JP2012205085A - Wireless lan communication system and method, and wireless lan terminal and connection switching method of wireless lan base station thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless LAN communication system and method which allows for connection with a wireless LAN base station of large remaining band among a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations while ensuring communication quality, and to provide a wireless LAN terminal and a switching method of wireless LAN base stations thereof.SOLUTION: A plurality of wireless LAN base stations transmit their remaining band information periodically, and a wireless LAN terminal receives the remaining band information transmitted from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, and then displays the remaining band information received from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations. Based on the remaining band information displayed in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, the wireless LAN terminal is connected with a wireless LAN base station selected from among the plurality of wireless LAN base stations.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless LAN communication system and method including a wireless LAN base station and a wireless LAN terminal, and a wireless LAN base station and a wireless LAN base station connection switching method in the wireless LAN terminal.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an IP telephone network system that uses a wireless LAN access point standardized by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.11 and provides a telephone function using IP (Internet Protocol). It has been. Since this IP telephone network system is a communication mode in which a communication service called “best effort” is not guaranteed with respect to the line speed of a wireless LAN network, each wireless terminal cannot communicate at a constant line speed, There is a problem that communication quality (call quality) deteriorates as the number of calls with the terminal increases.

  That is, in a wireless IP telephone system that performs wireless communication between a wireless terminal and a wireless LAN base station using a wireless LAN and performs a call or the like, a plurality of wireless IP telephones are accommodated in a single wireless LAN base station. When the number of calls (communications) of the wireless IP telephone set is increased, the bandwidth required for the call or the like exceeds the wireless bandwidth, so that QoS (Quality Of Service) is lowered.

  In view of this, a technique for preventing a decrease in QoS has been proposed. For example, as a method of maintaining the line speed, there are a method of controlling a MAC (Media Access Control) filter that restricts connectable wireless terminals, and a method of controlling the number of connected devices. In the former method, it is necessary to register the MAC address of the terminal to be connected in advance, and the other methods cannot be connected, so that it is not convenient.

  In the latter method, when an arbitrary fixed number of terminals are connected, no more terminals can be connected. However, the number of connectable terminals may be reduced in order to secure a necessary bandwidth during a call. Furthermore, regardless of these issues, even if the call control signal is connected in order for the IP telephone exchange to establish a call (call control), a sufficient bandwidth of the voice data cannot be obtained and the voice cannot be heard. There is also a problem that QoS cannot be provided.

  On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 describes that when a power line or the like is used as a communication transmission path, appropriate communication quality is ensured according to the connected electrical equipment and the type of data to be transmitted (paragraph). 0013-0021 etc.).

  Patent Document 2 describes that a wireless base station notifies a wireless terminal wishing to perform handover from a wireless base station to which it currently belongs to a usable bandwidth amount from the wireless base station. (Paragraphs 0002-0006 etc.).

JP 2007-116453 A JP 2008-005019 A

  In the method of Patent Document 1, a bandwidth reservation request is made to another power line communication device serving as a control terminal, thereby securing a transmission band related to data transmission on the power line communication network. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the wireless LAN base station periodically transmits the remaining bandwidth information of its own wireless LAN base station, and the wireless terminal displays the remaining bandwidth information received from surrounding wireless LAN base stations. This is not described.

  Further, in the method of Patent Document 2, each wireless base station knows the wireless bandwidth of other wireless base stations by teaching each other's wireless bandwidth, and from the wireless base station to which the wireless terminal currently belongs. When handing over to another radio base station, the radio base station to which the radio base station belongs is inquired about whether there is a surplus bandwidth of the radio base station that can be handed over.

  Therefore, Patent Document 2 describes that a wireless terminal wishing to be handed over notifies a wireless base station of the usable bandwidth amount, but the wireless LAN base station periodically uses its own wireless LAN base station. It does not describe transmission of remaining bandwidth information, display of used remaining bandwidth information received by a wireless LAN terminal from surrounding wireless LAN base stations, and the like.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless LAN communication system and method, and a wireless LAN terminal that can be connected to a desired wireless LAN base station from a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations and can ensure communication quality. There is.

