JP2010087630A - Wireless communication terminal and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To calibrate the time certainly by using the existing wireless communication system regardless of the frequency of use of packet communication by a user. <P>SOLUTION: A wireless communication terminal includes a communication establishment section 250 which establishes the communication path with a base station 120 for packet communication, a time extraction section 252 which extracts time information from a control signal which is used for establishing the communication path, a communication disconnection section 254 which disconnects the communication path after the time information is extracted, and a time proofreading section 256 which calibrates the time of the wireless communication terminal based on the extracted time information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal connected to a base station and a wireless communication method.

  In recent years, wireless communication terminals such as PHS (Personal Handyphone System) terminals and mobile phones, which have rapidly become popular, generally have a clock function for visually recognizing the current time, and users can perform wireless communication without carrying a wristwatch, for example. The current time can be confirmed using the clock function of the terminal. Therefore, accurate time display comparable to a wristwatch or the like is expected for such a clock function of the wireless communication terminal.

  The clock function of such a wireless communication terminal is realized by a relatively small and simple mechanism. This is because it is difficult to mount a mechanism that realizes a highly accurate timepiece function alone in a wireless communication terminal that is required to be reduced in size, weight, and cost. For this reason, once the time set in the wireless communication terminal is deviated, the user must set the correct time again through a complicated manual operation.

Therefore, a technology has been disclosed in which a mobile terminal acquires accurate time information from a server through a communication network including a base station and a communication network, and performs time calibration of the mobile terminal using the acquired time information (for example, Patent Document 1). .
JP 2004-28648 A

  However, when the time calibration technique as described above is used, time information must be acquired from the server through the Internet every time the time of the wireless communication terminal is calibrated. Acquisition time will be spent.

  In addition, although it is conceivable that time information is distributed mainly by the base station, depending on the communication method used (for example, the communication method used in PHS or the like), a special time calibration is required due to the characteristics of the communication protocol. The command is not prepared, and adding a new command involves a large-scale renovation.

  When performing packet communication, when establishing a communication path with the base station, the base station transmits time information to the wireless communication terminal. Whether or not to perform packet communication depends on the user's usage mode and Depending on the frequency of use, for example, for a user's wireless communication terminal that only performs voice calls, there is no opportunity to acquire time information by packet communication, and the time set in the wireless communication terminal is left unshifted. The Rukoto.

  In view of such a problem, the present invention provides a wireless communication terminal and a wireless communication terminal capable of reliably performing time calibration using an existing wireless communication system regardless of the frequency of use of user packet communication. The purpose is to provide a communication method.

  In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of a wireless communication terminal of the present invention includes a communication establishment unit that establishes a communication path with a base station for packet communication, and a control signal that is used to establish the communication path. A time extraction unit that extracts time information; a communication disconnection unit that disconnects the communication path after extracting the time information; and a time calibration unit that calibrates the time of the wireless communication terminal based on the extracted time information. It is characterized by.

  With this configuration, even when the user does not perform packet communication of the wireless communication terminal, the mobile communication terminal mainly establishes a communication path with the base station and acquires time information. Thus, the time calibration can be reliably performed using the existing wireless communication system without any change in the communication protocol or modification of the base station. In the present invention, since the established communication path is disconnected before actual packet transmission is started, the processing can be completed in a short time without incurring communication costs.

  The communication establishment unit, the time extraction unit, the communication disconnection unit, and the time calibration unit may function at least when the wireless communication terminal is used or reset.

  With this configuration, since the time is automatically calibrated (set) at the start of use or at the time of resetting, the user can start using immediately without being forced to manually set the complicated time.

  The communication establishment unit, the time extraction unit, the communication disconnection unit, and the time calibration unit may function every predetermined time. By periodically calibrating the time in this way, it is possible to provide the user with a clock function based on an accurate time without making the user aware of the time calibration.

  The wireless communication terminal may further include a forced execution unit that performs functions of a communication establishment unit, a time extraction unit, a communication disconnection unit, and a time calibration unit in response to a user input.

  With this configuration, the user can spontaneously perform time calibration at a desired timing that requires time calibration.

  The wireless communication terminal may further include a calibration setting unit that sets whether or not time calibration can be performed by at least the time calibration unit in response to a user input.

  If the time set for the wireless communication terminal is intentionally advanced or delayed by the user and the time calibration function is activated and the current time is forcibly calibrated, Intentional operations are wasted. In the present invention, since the user can set whether or not to execute such time calibration, it is possible to avoid the above-described situation where the time is forcibly calibrated.

