JP2011035939A - Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless communication apparatus which can easily transmit or receive user desired data. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless communication apparatus includes: a communication means for wirelessly communicating with a communication partner device; and an execution means for executing one or more applications. The communication partner device is specified through the wireless communication using the communication means and based on the state of executing an application, either a transmitting mode to transmit communication data to the communication partner device or a receiving mode to receive communication data from the communication partner device is selected. On the basis of data being handled in the application, communication data are determined and based on attribute information of the data being handled in the application, a communication protocol is determined, thereby controlling the communication with the communication partner device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus and a wireless communication method for performing communication using a proximity wireless communication method.

  In recent years, short-range wireless communication systems such as Felica and TransferJet have attracted attention, and such short-range wireless communication systems are employed in various devices and systems. Compared with communication systems such as wireless LAN and Bluetooth (registered trademark), the short-range wireless communication system has a great merit that the user operation for specifying a communication target partner is easy. For example, when a user sufficiently brings devices compatible with the short-range wireless communication system close to each other, these devices authenticate each other's devices.

  Therefore, it is considered that if a short-range wireless communication method is adopted for data transfer between a mobile device such as a mobile phone and a home device such as a television or a PC, the convenience of the user is further improved.

  On the other hand, recent digital devices have many functions. For example, today's mobile phones have a telephone function, an Internet communication function, a music viewing function, a photo shooting function, a photo browsing function, a PIM function, and the like. Such a multifunctional digital device is called a multifunction device. As digital devices become more multifunctional in this way, digital devices handle a large number of data.

  In order to transmit / receive desired data between multifunction devices, it is necessary to determine the following items.

(1) Communication partner device (2) Communication protocol (3) Transfer data (4) Data transmission / data reception If the short-range wireless communication method is adopted in the multifunction device, the user for identifying the communication partner device Operation is simple. However, in order to practically improve the user's convenience, it is desirable to be able to easily determine items other than the specific work of the communication partner device. If the above items (2) to (4) are determined by the user operating the device, the burden on the user is large.

  For example, in order to reduce the setting work of protocol information, a technology is disclosed in which connection using these protocol information is performed until connection using a protocol using all stored protocol information fails (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-78193 A

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 takes time to select protocol information, and even if the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied, the items (3) and (4) still remain. ) Determination operation is required, and inconvenience is not resolved.

  The objective of this invention is providing the radio | wireless communication apparatus and radio | wireless communication method which can transmit / receive the data which a user desires easily.

  A wireless communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention specifies a communication partner device by wireless communication with a communication partner device, an execution unit that executes one or more applications, and wireless communication by the communication unit, Data handled by the application by selecting one of a transmission mode for transmitting communication data to the communication counterpart device and a reception mode for receiving communication data from the communication counterpart device based on the execution state of the application. Communication control means for determining communication data based on the data, determining a communication protocol based on attribute information of data handled by the application, and controlling communication with the communication partner device.

  A wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a transmission mode in which wireless communication with a communication partner device is performed to identify the communication partner device, and communication data is transmitted to the communication partner device based on an execution state of the application. And a reception mode for receiving communication data from the communication counterpart device, determining communication data based on the data handled by the application, and based on attribute information of the data handled by the application A communication protocol is determined, and communication with the communication partner device is controlled.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the radio | wireless communication apparatus and radio | wireless communication method which can transmit / receive the data which a user desires easily can be provided.

The first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device by short-range wireless communication between the first wireless communication device (CPD) and the second wireless communication device (APD) according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the case which transfers data. From the second wireless communication device to the first wireless communication device by short-range wireless communication between the first wireless communication device (CPD) and the second wireless communication device (APD) according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the case which transfers data. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the communication system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication protocol management table which matched the type, transmission direction, and protocol of transfer data. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the near field communication of a 1st radio | wireless communication apparatus (CPD). It is a figure which shows the structure of the relevant part of the short-distance radio | wireless communication module of the 1st radio | wireless communication apparatus (CPD) which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the software architecture for controlling the near field communication by the near field communication module of a 1st radio | wireless communication apparatus (CPD). It is a block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of the near field communication control program which implement | achieves the function of PCL. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the near field communication between devices.

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

  The first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention have a short-range wireless communication function, and the first wireless communication device is only held over the second wireless communication device, or the first The user-desired data stored in the first wireless communication device can be transmitted to the first wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device simply by holding the second wireless communication device over the first wireless communication device. Can be transmitted to the second wireless communication apparatus.

  For this purpose, the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device include an algorithm that uniquely determines the operation of the application of each other device by a combination of the following processes.