  A wireless LAN communication system according to the present invention is a wireless LAN communication system having a plurality of wireless LAN base stations and a wireless LAN terminal communicating with the wireless LAN base station, and each of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations. Has transmission means for periodically transmitting the used remaining bandwidth information of its own wireless LAN base station, and the wireless LAN terminal transmits the used remaining bandwidth information transmitted from each of the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations. Receiving means, display means for displaying the remaining used bandwidth information received from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, and a plurality of wireless LAN bases on the display means. For connecting to a wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the used remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with each station Characterized by comprising a connection means.

  In addition, the wireless LAN terminal according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives use remaining bandwidth information of each wireless LAN base station periodically transmitted from a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations, and the plurality of surrounding wireless LANs. Display means for displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from the base station in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, and remaining used information displayed in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on the display means. Connection means for connecting to a wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on band information.

  The wireless LAN communication method according to the present invention is a wireless LAN communication method for a system having a plurality of wireless LAN base stations and a wireless LAN terminal that communicates with the wireless LAN base station, wherein the plurality of wireless LANs A transmitting step in which each base station periodically transmits the remaining used bandwidth information of its own wireless LAN base station; and the remaining used bandwidth transmitted from each of the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations by the wireless LAN terminal. A reception step of receiving bandwidth information; a display step of displaying the remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on a display means in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations; and None of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the used remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations. Characterized in that it comprises a connection step of connecting the LAN base station.

  Further, in the wireless LAN base station connection switching method in the wireless LAN terminal according to the present invention, the receiving means uses the used remaining bandwidth information of each wireless LAN base station periodically transmitted from a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations. A receiving step for receiving, a displaying step for displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, and a connecting unit, A connection step for connecting to a wireless LAN base station selected from among the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the used remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on the display means It is characterized by including these.

  In addition, the program according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives the used remaining bandwidth information of each wireless LAN base station periodically transmitted from each of a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations; Display means for displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from each of the wireless LAN base stations in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, and displaying the display means in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations. And functioning as a connection means for connecting to a wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the used remaining bandwidth information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably connect to a wireless LAN base station with a large amount of remaining used bandwidth based on used remaining bandwidth information received from a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations, and to ensure communication quality. For example, when a large amount of data such as an image file is transmitted after a call, the currently connected wireless LAN base station is sufficient for making a call, but used to transmit a large amount of data such as an image file. It is possible to switch to a wireless LAN base station with a large used remaining bandwidth reliably when the remaining bandwidth is insufficient.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the wireless LAN communication system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the wireless LAN base station and wireless LAN terminal which concern on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the radio | wireless frame figure of the wireless LAN base station which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a display of the use remaining band information of the wireless LAN terminal which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the band management table which concerns on this invention.

  Next, embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a wireless LAN communication system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an example of a wireless IP telephone network using a wireless LAN.

  The wireless IP telephone network shown in FIG. 1 provides a telephone function or the like via the wireless LAN 101 or the wireless LAN 102. In this configuration, a plurality of wireless LAN base stations 501, 502,... Having a function of bridging a wireless LAN and a wired LAN, and wireless LAN terminals connected to each wireless LAN base station (wireless LAN telephone 201 in the example of FIG. 1). 202, etc.). Reference numeral 10 denotes a wired LAN.

  A range indicated by a broken line regarding the wireless LAN 101 and the wireless LAN 102 indicates a communication range of each wireless LAN base station. The wireless LAN base stations 501 and 502 are installed in a place where both the wireless LAN 101 and the wireless LAN 102 can be detected. That is, the communication ranges of the wireless LAN 101 and the wireless LAN 102 partially overlap. In FIG. 1, the wireless LAN telephone 201 is currently in a position where both the wireless LAN 101 and the wireless LAN 102 can be detected.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a wireless LAN base station and a wireless LAN telephone. The wireless LAN base station 30 includes a wired IF unit 301 that connects to the wired LAN 10 and a wireless IF unit 302 that communicates with the wireless LAN 20, and the wired IF unit 301 and the wireless IF unit 302 are connected. The wireless IF unit 302 includes a bandwidth monitoring unit 303 that monitors its own wireless bandwidth and a bandwidth notification unit 304 that notifies bandwidth information from the bandwidth monitoring unit 303 to the wireless LAN. The band information will be described in detail later.

