transmission mode 1, it is assumed that communication terminal C has not received an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this apparatus from communication terminal B. As a result, the communication terminal C switches the transmission mode from 1 to 2. The switching of the transmission mode is independent for each communication terminal. That is, even if the communication terminal C is switched to the transmission mode 2, the other communication terminals A, B, and D maintain the transmission mode 1 as long as the abnormality diagnosis signal is received from the previous communication terminal in the circulation order. To do.

  In transmission mode 2 (center of FIG. 2, only communication terminal C is transmission mode 2), communication terminal C transmits an abnormality diagnosis signal to communication terminal D and transmits a transmission output increase request signal to communication terminal B. The transmission timing of the transmission output increase request signal from the communication terminal C to the communication terminal B is different from the transmission timing of the abnormality diagnosis signal of the communication terminals A, B, C, and D.

  When the communication terminal B receives the transmission output increase request signal from the communication terminal C, the communication terminal B transmits the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the communication terminal C at a high output at the next transmission timing of the abnormality diagnosis signal. The communication terminal C returns the transmission mode from 2 to 1 when it receives a high-output abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this unit from the communication terminal B, but switches the transmission mode from 2 to 3 when it does not receive it. Communication terminals A, B, and D other than communication terminal C maintain transmission mode 1.

  In transmission mode 3 (right end in FIG. 2), communication terminal C transmits an abnormality notification signal to the base station indicating that the transmission function of communication terminal B is abnormal. In general, the users of the communication terminals A, B, C, and D maintain a relatively close distance from each other, for example, because they belong to the same group. The distance between B, C, D and the base station is larger than the mutual distance between the communication terminals A, B, C, D. Therefore, the communication terminal C transmits an abnormality notification signal addressed to the base station with High-Power that is higher than the transmission power of the abnormality diagnosis signal at the transmission mode 1.

  FIG. 3 is an assignment diagram of transmission timings of abnormality diagnosis signals and the like. The abnormality diagnosis signal for transmission mode 1, the transmission output increase request signal for transmission mode 2, and the abnormality notification signal for transmission mode 3 use the same communication channel. Therefore, signals of each communication terminal are assigned to different time slots so as not to overlap in time. Various modulation methods such as FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) and PSK (Phase Shift Keying) can be used as the modulation method of the communication channel.

  When the total number of communication terminals in the wireless communication system 10 is n, one cycle of the communication channel for abnormality diagnosis signals is divided into time slots of equal time of 2 · n. In FIG. 3, since n = 4, one cycle Ts1 is equally divided into eight time slots. The time slot of the abnormality diagnosis signal used in the transmission mode 1 is allocated every other period in one cycle Ts1, and one time slot is dedicated to each communication terminal A, B, C, D that is the transmission source of the abnormality diagnosis signal. Assigned one by one.

  The transmission output increase request signal of transmission mode 2 and the abnormality notification signal of transmission mode 3 are assigned a time slot so that when the transmission source is the same, the time slot is assigned to the transmission mode 1. It is arranged so as to be inserted between time slots for abnormality diagnosis signals.

  In FIG. 3, Ts2 is shorter than the period Ts1 by one time slot. Further, Ts1 and Ts2 shown in FIG. 3 are set to the start times of the time slots of the abnormality diagnosis signal whose transmission source is this unit (communication terminal C).

The abnormality diagnosis signal, transmission output increase request signal, and abnormality notification signal include the following data.
Transmission ID: A unique ID indicating the communication terminal that has transmitted data.
Destination ID: ID indicating a communication terminal (or base station) that receives data.
Transmission mode: Transmission mode of the data transmission terminal. The abnormality diagnosis signal, the transmission output increase request signal, and the abnormality notification signal are transmission modes = 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

  The receiving side can determine whether the received signal is an abnormality diagnosis signal, a transmission output increase request signal, or an abnormality notification signal based on the transmission mode information of the received signal.

It is advantageous to add the following data to the abnormality diagnosis signal, the transmission output increase request signal, and the abnormality notification signal.
GPS data: GPS data of the data transmission terminal. Effective data as a clue in case of emergency or abnormality.
Terminal STATUS: Status data of the data transmission terminal. For example, the remaining battery level of the communication terminal and the ambient temperature. For example, it can be analyzed whether the cause of the abnormal state of the communication terminal is a battery exhaustion or an abnormally high temperature.

