JP2013051509A - Mediate communication terminal device and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable communications to be continuously performed between a first another communication terminal device and a second another communication terminal device when communications are performed between a first communication terminal device and a second communication terminal device using a mediate communication terminal device and the mediation has become impossible.SOLUTION: There is provided a communication system which performs communications between a communication terminal device B and a communication terminal device C through the mediation of a communication terminal device A. When communications have become unfavorable between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device B or between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device C and the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C are in a communication range, the communication system transmits authentication information to the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C and starts communications directly.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication system between communication terminal devices, and in particular, when communication is performed between a first communication terminal device and a second communication terminal device by an intermediary communication terminal device. The present invention relates to a communication system that enables communication between a first communication terminal device and a second communication terminal device when mediation by a communication terminal device serving as an intermediary becomes impossible. is there.

  A method of performing communication between nodes via a mediation server on a large-scale network is known (Patent Document 1). In the technology described in Patent Document 1, communication between a first node and a second node is performed through an intermediary server connected via a network such as the Internet. At that time, for the mediation server of Patent Document 1, the first node, and the second node, there is no particular description that they perform direct communication without using a network or that they are moved and used. Communication via a network such as the Internet is performed at a fixed position.

  By the way, various techniques for performing direct wireless communication between terminal devices such as mobile phones are known. As such a technique, for example, a wireless LAN that is a technical standard of the IEEE802.11 series called Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the like are well known. In general, such wireless communication means directly exchanges image data and the like without going through a network.

  Thus, when the technique of performing direct communication between terminal devices without going through a network becomes widespread, for example, the situation in which the terminal device B and the terminal device C communicate via the terminal device A also occurs. Conceivable.

  As a more specific example, for example, the terminal device A is a mobile phone, the terminal device B is a storage device provided with a communication function, and the terminal device C is a mobile phone provided with a camera. The terminal device A and the terminal device B are owned by the owner X, and the terminal device C is owned by the owner Y.

  Here, Y transmits the data of the moving image captured by the terminal device C from the terminal device C to the terminal device A which is a mobile phone of X, and the terminal device A transmits the received image data to the terminal device B which is a storage device. It is assumed that it has been transferred to and stored. As such usage, it is conceivable to store image data in the terminal device B in order to suppress the use of the memory of the terminal device A in which X is a mobile phone. In addition, as X, by storing data in the terminal device B via the terminal device A, Y recognizes that the terminal device A is communicating with the terminal device A, while maintaining the recognition of the terminal device B with respect to Y. It can be used in such a way that it does not actively announce its existence.

  According to the use in such a situation, when Y transmits the image data captured by the terminal device C to the terminal device A of X, Y does not know the existence of the terminal device B. I think they are communicating. However, actually, the image data captured by Y is stored in the terminal device B of X. That is, the terminal device B and the terminal device C are communicating via the terminal device A.

JP 2009-86802 A

  In the case where the terminal device B and the terminal device C communicate via the terminal device A as described above, as long as at least one terminal device is movable, Patent Document 1 Such a technique cannot be applied. This is because when the terminal device moves, communication involving mediation may not be established.

  As a specific example, for example, during communication, X may move while holding the terminal device A which is a mobile phone. In this case, even if the terminal device B and the terminal device C are in a range where direct communication is possible, if the terminal device A that has been intermediary is out of the communication range, the communication between the terminal device B and the terminal device C is impossible. There was a problem of becoming.

  The inventor of the present application has conducted various studies to solve the above-described problems. As a result, when the terminal device A and the terminal device C communicate with each other through the terminal device A, the terminal device A In order to complete the present invention, it is thought that the above problem can be solved by enabling direct communication between the terminal device B and the terminal device C when it is determined that the communication that mediates the communication is not good. It has come.