  2 is the same as the wireless LAN base stations 501, 502,... Shown in FIG. The wireless LAN telephone 40 is the same as the wireless LAN telephones 201 and 202 shown in FIG. The wireless LAN 20 is the same as the wireless LANs 101 and 102 shown in FIG.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the band notification unit 304 transmits band information by defining an arbitrary Element ID in an IEEE802.11 Management Frame. Also, the bandwidth notification unit 304 adds an arbitrary ElementID and bandwidth information to a probe response that is passively transmitted using a Beacon Frame that is periodically transmitted according to IEEE 802.11, and transmits the probe response to the wireless LAN.

  The bandwidth information is, for example, the bandwidth usage rate of the wireless LAN base station and the remaining bandwidth information based on the bandwidth usage rate (information indicating the amount of remaining bandwidth). In the following description, an example will be described in which each wireless LAN base station notifies its own remaining bandwidth information to the wireless LAN. The bandwidth information may be a quality rank based on the remaining bandwidth information of the wireless LAN base station.

  The quality rank is, for example, an identifier (for example, A) that indicates that the quality is high when the amount of used remaining bandwidth represented by the used remaining bandwidth information is greater than a predetermined value (the remaining used bandwidth is large). ) As a quality rank, and an identifier (for example, B) indicating that the quality is low is notified when the amount represented by the used remaining bandwidth information is smaller than a predetermined value (the remaining used bandwidth is small). . In the following description, the remaining bandwidth information including quality rank is referred to.

  The quality rank may be set in any number of stages of two or more, and the condition corresponding to the quality rank is not limited to, for example, only the remaining bandwidth information, and the reception level and radio noise level are considered. The quality rank may be determined. That is, the quality rank may be determined such that the higher the reception level, the higher the quality rank, and the higher the wireless noise level, the lower the quality rank.

  The wireless LAN telephone 40 communicates with the wireless LAN 20 and the wireless IF unit 401 having the band receiving unit 405 for receiving the remaining bandwidth information transmitted from the wireless LAN base station 30, and notifies the user of the received remaining bandwidth information. For displaying a wireless LAN base station having a desired wireless band from among a plurality of wireless LAN base stations having a plurality of users, a desired wireless LAN base selected by the connecting button 404 A control unit 402 that performs control for connecting to a station is provided.

  The connection button 404 is a button for the user to perform an operation for selecting and connecting a wireless LAN base station having a desired remaining bandwidth from a plurality of wireless LAN base stations. It is desirable to install the buttons 404 at the same physical location. That is, as will be described later, by combining the display unit and the connection button, the user who has recognized the remaining usable bandwidth information can press the connection button corresponding to the selected remaining usable bandwidth information. The station can be specified immediately, improving convenience.

  The band display unit 403 displays, for example, a green color when the remaining bandwidth information (including the quality rank) indicates high quality, and a red color when the remaining bandwidth information indicates low quality. The bandwidth information of the wireless LAN base station is notified to the user according to the difference. The color to be displayed is not limited to this, and other colors may be used. Alternatively, a method may be used in which the color display is blinked and the difference in quality is indicated by the blinking cycle. For example, the blinking period is shortened as the quality is lowered. When performing color display, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) may be used. Further, the band display unit 403 may display characters, numbers, pictures, or the like indicating the remaining bandwidth information.

  A plurality of band display units 403 are arranged, for example, and display the remaining band information on each band display unit corresponding to the remaining band information of a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations. FIG. 4 shows an example. FIG. 4 shows an operation surface of the wireless LAN telephone. A display medium 601 (LCD display unit or the like) for displaying various types of information and a dial button 602 (input operation unit) are disposed on the operation surface of the wireless LAN telephone.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the wireless LAN telephone is provided with a wireless band display / connection button 603. The wireless band display / connection button 603 displays the remaining bandwidth information of a plurality of wireless LAN base stations. In the example of FIG. 4, three display units are displayed as display 1, display 2, and display 3, respectively. A wireless band display / connection button 603 including “” is arranged. Of course, this button is not limited to three.

  The wireless band display / connection button 603 has a function of allowing a user to select a desired wireless LAN base station from a plurality of wireless LAN base stations. The user can select a desired wireless band display / connection button ( For example, when the display 1) is pressed, the wireless LAN telephone can be connected to a target wireless LAN base station (for example, a wireless LAN base station corresponding to the display 1).