(1) Process for selecting a communication partner device for data transfer (2) Process for selecting data to be transferred (3) Process for selecting a protocol to be used for transfer (4) Process for determining transmission / reception direction More specifically, The above algorithm estimates the data that the user is investigating or interested and the user's desired behavior by combining logical device identifiers, application zOrder, data focus, and the like.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is assumed that the first wireless communication device is a mobile phone and the second wireless communication device is a TV. In this embodiment, communication between a mobile phone and a TV will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to communication between the mobile phone and a TV. For example, the present invention can be applied to communication between various devices such as a mobile phone, a PDA, an audio player, a TV, a video recorder, and a personal computer. Mobile terminals such as mobile phones are collectively referred to as CPD (Control Point Device), and stationary terminals such as TV are collectively referred to as APD (Access Point Device).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the CPD 11 has activated the first application, the second application, and the third application, the screen of the first application is in the foreground (active), and the second application Is the second screen (inactive), the third application screen is the backmost screen (inactive), and still image data or moving image data is selected by the first application (still image data or moving image data is Displayed). One APD 12 is assumed to display a menu screen.

  In the CPD 11, a plurality of applications are activated, the screen of the first application is in the foreground (active), and still image data or moving image data is selected by the first application (still image data or moving image data) Therefore, transmission of still image data or motion data is determined, and still image data or moving image data is transmitted using a communication protocol suitable for transmission of still image data or moving image data. On the other hand, the APD 12 determines reception of still image data or moving image data from the above situation, and receives still image data or moving image data using the communication protocol. Such determination of CPD11 and APD12 is based on the algorithm described above.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the APD 12 has activated the first application, the second application, and the third application, and the screen of the first application is in the foreground (active), and the second application Is the second screen (inactive), the third application screen is the backmost screen (inactive), and still image data or moving image data is selected by the first application (still image data or moving image data is Displayed). One CPD 11 is assumed to display a desktop screen. Alternatively, it is assumed that the display of the CPD 11 is closed.

  In the APD 12, a plurality of applications are activated, the screen of the first application is active, and still image data or moving image data is selected by the first application (still image data or moving image data). Therefore, transmission of still image data or motion data is determined, and still image data or moving image data is transmitted using a communication protocol suitable for transmission of still image data or moving image data. On the other hand, the CPD 11 determines reception of still image data or moving image data from the above situation, and receives still image data or moving image data using the communication protocol. Such determination of CPD11 and APD12 is based on the algorithm described above.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication system includes a CPD 11 and an APD 12. The CPD 11 includes a short-range wireless communication module, and performs data transfer with another communication device (for example, APD 12) using the short-range wireless communication module. The APD 12 also includes a short-range wireless communication module, and performs data transfer with another communication device (for example, CPD 11) via the short-range wireless communication module.

  For example, the user performs an operation such as holding the CPD 11 over the communication area 12 a of the APD 12 or deferring it, and generates a data transfer trigger for the CPD 11 and the APD 12.

  Generally, in order to transfer data between two devices, it is necessary to specify or determine at least the following (1) to (4).

(1) Identification of communication partner In an Internet-compatible terminal or the like, these identify the communication partner using an IP address or a name space such as DNS indirectly.

(2) Determination of communication data When a large number of data is stored, it is necessary to determine which data is communication data.

(3) Determination of communication protocol It is necessary to determine what protocol is used to transfer communication data. For example, on the Internet, TCP / UDP is switched depending on the type of application. Further, in Bluetooth (registered trademark), photo data can be transmitted by FTP (File Transfer Protocol), or can be transmitted by BIP (Basic Imaging Profile).

(4) Determination of communication direction It is necessary to select one of a transmission mode for transmitting communication data and a reception mode for receiving communication data.

  CPD11 and APD12 which concern on one Embodiment of this invention are provided with the algorithm for determining the said item (1)-(4) uniquely. Hereinafter, this algorithm will be described.

(1) Communication partner selection algorithm CPD11 and APD12 which concern on one Embodiment of this invention are provided with near field communication modules, such as Felica or TransferJet, and select a communication party with this near field communication module. More specifically, it is realized by a short-range communication technology such as Felica or TransferJet.

(2) Communication data selection algorithm For example, when a plurality of applications are activated, data displayed (selected) by an application located at the top of the application is selected as communication data. With this selection method, data of interest to the user can be selected as communication data. In general, the data that is of interest to the user is the data that is currently displayed.

  Alternatively, communication data is selected by a data specifying algorithm inside the application.

  For example, when an application handles a single data type, the focused data is selected as communication data. For example, when one piece of photo data is selected (displayed), this photo data is selected as communication data. When specific data is not focused, all data handled by the application is selected as communication data. For example, when a plurality of photo data titles are displayed in a list, all of the photo data displayed in the list are selected as communication data.

