JP2010193161A - Radio communication apparatus and radio communication system using same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio communication apparatus capable of achieving transmission of high-quality data even in an environment wherein a plurality of radio communications are carried out, and a radio communication system using the same. <P>SOLUTION: The radio communication apparatus includes a first radio communication unit 11 which communicates small-capacity data, a second radio communication unit 12 which communicates large-capacity data, and a control unit 13 which controls them, and the second radio communication unit 12 has a channel switching unit 15 which switches a channel to be used for communication from among a plurality of channels allocated within a communicable frequency band, and a monitoring unit 16 which monitors radio wave environments of the respective channels. The control unit 13 selects a channel suitable for the communication on the basis of the radio wave environment monitored by the monitoring unit 16 of the second radio communication unit 12, and controls the second radio communication unit 12 so as to communicate the large-capacity data using the channel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus, and more particularly to a wireless communication apparatus used for factory automation at a production site in a factory and a wireless communication system using the same.

  Conventionally, in wireless communication devices, there is a wireless communication device that uses a spread spectrum method when transmitting a large amount of data such as an image, and uses a low-speed signal when transmitting a small amount of data for communication control. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to such an apparatus, it is possible to reduce the size of the circuit and reduce the power consumption.

  Also, a wireless communication apparatus that uses a wireless LAN system when transmitting large-capacity data and uses a specific small power when transmitting small-capacity data is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). . In such a device, it is possible to drive the wireless communication device with a battery by reducing power consumption. Further, Patent Documents 3 and 4 show monitoring and control devices for properly using different types of wireless communication.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-46316 JP 2006-279926 A JP 2006-279927 A JP 2007-179555 A

  However, when the wireless communication device disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document is used in an environment where a plurality of wireless communication is disturbed, such as a factory where advanced factory automation is implemented, the same frequency band from other wireless stations. In some cases, a radio signal is transmitted using, which may adversely affect transmission communication quality.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and provides a wireless communication apparatus capable of realizing high-quality data transmission even in an environment where a plurality of wireless communications are disturbed, and a wireless communication system using the wireless communication apparatus. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 performs communication of large-capacity data having a data capacity equal to or greater than the threshold with first wireless communication means for communicating small-capacity data having a data capacity of less than a predetermined threshold. In a wireless communication apparatus comprising a second wireless communication means and a control means for controlling the first wireless communication means and the second wireless communication means, the second wireless communication means is assigned within a communicable frequency band. Channel switching means for switching a channel used for communication from a plurality of channels, and radio wave environment monitoring means for monitoring the radio wave environment of each channel, wherein the control means is for monitoring the radio wave environment of the second wireless communication means A channel suitable for communication is selected based on the radio wave environment monitored by the means, and the second non-transmission is performed so that the large-capacity data is communicated using the channel. And controlling the communication means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication apparatus according to the first aspect, the control unit communicates the large-capacity data based on a radio wave environment monitored by a radio wave environment monitoring unit of the second wireless communication unit. It is characterized in that a packet length suitable for performing is determined.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the small-capacity data includes communication control data, and the large-capacity data includes image data.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system configured by using a plurality of the wireless communication devices according to the first aspect, the one wireless communication device relates to a radio wave environment monitored by its own radio wave environment monitoring means. The data is transmitted using its own first wireless communication means, and the other wireless communication apparatus receives the data relating to the radio wave environment transmitted from the one wireless communication apparatus using its own first wireless communication means. It is characterized by.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system configured by using a plurality of the wireless communication devices according to the second aspect, one wireless communication device stores data relating to the packet length determined by its own control means. Transmission is performed using its own first wireless communication means, and the other wireless communication apparatus receives data relating to the packet length transmitted from the one wireless communication apparatus using its own first wireless communication means. And

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to the fourth aspect, the wireless communication apparatus according to the first aspect performs communication of the large-capacity data including the small-capacity data including communication control data and the image data. It is configured by using a plurality of units, and the data regarding the radio wave environment is communicated as a part of the communication control data.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to the fifth aspect, the wireless communication apparatus according to the second aspect performs communication of the small-capacity data including communication control data and the large-capacity data including image data. It is configured by using a plurality of devices, and the data regarding the packet length is communicated as a part of the communication control data.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, large-capacity data communication can be performed using a channel having a good radio wave environment monitored using the second wireless communication means. As a result, an optimal channel can be used according to the surrounding radio wave environment, and high-quality data transmission can be realized even in an environment where a plurality of wireless communications are disturbed.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the packet length is determined based on the radio wave environment monitored using the second wireless communication means, the packet length can be optimized according to the surrounding radio wave environment. . This makes it possible to perform large-capacity data communication quickly and reliably.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the power consumption of the apparatus is reduced using the first wireless communication means when communicating the communication control data, and the second wireless communication means is used when communicating the image data. This makes it possible to acquire a fine image.