  In the example of FIG. 4, three wireless LAN base stations 1 to 3 are installed around the wireless LAN telephone, and the wireless LAN telephone receives the remaining bandwidth information from the wireless LAN base stations 1 to 3 and uses the remaining bandwidth. Information, etc. are displayed on displays 1, 2, and 3. As the display method, there is a method of displaying by a color change, a blinking cycle change, a character, a picture, or the like as described above. The displays 1, 2, and 3 are associated with a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations.

  In FIG. 4, the wireless LAN base stations 1 to 3 correspond to predetermined positions (displays 1 to 3), respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and there are wireless LAN base stations that exceed the number of displays. May display the higher level (wireless LAN base station with higher used bandwidth information). Of course, it is displayed in association with the wireless LAN base station.

  Note that one display unit may be arranged as the band display unit 403, and the display of the remaining bandwidth information may be switched in a time division manner corresponding to a plurality of wireless LAN base stations. In that case, for example, a plurality of connection buttons corresponding to a plurality of wireless LAN base stations are displayed on the display medium 601 in FIG. 4, and the user refers to the used remaining bandwidth information displayed in a time division manner on the display unit. Thus, a desired wireless LAN base station can be selected. When a connection button corresponding to a desired wireless LAN base station is designated, the wireless LAN base station is similarly connected.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in a network in which a plurality of wireless LAN base stations 501, 502,... Are connected by a wired LAN 10, each wireless LAN base station periodically transmits its own bandwidth information (used remaining bandwidth information). The bandwidth monitoring unit 303 monitors and collects information. For example, the bandwidth notification unit 304 in the wireless IF unit 302 adds the remaining bandwidth information of the bandwidth monitoring unit 303 to the Beacon and periodically transmits it to the wireless LAN. In general, Beacon is broadcast at 100 ms intervals.

  On the other hand, the wireless LAN telephone first constructs a wireless LAN network, but broadcasts a probe request frame in order to search for wireless LAN base stations that can be connected to the surroundings. When receiving the probe request from the wireless LAN telephone, the wireless LAN base station responds with a probe response. The wireless LAN base station may add band information similar to Beacon to the probe response. The wireless LAN telephone that has received the probe response follows the procedure defined in 802.11 and connects to the wireless LAN base station. After connecting to the wireless LAN base station, the wireless LAN telephone shifts to a standby state. Generally, a Beacon is received every 1 Beacon or every several Beacon and waits at the wireless LAN base station.

  When making a call from a wireless LAN telephone, the user presses the connection button 404 corresponding to the wireless LAN base station of the desired remaining bandwidth information based on the information displayed on the bandwidth display unit 403. When the control unit 402 recognizes that the connection button 404 has been pressed, the control unit 402 refers to the bandwidth management table shown in FIG. 5 and corresponds to the wireless LAN base station corresponding to the connection button based on, for example, the MAC address. Reconnect to the station.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a bandwidth management table included in the bandwidth display unit 403. Colors for displaying bandwidth information (used remaining bandwidth) corresponding to the connection buttons 1, 2, 3,... (MAC address etc.) are associated. In the bandwidth management table shown in FIG. 5, the connection button, bandwidth information, display color, and wireless LAN base station information (MAC address, etc.) are associated, but the present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the band information is displayed by the color difference as described above.

  The reconnection to the corresponding wireless LAN base station may be specified by IEEE802.11, but is not limited thereto. After the wireless LAN telephone is reconnected, the outgoing call sequence operates according to the telephone protocol of the wireless LAN telephone. For example, there are SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and H.323, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  On the other hand, in the case of an incoming call from a wireless LAN telephone, the incoming call may be received with the wireless LAN base station that is currently waiting, but before an incoming call notification (ring tone, vibration, flashing lamp, etc.) is made to the user. Referring to the bandwidth management table shown in FIG. 5, reconnect to a higher-level wireless LAN base station (ie, a wireless LAN base station with a large remaining bandwidth), and notify the user of the incoming call after completion of the reconnection. Also good.