  When the application handles a plurality of data types, the attribute information of the data being handled is selected as communication data. For example, when the application selects and displays a Web page, a URL indicating the location of the Web page is selected as communication data. Note that the Web page includes a plurality of data such as text / moving images / still images. The plurality of data may be transmitted as communication data to the communication partner device.

(3) Transmission / reception direction selection algorithm For example, when the user intends to transmit data stored in the CPD 11 to the APD, the user operates the CPD 11 to browse the data stored in the CPD 11 and browse data Select the transmission data from the list. The CPD 11 detects such an operation and selects a transmission / reception direction.

  For example, the CPD 11 physically determines the operation state and selects the transmission / reception direction. If the CPD 11 is a mobile phone, the user opens or closes the body or display of the mobile phone or slides the body or display when attempting to operate the mobile phone. That is, the CPD 11 can detect whether or not it is in an operating state from the clamshell state or the slide state. Alternatively, the user presses a key of the mobile phone while operating the mobile phone. The CPD 11 can detect whether or not the device is being operated based on the elapsed time since the last key operation. When it is determined that the state is in operation, the transmission mode is selected from the transmission mode and the reception mode, and the transfer data is transmitted to the communication partner device.

  Alternatively, the CPD 11 selects the transmission / reception direction from the state of the top application. If the CPD 11 is in the home menu display state, the CPD 11 determines that the CPD 11 is in a non-operation state, selects a reception mode, and receives transfer data from the communication counterpart device. If the CPD 11 is running a specific application, the CPD 11 determines that it is in an operating state, selects a transmission mode, and transmits the transfer data to the communication partner device.

  Alternatively, the CPD 11 stores a transmission / reception table indicating a correspondence relationship between the application and the transmission mode / reception mode, and executes the transmission mode or the reception mode based on the transmission / reception table and the activated application. May be. For example, it is assumed that the transmission / reception table has a correspondence between the first application and the transmission mode and a correspondence between the second application and the reception mode. The CPD 11 selects a transmission mode based on activation of the first application, and selects a reception mode based on activation of the second application.

(4) Communication protocol selection algorithm A communication protocol is uniquely selected according to the mime-type of the transfer data. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the CPD 11 stores a communication protocol management table in which transfer data types, transmission directions, and protocols are associated with each other. The CPD 11 can uniquely select a communication protocol from the communication protocol management table and the type of transfer data.

  The CPD 11 integrates the above-described algorithms, can uniquely estimate the data that the user is going to transfer, and can transfer the data that the user is going to transfer.

  In the above description, the algorithm of CPD 11 has been described, but APD 12 also has the same algorithm.

  Hereinafter, a selection example of the algorithm will be described.

(1) Case of transferring photo data of CPD 11 to APD 12 For example, by a user operation, CPD 11 starts an application corresponding to photo data, the start application specifies photo data, and photo data is displayed. In other words, this photo data is focused. The CPD 11 selects a transmission mode according to the algorithm described above, selects the photo data as transfer data, selects a communication protocol (BIP) according to the mime-type (JPG IMG) of the photo data, and selects the selected communication protocol. The photograph data is transmitted to the communication counterpart device (APD 12).

(2) Case of transferring video data of APD 12 to CPD 11 For example, the CPD 11 is in a home menu display state. The APD 12 activates an application for displaying a moving image list, displays the moving image list, and designates a predetermined moving image while displaying the moving image list. That is, the predetermined moving image is focused. The CPD 11 selects the reception mode by the above algorithm. One APD 12 selects a transmission mode according to the algorithm described above, selects the predetermined moving image as transfer data, selects a communication protocol (FTP) corresponding to the mime-type (Movie MPG) of the moving image data, and selects The moving image data is transmitted to the communication partner device (CPD11) using the communication protocol.

(3) Case where the web page displayed on the CPD 11 is transferred to the APD 12 For example, the CPD 11 activates a browser, designates a web page, and the web page is displayed by a user operation. The CPD 11 selects the transmission mode according to the algorithm described above, selects the URL of the web page as transfer data, selects the communication protocol (OBEX) corresponding to the URL's MIME-Type (URL txt), and selects the selected communication protocol. The URL is transmitted to the communication partner device (APD 12). The APD 12 selects the reception mode by the above algorithm, receives the URL, and displays the web page based on the received URL.

  Note that the above algorithm may not meet the needs of the user. Therefore, the user can customize the algorithm. In the above description, a case has been described in which transmission / reception of desired data is completed only by holding the CPD 11 over the APD 12 (without user operation). However, the user operation is accepted on the way and the user's needs are more reliably met. It is also possible to execute processing.

  As described above, when data is transferred between multi-function devices using point-to-point short-range wireless communication, the user's desired data can be obtained only by intuitive operation without performing unnecessary operations. It becomes possible to transfer, and the convenience of the user can be improved.