  According to invention of Claim 4, each radio | wireless communication apparatus which comprises a radio | wireless communications system can share the data regarding a mutual radio wave environment. Accordingly, it is possible to comprehensively determine the radio wave environment on the transmission side and the reception side, select an optimum channel for communication, and perform high-capacity data communication even faster and more reliably.

  According to invention of Claim 5, each radio | wireless communication apparatus which comprises a radio | wireless communications system can share the data regarding a mutual packet length. As a result, the packet length on the transmission side and the reception side can be comprehensively determined to determine the optimum packet length for communication, and large-capacity data communication can be performed even faster and more reliably.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the data related to the radio wave environment is communicated as a part of the communication control data, so the number of radio wave transmissions from the first wireless communication means can be reduced. Thereby, it can transfer to communication of large capacity data quickly. Moreover, the radio wave environment of the frequency band used by the first wireless communication means is improved, and the influence on other wireless communication systems using the same band can be suppressed.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, since the data relating to the packet length is communicated as part of the communication control data, the number of radio wave transmissions from the first wireless communication means can be reduced as in the sixth aspect of the invention. . Thereby, it can transfer to communication of large capacity data quickly. Moreover, the radio wave environment of the frequency band used by the first wireless communication means is improved, and the influence on other wireless communication systems using the same band can be suppressed.

The figure which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communications system by one Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus which comprises the system. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the wireless communication apparatus.

  A wireless communication device and a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system 1 is disposed in a production line or the like of a factory as a system that forms the core of factory automation. The wireless communication system 1 includes a first wireless communication device 10 connected to a computer device such as a personal computer 2 and a second wireless communication device 20 connected to a camera device 3 that captures an image of a production line or the like. ing. The first wireless communication device 10 and the second wireless communication device 20 can communicate bidirectionally wirelessly. The camera device 3 and the second wireless communication device 20 are incorporated in a factory automation device 4 disposed adjacent to the production line. The factory automation device 4 is also connected to a machine tool or the like (not shown) installed on the production line, and automatically controls them based on a control program input via the personal computer 2.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the first wireless communication device 10 and the second wireless communication device 20. The first wireless communication device 10 includes a first wireless communication unit 11, a second wireless communication unit 12, a control unit (control means) 13, and the like. The first wireless communication unit 11 is used for communication of a small amount of data. The small capacity data is data whose data capacity is less than a predetermined threshold, for example, communication control data for on / off control of communication with the second wireless communication device 20. The second wireless communication unit 12 is used for communication of a large amount of data. The large-capacity data is data having a capacity equal to or larger than the threshold, for example, image data captured by the camera device 3. The threshold is set based on, for example, the number of packets required for communication. Thereby, data with a small number of packets such as data for controlling communication is classified into small capacity data, and data with a large number of packets such as image data is classified into large capacity data. The control unit 13 controls the operation of the entire first wireless communication device 10 including the first wireless communication unit 11 and the second wireless communication unit 12.

  The configuration of the second wireless communication device 20 is the same as that of the first wireless communication device 10, and includes a first wireless communication unit 21, a second wireless communication unit 22, a control unit (control means) 23, and the like. Functions in the same manner as the first wireless communication device 10. The first wireless communication device 10 and the second wireless communication device 20 communicate with each other using the first wireless communication unit 11, the first wireless communication unit 21, the second wireless communication unit 12, and the second wireless communication unit 22. To do. Different frequencies are allocated to the frequency used by the first wireless communication units 11 and 21 and the frequency of each channel used by the second wireless communication units 12 and 22, respectively. The communication unit 12 is provided with a different antenna. Similarly, the first wireless communication unit 21 and the second wireless communication unit 22 are provided with different antennas. The first radio communication units 11 and 21 use, for example, specific low power radio, weak radio waves, and the like. For example, the second wireless communication units 12 and 22 use a wireless LAN, Bluetooth, or the like. Hereinafter, the first wireless communication device 10 will be mainly described, but the same applies to the second wireless communication device 20.

