JP2010193339A - Radio device, method of controlling the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of automatically adjusting a carrier sense threshold in accordance with a noise pattern. <P>SOLUTION: A carrier sense threshold adjustment means 3 changes an automatic change method of a carrier sense threshold in response to time-series change of an electric field intensity value measured by an electric field intensity measurement means 5. For instance, whether the carrier sense threshold is stepped up in the previous measurement of electric field intensity is determined, the carrier sense threshold is not stepped up when stepped up last time and, on the contrary, the carrier sense threshold is stepped up by one step when not stepped up last time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is more successful in communication by optimizing the threshold value of the carrier sense process for determining whether or not there is a signal to be received based on the electric field strength value, depending on the use environment, particularly in the wireless receiver. It relates to technology that increases the rate.

  In a wireless device, particularly a wireless receiving device that operates by a battery, it is common to intermittently perform carrier sense processing to save power. The carrier sense process detects the electric field strength value of the signal received by the wireless receiving device, determines that the radio signal is transmitted when the electric field strength value exceeds a preset carrier sense threshold, The radio signal is continuously received by supplying power to the demodulation circuit or the like. On the other hand, when the electric field strength value does not exceed the carrier sense threshold value, the power consumption is reduced by promptly returning to the power saving mode because no radio signal is transmitted.

  However, in practice, the electric field strength value in a situation where there is no wireless signal used by the wireless device varies due to noise components, interference radio waves, and the like depending on the use environment and connected devices. For this reason, when the carrier sense threshold is kept constant, the noise component fluctuates and temporarily exceeds the carrier sense threshold to perform demodulation processing, and wasteful power consumption is consumed. There is a problem of false sense processing such that a legitimate wireless signal to be received is received and fails to be received.

  For example, when the carrier sense threshold is too low, the demodulation process is frequently entered due to noise or interference radio waves, and the probability of wasted power consumption or failure to receive a regular radio signal increases. On the other hand, if the carrier sense threshold is too high, a case may occur in which reception is not possible because demodulation processing is not performed below the carrier sense threshold in a situation where a legitimate radio signal is attenuated during propagation. It will be.

  In order to avoid such a problem, an apparatus for automatically changing the carrier sense threshold value has been proposed. As a similar invention, an invention for automatically adjusting a carrier sense threshold in a cordless telephone is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In Reference 1, a circuit for detecting a DC noise component is provided in a carrier sense system circuit provided in a base unit and a handset of a cordless telephone, and a threshold voltage of a comparator circuit that determines the presence / absence of a carrier is determined based on the magnitude of the noise component. It is configured to automatically adjust.

  Normally, a radio signal is composed of a bit synchronization signal, a system identification code, a data part, etc., so that even if the signal exceeds the carrier sense threshold, data matching the system identification code could be detected in the demodulated signal. It can be determined that the interference radio wave is from noise or another wireless device.

  Therefore, as a conventional method for automatically adjusting the carrier sense threshold, when the carrier sense threshold is exceeded, the system identification code or the like is not detected and the wireless device is not a legitimate wireless signal. Generally, there is a method in which the carrier sense threshold is lowered by one step if there is no noise exceeding the electric field intensity value exceeding the carrier sense threshold during a certain period of time.

At this time, if the fixed period of time for lowering the carrier sense threshold by one step is made darker and faster, the carrier sense threshold falls below the electric field strength value due to normal noise between the regular signals of the wireless device, In order to fall into a situation where the erroneous sense process is repeated, it is considered that the step-down cycle time is often set to a sufficient length compared to the average interval of the regular signal.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-292017

  However, if the optimal carrier sense threshold automatic adjustment method is not used according to the time-series fluctuation state of the electric field strength value due to noise or interference radio waves, the carrier sense threshold will fluctuate excessively, and There is concern that it may affect the reception of radio waves.

  For example, when an interference radio wave from a mobile amateur radio station or an interference radio wave from a radio system using a similar frequency comes in, it may continue for a long period of time unlike an impulse noise having a very short time width.

  Therefore, as with impulse noise, when the carrier sense threshold is stepped up every time there is noise of an electric field strength value exceeding the carrier sense threshold or when there is an interfering radio wave, the carrier sense threshold does not need to be stepped down, and the carrier sense suddenly increases. Even if noise and interference radio waves are settled, the threshold value rises and exceeds the normal wireless signal field strength value. The period during which radio signals cannot be received will continue.