  Another typical configuration according to the present invention is a wireless communication method for performing wireless communication with a base station, which establishes a communication path with the base station for packet communication and is used for establishing a communication path. Time information is extracted from the signal, and after extracting the time information, communication using the communication path is disconnected, and the time of the wireless communication terminal is calibrated based on the extracted time information.

  The components based on the technical idea of the wireless communication terminal and the description thereof can be applied to the wireless communication method.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably perform time calibration using an existing wireless communication system regardless of the frequency of use of packet communication by a user.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

(Wireless communication system 100)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic connection relationship of a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system 100 includes a PHS terminal 110 as a wireless communication terminal, a base station 120, a communication network 130 including an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) line, the Internet, a dedicated line, and the like, and a relay server 140. Consists of including.

  In the wireless communication system 100, the base station 120 is an interface on the network side, establishes wireless communication in response to a communication connection request from the PHS terminal 110, and communicates with the communication destination device via the communication network 130 to the relay server 140. The communication connection of the PHS terminal 110, the Web browsing function, the mail transmission / reception function, etc. are supported.

  The relay server 140 functions as an exchange, provides information necessary for communication connection to a communication destination device such as a server or another PHS terminal requested by the PHS terminal 110 to connect, and the PHS terminal 110 and the communication destination device. Establish communication with.

  Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the PHS terminal 110 that performs communication using the base station 120 and the relay server 140 will be described.

(PHS terminal 110)
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the PHS terminal, and FIG. 3 is an external view showing the external appearance of the PHS terminal. The PHS terminal 110 includes a control unit 200, a storage unit 202, a display unit 204, an operation unit 206, a voice input unit 208, a voice output unit 210, a wireless communication unit 212, and a clock unit 214. Composed.

  The control unit 200 manages and controls the entire PHS terminal 110 using a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU), and performs a call function, a mail transmission / reception function, a music playback function, and the like using a program in the storage unit 202. .

  The storage unit 202 includes a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, a nonvolatile RAM, a flash memory, an HDD, and the like, and stores a program processed by the control unit 200 described later.

  The display unit 204 is configured by a liquid crystal display, EL (Electro Luminescence), or the like, and is stored in the storage unit 202 or provided from a server (not shown) or the like via the communication network 130 or a GUI of an application. (Graphical User Interface) or the like can be displayed.

  The operation unit 206 includes a movable switch such as a keyboard, a cross key, and a joystick, and accepts user input. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 206 can set an interval at which the user performs time calibration, allows a forced execution unit 258 described later to function, and sets whether or not the time calibration unit 256 can be performed. .

  The voice input unit 208 includes voice recognition means such as a microphone, and converts the user voice input during a call into an electrical signal that can be processed in the PHS terminal 110. The audio output unit 210 is configured with a speaker, and converts the audio signal of the call partner received by the PHS terminal 110 into audio and outputs it. The voice output unit 210 can also output a ring tone, an operation sound of the operation unit 206, an alarm sound, and the like.

  The wireless communication unit 212 establishes wireless communication with the base station 120 and performs voice communication and data communication with a communication partner. As such wireless communication, for example, on a TDD (Time Division Duplex) in which a communication path is divided by a time axis and transmission and reception are alternately performed in order to realize simultaneous two-way communication, further transmission / reception time (frame) thereof TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) / TDD is used in which time is divided into a plurality of time slots. Also, OFDM (Orthogonal) that uses a large number of carriers on the unit time axis and effectively uses the frequency band by overlapping some of the carrier bands so that the phase of the signal wave to be modulated is orthogonal between adjacent carriers. A Frequency Division Multiplexing (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) system and an OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) system are also realized. In addition, the wireless communication unit 212 transmits and receives packets for time calibration in communication with the base station 120.

  The clock unit 214 is configured by an RTC (Real Time Clock) using a crystal oscillator or the like, receives the power of the built-in battery, measures the time, and specifies the current time. The current time is displayed on the display unit 204 or referenced by various applications executed on the PHS terminal 110. In this embodiment, since the clock unit 214 may cause an error from the correct current time if it is functioned independently, the time is calibrated by a time calibration unit 256 described later.

  The control unit 200 includes a communication establishment unit 250, a time extraction unit 252, a communication disconnection unit 254, a time calibration unit 256, a forcible execution unit 258, and a calibration setting unit 260.

  The communication establishment unit 250 establishes a communication path with the base station 120 for packet communication that transmits a packet, and receives a control signal including time information from the base station 120. In this embodiment, the communication destination device is specified when time calibration is performed. However, since a packet is not actually transmitted, a virtual (dummy) device prepared in advance as the communication destination device is used. It is sufficient, and the identifier of the actual communication destination device is not required.