  4 to 6 show the transmission / reception status of various signals based on the communication terminal C, and B, C, and D surrounded by circles represent the communication terminals B, C, and D, respectively.

  FIG. 4 shows a communication state between the communication terminals when the abnormality diagnosis signal is normally transmitted and received. Communication terminals B, C, and D transmit abnormality diagnosis signals to communication terminals C, D, and A, respectively, at cycle Ts1. The transmission timing of the abnormality diagnosis signal of communication terminals B, C, and D is delayed by two time slots.

  FIG. 5 shows a communication state between communication terminals when an abnormality occurs in transmission / reception of an abnormality diagnosis signal. The communication terminal C is in a situation where it cannot receive the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this machine from the communication terminal B. When Tout1 elapses from the time when communication terminal C last received an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this unit from communication terminal B, communication terminal B switches to transmission mode 2 and sends a transmission output increase request signal addressed to communication terminal B. Send.

  The reason why the communication terminal C cannot receive the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this unit from the communication terminal B is that the transmission function of the communication terminal B is abnormal and the distance between the communication terminals B-c is widened. Therefore, there is a case where the abnormality diagnosis signal does not reach the communication terminal C from the communication terminal B (location abnormality) with normal transmission power (Low-Power). In order to cope with the latter case, when the communication terminal C transmits a transmission output increase request signal addressed to the communication terminal B, it is appropriate to transmit the transmission output increase request signal at a high output.

  The timing of the transmission output increase request signal is Ts2 from the start time of the time slot at which the communication terminal C last transmitted the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the communication terminal D (see FIG. 3 as well as FIG. 5. Ts2 = 7 in the time slot) And a time slot that is one time slot earlier than the timing at which the communication terminal C next transmits an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the communication terminal D is assigned (Ts2 + 1 time slot = Ts1). .

  When the communication terminal B receives the transmission output increase request signal addressed to this unit from the communication terminal C, the communication terminal B transmits the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the communication terminal C at a high output at the transmission timing of the next abnormality diagnosis signal. When the communication terminal C receives the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this apparatus from the communication terminal B, the communication terminal C simply determines that the distance from the communication terminal B has been increased, and the transmission function of the communication terminal B is normal. Return to the operation (FIG. 4).

  In this example, the communication terminal B transmits the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the communication terminal C at a high output only once for one transmission output increase request signal from the communication terminal C. Therefore, when the communication terminal B moves away from the communication terminal C and the abnormality diagnosis signal is transmitted from the communication terminal B at a low output and the abnormality diagnosis signal does not reach the communication terminal C, the communication terminal C is approximately Ts1. In other words, a transmission output increase request signal addressed to the communication terminal B is transmitted. However, the communication terminals A, B, C, and D are generally scheduled to communicate with each other at a short distance, and an abnormality diagnosis signal with a low output between the communication terminal B and the communication terminal C. It is determined that the period exceeding the reachable distance is limited. Therefore, even if the high output transmission of the abnormality diagnosis signal by the communication terminal B is every Ts1, it particularly hinders the transmission function diagnosis of the communication terminal B by the communication terminal C. In addition, the effect of suppressing the power consumption of the communication terminal B by making the high output transmission of the communication terminal B temporary is increased.

  FIG. 6 shows a communication state between the communication terminals when the abnormality diagnosis signal cannot be received despite the transmission output increase request signal being transmitted. In the case where the communication terminal C does not receive the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this unit from the communication terminal B even though Tout2 has elapsed from the transmission time of the transmission output increase request signal addressed to the communication terminal B, An abnormality notification signal is wirelessly notified to the base station of an abnormality in the transmission function of the communication terminal B. This abnormality notification signal is performed using a time slot in which the communication terminal C transmits a transmission output increase request signal addressed to the communication terminal B. Accordingly, the transmission timing of the abnormality notification signal is one time slot earlier than the timing at which the communication terminal C next transmits the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the communication terminal D (Ts2 + 1 time slot = Ts1).

  FIG. 7 shows setting values and setting timings of each variable used in the abnormality diagnosis method 30 (FIG. 8) and the reception processing routine R46 (FIG. 9). As variables, there are mode, Timer1, Timer2, transmission Timer, reception flag, and mode2 transmission flag. The timings for setting these variables to predetermined values are as follows: initialization (R31 in FIG. 8), mode1 transmission post-processing (R35 in FIG. 8), mode2 transmission post-processing (R55 in FIG. 8), and mode3 transmission post-processing (FIG. 8). R63) and post-mode1 reception processing (R75 in FIG. 9). In FIG. 7, “reset / stop” means that the timer is reset, but the timer is held in a stopped state.