  In particular, in the case of a wireless system in which the carrier sense processing interval, which is an interval for measuring the electric field strength value in order to speed up the response of wireless communication, is short, the carrier sense threshold value is stepped up more rapidly.

  Therefore, in the present invention, for example, it is determined whether the noise is an impulse noise in which the electric field strength value changes abruptly, or noise having a property such as an interference radio wave in which a signal having a relatively large electric field strength value continues for a long time. The optimum carrier sense threshold that is combined is stepped up or down.

  Thereby, for example, for noise such as interference radio waves in which a signal with a small fluctuation range of the electric field strength value continues, the carrier sense threshold is stepped up continuously so that the carrier sense threshold does not step up suddenly. By setting the upper limit of the number of times or not stepping up again for a predetermined time after stepping up, the carrier sense threshold value is prevented from suddenly rising, and when noise such as interfering radio waves stops, a regular radio signal is immediately It is possible to improve the success rate of communication by returning to the state where the communication can be received.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described conventional problems, and includes an electric field strength measuring means for intermittently reading out electric field strength, a demodulating means, and a case where the electric field strength value exceeds a carrier sense threshold value. Radio comprising: control means for receiving a data signal demodulated by the demodulating means; and carrier sense threshold adjusting means for changing the carrier sense threshold based on a time series change of the electric field strength value measured by the electric field strength measuring means. It is a device.

  This makes it possible to change the carrier sense threshold according to the characteristics of the noise, such as in the case of impulse noise that occurs for a very short period of time, or in the case of an interference signal in which a signal with a relatively large electric field strength continues for a long time. Therefore, the success rate of receiving a more regular radio signal can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to optimally automatically adjust the carrier sense threshold based on the time series change of the electric field strength value measured by the electric field strength measuring means, and the wireless device having a higher communication success rate. Can be realized.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric field strength measuring means for intermittently reading out an electric field strength value, a demodulating means, and a control means for receiving a data signal demodulated by the demodulating means when the electric field strength value exceeds a carrier sense threshold. And a carrier sense threshold value adjusting means for changing the carrier sense threshold value based on the time series change of the electric field strength measured by the electric field strength measuring means.

  This makes it possible to change the carrier sense threshold according to the characteristics of the noise, such as in the case of impulsive noise that occurs for a very short period of time, or in the case of an interference signal in which a signal with a relatively large electric field strength continues for a long time. Thus, the success rate of reception can be improved.

  In the second invention, in addition to the first invention, the carrier sense threshold adjustment unit cannot detect a system identification code indicating that the radio apparatus belongs to the data signal demodulated by the demodulator. In this case, the carrier sense threshold is increased, and the carrier sense threshold is not changed for a predetermined period after the carrier sense threshold is increased.

  As a result, even when an interference signal with a relatively long electric field strength continues for a long time, the carrier sense threshold value is not increased unnecessarily, and a regular radio signal can be received promptly if the interference signal is interrupted. It has become.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in addition to the first or second aspect of the invention, the carrier sense threshold adjustment unit has a system identification code indicating that the wireless device belongs to the data signal demodulated by the demodulation unit. If the electric field strength is larger than the carrier sense threshold by a predetermined width or more when it cannot be detected, the carrier sense threshold is not changed.

  As a result, in the case of a signal with an electric field strength sufficiently larger than the carrier sense threshold, it is judged as an interference signal of a similar system, etc., and the carrier sense threshold is not increased unnecessarily, and if the interference signal is interrupted, it is quickly The wireless signal can be received.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the first aspect, the carrier sense threshold value adjustment unit divides the range of the carrier sense threshold value into a plurality of sections and sets a change width of the carrier sense threshold according to the sections. It is said.

  As a result, even if the carrier sense threshold value suddenly increases due to continuous impulse noise or intermittent interference signals, for example, the carrier sense threshold value can be quickly reduced in a large range of the carrier sense threshold value. Thus, the success rate of reception increases.

  5th invention, the electric field strength measurement step which reads out electric field strength intermittently, a demodulation step, and the control step which receives the data signal demodulated by the demodulation step when the electric field strength exceeds a carrier sense threshold, The wireless device control method includes a carrier sense threshold adjustment step that changes the carrier sense threshold based on a time-series change in the electric field strength measured in the electric field strength measurement step.