  The time extraction unit 252 extracts time information from a control signal received by the communication establishment unit 250 and used to establish a communication path. In the communication protocol between the PHS terminal 110 and the base station 120, when the PHS terminal 110 transmits a packet, time information is included in the control signal received from the base station 120. On the other hand, when the PHS terminal 110 performs voice communication, the time cannot be calibrated because the control signal received from the base station 120 does not include time information. In this embodiment, time information is acquired by the PHS terminal 110 actively executing packet transmission without waiting for an occasional packet transmission opportunity of the user.

  With this configuration, even when the user performs only voice communication without performing packet communication of the PHS terminal 110, a communication path with the base station 120 is established mainly by the PHS terminal 110, Since the time information is acquired, the time of the clock unit 214 can be reliably calibrated by using the existing wireless communication system 100 without changing the conventional communication protocol or modifying the base station 120. .

  The communication disconnection unit 254 disconnects the communication path established by the communication establishment unit 250 after the time extraction unit 252 extracts time information. It is not necessary to continue communication with the base station 120 after acquiring time information for time calibration. Accordingly, by disconnecting the established communication path after acquiring the time information and before starting actual packet transmission, the processing can be completed in a short time without incurring communication costs.

  The time calibration unit 256 calibrates the time of the clock unit 214 of the PHS terminal 110 based on the time information extracted by the time extraction unit 252.

  The communication establishment unit 250, the time extraction unit 252, the communication disconnection unit 254, and the time calibration unit 256 function at least when the PHS terminal 110 is used or reset, and calibrate the time of the clock unit 214. With this configuration, for example, the time is automatically configured (set) at the start of use when the PHS terminal 110 is newly purchased, at the time of resetting, when the power is turned on, and the like. You can start using it immediately without being forced to set it.

  Further, the communication establishment unit 250, the time extraction unit 252, the communication disconnection unit 254, and the time calibration unit 256 may function every predetermined time to perform time calibration of the clock unit 214. By periodically calibrating the time of the clock unit 214 in this way, it is possible to provide the user with a clock function based on an accurate time without making the user aware of time calibration. An interval (predetermined time) for performing time calibration can be arbitrarily set by user input through the operation unit 206. Further, the time may be periodically calibrated during a time period in which traffic is expected to be low in one day, for example, between 4 am and 5 am.

  The forcible execution unit 258 performs the functions of the communication establishment unit 250, the time extraction unit 252, the communication disconnection unit 254, and the time calibration unit 256 according to user input through the operation unit 206. With this configuration, the user can spontaneously calibrate the time of the clock unit 214 at a desired timing that requires time calibration. For example, when the user wants to know the exact time instantly or when the accurate time is required to perform the work, the forced execution unit 258 is operated to calibrate and display the time of the clock unit 214 of the PHS terminal 110. It can be displayed on the unit 204.

  The calibration setting unit 260 sets at least whether or not the time calibration unit 256 can perform time calibration according to a user input through the operation unit 206. For example, when the user has intentionally advanced the time set in the PHS terminal 110 so as not to be late, or conversely, the time is intentionally delayed due to daylight saving time, etc. If it is calibrated to the correct current time, the intentional operation will be wasted. In the present embodiment, since the user can set whether or not to execute such time calibration, it is possible to avoid the above-described situation in which the time of the clock unit 214 is forcibly calibrated.

  According to the PHS terminal 110 described above, it is possible to reliably perform time calibration using an existing wireless communication system regardless of the usage frequency of the user's packet communication.

(Wireless communication method)
Next, a wireless communication method for performing time calibration using the above-described PHS terminal 110 will be described. Here, in order to clarify the effect of this embodiment, first, acquisition of time information by packet communication that can be executed without adopting this embodiment is given as a comparative example.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of time calibration processing of a wireless communication system as a comparative example. In the comparative example, the PHS terminal starts time calibration processing when the power is turned on, for example (S300). First, transmission is made to the base station 120 (S302), and control signals for performing communication are mutually transmitted and received (S304). Then, dial-up connection is performed with the communication network 130 via the base station 120 by PPP (Point to Point Protocol) (S306).

  A standard for maintaining a standard time using TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) or the like, which is a communication protocol (upper protocol) higher than the data link layer using PPP in the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model Communication with the time server is started (S308). Further, the PHS terminal receives time information from the standard time server and calibrates the time (S310). When the time calibration is completed, the communication with the standard time server is disconnected using the upper protocol (S312). Then, the communication with the communication network 130 is disconnected using PPP (S314), and the communication with the base station 120 is subsequently disconnected (S316).