Next, the operation of the CPD 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the CPD 11 and the APD 12 come into contact with each other (S10), the CPD 11 specifies a communication partner (S11). The identification of the communication partner will be described in more detail later. If the CPD 11 is physically idle (S12, YES), the CPD 11 selects a reception mode (S13). Even if the CPD 11 is not physically idle (S12, NO), if the CPD 11 is in the home menu display state (S14, YES), the CPD 11 also selects the reception mode (S13). If the APD 12 of the communication partner of the CPD 11 has started the application (S16, YES), the CPD 11 waits in the reception mode (S17).
If the CPD 11 is not physically idle (S12, NO) and the CPD 11 is not in the home menu display state (S14, NO), the CPD 11 selects a transmission mode (S15). Such a state is, for example, a state in which the CPD 11 is starting an application. When the CPD 11 has activated a plurality of applications, one application is selected based on the zOrder of each application. That is, an active application is selected (S18).

  If the selected application is an application that handles a single data type (S19, YES), and the application has selected data (S20, YES), the CPD 11 uses the data selected by the application as a transfer target. The communication protocol suitable for the transfer target data is selected based on the communication protocol management table (S22), and the transfer target data is transmitted.

  If the selected application is an application that handles a single data type (S19, YES), and the application has selected (displayed) a data list or the like (S20, NO), the CPD 11 is selected by the application. All the data in the data list is determined as a transfer target (S23), a communication protocol suitable for the transfer target data is selected based on the communication protocol management table (S26), and the transfer target data is transmitted.

  If the selected application is not an application that handles a single data type (S19, NO) and the selected application is a Web browser (S21, YES), the location of the Web page displayed by the Web browser is displayed. The URL shown is determined as the transfer target (S24), a communication protocol suitable for the transfer target data is selected (S26), and the transfer target data is transmitted.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, the short-range wireless communication described above will be described in detail, and a configuration for realizing the above-described algorithm will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a related part of the short-range wireless communication module of the first wireless communication apparatus (CPD 11) according to the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the structure of the relevant part of the near field communication module of the 2nd radio | wireless communication apparatus (APD12) which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is also fundamentally the same.

  The CPD 11 includes a system control unit 101, ROM 102, RAM 103, proximity wireless communication module 104, power supply control unit 105, AC adapter 106, and battery 107.

  The system control unit 101 controls the operation of each unit in the CPD 11. The system control unit 101 includes a CPU 101 a and is connected to the ROM 102, the RAM 103, the close proximity wireless transfer module 104, and the power supply control unit 105.

  The CPU 101a is a processor that loads a command group and data stored in the ROM 102 into the RAM 103 and executes necessary processing. The RAM 103 is loaded with a proximity wireless communication control program 103a for controlling the proximity wireless communication. The CPU 101 a controls the near field communication module 104 by executing the near field communication control program 103 a loaded in the RAM 103.

  The close proximity wireless communication module 104 executes close proximity wireless communication. The close proximity wireless communication module 104 establishes a wireless connection with an external device (for example, APD 12) having a close proximity wireless communication function that exists within a predetermined distance from the close proximity wireless communication module 104, and transmits data such as a file. Start. Proximity wireless communication between the proximity wireless communication module 104 and the external device is performed in a peer-to-peer manner. The communicable distance is 3 cm, for example. The wireless connection between the close proximity wireless communication module 104 and the external device is such that the distance between the close proximity wireless communication module 104 and the external device is a communicable distance when the close proximity wireless communication module 104 and the external device are in close proximity. Only possible when approaching within (for example, 3 cm). When the close proximity wireless communication module 104 and the external device approach within a communicable distance, a wireless connection between the close proximity wireless communication module 104 and the external device is established. Then, communication is executed between the close proximity wireless transfer module 104 and the external device by the transmission / reception direction selected according to the algorithm described above, the selected transfer data, and the selected communication protocol.

  In close proximity wireless communication, an induced electric field is used. For example, TransferJet can be used as the close proximity wireless communication system. TransferJet is a close proximity wireless communication method using UWB, and can realize high-speed data transfer.

  The close proximity wireless transfer module 104 is connected to the antenna 104a. The antenna 104a is an electrode called a coupler, and transmits / receives data to / from an external device by a wireless signal using an induced electric field. When the external device approaches within a range within a communicable distance (for example, 3 cm) from the antenna 104a, the close proximity wireless communication module 104 and the antenna (coupler) of each external device are coupled by an induced electric field, whereby the close proximity wireless communication module Wireless communication between the external device 104 and the external device can be executed. The close proximity wireless transfer module 104 and the antenna 104a can be realized as one module.