  This makes it possible to change the carrier sense threshold according to the characteristics of the noise, such as in the case of impulsive noise that occurs for a very short period of time, or in the case of an interference signal in which a signal with a relatively large electric field strength continues for a long time. Thus, the control method can improve the success rate of reception.

  A sixth invention is a program for executing the control according to any one of the first to fifth inventions.

  Accordingly, since it is a program, at least a part of the information distribution system of the present invention can be easily realized by cooperating hardware resources such as an electric / information device, a computer, and a server. In addition, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording on a recording medium or distributing the program using a communication line.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 of the first embodiment is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radio apparatus that automatically adjusts the carrier sense threshold. The wireless device shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit 1 that controls the entire wireless device, an antenna 6, an electric field strength measuring unit 5 that measures noise generated inside the wireless device and a field strength value of a wireless signal flying to the antenna unit, and control. Switching means 7 for switching a radio signal transmission / reception path according to a signal from means 1, modulation means 8 for modulating a signal to be transmitted to a radio signal, demodulation means 2 for demodulating the received radio signal and inputting it to control means 1, electric field Carrier sense threshold comparing means 4 for determining whether or not to perform demodulation by comparing the electric field intensity value measured by the intensity measuring means 5 with the current carrier sense threshold, a carrier for adjusting the carrier sense threshold from the change in the electric field intensity value It comprises the sense adjustment means 3 and the like.

  The control means 1 may be constituted by a microcomputer and its peripheral circuits, and the carrier sense threshold value comparison means 4 and the carrier sense threshold value adjustment means 3 may be constituted as a program that operates on the microcomputer constituting the control means 1.

  2 to 5 show the time-series data of the electric field intensity measured by the electric field intensity measuring means 5, where the vertical axis represents the electric field intensity value and the horizontal axis represents the elapsed time. A thin line 11 is an electric field strength value measured by the electric field strength measuring means 5. In particular, the thick line 13, the thick line 14, and the thick line 15 are portions indicating electric field strength values when a regular radio signal communicated with the system to which the radio apparatus of the first embodiment belongs is transmitted. .

  Although the graph lines in FIGS. 2 to 5 are shown as continuous continuous values, actually, the electric field strength value is discrete data measured by the electric field strength measuring means 5 at intermittent timings indicated by vertical broken lines. .

  First, FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example in which a general fixed value carrier sense threshold is set. The graph line 12 that shows the setting value of the carrier sense threshold value in FIG. 2 by a one-dot chain line is normally set to a value Rth that takes a margin from the electric field strength value indicated by the noise in normal times.

  The electric field strength value intermittently measured by the electric field strength measuring means 5 at the timing indicated by the vertical dotted line is compared with the carrier sense threshold value Rth by the carrier sense threshold value comparing means 4, and it is determined whether the demodulation process is performed.

For example, at time T0, the electric field strength value R (T0) of the regular radio signal 13 is measured and is larger than the carrier sense threshold value Rth. Therefore, the signal from the control means 1 causes the demodulating means 2 via the switching means 7 Demodulation processing is performed, and demodulated data is input to the control means 1.

  At time T1, the electric field strength value R (T1) due to a normal noise component is measured and falls below the carrier sense threshold value Rth, so that demodulation processing is not performed.

  The carrier sense threshold Rth may be exceeded during times T2 to T3 (in the example of FIG. 2, it is not measured because it is not the timing of intermittent electric field strength measurement), but the electric field strength value due to noise exceeds the carrier sense threshold Rth. In such a case, demodulation is performed by the demodulating means 2, but the system code used in the wireless system of this example is not detected, and demodulation is stopped due to timeout.

  However, in this method of determining a fixed carrier sense threshold, there may be a case where the reception success rate is lowered. For example, the electric field strength value measured in the portion of the regular radio signal 14 in FIG. 2 is larger than the graph line 11 indicating the electric field strength value due to noise at times T3 to T4, and can be received originally. Since it falls below the carrier sense threshold value Rth set with a margin, the demodulation process is not performed.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration in which a method of automatically changing the carrier sense threshold is applied to the same graph line 11 as in FIG. 2 instead of such a method of setting a fixed carrier sense threshold.