  In this embodiment, for example, it is assumed that a certain user is making a call with another wireless LAN telephone through a wireless LAN base station using his wireless LAN telephone. At that time, it is assumed that the user transmits a large amount of data (for example, an image file) to the other party's wireless LAN telephone after the call. However, while the currently connected wireless LAN base station is sufficient for making a call, the remaining bandwidth is insufficient to transmit a large amount of data such as an image file, and data transmission takes time.

  At this time, in this embodiment, since the remaining bandwidth information periodically transmitted from a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations is received and displayed on the wireless LAN telephone, the user can Therefore, it is possible to select and connect a wireless LAN base station having a large remaining bandwidth. Therefore, even a large amount of data such as an image file can be transmitted without taking time, and communication quality can be ensured.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, a structure having a plurality of display units for displaying remaining bandwidth information and a connection button for performing an operation for connecting to a desired wireless LAN base station, both serving as a display unit and a connection button Thus, when the user determines that the call quality of a certain wireless LAN base station is poor, it is possible to actively select another wireless LAN base station having a higher wireless quality and press the corresponding connection button. Improves.

  The wireless LAN terminal can be realized by hardware, software, or a combination thereof. The wireless LAN base station connection switching method performed by the wireless LAN terminal can also be realized by hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Here, “realized by software” means realized by a computer reading and executing a program.

  The program may be stored using various types of non-transitory computer readable media and supplied to the computer. Non-transitory computer readable media include various types of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic recording media (for example, flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (for example, magneto-optical disks), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), CD- R, CD-R / W, semiconductor memory (for example, mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM (random access memory)).

  The program may also be supplied to the computer by various types of transitory computer readable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The temporary computer-readable medium can supply the program to the computer via a wired communication path such as an electric wire and an optical fiber, or a wireless communication path.

  In addition, although a part or all of the said embodiment can be described also as the following additional remarks, it is not restricted to the following.

(Appendix 1) A wireless LAN communication system having a plurality of wireless LAN base stations and a wireless LAN terminal that communicates with the wireless LAN base station,
Each of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations has transmission means for periodically transmitting the remaining bandwidth information of its own wireless LAN base station,
The wireless LAN terminal is
Receiving means for receiving the remaining bandwidth information transmitted from each of the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations;
Display means for displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, respectively;
Connection means for connecting to the wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on the display means When,
A wireless LAN communication system comprising:

  (Additional remark 2) The said display means displays each use remaining bandwidth information received from the said several surrounding wireless LAN base station according to the amount of remaining use bandwidth represented by the use remaining bandwidth information, several quality. The wireless LAN communication system according to appendix 1, wherein the wireless LAN communication system converts the quality rank corresponding to the size of the rank and displays the quality rank.

  (Additional remark 3) The said display means displays by changing the period of blinking of a display displayed in a several different color according to each use remaining band information received from the said some surrounding wireless LAN base station. The wireless LAN communication system according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the remaining usable bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations is displayed by displaying numerical values or pictographs.

  (Supplementary Note 4) The display means corresponds to a plurality of display units and the plurality of display units, and one of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations is operated by operating any one of the plurality of display units. And a plurality of connection buttons for instructing to connect to the wireless LAN base station by selecting one of the plurality of display sections and the plurality of connection buttons. The wireless LAN communication system according to any one of the above.

  (Supplementary note 5) The wireless LAN communication according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4, wherein the transmission means defines an arbitrary ElementID in a Management Frame of IEEE802.11 and transmits the used remaining bandwidth information. system.

  (Supplementary note 6) The transmission means is a Beacon Frame periodically transmitted according to IEEE802.11, and transmits an arbitrary ElementID and the remaining bandwidth information to a passively transmitted probe response. The wireless LAN communication system according to any one of appendices 1 to 4.

(Appendix 7) Receiving means for receiving the remaining bandwidth information of each wireless LAN base station periodically transmitted from a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations;
Display means for displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, and
Connection means for connecting to the wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on the display means When,
A wireless LAN terminal comprising:

  (Additional remark 8) The said display means displays each use remaining bandwidth information received from the said several surrounding wireless LAN base station according to the amount of remaining use bandwidth represented by the use remaining bandwidth information, several quality. The wireless LAN terminal according to appendix 7, wherein the wireless LAN terminal is converted into a quality rank corresponding to the size of the rank and displayed.