Each variable in FIG. 7 is defined as follows.
* Mode: It is a figure which shows transmission mode.
Timer1: Counting timeout time in mode1 Timer2: Counting timeout time in mode2 Transmission Timer: Timer for determining transmission timing. Cleared after transmission of mode1.
Ts1: transmission timing period of mode1 Ts2: time from transmission timing of mode1 to mode2 transmission timing Tout1: data waiting timeout time in mode1 Tout2: data waiting timeout time in mode2 reception flag: for detection of reception abnormality . If this flag does not stand until mode 3 transmission, the reception function is abnormal.
Mode2 transmission flag: indicates that a Hi-Power transmission request has been sent to the monitored communication terminal. Flag for not sending twice

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the abnormality diagnosis method 30. Although the abnormality diagnosis method 30 is implemented in each communication terminal, the communication terminal C is selected as a representative of the communication terminal, and implementation of the abnormality diagnosis method 30 in the communication terminal C will be described. In the initialization routine R31, initialization is performed. In the initialization, as shown in FIG. 7, initial values are set for the variables.

  In S32, it is determined whether or not it is the transmission timing of the abnormality diagnosis signal from the machine (communication terminal C) to the communication terminal D. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the value of the transmission timer is Ts1. If the determination in S32 is positive, the process proceeds to S33, and if not, the process proceeds to S40.

  In S33, an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the communication terminal D is transmitted from this machine. In S34, the transmission output (Power) of this apparatus is set to low output (Low-Power). Note that the initial value of the transmission output of this unit is set to low output in R31, and transmission in S33 before S34 is normally performed at low output. The significance of S34 is that the transmission of this unit is switched to high output (Hi-power) in S74 of FIG. 9 to be described later. It is to return to. In the mode 1 post-transmission processing routine R35, the mode 1 post-transmission processing is performed. The specific content of the mode 1 post-transmission process is to reset the transmission Timer as shown in the mode 1 post-transmission process of FIG.

  In S40, it is determined whether or not the value of Timer1 is larger than a predetermined value Tout1 (explained in FIG. 5). If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to S41, and if not, the process proceeds to the reception processing routine R46. That the value of Timer1 is larger than the predetermined value Tout1 means that the transmission mode should be 2 or 3.

  In S41, it is determined whether or not the current mode is 1. If the determination is positive, S42 is skipped, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to S42 and the transmission mode is switched to 2.

  In S43, it is determined whether or not the value of Timer2 is greater than a predetermined value Tout2 (explained in FIG. 6). If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to S44, and if not, S44 is skipped. The value of Timer2 being greater than the predetermined value Tout2 means that the transmission mode should be 3. Therefore, in S44, the transmission mode is switched to 3.

  In S45, it is determined whether or not it is the timing of the time slot allocated to transmission from the apparatus to the communication terminal B. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the transmission Timer is equal to a predetermined value Ts2 (described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6). If the determination in S45 is positive, the process proceeds to S52, and if not, the process proceeds to R46. Details of R46 will be described later with reference to FIG. After R46, the process returns to S32.

  In S52, the current mode is determined. If the transmission mode is 2, the process proceeds to S53, and if the transmission mode is 3, the process proceeds to S60. In S53, the value of the mode2 transmission flag is checked. If the value is ON, the process returns to S32. If the value is OFF, the process proceeds to S53. The value of the mode 2 transmission flag = ON means that S54 has already been performed and that it is currently waiting for reception of an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the high-output transmission unit from the communication terminal B.

  In S54, a transmission output increase request signal addressed to the communication terminal B is transmitted. The reason why the communication terminal C cannot receive the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this machine from the communication terminal B is not the failure of the transmission function of the communication terminal B but the large distance between the communication terminals B-C (location abnormality). Therefore, by transmitting a transmission output increase request signal and causing the communication terminal B to transmit an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the unit at a high output, it is determined whether or not the unit can receive the signal. it makes sense. If the abnormality diagnosis signal from the communication terminal B is transmitted at a high output, if this machine can receive the abnormality diagnosis signal, the cause of the failure to receive the abnormality diagnosis signal from the communication terminal B is the communication with this machine. This is because the distance to the terminal B is temporarily opened, and it is determined that the transmission function itself of the communication terminal B is normal. The transmission output increase request signal from the communication terminal C to the communication terminal B should also be performed at a high output in consideration of the increased distance between this unit and the communication terminal B.