  The second wireless communication unit 12 includes a channel switching unit (channel switching unit) 15 and a monitoring unit (radio wave environment monitoring unit) 16. The channel switching unit 15 switches a channel used for communication from a plurality of channels. The plurality of channels switched by the channel switching unit 15 are allocated within a frequency band in which the first wireless communication device 10 can communicate. The monitoring unit 16 monitors the radio wave environment around the first wireless communication device 10 for each channel switched by the channel switching unit 15. Similarly, the second wireless communication unit 12 of the second wireless communication device 20 includes a channel switching unit (channel switching unit) 25, a monitoring unit (radio wave environment monitoring unit) 26, and the like.

  The control unit 13 selects a channel suitable for communication based on the radio wave environment monitored by the monitoring unit 16 of the second wireless communication unit 12. For example, the monitoring unit 16 monitors the noise component of the signal received by the second wireless communication unit 12, and the control unit 13 determines the channel with the least noise among the plurality of channels as the channel suitable for communication. The signal received by the second wireless communication unit 12 of the first wireless communication device 10 in a state where it is not transmitted from the second wireless communication unit 22 of the communication partner can be noise around the first wireless communication device 10. Therefore, the control unit 13 can select a channel suitable for communication by specifying a channel with less noise. And the control part 13 controls the 2nd radio | wireless communication part 12 so that large-capacity data communication may be performed using the channel judged to be suitable for the communication of the 2nd radio | wireless communication part 12. FIG. Further, it is necessary to notify the control unit 23 of the second wireless communication apparatus 20 that is the communication counterpart of the channel suitable for the communication of the second wireless communication unit 12 of the first wireless communication apparatus 10. Therefore, the control unit 13 of the first wireless communication device 10 notifies the channel suitable for communication of the second wireless communication unit 12 using the first wireless communication unit 11.

  In an environment in which a plurality of wireless communications are disturbed, when the control unit 13 selects a channel suitable for image data communication using the second wireless communication unit 12, the periphery of the second wireless communication device 20 that is a communication partner is selected. It may be desirable to consider the radio wave environment. Therefore, information on the radio wave environment around the second radio communication device 20, that is, the radio wave environment monitored by the monitoring unit 26 is transmitted to the first radio communication device 10, and the control unit 13 of the first radio communication device 10 transmits both radio waves. A channel suitable for image data communication may be determined by comprehensively judging the environment. In this case, information on the radio wave environment monitored by the monitoring unit 26 is transmitted and received as a part of the communication control data via the first wireless communication units 21 and 11.

  Further, the control unit 13 determines a packet length suitable for communication based on the radio wave environment monitored by the monitoring unit 16 of the second wireless communication unit 12. For example, when the radio wave environment is good, the packet length is set long, and when the radio wave environment is deteriorated, the packet length is set short. When the radio wave environment is deteriorating, there is a high possibility that a communication error will occur. Therefore, by setting the packet length short, the time required for retransmitting one packet in which a communication error has occurred can be shortened, and the time required for all communications can be shortened. When determining the packet length, the control unit 13 may determine the packet length by comprehensively determining the radio wave environment of the first wireless communication device 10 and the second wireless communication device 20.

  FIG. 3 shows an operation when the second wireless communication device 20 transmits image data captured by the camera device 3 to the first wireless communication device 10. First, the control unit 23 of the second wireless communication device 20 controls the channel switching unit 25 to switch the channel of the second wireless communication unit 22, and sends the monitoring unit 26 to each channel around the second wireless communication device 20. Is monitored (# 1). This process is performed periodically or when it is determined that there is a high possibility that the radio wave environment will change. Further, the control unit 23 causes the first wireless communication unit 21 to receive data regarding the radio wave environment around the first wireless communication device 10 transmitted from the first wireless communication device 10 (# 2). Then, the control unit 23 selects a channel suitable for image data communication based on the radio wave environment around the second wireless communication device 20 and the first wireless communication device 10 (# 3), and determines the packet length (#). 4). Thereafter, the control unit 23 transmits data related to the channel selected in # 3 from the first wireless communication unit 21 and notifies the first wireless communication device 10 (# 5). Then, the control unit 23 uses the second wireless communication unit 22 to transmit the image data with the channel selected in # 3 and the packet length determined in # 4 (# 6). In # 2, the first wireless communication device 10 transmits data related to the packet length determined based on the radio wave environment around the first wireless communication device 10, and the second wireless communication device 20 receives the data. It may be a thing. In this case, the control unit 23 of the second wireless communication device 20 determines the packet length in consideration of the data related to the packet length in # 4.