  The power supply control unit 105 supplies power to each unit in the CPD 11 using power supplied from the outside via the AC adapter 106 or power supplied from the battery 107. In other words, the CPD 11 is driven by an external power source such as an AC commercial power source or the battery 107. The AC adapter 106 can also be provided in the CPD 11.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a software architecture for controlling the close proximity wireless communication performed using the close proximity wireless communication module 104 will be described.

  The software architecture of FIG. 7 shows a hierarchical structure of a protocol stack for controlling close proximity wireless communication. The protocol stack includes a physical layer (PHY) 20, a connection layer (CNL) 30, a protocol conversion layer (PCL) 40, and an application layer 50. For example, the connection layer (CNL) 30, the protocol conversion layer (PCL) 40, and the application layer 50 can be realized by the communication control program 103a.

  The physical layer (PHY) 20 is a layer that controls physical data transfer, and corresponds to the physical layer in the OSI reference model. A part or all of the functions of the physical layer (PHY) 20 can also be realized using hardware in the close proximity wireless transfer module 104.

  The physical layer (PHY) 20 converts data from the connection layer (CNL) 30 into a radio signal. The connection layer (CNL) 30 corresponds to the data link layer and the transport layer in the OSI reference model, and controls the physical layer (PHY) 20 to execute data communication. In response to a connection request from the protocol conversion layer (PCL) 40 or a connection request from an external device, the connection layer (CNL) 30 is connected between the close proximity wireless communication module 104 set in the proximity state and the external device. A process of establishing a connection (CNL connection) is executed.

  The protocol conversion layer (PCL) 40 corresponds to the session layer and the presentation layer in the OSI reference model, and a connection layer (CNL) for controlling the establishment and release of the connection between the application layer 50 and the devices A and B. ) 30. The protocol conversion layer (PCL) 40 controls each application (communication program) in the application layer 50 and controls the connection layer (CNL) 30.

  More specifically, the protocol conversion layer (PCL) 40 specifies data (user data) corresponding to an application protocol (for example, SCSI, OBEX, other general-purpose protocol) handled by each communication program of the application layer 50. Execute conversion processing to convert to the transmission data format. By this conversion processing, data transmitted / received by any communication program can be converted into a packet (data in a specific transmission data format) that can be handled by the connection layer (CNL) 30. The protocol conversion layer (PCL) 40 enables various application protocols to be used in close proximity wireless communication.

  In addition, the protocol conversion layer (PCL) 40 exchanges service information (information indicating services that can be provided by each device) and session information (information on a session to be established / disconnected) with a communication partner device. In addition, application activation, connection management, session management, and the like are performed.

  The application layer 50 includes a plurality of communication programs (applications) respectively corresponding to several application protocols such as SCSI, OBEX, and other general-purpose protocols. Each application executes processing for requesting the protocol conversion layer (PCL) 40 to start / end a session, and processing for transmitting and receiving data via the protocol conversion layer (PCL) 40.

  The protocol conversion layer (PCL) 40 includes, for example, a mode monitoring unit 41, a connection monitoring unit 42, a mode monitoring database 43, and a connection monitoring database 44.

  The connection monitoring unit 42 monitors the connection (CNL connection) between the CPD 11 set in the proximity state and the external device. As described above, in the CNL 30, in response to a connection request from the PCL 40 or a connection request from an external device, processing for establishing a connection between the CPD 11 set in the proximity state and the external device is executed. Further, the connection between the CPD 11 and the external device is released in response to a connection release request by the user or a release of the proximity state due to the separation of the CPD 11 and the external device. The connection monitoring unit 42 monitors the establishment and release of these connections, and stores in the connection monitoring database 44 information indicating that the connection has been established between the CPD 11 and the external device or that the connection has been released. To do.

  The mode monitoring unit 41 monitors the mode set in the PCL 40. In the PCL 40, any one of a proactive mode, a reactive mode, and a flexible mode is set.

  The proactive mode is a mode for transmitting a service start request from the CPD 11 to an external device. The device set to the proactive mode functions as a so-called master, and can control a communication partner device to execute a service such as data transfer between the devices. The reactive mode is a mode in which the CPD 11 receives a service start request transmitted from an external device. The device set in the reactive mode functions as a so-called slave, and can execute services such as data transfer between devices under the control of the communication partner device.

  The default mode of a portable device such as a mobile phone that cannot be driven by an external power supply is set to reactive mode to reduce its power consumption. When the user operates an application on the portable device, the portable device automatically transitions from the reactive mode to the proactive mode.

  The device set to the proactive mode transmits a connection request signal. On the other hand, since the device in the reactive mode does not transmit a connection request signal, power consumption is relatively small.