  In the mode 2 post-transmission processing routine R55, the mode 2 post-transmission processing is performed. The specific contents of the post-mode2 transmission processing are to start counting Timer2, which has stopped counting, and to switch the mode2 transmission flag to ON, as shown in post-mode2 transmission processing in FIG. After R55, the process returns to S32.

  In S60, the value of the reception flag is checked. If it is OFF, the process proceeds to S61. If it is ON, S61 is skipped and the process proceeds to S62. The reception flag is turned ON in S71 of FIG. That is, it is determined in S60 that the reception flag is OFF because not only the communication terminal C does not receive the abnormality diagnosis signal transmitted from the communication terminal B but also the abnormality diagnosis transmitted from the other devices (communication terminals A and D). This is the case where no signal is received. It is more appropriate to determine that an abnormality has occurred in the reception function of this unit than to determine that an abnormality has occurred in the transmission function of the communication terminal B. It should be noted that abnormalities in the transmission function or reception function of the communication terminal include not only the malfunction of the function but also the function itself is normal, but it has moved out of the radio wave range and is unable to receive radio waves. It shall include all abnormal communication functions such as when the battery is exhausted.

  In S61, the fact that the reception function of this machine (communication terminal C) is abnormal is displayed on a display (not shown) of this machine, or a warning sound (eg, beep sound) is sounded. As a result, the user can recognize that an abnormality has occurred in the reception function of the apparatus and can take measures immediately.

  S62 transmits a communication function abnormality notification signal addressed to the base station from this unit. When the process proceeds directly from S60 to S62, and when the process proceeds to S62 via S61, the communication function abnormality notification is sent. Use different signal contents. The content of the abnormality notification signal when proceeding directly from S60 to S62 is that the transmission function of communication terminal B is abnormal. Further, the content of the abnormality notification signal when proceeding to S62 via S61 is the content indicating that there is an abnormality in the reception function of this unit (communication terminal C). Since the distance from this unit to the base station is usually larger than the distance to the communication terminals A, B, D, the transmission of the abnormality notification signal addressed to the communication terminal is high output (High-Power). To do.

  In the mode 3 post-transmission processing routine R63, mode 3 post-transmission processing is performed. The specific content of the mode 3 post-transmission process is to set a variable such as mode to a predetermined value as shown in the mode 3 post-transmission process of FIG. After R63, the process returns to S32.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the reception processing routine R46. In S76, the presence / absence of data reception is checked. If yes, the process proceeds to S71, and if not, R46 is terminated. For data reception in S76, not only an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this unit from the communication terminal B and an abnormality notification signal addressed to the base station from the communication terminal D, but also other transmission output increase request signals (corresponding to S54 in FIG. 8). And an abnormality notification signal (corresponding to S62 in FIG. 8).

  In S71, the reception flag is turned ON. In S72, it is determined whether or not the destination of the abnormality diagnosis signal is this machine (communication terminal C). If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to S73, and if not, the process proceeds to S80.

  In S73, the transmission ID (source) of the received signal is checked. If the transmission ID is the communication terminal D, the process proceeds to S74. If the transmission ID is the communication terminal B, the process proceeds to R75, and the transmission ID is other (communication terminal). If A), R46 ends. In S74, the transmission output is set to high output (High-Power). After S74, R46 ends.

  In mode 1 post-reception processing routine R75, mode 1 post-reception processing is performed. The specific content of the mode1 post-reception process is to set a variable such as mode to a predetermined value as shown in the mode1 post-reception process of FIG. After R75, R46 is terminated.

  In S80, for the received signal related to the data received this time, it is determined whether the destination and the transmission ID are the base station and the unit (communication terminal C), respectively. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to S81. Proceed, and if no, end R46. In S81, it is displayed on the display (not shown) of this machine that the transmission function of this machine is abnormal, or a warning sound (example: beep sound) is sounded. As a result, the user can recognize that an abnormality has occurred in the reception function of the apparatus and can take measures immediately. After S81, R46 ends.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the communication terminal 100. Specific examples of the communication terminal 100 are communication terminals A, B, C, and D. The communication terminal 100 is typically a mobile communication terminal that is carried by a user or mounted on a vehicle, but may be a fixed communication terminal whose installation location is fixed. The communication terminal 100 includes a signal reception unit 101, a signal transmission unit 102, and an abnormality determination unit 103.