  In FIG. 3, as an example of a conventionally known method for automatically adjusting the carrier sense threshold, when the electric field intensity value 11 due to noise exceeds the carrier sense threshold, the carrier sense threshold is stepped up, for example, intermittently the electric field An example is shown in which an algorithm is used to step down the carrier sense threshold when the measured intensity value falls below the carrier sense threshold for five consecutive times.

  In FIG. 3, the carrier sense threshold is indicated by a graph line 16, and the graph line 11 indicating the measured electric field strength value is continuously five times and falls below the graph line 16 indicating the carrier sense threshold, for example, at T5, T7, and T9. Step down the carrier sense threshold and step up the carrier sense threshold at a timing when the graph line 11 indicating the measured electric field strength value exceeds the graph line 16 indicating the carrier sense threshold, for example, T6, T8, and T10. Yes.

  By the carrier sense threshold adjustment method of FIG. 3, the carrier sense threshold at times T3 to T4 is adjusted in accordance with the graph line 11 indicating the electric field strength value due to noise. Therefore, the normal sense that could not be demodulated in FIG. The electric field strength value measured in the portion of the radio signal 14 exceeds the carrier sense threshold value, and demodulation processing is performed.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which the conventional carrier sense threshold adjustment method is applied in the same manner as in FIG. 3 when an interference signal having a relatively large electric field strength and a long duration comes, such as an amateur radio wave. . In FIG. 4, as in FIG. 3, when the graph line 17 of the electric field strength value due to noise exceeds the graph line 18 indicating the carrier sense threshold, the carrier sense threshold is stepped up and the electric field strength value is measured intermittently. The example in the case of stepping down when it falls 5 times continuously (vertical dotted line) is shown.

In FIG. 4, when the electric field intensity value of the interference signal that continues for a long time is measured as indicated by the graph line 17 at times T11 to T16, the carrier sense threshold value continuously increases step-up and step-down. For example, time T19 of the regular radio signal 15
However, the value exceeds the electric field strength value of the regular radio signal 15, the demodulation process is not performed, and the regular radio signal 15 cannot be received.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the carrier sense threshold adjustment method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As an example of the algorithm according to the first embodiment, the previous intermittent electric field strength value measurement timing is shown. When the carrier sense threshold value is stepped up, the algorithm example in which the carrier sense threshold value is stepped down when the carrier sense threshold value is lowered five times continuously is shown.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, when stepping up at time T11, the same interference signal is not stepped up continuously, so that it can be stepped up suddenly at times T12 to T15 as shown in FIG. No. Accordingly, the carrier sense threshold is lower than the electric field strength value of the regular radio signal 15 at, for example, the time T19 when the regular radio signal 15 is transmitted S after the time T17 when the interference signal is settled. The radio signal 15 can be received.

  As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the time-series fluctuation of noise, such as whether it is impulse noise or continuous noise such as an interference signal, is discriminated according to the state of the electric field strength of the noise. By optimizing the method for changing the sense threshold, the reception rate of regular signals is improved.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the carrier sense threshold value changing operation in the first embodiment of the present invention. When the control means 1 starts its operation, it periodically measures the electric field strength value. Specifically, it waits whether a predetermined time has elapsed due to an intermittent operation by timer interruption at regular intervals Δt (step S20), and every time (in the case of YES), a time (t + Δ) after Δt has elapsed. The notation is updated as t ← (t + Δt) so that t) becomes the current time t (step S29), and the field strength value R (t) is measured by the field strength measuring means 5 at the current time (step S21).

  Next, the carrier sense threshold comparison means 4 determines whether the electric field strength value R (t) exceeds the carrier sense threshold (step S22), and if it exceeds (in the case of YES), a switching signal is sent to the demodulation means to the switching means. Receive (step S23). It is detected whether the system identification code matches the data (step S24). If the data matches (YES), the data is input to the control means 1 as a normal signal, and the process returns to step S20 again.

  If the system code cannot be detected in step S24 (in the case of NO), it is determined as noise such as an interference signal, and the electric field strength value R (t−Δt), which is the measurement value in step S21 before Δt time, is the carrier. It is determined whether or not the sense threshold has been exceeded (step S25). If the electric field strength value R (t−Δt), which is the measurement value before Δt time in step S25, exceeds the carrier sense threshold value (in the case of YES), the process returns to step S20 again without stepping up. . If the electric field strength value R (t−Δt), which is the measurement value before Δt time in step 25, does not exceed the carrier sense threshold value and the carrier sense threshold value has not been stepped up, the carrier sense threshold value is increased by one step. Step up (step S26) and return to step S20.

