JP2011199770A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication equipment that selects a desired device to be connected, easily.SOLUTION: A short-range radio control section searches for a device to be connected (step S18c) when conditions on a device to be connected are input through an input section 16 (step S18b). Information for identifying the device to be connected satisfying the conditions among searched device to be connected is displayed (step S18f). One of displayed information is selected based on operation of the input section (step S18g). The short-range radio communication is established with the device to be connected identified by the selected information.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device.

  A communication device that performs communication via a short-range wireless communication network such as Bluetooth (registered trademark: Bluetooth) first searches for a counterpart device, that is, a device that can communicate via the communication network. That is, the apparatus transmits a signal indicating search to the communication network, and displays the identification information of the opposite device that has transmitted the response signal according to the signal. Then, the user of the device selects one of the displayed identification information to select a desired opposite device as a communication partner device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-199186 A (2nd, 4th page, FIG. 2)

  However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user of the apparatus to select identification information of a desired opposite device. This is because the identification information of all oncoming devices present in the vicinity is displayed and the display order of the information is not clear. This problem is remarkable when a large number of oncoming machines are searched.

  The communication device of the present invention searches for a communication partner device by short-range wireless communication, and displays a list of information for identifying communication partner devices satisfying a predetermined condition among the searched communication partner devices. It has a wireless control means.

  According to the present invention, it is easy to select a desired opposite machine.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of a structure of the near field communication apparatus information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart of the 1st search operation | movement of the short distance radio | wireless control part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the display of the display part during the opposing device search operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention (condition input of a desired opposing device). The figure which shows the display of the display part in the other party search operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention (display of a search condition). The figure which shows the display of the display part in the other party search operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention (display of a search end). The figure which shows the display of the display part in the other party search operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention (Display of the information which concerns on the other party which satisfy | fills conditions, 1st example). The figure which shows the display of the display part in the other party search operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention (Display of the information which concerns on the other party which satisfy | fills conditions, 2nd example). The figure which shows the display of the display part in the other party search operation | movement which concerns on embodiment of this invention (The display of the information which concerns on the other party which satisfy | fills conditions, 3rd example). The communication sequence during the 1st search operation | movement of the short-distance radio | wireless control part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart of the 2nd search operation | movement of the short distance radio | wireless control part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The communication sequence during the 2nd search operation | movement of the short distance radio | wireless control part which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of a communication apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile communication device that is an example of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This mobile communication device includes a control unit 11 that controls the entire device, a mobile communication network communication unit 12, and an antenna 12a that transmits and receives radio signals between base stations (not shown) belonging to the mobile communication network. The mobile communication network control unit 13, the call unit 14, the speaker 14a for outputting the received voice, the microphone 14b for inputting the transmitted voice, the display unit 15 for visually presenting information to the user, and the user An input unit 16 for inputting an operation instruction from the mobile phone, a short-range wireless communication unit 17, an antenna 17a for transmitting and receiving a short-range wireless signal of Bluetooth (R), a short-range wireless control unit 18, and a device information storage unit 19

  The device information storage unit 19 stores short-range wireless communication device information. The short-range wireless communication device information is information related to a counterpart device capable of transmitting and receiving a Bluetooth (R) short-range wireless signal. FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of short-range wireless communication device information, which includes a manufacturer name 19a, a type 19b, a service 19c, a device address 19d, and a device name 19e.

  The function of each part of the mobile communication apparatus configured as described above according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The mobile communication network communication unit 12 obtains a high frequency signal from the radio signal received by the antenna 12 a from the base station, and transmits this high frequency signal to the mobile communication network control unit 13. Moreover, the high frequency signal transmitted from the mobile communication network control unit 13 is transmitted to the antenna 12a.

  The mobile communication network control unit 13 amplifies, converts and demodulates the high frequency signal from the mobile communication network communication unit 12, and transmits the digital voice signal obtained thereby to the call unit 14 and the control signal to the control unit 11, respectively. To do. Furthermore, the mobile communication network control unit 13 modulates, frequency-converts and amplifies the digital voice signal transmitted from the call unit 14 and the control signal transmitted from the control unit 11 to obtain a high-frequency signal, Transmit to the mobile communication network communication unit 12.

  The call unit 14 converts the digital audio signal transmitted from the mobile communication network control unit 13 into an analog audio signal, amplifies it, and sends it to the speaker 14a. Further, the analog audio signal transmitted from the microphone 14b is amplified, converted into a digital audio signal, and transmitted to the mobile communication network control unit 13.

  The display unit 15 is, for example, a display unit of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The control unit 11 controls the display to prompt the user to operate, display the contents operated by the user, and display the operation state of the apparatus. Etc.