  (Additional remark 9) The said display means displays by changing the period of the blinking of a display displayed with a several different color according to each use remaining band information received from the said some surrounding wireless LAN base station. The wireless LAN terminal according to appendix 7 or 8, wherein the remaining usable bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations is displayed by displaying numerical values or pictographs.

  (Supplementary Note 10) The display means corresponds to the plurality of display units and the plurality of display units, and operates one of the plurality of display units to select one of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations. And a plurality of connection buttons for instructing to connect to the wireless LAN base station by selecting one of the plurality of display sections and the plurality of connection buttons. The wireless LAN terminal according to any one of the above.

(Supplementary note 11) A wireless LAN communication method of a system including a plurality of wireless LAN base stations and a wireless LAN terminal that communicates with the wireless LAN base station,
Each of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations periodically transmits the used remaining bandwidth information of its own wireless LAN base station;
The wireless LAN terminal is
A reception step of receiving the remaining bandwidth information transmitted from each of the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations;
A display step of displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on a display unit in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, respectively;
A connection step of connecting to a wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the used remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with each of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations in the display step;
A wireless LAN communication method.

  (Additional remark 12) In the said display step, each use remaining bandwidth information received from the said some surrounding wireless LAN base station is made into several quality according to the amount of remaining use bandwidth represented by the use remaining bandwidth information. The wireless LAN communication method according to appendix 11, wherein the quality rank is converted into a quality rank corresponding to the size of the rank and displayed.

  (Additional remark 13) In the said display step, according to each use remaining bandwidth information received from the said some surrounding wireless LAN base station, it displays by changing the cycle of the display blinking displayed in a several different color 13. The wireless LAN communication method according to appendix 11 or 12, wherein the remaining used bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations is displayed by displaying numerical values or pictographs.

  (Supplementary Note 14) The display means corresponds to the plurality of display units and the plurality of display units, and operates one of the plurality of display units to select one of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations. And a plurality of connection buttons for instructing connection to connect to the wireless LAN base station, and the plurality of display units and the plurality of connection buttons are also used. The wireless LAN communication method according to any one of the above.

  (Supplementary note 15) The wireless LAN communication according to any one of supplementary notes 11 to 14, wherein, in the transmission step, the used remaining bandwidth information is transmitted by defining an arbitrary ElementID in a Management Frame of IEEE802.11. Method.

  (Supplementary Note 16) In the transmission step, a Beacon Frame periodically transmitted according to IEEE802.11 is transmitted by adding an arbitrary ElementID and the remaining bandwidth information to a Probe response that is passively transmitted. 15. The wireless LAN communication method according to any one of appendices 11 to 14.

(Appendix 17)
A receiving step in which the receiving means receives the remaining bandwidth information of each wireless LAN base station periodically transmitted from a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations;
A display step of displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations in association with each of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations;
The connecting means connects to the wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the used remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on the display means. A connection step for
A wireless LAN base station connection switching method in a wireless LAN terminal.

  (Supplementary note 18) In the display step, each of the used remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations is converted into a plurality of qualities according to the amount of remaining used bandwidth represented by the used remaining bandwidth information. 18. The wireless LAN base station connection switching method in the wireless LAN terminal according to appendix 17, wherein the quality rank corresponding to the size of the rank is converted and displayed.

  (Supplementary Note 19) In the display step, the display blinking cycle is changed and displayed in a plurality of different colors according to the remaining bandwidth usage information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations. Or the wireless LAN terminal in the wireless LAN terminal according to appendix 17 or 18, wherein the remaining used bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations is displayed by displaying numerical values or pictographs. Base station connection switching method.

  (Supplementary note 20) The display means corresponds to the plurality of display units and the plurality of display units, and operates one of the plurality of display units to select one from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations. And a plurality of connection buttons for instructing to connect to the wireless LAN base station by selecting one of the plurality of display sections and the plurality of connection buttons. The connection switching method of the wireless LAN base station in the wireless LAN terminal according to any one of the above.

  (Supplementary note 21) A receiving means for receiving use band information of each wireless LAN base station periodically transmitted from each of a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations, and a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations Display means for displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from each of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations in association with each other, and the used remaining bandwidth displayed on the display means in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations. A program for functioning as a connection means for connecting to a wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on information.