  The signal receiving means 101 receives an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this machine from the first communication terminal. The signal transmission means 102 periodically transmits an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the second communication terminal from this machine. The abnormality determination unit 103 determines an abnormality in the transmission function of the first communication terminal based on whether or not an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus from the first communication terminal is received.

  The first and second communication terminals for the communication terminal 100 correspond to the communication terminals B and D for the communication terminal C in the abnormality diagnosis method 30 of FIG. The first and second communication terminals may be the same communication terminal. In this case, the two communication terminals 100 make a pair and mutually send and receive an abnormality diagnosis signal.

  By detecting an abnormality in the transmission function of the corresponding communication terminal between the communication terminals, the load on the base station can be reduced. Further, when one base station transmits a polling signal to each communication terminal and diagnoses the communication function of each communication terminal based on a response from each communication terminal, it takes time to diagnose all the communication terminals. The maximum number of communication terminals to be diagnosed cannot be increased so much, but diagnosis of a large number of communication terminals as a whole can be realized by abnormality diagnosis between the communication terminals. Furthermore, since communication terminals often exist at a relatively close distance compared to the distance to the base station, the power consumption of the communication terminal 100 can be reduced.

  Typically, when the abnormality determination unit 103 determines that the transmission function of the first communication terminal is abnormal, the signal transmission unit 102 transmits an abnormality notification signal to that effect to the base station. This process corresponds to S54 of the abnormality diagnosis method 30 (FIG. 8). Since the base station only needs to receive the abnormality notification signal, the load on the base station can be reduced.

  Typically, when the signal reception unit 101 receives an abnormality notification signal transmitted from the second communication terminal to the base station and indicating that the transmission function of the unit is abnormal, the abnormality determination unit 103 Judge that the transmission function of the machine is abnormal. This process corresponds to S81 of R46 (FIG. 9).

  Preferably, the abnormality diagnosis signal includes the current location information and / or status information of the transmission source, and the abnormality determination unit 103 receives the first notification signal indicating that the transmission function of the first communication terminal to the base station is abnormal. Current location information and / or status information of the communication terminal. The status information is, for example, the remaining battery level of the communication terminal 100, the ambient temperature, the current location detected by the GPS sensor, and the like. Furthermore, a code that informs the state of the communication terminal 100 by a user operation, for example, whether work A is being performed or moving to a point B can be embedded in the status information. As a result, when the first communication terminal becomes incapable of communication, the present location information or status information immediately before the inability to communicate is analyzed / analyzed in this unit or the base station. The user's whereabouts can be ascertained, or the cause of the inability to communicate with the first communication terminal can be ascertained that the battery is dead or abnormal temperature.

  Preferably, the abnormality determination unit 103 transmits a transmission output increase request signal to the first communication terminal before determining that the transmission function of the first communication terminal is abnormal. This process corresponds to S54 of the abnormality diagnosis method 30 (FIG. 8). When the first communication terminal or this machine is a mobile type, the distance from the communication terminal 100 to the first communication terminal increases, and the radio wave of the abnormality diagnosis signal from the first communication terminal is transmitted for power saving. The output may not reach the communication terminal 100. In this case, since the transmission function of the first communication terminal is not a failure, a transmission output increase request signal is transmitted from the communication terminal 100 to the first communication terminal, and the first communication terminal is abnormal to the communication terminal 100. The diagnostic signal is transmitted at a high transmission power. The transmission output increase request signal from the communication terminal 100 to the first communication terminal should also be transmitted with a transmission output that takes into account the distance from the first communication terminal.

  Preferably, when the signal receiving unit 101 receives a transmission output increase request signal addressed to the apparatus from the second communication terminal, the signal transmission unit 102 transmits the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the second communication terminal. Is temporarily increased. The temporary increase in the transmission output means that the transmission power is limited to a predetermined number of continuous times, for example, only once or only twice continuously. According to the abnormality diagnosis method 30 of the above-described embodiment, after the abnormality diagnosis signal is transmitted in S33, the transmission output is returned to the normal low output in S34, and the high output is transmitted only once. The reason has been explained in connection with the explanation of S34.