  The input unit 16 includes characters and numeric keys used for inputting numbers including telephone numbers and characters when creating an e-mail, operation instructions for turning on / off the power of the mobile communication device, and outgoing and incoming call responses. A plurality of function keys used for inputting operation instructions, etc., four arrow keys for up / down / left / right directions used for moving the cursor, etc., and a decision used for selecting an item on which the cursor is placed. The control unit 11 is notified of a code signal that includes a key and identifies the key operated by the user.

  The short-range wireless communication unit 17 transmits a short-range wireless signal received via the antenna 17 a to the short-range wireless control unit 18. Further, the short-range wireless signal transmitted from the short-range wireless control unit 18 is transmitted through the antenna 17a.

  When the short-range wireless control unit 18 transmits / receives a short-range wireless signal, first, the condition of the opposite device desired by the user is input by operating the input unit 16. Then, the short-range wireless communication unit 17 is controlled to search for the opposite device. The short-range wireless control unit 18 causes the display unit 15 to display a list of information related to the opposite device obtained by this search, and the short-range wireless signal between the opposite device selected based on the operation of the input unit 16 Send and receive. At the time of this list display, the short-range wireless control unit 18 refers to the input conditions and / or short-range wireless communication device information stored in the device information storage unit 19 and selects the opposite device desired by the user. To be easy.

  Next, the details of the short-range wireless communication device information stored in the device information storage unit 19 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, each row is information related to one counter device, and the manufacturer name 19a is the name of the manufacturer that manufactured the counter device. The type 19b is the type of the opposite device, and is “headset”, “computer peripheral device” (a device that is attached to a personal computer interface, for example, a USB interface, and transmits and receives short-range wireless signals. It is called a dongle. There are also "mobile phone", "car navigation system", etc.

  The service 19c is a service provided by the above-mentioned counterpart device through transmission / reception of a short-range wireless signal, and is one of “voice communication” (including hands-free call), “dial-up”, “file transfer”, or the like. There are multiple. The service 19c substantially corresponds to a Bluetooth (R) profile. That is, “voice communication” is A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) or HFP (Hands-Free Profile) profile, “dial-up” is DUN (Dial-up Networking Profile) profile, and “file transfer” is It corresponds to OPP (Object Push Profile), BIP (Bit Map Profile), etc., respectively. Therefore, in addition to or instead of the service 19c, the short-range wireless communication device information may include a profile name. According to this, it is possible to obtain an effect that is easy to use for a user who is familiar with the Bluetooth (R) system.

  The device address 19d is 48 bits for uniquely identifying the counterpart device used to identify the counterpart device when transmitting and receiving a short-range wireless signal. In the figure, the device address 19d is expressed in hexadecimal notation every 8 bits. ":" Is inserted between the notations. The device name 19e is information for the user to easily identify the opposing device, and is, for example, the model number of the opposing device. In the Bluetooth (R) system, the upper 24 bits of the device address 19d correspond to the manufacturer name 19a. Therefore, the short-range wireless communication device information may not include the manufacturer name 19a, and the correspondence between the upper 24 bits of the device address 19d and the manufacturer name 19a may be separately stored in the device information storage unit 19.

  The short-range wireless communication device information may be stored at the time of manufacturing the mobile communication device, or may be stored information related to the opposite device with which the short-range wireless control unit 18 has transmitted and received the short-range wireless signal. Moreover, you may memorize | store the information which concerns on the opposing device searched when searching for the opposing device. Further, it may be stored by operating the input unit 16. In particular, the device name 19e is effective in improving the user's comfort by updating and storing information that is easy for the user to remember by operating the input unit 16.

  The operation of searching for the opposite device in the mobile communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

(First search operation)
The first search operation of the short-range wireless control unit 18 described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is an operation for searching for an oncoming device that performs an operation defined in Bluetooth (R) V2.0, for example.

  The short-range wireless control unit 18 starts a search by the control of the control unit 11 based on the operation of the input unit 16 (step S18a), and inputs a desired condition of the opposite device according to the operation of the input unit 16 (step S18b). The input of this condition is the device name 19a, the type 19b, the service 19c, the device address 19d, and the device name 19e for the items determined at the time of shipment of the device or determined according to the user's operation. A list of values stored in the information storage unit 19 is displayed on the display unit 15. Then, the value selected according to the operation of the input unit 16 is input. It is suitable that the defined items are easy for the user to understand. For example, the manufacturer name 19a and the device name 19e.

  Note that the items used for inputting the conditions may be determined each time. That is, the short-range wireless control unit 18 first displays a menu including information for identifying five items of manufacturer name, type, service, device address, and device name on the display unit 15, Which item is used to input the condition by key operation.