  The flexible mode is a mode in which a transition is made between the proactive mode and the reactive mode in accordance with the mode (proactive mode or reactive mode) set in the external device set in the proximity state. The CPD 11 set in the flexible mode transitions to the reactive mode when the external device is in the proactive mode by negotiation with the external device set in the proximity state, and when the external device is in the reactive mode. Transitions to proactive mode. That is, the CPD 11 set in the flexible mode switches between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave depending on the mode set in the communication partner device. The transition to the proactive mode or the reactive mode is performed, for example, after a connection between devices is established.

  A default mode set in a device such as a personal computer that can be driven by an external power source such as an AC adapter power source is a flexible mode. The device set to the flexible mode transmits a connection request signal. Thus, even when the user brings the mobile phone close to the personal computer (flexible mode device) without operating the mobile phone application, the connection between the devices can be established. Services such as data file transfer can be provided to the user.

  When a service is executed between a device set to proactive mode (device that has transitioned to proactive mode) and a device that has been set to reactive mode (device that has transitioned to reactive mode), The service specified by the configured device is executed between these two devices. When service execution is completed, the device that has transitioned from the reactive mode to the proactive mode returns to the reactive mode, the device that has transitioned from the flexible mode to the proactive mode, or the device that has transitioned from the flexible mode to the reactive mode. Returns to flexible mode.

  The mode monitoring unit 41 stores information indicating the current mode of the PCL 40 in the mode monitoring database 43. Therefore, when the PCL 40 of the CPD 11 transitions from the flexible mode to the proactive mode or the reactive mode by negotiation with an external device set in the proximity state, mode monitoring is performed based on information indicating one of the transition modes. The database 43 is rewritten.

  In the PCL 40, the connection (CNL connection) between the CPD 11 and the external device and the mode set in the PCL 40 are monitored, and control of each application (communication program) in the application layer 50 and control of the CNL 30 are performed.

  Note that a manager 60 is connected to the PCL 40 and the application layer 50 described above, and the manager 60 follows the algorithms described above (communication partner selection algorithm, communication data selection algorithm, transmission / reception direction selection algorithm, communication protocol selection algorithm). Control near field communication based on this. For example, as described above, one of the transmission mode and the reception mode is selected based on the algorithm. In other words, any one of the proactive mode, the reactive mode, and the flexible mode is set based on the algorithm. The setting conditions for any of the proactive mode, reactive mode, and flexible mode described in the present embodiment are included in the algorithm described above.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the close proximity wireless transfer control program 103a that realizes the functions of the PCL 40 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the close proximity wireless transfer control program 103a includes a control unit 401, a CNL connection monitoring unit 402, a negotiation processing unit 403, a mode control unit 404, a service processing unit 405, and a standby processing unit 406. The close proximity wireless transfer control program 103a is connected to the database 410. The database 410 is information indicating a CNL connection state 410a which is information indicating a connection state between the CPD 11 and the external device, a connection mode set in the PCL 40 of the CPD 11, and a connection mode set in the PCL of the external device. It is a storage device that stores a certain connection mode 410b.

  The control unit 401 controls a communication sequence between the CPD 11 and the external device. That is, the control unit 401 responds to a request or notification from the application unit 501 corresponding to the application layer 50 and the data communication unit 201 corresponding to the CNL 30 and the physical layer (PHY) 20 in the proximity wireless communication control program 103a. Control each part.

  The CNL connection monitoring unit 402 monitors the connection (CNL connection) between the CPD 11 and the external device by the CNL 30. When the connection between the close proximity wireless communication module 104 by the CNL 30 and the external device is established, the CNL connection monitoring unit 402 stores information indicating that the CNL connection is established in the CNL connection state 410a of the database 410. To do. When the connection between the CPD 11 and the external device by the CNL 30 is released, the CNL connection monitoring unit 402 stores information indicating that the CNL connection is released in the CNL connection state 410a of the database 410.

  The CNL connection monitoring unit 402 notifies each unit of the close proximity wireless transfer control program 103a of the establishment or release of the CNL connection. When notified that the CNL connection has been released, the negotiation processing unit 403, the mode control unit 404, the service processing unit 405, and the standby processing unit 406 interrupt the process being executed. In other words, the processes by the negotiation processing unit 403, the mode control unit 404, the service processing unit 405, and the standby processing unit 406 are executed during the period when the CNL connection is established.

  When the negotiation processing unit 403 receives a notification indicating that the CNL connection has been established from the CNL connection monitoring unit 402, the negotiation processing unit 403 performs the negotiation processing. The negotiation processing unit 403 executes arbitration of a mode set in the PCL 40, determination of a service executed between devices, service synchronization, and the like as negotiation processing.