  Typically, the abnormality determination unit 103 transmits the transmission output increase request signal addressed to the first communication terminal and then receives the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus from the first communication terminal. It is determined that there is an abnormality in the transmission function of the communication terminal. This process corresponds to S45 positive (YES) →... → S62 of the abnormality diagnosis method 30 (FIG. 8). In S45, when the abnormality diagnosis signal is not received from the communication terminal B within the predetermined time Ts2 after the transmission output increase request signal is transmitted, it is determined that the transmission function of the communication terminal B is abnormal.

  Preferably, the abnormality determination unit 103 is connected to the first communication terminal even though the signal reception unit 101 receives an abnormality diagnosis signal, a transmission output increase request signal, or an abnormality notification signal of a destination other than the destination of the apparatus. If the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this machine is not received, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the transmission function of the first communication terminal. If an abnormality diagnosis signal, a transmission output increase request signal, or an abnormality notification signal of a destination other than the device is received, the reception function of the device is normal and the first communication terminal is normal despite being normal. This is because it is possible to determine that there is a problem with the transmission function of the first communication terminal when the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to this unit is not received. This process corresponds to S71 of R46 (FIG. 9) and S60 ON → S62 of the abnormality diagnosis method 30 (FIG. 8).

  The abnormality determination unit 103 receives the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the unit from the first communication terminal, the abnormality diagnosis signal of the destination other than the unit, the transmission output increase request signal, and the abnormality notification signal from the first communication terminal. If not, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the reception function of this unit. This process corresponds to S60OFF → S61 of the abnormality diagnosis method 30 (FIG. 8).

  Preferably, the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus from the first communication terminal and the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the second communication terminal from the apparatus use the first communication channel as a common communication channel, A separate time slot of the first communication channel is assigned. As a result, the number of used channels can be saved.

  Preferably, the transmission power increase request signal uses the first communication channel and is assigned a time slot different from the time slot assigned to the abnormality diagnosis signal in the first communication channel. The number of used channels can be saved.

  Preferably, the abnormality notification signal to the base station indicating that the transmission function of the first communication terminal is abnormal uses a second communication channel different from the first communication channel. The significance of assigning another time slot will be described in the explanation of grouping in the wireless communication system 130 of FIG.

  The communication terminal 100 can further include emergency detection means 108 and emergency notification means 109. The emergency detection means 108 detects that the emergency call operation member has been operated by the user. When the emergency notification means 109 detects that the emergency detection means 108 has been operated by the user, the emergency notification means 109 notifies the base station to that effect. This is an example in which the communication terminal 100 is applied to the wireless device disclosed in Patent Document 3 described above. As a result, the abnormal state of the communication function can be recognized in advance and a countermeasure can be taken, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which the machine is useless in an emergency.

  The communication terminal 100 can further include man-down detection means 110. The man-down detection means 110 detects that the user carrying this apparatus has fallen. In response to this, the emergency notification unit 109 wirelessly notifies the base station when it is detected that the user carrying the device has fallen. This is an example in which the communication terminal 100 is applied to the wireless device disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above. As a result, the abnormal state of the communication function can be recognized in advance and a countermeasure can be taken, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which the machine is useless in an emergency.

  In a preferred application example of the communication terminal 100, when the user carrying the device is a swimmer, and the abnormality determination means 103 determines that the transmission function of the first communication terminal is abnormal, the first communication terminal It is determined that the swimmer in the state is in danger. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2001-184574 and 2004-164277, a swimmer is equipped with a communication terminal with a drowning sensor or a communication terminal with a pulse sensor, and the occurrence of an emergency situation of each swimmer is grasped wirelessly. It is like that. In this application, when a swimmer has been submerged in water for a predetermined time (eg, Tout1 + Tout2 in FIG. 6) or more, a communication terminal set to receive an abnormality diagnosis signal from the swimmer's communication terminal Since the signal cannot be received for the predetermined time or longer, the risk of the swimmer can be quickly determined. Thereby, it is possible to omit the drowning sensor and the pulse sensor.

  FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of the wireless communication system 130. The wireless communication system 130 includes two or more communication terminals 100. When there are two communication terminals 100, both the first and second communication terminals are counterparts for each communication terminal 100.

  The wireless communication system 130 can include a base station 131. The base station 131 is notified by radio of an abnormality notification signal addressed to itself from the communication terminal 100.