  As described above, in the comparative example, in order to acquire time information, the PHS terminal must follow a procedure for starting communication with the communication network 130 and the standard time server using PPP and its upper protocol. In addition, since communication is performed through the Internet, the communication path is long, and it takes time to acquire time information. For this reason, the time information that has been acquired may not be usable for time calibration because the earliest time is shifted at the time of acquisition. Furthermore, since the communication is through the communication network 130, a packet communication fee (communication cost) may be charged.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of time calibration processing of the wireless communication system 100 in the present embodiment. As in the case of FIG. 4, the PHS terminal 110 starts time calibration processing when the power is turned on, for example (S500). A transmission is made to the base station 120 (S502), and control signals for performing packet communication are mutually transmitted and received (S504). Since the target communication at this time is packet communication, time information can be extracted because the control signal received from the base station 120 includes time information, unlike the case of a voice call (S506). When the time information is extracted, the PHS terminal 110 disconnects the communication with the base station 120 before the communication cost is generated (S508).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, even when packet communication is not normally used, time correction is reliably performed by using the existing wireless communication system 100 without modifying the PHS terminal 110. It becomes possible.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific processing flow of time calibration of the PHS terminal 110 itself in the present embodiment. Whether it is time to start using the PHS terminal 110, when it is reset (S600 YES), or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous time calibration was performed (S602 YES) It is determined whether or not (S604). When not resetting at the start of use (S600 NO), or when the predetermined time has not elapsed after the previous time calibration (S602 NO), the time calibration is not permitted to be performed. If it is present (S604 NO), the process returns to the determination (S600) at the start of use or whether a reset has been performed.

  If it is set to allow execution of time calibration (YES in S604), communication with the base station 120 is established (S606). Time information is extracted from the control signal received at that time (S608), and after the time information is extracted, wireless communication with the base station 120 is immediately disconnected (S610). Then, using the acquired time information, the time of the PHS terminal 110 is calibrated (S612). When the time calibration is completed, the process returns to the determination (S600) at the start of use or whether resetting has been performed.

  Even with the wireless communication method described above, it is possible to reliably perform time calibration using an existing wireless communication system regardless of the frequency of use of packet communication by the user.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  Note that each step in the wireless communication method of the present specification does not necessarily have to be processed in time series in the order described as a flowchart or a sequence diagram, and may include processing in parallel or by a subroutine.

  The present invention can be used for a wireless communication terminal and a wireless communication method connected to a base station.

It is explanatory drawing which showed the rough connection relation of the radio | wireless communications system. It is the functional block diagram which showed the hardware constitutions of the PHS terminal. It is the external view which showed the external appearance of the PHS terminal. It is the sequence diagram which showed the flow of the process of the time calibration of the radio | wireless communications system as a comparative example. It is the sequence diagram which showed the flow of the process of the time calibration of the radio | wireless communications system in this embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the specific process of the time calibration of PHS terminal itself in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

110 ... PHS terminal (wireless communication terminal)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 ... Base station 250 ... Communication establishment part 252 ... Time extraction part 254 ... Communication disconnection part 256 ... Time calibration part 258 ... Forced execution part 260 ... Calibration setting part

Claims (6)

A communication establishment unit for establishing a communication path with a base station for packet communication;
A time extraction unit for extracting time information from a control signal used for establishing the communication path;
A communication disconnecting unit that disconnects the communication path after extracting the time information;
A time calibration unit that calibrates the time of the wireless communication terminal based on the extracted time information;
A wireless communication terminal comprising:   The wireless communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication establishment unit, the time extraction unit, the communication disconnection unit, and the time calibration unit function at least when the use of the wireless communication terminal is started or reset.   The wireless communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication establishment unit, the time extraction unit, the communication disconnection unit, and the time calibration unit function every predetermined time.   4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a forcible execution unit that performs functions of a communication establishment unit, a time extraction unit, a communication disconnection unit, and a time calibration unit in response to a user input. Wireless communication terminal.   5. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: a calibration setting unit configured to set whether or not the time calibration unit can perform at least time calibration according to a user input. Establish a communication path with the base station for packet communication,
Extract time information from the control signal used to establish the communication path,
After extracting the time information, disconnect the communication using the communication path,
A wireless communication method, wherein the time of the wireless communication terminal is calibrated based on the extracted time information.

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