  FIG. 4 shows a display of the display unit 15 for inputting the manufacturer name 19a as a desired condition of the opposite device as an example. This display includes a message for prompting selection of the manufacturer name 19a, a list of manufacturer names 19a stored in the device information storage unit 19, a menu 15a including "others", and a stop display 15b. A cursor is placed on one item in the menu 15a, and the display is different from the other items. In the figure, the item on which the cursor is placed is indicated by hatching.

  The cursor moves to another item by a predetermined cursor movement key operation of the input unit 16. When a predetermined determination key operation of the input unit 16 is performed, if the cursor is placed on one of the manufacturer names 19a at that time, the short-range wireless control unit 18 inputs the manufacturer name 19a. When the cursor is placed on “others”, the short-range wireless control unit 18 displays an input field for inputting an arbitrary character string on the display unit 15, and the character string input through the field is displayed as the manufacturer name. Enter as.

  When a predetermined key of the input unit 16 corresponding to the stop display 15b (often a key arranged at a position closest to the position where the stop display 15b is displayed) is operated, the short-range wireless control unit 18 Ends the search operation (not shown). Further, communication with the opposite device following the search operation is not performed. The operation when a predetermined key of the input unit 16 corresponding to the stop display 15b is operated is the same in any operation step, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, the short-range wireless control unit 18 controls the short-range wireless communication unit 17 to search for the oncoming device over a predetermined search time (step S18c). During this search, the short-range wireless control unit 18 displays the search status on the display unit 15 as illustrated in FIG. This display includes a search in progress, a search-in-progress display 15c that includes the number of on-coming devices that have already been searched, and a stop display 15b. By this search, the device addresses of all the counterpart devices that can be transmitted and received in the vicinity are obtained.

  When the search is completed, the short-range wireless control unit 18 displays on the display unit 15 that the search is completed, as illustrated in FIG. 6 (step S18d). This display includes a search end display 15d including the end of the search, the number of oncoming devices searched, and a stop display 15b. Note that the searched opposite device is not limited to the opposite device whose information is stored in the device information storage unit 19.

  Next, the short-range wireless control unit 18 inquires about the four items of the manufacturer name, type, service, and device name for each searched counterpart device, and the result obtained in response to the inquiry and the search It is determined whether the device address obtained at the time satisfies the condition input in step S18b (step S18e).

  Then, the short-range wireless control unit 18 causes the display unit 15 to display information that satisfies the condition, that is, identifies a desired opposite device (step S18f). Here, the information to be displayed is one or more of the five items of manufacturer name, type, service, device address, and device name, but the device address is compared with other items by the user. Therefore, it is preferable to avoid the display. Moreover, although it is unnecessary about the item which input the value as conditions in step S18b, when there is no thing which satisfy | fills conditions by step S18e, by displaying also about the item which input the value as conditions, a user is An effect of recognizing an error in the condition input in step S18b can be obtained.

  A display example of information for identifying the counterpart device that satisfies the condition will be described. Here, it is assumed that the short-range wireless communication device information illustrated in FIG. 4 is stored in the device information storage unit 19. FIG. 7 shows an example in which information for identifying an oncoming device that satisfies the condition that the manufacturer name shown in FIG. 4 is “Company B” is displayed. This display includes an identification information display 15e including a list of device names of the counterpart devices that satisfy the condition, and a stop display 15b. A list of device names is given a serial number. Here, the fact that the cursor is placed on one of the displayed device names is indicated by hatching in the figure. Note that information related to the counterpart device whose device name is “NAVI-B-1” is not stored in the device information storage unit 19.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which a search is performed on the condition that the service 19c is “voice communication”, and information for identifying a counterpart device that satisfies the condition is displayed. The identification information display 15e of this display does not include all device names 19e of the opposite devices whose information is stored in the device information storage unit 19 whose service is “voice communication”. This is because the other device with the device name 19e not included is not searched because it does not exist in the vicinity or the power is turned off.

  FIG. 9 shows an example in which a search is performed on condition that the manufacturer name is “Company B” and the type is “Personal computer peripheral device”, and information for identifying the opposite device that satisfies the condition is displayed. This identification information display 15e includes one device name.

  In these examples, information related to the oncoming machine that satisfies the condition is displayed, but the present invention is not limited to this. Information regarding all the searched opposite devices may be displayed. At this time, information related to the counterpart device that satisfies the condition is displayed first (upper on the display screen), and information related to the counterpart device that does not satisfy the condition is displayed separately (lower on the display screen). The cursor is placed on the information displayed first. As a result, the user can find information for identifying the desired counterpart device in a short time, and can select the desired counterpart device with a small number of cursor movement operations.