  In the wireless communication system 130, for example, the communication terminals 100 are divided into a plurality of n (n ≧ 2) groups G1, G2,... Gn. In each group, each communication terminal 100 uses the first and second communication terminals associated with this apparatus as communication terminals 100 in the same group as this apparatus. A communication channel for sending and receiving an abnormality diagnosis signal is set as a separate channel for each group.

  Preferably, the base station 131 is common to all groups, and the communication channel of the abnormality notification signal addressed to the base station 131 is a communication channel different from the communication channel for abnormality diagnosis signals for each group. It is a common communication channel for all groups. As a result, the number of communication channels necessary for the entire wireless communication system 130 can be saved while the base station 131 is shared by a plurality of groups.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the communication terminal control method 150. Communication terminal control method 150 includes (a) a reception signal determination routine, (b) an abnormality diagnosis signal transmission routine, and (c) an abnormality determination routine. The received signal determination routine is executed each time a received signal is received, for example. The abnormality diagnosis signal transmission routine is executed at predetermined time intervals (eg, Ts1 in FIG. 4). The abnormality determination routine is executed when a predetermined condition (eg, an abnormality diagnosis signal is not received from the transmission output increase request signal transmission destination within a predetermined time Tout2 after transmitting the transmission output increase request signal in FIG. 6). Is done.

  In S151 and S152 of the reception signal determination routine, an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus is received from the first communication terminal. That is, in S151, it is determined whether or not the received signal is an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the unit from the first communication terminal. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to S152, and if not, the routine ends. To do. In S152, it is determined that the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus has been received from the first communication terminal.

  In S155 and S156 of the abnormality diagnosis signal transmission routine, an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the second communication terminal is periodically transmitted from this unit. That is, in S155, it is determined whether or not it is the transmission timing of the abnormality diagnosis signal from this machine. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to S156, and if not, the routine ends. In S156, an abnormality diagnosis signal is transmitted to the second communication terminal.

  In S159 of the abnormality determination routine, an abnormality in the transmission function of the first communication terminal is determined based on whether or not an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus from the first communication terminal is received.

  The processes of routines (a), (b), and (c) correspond to the functions of the signal receiving unit 101, signal transmitting unit 102, and abnormality determining unit 103 of the communication terminal 100 (FIG. 5), respectively. Therefore, the specific modes described for the functions of the signal reception unit 101, the signal transmission unit 102, and the abnormality determination unit 103 can also be applied as specific modes for the routines (a), (b), and (c), respectively. is there.

  The program to which the present invention is applied causes a computer to function as each unit of the communication terminal 100. Another program to which the present invention is applied causes a computer to execute each step of the communication terminal control method 150.

  This specification discloses various ranges and levels of the invention. In addition to various devices and methods of various technical scopes and specific levels described in the present specification, the present invention has operations and effects independent of each device and each method within the scope of expansion or generalization. Extracting one or more elements, changing one or more elements within the scope of expansion or generalization, and combining one or more elements between devices and methods Includes replacements.

It is a block diagram of a radio | wireless communications system. It is explanatory drawing of each transmission mode. It is an allocation figure of transmission timings, such as an abnormality diagnosis signal. It is a figure which shows the communication condition between communication terminals when the abnormality diagnosis signal is normally transmitted / received. It is a figure which shows the communication condition between communication terminals when abnormality arises in transmission / reception of an abnormality diagnosis signal. It is a figure which shows the communication condition between communication terminals when an abnormality diagnosis signal cannot be received in spite of transmission of a transmission output increase request signal.

It is a figure which shows the setting value and setting timing of each variable used with an abnormality diagnosis method etc. It is a flowchart of the abnormality diagnosis method. 7 is a flowchart of a reception processing routine R. It is a block diagram of a communication terminal. It is a block diagram of a radio | wireless communications system. It is a flowchart of a communication terminal control method.

Explanation of symbols

100: communication terminal 101: signal receiving means 102: signal transmitting means 103: abnormality determining means 108: emergency detecting means 109: emergency notification means 110: man-down detecting means 130: wireless communication system 131 : Base station, 150: Communication terminal control method.