  As described above, according to the wireless communication devices 10 and 20 of the present embodiment, a large capacity is obtained using a channel with a good radio wave environment monitored using the monitoring units 16 and 26 of the second wireless communication units 12 and 22. Data communication can be performed. Thereby, high-quality data transmission can be realized even in an environment where a plurality of wireless communications are disturbed. Further, since the packet length is determined based on the radio wave environment monitored using the monitoring units 16 and 26 of the second radio communication units 12 and 22, the packet length can be optimized according to the radio wave environment. . This makes it possible to perform large-capacity data communication quickly and reliably. Also, when communicating communication control data, the first wireless communication units 11 and 21 are used to reduce the power consumption of the apparatus, and when communicating image data, the second wireless communication units 12 and 22 are used. And can acquire fine images.

  In addition, the wireless communication devices 10 and 20 configuring the wireless communication system 1 can share data regarding the radio wave environment of each other. Accordingly, it is possible to comprehensively determine the radio wave environment on the transmission side and the reception side, select an optimum channel for communication, and perform high-capacity data communication even faster and more reliably.

  In addition, the wireless communication devices 10 and 20 configuring the wireless communication system 1 can share data related to each other's packet length. As a result, the packet length on the transmission side and the reception side can be comprehensively determined to determine the optimum packet length for communication, and large-capacity data communication can be performed even faster and more reliably.

  In addition, since the data related to the radio wave environment and / or the data related to the packet length are communicated as a part of the communication control data, the number of radio wave transmissions from the first wireless communication units 11 and 21 can be reduced. Thereby, it can transfer to communication of large capacity data quickly. Further, the radio wave environment of the frequency band used by the first wireless communication units 11 and 21 is improved, and the influence on other wireless communication systems using the same band can be suppressed.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and is configured to perform communication of large-capacity data using a channel selected based on at least the surrounding radio wave environment monitored by the monitoring unit 16. It only has to be. The present invention can be modified in various ways. For example, three or more wireless communication devices may be included in the wireless communication system 1. Each wireless communication device is not limited to the personal computer 2 and the camera device 3, and can be widely connected to other devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Radio | wireless communications system 10 1st radio | wireless communication apparatus 20 2nd radio | wireless communication apparatus 11, 21 1st radio | wireless communication part (1st radio | wireless communication means)
12, 22 Second wireless communication unit (second wireless communication means)
13, 23 Control unit (control means)
15, 25 Channel switching part (channel switching means)
16, 26 Monitoring unit (Radio wave environment monitoring unit)

Claims (7)

A first wireless communication means for communicating small-capacity data with a data capacity less than a predetermined threshold; a second wireless communication means for communicating large-capacity data with a data capacity equal to or greater than the threshold; the first wireless communication means; In a wireless communication apparatus comprising a control means for controlling the second wireless communication means,
The second wireless communication means includes channel switching means for switching a channel used for communication from a plurality of channels allocated within a communicable frequency band, and radio wave environment monitoring means for monitoring the radio wave environment of each channel. And
The control unit selects a channel suitable for communication based on the radio wave environment monitored by the radio wave environment monitoring unit of the second wireless communication unit, and uses the channel to perform communication of the large-capacity data. 2. A wireless communication apparatus that controls wireless communication means.   The control means determines a packet length suitable for communication of the large-capacity data based on a radio wave environment monitored by a radio wave environment monitoring means of the second wireless communication means. The wireless communication device according to 1.   The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the small capacity data includes communication control data, and the large capacity data includes image data. In a wireless communication system configured by using a plurality of wireless communication devices according to claim 1,
The one wireless communication device transmits data related to the radio wave environment monitored by its own radio wave environment monitoring means using its own first radio communication means,
The other wireless communication apparatus receives data relating to the radio wave environment transmitted from the one wireless communication apparatus using its own first wireless communication means. In a wireless communication system configured by using a plurality of wireless communication devices according to claim 2,
One wireless communication device transmits data relating to the packet length determined by its own control means using its own first wireless communication means,
The other wireless communication apparatus receives data relating to the packet length transmitted from the one wireless communication apparatus using its own first wireless communication means. In the wireless communication system configured by using a plurality of wireless communication devices according to claim 1, which performs communication of the small-capacity data including communication control data and the large-capacity data including image data.
The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein the data related to the radio wave environment is communicated as a part of the communication control data. In the wireless communication system configured by using a plurality of wireless communication devices according to claim 2, which performs communication of the small-capacity data including communication control data and the large-capacity data including image data.
6. The wireless communication system according to claim 5, wherein data relating to the packet length is communicated as part of the communication control data.

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