  The short-range wireless control unit 18 moves the cursor to a different device name by operating a predetermined cursor movement key of the input unit 16. Then, by the predetermined determination key operation of the input unit 16, the opposite device identified by the device name where the cursor is placed is selected as a communication partner, or the serial number assigned to the device name is operated by the key operation of the input unit 16 Is selected as the communication partner (step S18g), and the search operation is terminated (step S18h). Thereafter, communication with the counterpart device of the communication partner is performed (not shown).

  If the result satisfying the condition is not obtained in step S18e, the short-range wireless control unit 18 displays the fact on the display unit 15. During the display, a stop display 15b is also displayed (not shown).

  With reference to FIG. 10, the sequence of communication performed between the short-range wireless control unit 18 and the counterpart device in the first search operation described above will be described. Here, the short-range wireless control unit 18 will be described by being divided into Bluetooth middle that is middleware and Bluetooth stack that is driver software.

  The Bluetooth middle sends a device search request to the Bluetooth stack (step T101, corresponding to step S18c in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3), and displays a search-in-progress display 15c as shown in FIG. 5 (step T102). This corresponds to step S18c in the flowchart shown in FIG. On the other hand, in response to this request, the Bluetooth stack performs an inquiry via the short-range wireless communication unit 17 (step T103), and from the opposite devices (the opposite device A and the opposite device B in the figure). Each time a response is received, a progress notification that the device search has been performed is sent to the Bluetooth middle. In response to this notification, the Bluetooth middle updates the number of searched counterparts included in the searching display 15c.

  After inquiry over a predetermined time, the Bluetooth stack sends a device search response corresponding to the device search request in step T101 to the Bluetooth middle (step T104). Then, device name acquisition is performed via the short-range wireless communication unit 17 (step T105), and a device search progress notification indicating that the device name has been acquired is sent to the Bluetooth middle each time a response from the opposite device is received. .

  When the device name acquisition has been completed for all of the opposing devices searched by the inquiry, the Bluetooth middle displays a search end display 15d as shown in FIG. 6 (step T106, in step S18d of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3). Corresponding.) Then, after determining the oncoming machine that satisfies the condition, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the identification information display 15e related to the oncoming machine that satisfies the condition is displayed (step T107, corresponding to step S18f of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3). .)

  The Bluetooth middle may be performed when the search end display 15d in step T106 is displayed when the device search response in step T104 is received. According to this, the search end display 15d can be displayed earlier. However, when the response to the device name acquisition cannot be obtained from all the searched counter devices included in this display, the number of searched counter devices is not accurate.

(Second search operation)
The second search operation of the short-range wireless control unit 18 described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 is an operation for searching for an opposite device that performs an operation defined in Bluetooth (R) V2.1, for example. This second search operation includes an operation common to the first search operation. Therefore, description of common operations is omitted, or only simple description is given.

  The short-range wireless control unit 18 starts a search by the control of the control unit 11 based on the operation of the input unit 16 (step S18m), and inputs a desired condition of the opposite device according to the operation of the input unit 16 (step S18n). The operation in step S18n is the same as that in step S18b. Then, the short-range wireless communication unit 17 is controlled to search for the opposite device, and it is determined whether or not it has been searched (step S18o). As a result of this search, five items are obtained: manufacturer name, type, service, device address, and device name of the searched counterpart device. Here, the search operation in step S18o is performed for a predetermined time, but it is different from the search operation in step S18c that it is determined that a search is made every time one oncoming device is searched.

  If it is determined that the search has been made, the short-range wireless control unit 18 determines whether or not the information related to the searched counterpart device satisfies the condition input in step S18b (step S18p). If it is determined that the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to the search operation in step S18o.

  If it is determined that the condition is satisfied, the short-range wireless control unit 18 causes the display unit 15 to display information for identifying the opposite device (step S18q), and proceeds to the search operation of step S18o. Here, the display is a display including the identification information display 15e described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 in the first search operation. However, each time an oncoming device that satisfies the condition is searched, information on the oncoming device that satisfies the condition indicated in the identification information display 15e is added.

  After displaying the information for identifying the oncoming device that satisfies the condition on the display unit 15, the short-range wireless control unit 18 determines whether one of the displayed information on the oncoming device has been selected. (Step S18r). If it is not selected, the operation of determining whether or not it has been selected is repeated. If selected, the search operation is terminated (step S18s). After that, as described in the first search operation, the selected device, that is, the communication with the opposite device of the communication partner is performed.