  In arbitration of the mode set in the PCL 40, the negotiation processing unit 403 determines the mode set in the PCL 40 of the CPD 11 according to the mode set in the communication partner device. As described above, one of the proactive mode, the reactive mode, and the flexible mode is set in the PCL 40. When a service is executed between two devices, one device is set to a proactive mode that transmits a service start request to a communication partner device, and the other device receives and responds to the service start request. Must be set to reactive mode.

  When own PCL 40 is set to proactive mode and PCL 40 of the communication partner device is set to reactive mode, or its own PCL 40 is set to reactive mode and PCL 40 of the communication partner device is set to pro When the active mode is set, the negotiation processing unit 403 does not perform processing for changing the mode set in the PCL 40.

  When its own PCL 40 is set to the flexible mode, the negotiation processing unit 403 selects either the proactive mode or the reactive mode according to the mode set to the PCL 40 of the communication partner device. That is, when the PCL 40 of the communication partner device is set to the proactive mode, the negotiation processing unit 403 selects the reactive mode as the mode to be set for the own PCL 40. Further, when the PCL 40 of the communication partner device is set to the reactive mode, the negotiation processing unit 403 selects the proactive mode as the mode to be set for the own PCL 40. Then, the negotiation processing unit 403 notifies the mode control unit 404 of the selected mode.

  The mode control unit 404 controls the mode set in the PCL 40 in cooperation with the negotiation processing unit 403. The mode control unit 404 sets the mode determined by the negotiation processing unit 403 in the PCL 40.

  Information indicating the mode set in the own PCL 40 and the mode set in the PCL 40 of the communication partner device is stored in the connection mode 410 b of the database 410.

  In determining a service to be executed between devices, the negotiation processing unit 403 determines a service specified by the device on the side where the PCL 40 is set to the proactive mode as a service to be executed between the devices. Therefore, when the communication partner device is set to the proactive mode, the negotiation processing unit 403 determines a service designated by the communication partner device as a service to be executed between the devices. In addition, when the PCL 40 is set to the proactive mode, the negotiation processing unit 403 determines a service corresponding to an application designated by the user or a predetermined service as a service to be executed between devices. .

  In the service synchronization, the negotiation processing unit 403 executes a synchronization process for starting execution of the service between devices.

  The service processing unit 405 executes a process according to the service determined by the negotiation processing unit 403 after the service is synchronized (started) by the negotiation processing unit 403. The service processing unit 405 executes processing by appropriately controlling the data communication unit 201 and the application unit 501.

  The standby processing unit 406 executes standby processing for a period from when the processing by the service processing unit 405 is completed until a new service start request is received. The standby processing unit 406 ends the standby process when a service start request is received from a communication partner device or when a service start request is input by a user. In response to the completion of the standby processing by the standby processing unit 406, the negotiation processing by the negotiation processing unit 403 is started again. That is, the standby processing unit 406 performs a service from the completion of the processing by the service processing unit 405 to the reception of a service start request from the communication partner device, or by the user after the processing by the service processing unit 405 is completed. During the period until the start request is input, the negotiation processing unit 403 is not requested to start the negotiation process.

  The application unit 501 manages a plurality of applications (communication programs) that execute data transmission / reception using proximity wireless communication. The application unit 501 executes processing for notifying the close proximity wireless communication control program 103a of a session start / end request from the application, and processing for controlling the close proximity wireless communication control program 103a. The application is a communication program corresponding to several application protocols such as SCSI, OBEX, and other general-purpose protocols.

  FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of close proximity wireless communication between devices. Here, it is assumed that a service start request is transmitted from device A (for example, CPD11) set to the proactive mode to device B (APD12) set to the flexible mode. For example, in the initial state, it is assumed that device A is set to the reactive mode and device B is set to the flexible mode.

  First, the user selects an application program for performing close proximity wireless communication on the device A, brings the device A and the device B close to each other (touch operation), and sets the close state (S101). The device A for which the application program has been selected transitions from the reactive mode in which the service start request is received from the external device to the proactive mode in which the service start request is transmitted to the external device.

  The transition to the proactive mode is executed by the transmission / reception direction selection algorithm described above on the condition that the application program is selected (activated). Note that the condition for transition to the proactive mode is not limited to the selection of an application program. For example, if the device A is a mobile phone, the above-described operation is performed on the condition that the operation for opening the mobile phone display, the slide operation on the mobile phone display is detected, and the key operation on the mobile phone has not been detected for a predetermined time. The transition to the proactive mode is executed by the transmission / reception direction selection algorithm.

  Next, the device A and the device B execute a process (authentication process) for establishing a connection (CNL connection) between the device A and the device B (S102). For example, device A transmits a connection request. Upon receiving this connection request, device B transmits a response to the connection request to device A. With the above processing, a connection is established between device A and device B. This connection establishment is executed according to the communication partner selection algorithm described above.