Note that, in step S25 of FIG. 6, a configuration is shown in which the carrier sense threshold value is not stepped up continuously when measuring the electric field strength value by timer interruption at regular intervals, but other determination methods are also effective. . For example, in the case of an interference signal whose electric field strength value greatly fluctuates, electric field strength values R (t) to R (t−5Δt), which are measured values in the past five consecutive times, are three or more times. A majority decision such as not stepping up the carrier sense threshold is also effective if the sense threshold is exceeded.

  If it is below the carrier sense threshold value in step S22 (in the case of NO), it is determined how many times it is continuously below (step S27), and if it is below a predetermined number of times (for example, 5 times in FIG. 5) (YES). In the case of), the carrier sense threshold value is lowered by one level (step S28). If it is not less than the predetermined number of times in step S27 (in the case of NO), the process returns to S20 again.

  In the example of the present embodiment, an example in which the rank is not continuously increased has been described. However, it may be set to step up to two stages, but not to step up three or more stages. A setting may be made such that the measurement timing does not step up for 30 timings.

  Further, in the case of an electric field strength value that is lower than the carrier sense threshold, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which it is determined that the radio wave is an interference radio wave and is impulsive noise, and the step-up is not performed. As a result, under a signal with a large electric field strength value, even if it is a regular radio signal with a larger electric field strength value, it is inevitable that the communication error rate will increase. The effect of resuming communication at the original carrier sense threshold can be expected.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the configuration in which step up / down is performed for each step has been described. However, a configuration in which step up or rank down is performed in units of several steps may be used, and the existence range of the carrier sense level threshold may be set to several. It is possible to divide into sections and change the step-up / down width per time for each section. Also, the number of ups and downs is not made the same, and it is one rank at the time of up, but two ranks at the time of down may be used.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to adapt to a wireless device that can improve the success rate of reception in a wireless device whose noise state changes depending on the usage environment, such as a wireless device that moves.

Schematic block diagram of a radio apparatus according to Embodiment 1 as an example of the present invention The graph which showed the case of the fixed carrier sense threshold value in Embodiment 1 of this invention The graph which showed the conventional adjustment method of the carrier sense threshold value in Embodiment 1 of this invention A graph showing a change in the case of applying a conventional carrier sense threshold adjustment method in the case of long-term noise in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The graph which showed the change at the time of applying the dynamic adjustment system of the carrier sense threshold value of Embodiment 1 in the case of long-time noise in Embodiment 1 of this invention Schematic flowchart showing the operation of each means in the first embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control means 2 Demodulation means 3 Carrier sense threshold value adjustment means 5 Electrolytic strength measurement means

Claims (6)

Field strength measuring means for intermittently reading out the field strength value, demodulation means, control means for receiving a data signal demodulated by the demodulation means when the field strength value exceeds a carrier sense threshold, and the field strength measurement A radio apparatus comprising: a carrier sense threshold adjusting unit that changes the carrier sense threshold based on a time-series change in the electric field intensity value measured by the unit. The carrier sense threshold adjustment unit increases the carrier sense threshold when a system identification code indicating that the data signal demodulated by the demodulation means is a signal of a wireless system to which the wireless device belongs cannot be detected. The radio apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier sense threshold is not changed during a predetermined period after the carrier sense threshold is increased. The carrier sense threshold adjustment unit detects that the field strength value is the carrier sense value when a system identification code indicating that the signal is a wireless system signal to which the wireless device belongs is not detected in the data signal demodulated by the demodulating means. The radio apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the carrier sense threshold value is not changed when it is larger than the threshold value by a predetermined width or more. The radio apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier sense threshold adjustment unit divides the range of the carrier sense threshold into a plurality of sections, and sets a change width of the carrier sense threshold for each of the sections. An electric field strength measurement step for intermittently reading out an electric field strength value, a demodulation step, a control step for receiving a data signal demodulated by the demodulation step when the electric field strength exceeds a carrier sense threshold, and the electric field strength measurement step And a carrier sense threshold adjustment step of changing the carrier sense threshold based on a time-series change in the electric field strength value measured by the method. The program which performs control of any one of Claims 1-5.

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