  Here, the operation for determining whether or not the selection is made in step S18r operates as, for example, a different thread, independently of the operation for displaying information related to the counterpart device that satisfies the search and the conditions up to step S18q. Therefore, the opposite device is selected before the end of the search, and communication with the opposite device may start, in which case the search is ended.

  If it is determined in step S18o that the search has not been performed, the short-range wireless control unit 18 proceeds to an operation of determining whether one of the oncoming devices satisfying the condition of step S18r has been selected. Note that the operation when no counterpart device satisfying the condition is searched is the same as in the first search operation.

  According to the second search operation, when a desired counterpart device is searched, the user can immediately end the search and start communication with the counterpart device.

  In a situation where many oncoming devices are searched, there are a plurality of oncoming devices that satisfy the condition input in step S18n, and the oncoming device that is searched first may not be the oncoming device desired by the user. Therefore, when it is determined by communication with the opposite device that satisfies the condition that the opposite device is not the opposite device desired by the user, the short-range wireless control unit 18 performs the predetermined operation of the input unit 16 so that the short-range wireless control unit 18 Are stored in the short-range wireless control unit 18.

  Next, when performing the search by inputting the same condition, the short-range wireless control unit 18 determines that the opposite device having the device address stored in the short-range wireless control unit 18 does not satisfy the condition in step S18p. to decide. Here, when inputting the condition in step S18n, the previously input condition is displayed on the display unit 15 in advance, and the user does not need to input the condition again. Through these processes, the user can select a desired opposite machine more easily.

  With reference to FIG. 12, the sequence of communication performed between the short-range wireless control unit 18 and the counterpart device in the second search operation described above will be described.

  The Bluetooth middle sends a device search request to the Bluetooth stack (step T201, corresponding to step S18o in the flowchart shown in FIG. 11), and displays an identification information display 15e as shown in FIG. Step T202 corresponds to step S18q of the flowchart shown in FIG. 11).

  On the other hand, in response to this request, the Bluetooth stack performs an inquiry via the short-range wireless communication unit 17 (step T203), and from the opposite devices (the opposite device A and the opposite device B in the figure). Each time a response is received, a progress notification that the device search has been performed, including the device name and the like, is sent to the Bluetooth middle. In response to this notification, the Bluetooth middle updates the number of searched counterparts included in the searching display 15c.

  After inquiry over a predetermined time, the Bluetooth stack sends a device search response corresponding to the device search request in step T201 to the Bluetooth middle (step T204).

  Communication via the short-range wireless communication network performed after the search for the counterpart device described above is arbitrary. In the above description, the condition of the oncoming device is input by the operation of the input unit 16 every time of search, but is not limited to this. The input condition may be stored and a search may be performed with reference to the stored condition. In the above description, an example in which the present invention is applied to a mobile communication device is used. However, the present invention naturally includes any device that performs communication via a short-range wireless communication network, such as a personal computer, a PDA, and an audio output. It can be applied to a device. The present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications are possible.

11 Control unit 15 Display unit 15a Menu 15b Stop display 15c Searching display 15d Search end display 15e Identification information display 16 Input unit 17 Short-range wireless communication unit 18 Short-range wireless control unit 19 Device information storage unit 19a Manufacturer name 19b Type 19c Service 19d Device address 19e Device name

Claims (7)

Searching for a communication partner device by short-range wireless communication, and having a short-range wireless control means for displaying on the display means a list of information identifying communication partner devices that satisfy a predetermined condition among the searched communication partner devices. A communication device. Search for a communication partner device by short-range wireless communication, and display the information for identifying the communication partner device that satisfies the predetermined condition and the information for identifying the communication partner device that does not satisfy the predetermined condition on the display means A communication apparatus comprising short-range wireless control means. Each time a communication partner device is searched by searching for a communication counterpart device by short-range wireless communication, it is determined whether or not the searched communication partner device satisfies a predetermined condition, and it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied. A short-distance wireless control means for adding information for identifying a communication counterpart apparatus to the list display displayed on the display means. The short-range wireless control means receives information indicating an attribute of the device from the searched communication counterpart device,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is that the received information matches the predetermined information. The attribute of the communication counterpart device is one or more of a manufacturer of the device, a type of the device, a service provided by the device, and a name of the device. Communication equipment. When the short-range wireless control unit selects one of the displayed information according to a predetermined operation of the input unit, the short-range wireless control unit ends the search for the communication counterpart device and is identified by the selected information. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein short-range wireless communication is performed with a communication partner apparatus. The short-range wireless control means, when the communication partner apparatus identified by the selected information is input from the input means that the communication partner apparatus is not appropriate, the communication partner apparatus is the predetermined The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein it is determined that the condition is not satisfied.

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