  The devices A and B that have established the connection execute a negotiation process (S103). As the negotiation process, device A and device B perform mode arbitration (S103a), service negotiation (S103b), and service synchronization (S103c).

  Specifically, the device B set in the flexible mode performs mode arbitration that changes its mode according to the mode set in the device A that is the communication partner device in accordance with the transmission / reception direction selection algorithm described above. (S103a). Here, since the device A is set to the proactive mode, the device B changes its mode from the flexible mode to the reactive mode. Then, the device A and the device B execute service negotiation for determining a service to be executed between the device A and the device B according to the communication data selection algorithm described above (S103b). Here, the service designated by the device A set to the proactive mode, that is, the service corresponding to the application program selected by the user is determined as the service executed between the device A and the device B. . For example, if there is still image data or moving image data selected by the application program, processing for transmitting still image data or moving image data from device A to device B is determined as a service. Further, according to the communication protocol selection algorithm, a communication protocol suitable for transmission of still image data or moving image data is selected based on the communication protocol management table. Device A and device B perform service synchronization for executing the determined service (S103c). Thereby, the execution of the service is started between the device A and the device B.

  When the above negotiation process is completed, a service is executed between the device A and the device B, and communication such as data transmission / reception is performed (S104). When the execution of the service is completed, the device A transitions from the proactive mode to the reactive mode, and the device B transitions from the reactive mode to the flexible mode. Further, the connection between the device A and the device B is released.

  The module described above may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by software using a CPU or the like.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the implementation stage, it can change variously in the range which does not deviate from the summary. In addition, the embodiments may be appropriately combined as much as possible, and in that case, the combined effect can be obtained. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, the problem described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effect described in the column of the effect of the invention Can be obtained as an invention.

  The invention described in the scope of the original claims of the original application of the present application will be added below.

[1]
A communication means for wirelessly communicating with a communication partner device;
Execution means for executing one or more applications;
Either a transmission mode in which a communication partner device is specified by wireless communication by the communication means, and communication data is transmitted to the communication partner device based on an execution state of the application, or a reception mode in which communication data is received from the communication partner device Select either one, determine communication data based on the data handled by the application, determine the communication protocol based on the attribute information of the data handled by the application, and control communication with the communication partner device Communication control means for
A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

[2]
The wireless communication apparatus according to [1], wherein the communication control unit determines to select the transmission mode based on the activation of the application.

[3]
The wireless communication apparatus according to [1], wherein the communication control unit determines data selected by the application as communication data.

[4]
The wireless communication apparatus according to [1], wherein the communication control unit determines, as communication data, data selected by an active application when a plurality of applications are activated.

[5]
The wireless communication apparatus according to [1], wherein the communication control means determines the URL of the WEB page selected by the application as communication data.

[6]
The communication control means stores a communication protocol management table for transmitting a first type of communication data using a first communication protocol, and transmitting a second type of communication data using a second communication protocol. The wireless communication apparatus according to [1], wherein a communication protocol is determined based on a type of the communication protocol and the communication protocol management table.

[7]
A transmission mode for wirelessly communicating with a communication partner device to identify the communication partner device and transmitting communication data to the communication partner device based on an execution state of the application and a reception mode for receiving communication data from the communication partner device Select either one of them, determine communication data based on the data handled by the application, determine the communication protocol based on the attribute information of the data handled by the application,
Controlling communication with the communication partner device,
A wireless communication method.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... CPD, 12 ... APD, 20 ... Physical layer (PHY), 30 ... Connection layer (CNL), 40 ... Protocol conversion layer (PCL), 50 ... Application layer, 60 ... Manager, 103a ... Proximity wireless communication control program, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 104 ... Proximity wireless communication module 401 ... Control part 402 ... CNL connection monitoring part 403 ... Negotiation processing part 404 ... Mode control part 405 ... Service processing part 406 ... Standby processing part 410 ... Database 410a ... CNL Connection state, 410b ... connection mode, 501 ... application section

Claims (2)

A transmission means for wireless communication with a receiving device;
Execution means for executing one or more applications;
When a receiving device is specified by wireless communication by the transmitting means and communication data is transmitted to the receiving device, data selected by an application in an active state when the one or more applications are executed Communication control means for controlling to transmit to the receiving device using a communication protocol based on attribute information of data handled by the application in the active state,
A wireless communication device comprising: A wireless communication method in a wireless communication device capable of executing one or more applications,
When wireless communication is performed with a receiving device to identify the receiving device and communication data is transmitted to the receiving device, the application is selected by an active application when the one or more applications are being executed. A wireless communication method for transmitting data to the receiving device and controlling communication with the receiving device using a communication protocol based on attribute information of data handled by the active application.

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