Claims (21)

Signal receiving means for receiving an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus from the first communication terminal;
The signal transmission means for periodically transmitting an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the second communication terminal from the machine, and the presence or absence of reception of the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the machine from the first communication terminal An abnormality determination means for determining an abnormality in the transmission function;
A communication terminal comprising:   2. The signal transmission unit, when the abnormality determination unit determines that the transmission function of the first communication terminal is abnormal, transmits an abnormality notification signal to that effect to the base station. The communication terminal described.   When the signal receiving unit receives an abnormality notification signal transmitted from the second communication terminal to the base station and indicating that the transmission function of the unit is abnormal, the abnormality determination unit determines that the transmission function of the unit is The communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein the communication terminal is determined to be abnormal. The abnormality diagnosis signal includes the current location information and / or status information of the transmission source,
The signal transmission means includes the present location information and / or status information of the first communication terminal in an abnormality notification signal indicating that the transmission function of the first communication terminal is abnormal to the base station. Item 4. A communication terminal according to item 2 or 3.   The abnormality determination means transmits a transmission output increase request signal to the first communication terminal before determining that the transmission function of the first communication terminal is abnormal. A communication terminal according to the above.   When the signal receiving unit receives a transmission output increase request signal addressed to the apparatus from the second communication terminal, the signal transmitting unit temporarily transmits a transmission output of the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the second communication terminal. 6. The communication terminal according to claim 5, wherein the communication terminal is increased.   The abnormality determining means transmits a transmission function of the first communication terminal when it does not receive an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus from the first communication terminal after transmitting a transmission output increase request signal addressed to the first communication terminal. The communication terminal according to claim 5, wherein the communication terminal is determined to be abnormal.   The abnormality determination unit is configured to receive the unit from the first communication terminal even though the signal receiving unit receives an abnormality diagnosis signal, a transmission output increase request signal, or an abnormality notification signal of a destination other than the unit. The communication terminal according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein when the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed thereto is not received, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the transmission function of the first communication terminal.   The abnormality determination means receives the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the machine from the first communication terminal, the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to a destination other than the machine, the transmission output increase request signal, and the abnormality notification signal from the first communication terminal. If not, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the reception function of the apparatus, and the communication terminal according to any one of claims 6 to 8.   The abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the unit from the first communication terminal and the abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the second communication terminal from the unit use the first communication channel as a common communication channel, and the first The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein different time slots of the communication channel are assigned.   The transmission output increase request signal uses the first communication channel, and is assigned a time slot different from the time slot assigned to the abnormality diagnosis signal in the first communication channel. Item 11. The communication terminal according to Item 10.   The abnormality notification signal to the base station indicating that the transmission function of the first communication terminal is abnormal uses a second communication channel different from the first communication channel. The communication terminal described. Emergency detection means for detecting that the operation member for emergency call has been operated by the user, and emergency notification means for wirelessly notifying the base station when it is detected that the operation member for emergency call has been operated by the user ,
The communication terminal according to claim 1, comprising: Man-down detection means for detecting that the user carrying the device has fallen, and emergency notification means for wirelessly notifying the base station of the fact that the user carrying the device has fallen ,
The communication terminal according to claim 1, comprising: The user carrying this unit is a swimmer,
The said abnormality judgment means judges that the swimmer of the 1st communication terminal became a dangerous state, when it is judged that the transmission function of a 1st communication terminal is abnormal. A communication terminal according to the above.   A wireless communication system comprising two or more communication terminals according to claim 1.   The wireless communication system according to claim 16, further comprising a base station that wirelessly notifies an abnormality notification signal addressed to itself from the communication terminal. Communication terminals are divided into multiple groups,
In each group, each communication terminal has the first and second communication terminals associated with this machine as communication terminals in the same group as this machine,
18. The wireless communication system according to claim 17, wherein the communication channel for sending and receiving the abnormality diagnosis signal is set as a separate channel for each group. The base station is common to all groups,
The communication channel of the abnormality notification signal addressed to the base station is a communication channel different from the communication channel for abnormality diagnosis signals for each group, and is a communication channel common to all groups. Item 19. A wireless communication system according to Item 18. A signal receiving step for receiving an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the apparatus from the first communication terminal;
A signal transmission step of periodically transmitting an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the second communication terminal from the machine, and the presence or absence of reception of an abnormality diagnosis signal addressed to the machine from the first communication terminal. An abnormality determination step for determining an abnormality in the transmission function,
A communication terminal control method comprising:   A program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the communication terminal according to claim 1.

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