  (Additional remark 22) The said display means displays each use remaining bandwidth information received from the said several surrounding wireless LAN base station according to the amount of remaining use bandwidth represented by the use remaining bandwidth information, several quality. The program according to appendix 21, wherein the program is converted into a quality rank corresponding to the size of the rank and displayed.

  (Additional remark 23) The said display means changes and displays the period of the blink of the display which displays with a several different color according to each use remaining band information received from the said several surrounding wireless LAN base station. The program according to appendix 21 or 22, wherein the remaining use band information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations is displayed by displaying numerical values or pictographs.

10 Wired LAN
20, 101, 102 Wireless LAN
30, 501, 502 Wireless LAN base station 40, 201, 202 Wireless LAN telephone 301 Wired I / F unit 302, 401 Wireless I / F unit 303 Band monitoring unit 304 Band notification unit 402 Control unit 403 Band display unit 404 Connection button 405 Band receiving unit 601 Display medium 602 Dial button 603 Radio band display / connection button

Claims (10)

A wireless LAN communication system having a plurality of wireless LAN base stations and a wireless LAN terminal that communicates with the wireless LAN base station,
Each of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations has transmission means for periodically transmitting the remaining bandwidth information of its own wireless LAN base station,
The wireless LAN terminal is
Receiving means for receiving the remaining bandwidth information transmitted from each of the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations;
Display means for displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, respectively;
Connection means for connecting to the wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on the display means When,
A wireless LAN communication system comprising:   The display means displays the remaining used bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations according to the amount of remaining used bandwidth represented by the used remaining bandwidth information. 2. The wireless LAN communication system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless LAN communication system is displayed after being converted into a quality rank corresponding to the size.   The display means displays in a plurality of different colors according to each used remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations, displays the display by changing the blinking cycle, or displays a numerical value or 3. The wireless LAN communication system according to claim 1, wherein the remaining usable bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations is displayed by displaying with pictographs. 4.   The display means corresponds to the plurality of display units and the plurality of display units, and selects one of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations by operating one of the plurality of display units. And a plurality of connection buttons for instructing connection with the wireless LAN base station, wherein the plurality of display units and the plurality of connection buttons are also used. The wireless LAN communication system according to item 1.   5. The wireless LAN communication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the used remaining bandwidth information by defining an arbitrary ElementID in an IEEE802.11 Management Frame.   The transmission means includes a Beacon Frame periodically transmitted according to IEEE802.11, and transmits an arbitrary ElementID and the used remaining bandwidth information added to a passively transmitted probe response. 5. The wireless LAN communication system according to any one of 4 above. Receiving means for receiving the remaining bandwidth information of each wireless LAN base station periodically transmitted from a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations;
Display means for displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, and
Connection means for connecting to the wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on the display means When,
A wireless LAN terminal comprising: A wireless LAN communication method for a system having a plurality of wireless LAN base stations and a wireless LAN terminal that communicates with the wireless LAN base station,
Each of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations periodically transmits the used remaining bandwidth information of its own wireless LAN base station;
The wireless LAN terminal is
A reception step of receiving the remaining bandwidth information transmitted from each of the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations;
A display step of displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on a display unit in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations, respectively;
A connection step of connecting to a wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the used remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with each of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations in the display step;
A wireless LAN communication method. A receiving step in which the receiving means receives the remaining bandwidth information of each wireless LAN base station periodically transmitted from a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations;
A display step of displaying the used remaining bandwidth information received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations in association with each of the plurality of wireless LAN base stations;
The connecting means connects to the wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the used remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on the display means. A connection step for
A wireless LAN base station connection switching method in a wireless LAN terminal. Computer
Receiving means for receiving the remaining bandwidth information of each wireless LAN base station periodically transmitted from each of a plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations;
Display means for displaying the used remaining bandwidth information respectively received from the plurality of surrounding wireless LAN base stations in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations;
Connection means for connecting to the wireless LAN base station selected from the plurality of wireless LAN base stations based on the remaining bandwidth information displayed in association with the plurality of wireless LAN base stations on the display means When,
Program to make it function.

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