  That is, the present invention has an object to solve the above-described problems, and when the communication between the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device is performed via the intermediary communication terminal device, It is an object to provide an intermediary communication terminal device and a communication system that can cope with various communication purposes by switching to direct communication between the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device at the timing of It is what.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application performs wireless communication with the first communication terminal apparatus and wireless communication with the second communication terminal apparatus. Thus, an intermediary communication terminal apparatus that mediates communication between the first communication terminal apparatus and the second communication terminal apparatus, the intermediary communication terminal apparatus, the first communication terminal apparatus, and the first communication terminal apparatus. At least one of the two communication terminal devices is a movable communication terminal device, and the intermediary communication terminal device can communicate with the intermediary communication terminal device and the first communication terminal device. The intermediary communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device are communicable, and the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device determine that direct communication is possible, The second communication terminal device is connected to the first communication terminal device. Transmits the information for certifying, it transmits information for authenticating the first communication terminal device to the second communication terminal device, and wherein the.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the mediating communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mediating communication terminal apparatus includes the mediating communication terminal apparatus and the first communication terminal apparatus. If the communication status between the intermediary communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device is determined to be poor, the first communication terminal device may And transmitting information for authenticating the second communication terminal apparatus, and transmitting information for authenticating the first communication terminal apparatus to the second communication terminal apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the mediating communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mediating communication terminal apparatus includes the current position information of the mediating communication terminal apparatus, and the first It is determined that the communication status is not good based on the current location information of the communication terminal device and the current location information of the second communication terminal device.

  The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is the mediating communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mediating communication terminal apparatus has a remaining amount of a battery serving as a power source of the mediating communication terminal apparatus. Based on this, it is determined that the communication status is not good.

  The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is the intermediary communication terminal apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the intermediary communication terminal apparatus includes the first communication terminal apparatus. The determination as to whether direct communication with the second communication terminal apparatus is possible is based on whether the distance between the first communication terminal apparatus and the second communication terminal apparatus is within a range where wireless communication can be performed. It is characterized by performing by.

  In addition, the invention according to claim 6 of the present application performs wireless communication between the first communication terminal device, the second communication terminal device, and the first communication terminal device, and the second communication terminal device. An intermediary communication terminal device that mediates communication between the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device by performing wireless communication with the communication terminal device, and the first communication terminal device. Of the communication terminal device, the second communication terminal device, and the intermediary communication terminal device, at least one of them is a communication system that is a movable communication terminal device, and the intermediary communication terminal device includes the intermediary communication terminal device, The intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the first communication terminal apparatus can communicate, the intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the second communication terminal apparatus can communicate, and the first communication terminal apparatus and the second communication terminal apparatus can communicate with each other. Determines that direct communication is possible with In the situation, information for authenticating the second communication terminal apparatus to the first communication terminal apparatus and information for authenticating the first communication terminal apparatus to the second communication terminal apparatus The first communication terminal apparatus that has received information for authenticating the second communication terminal apparatus and the second that has received information for authenticating the first communication terminal apparatus by transmitting The communication terminal device starts direct wireless communication.

  The invention according to claim 7 of the present application is the communication system according to claim 6, wherein the intermediary communication terminal apparatus communicates between the intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the first communication terminal apparatus. When it is determined that the situation is not good and / or the communication situation between the intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the second communication terminal apparatus is not good, the second communication is sent to the first communication terminal apparatus. Information for authenticating the terminal device is transmitted, and information for authenticating the first communication terminal device is transmitted to the second communication terminal device.

  The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is the communication system according to claim 7, wherein the intermediary communication terminal device includes current position information of the intermediary communication terminal device and the first communication terminal device. It is determined that the communication status is not good based on the current location information and the current location information of the second communication terminal device.

  The invention according to claim 9 of the present application is the communication system according to claim 7, wherein the intermediary communication terminal device is based on a remaining amount of a battery serving as a power source of the intermediary communication terminal device. It is characterized by determining that the communication status is not good.

  The invention according to claim 10 of the present application is the communication system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the first communication terminal device and the communication device by the intermediary communication terminal device The determination as to whether direct communication with the second communication terminal apparatus is possible is based on whether the distance between the first communication terminal apparatus and the second communication terminal apparatus is within a range where wireless communication can be performed. It is characterized by performing by.

  In the invention according to claim 1, the first communication terminal apparatus performs wireless communication with the first communication terminal apparatus and wireless communication with the second communication terminal apparatus. The intermediary communication terminal apparatus that mediates communication between the intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the second communication terminal apparatus is capable of communication between the intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the first communication terminal apparatus. The communication terminal device can communicate with the first communication terminal device, and the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device determine that direct communication is possible. Information for authenticating the device is transmitted, and information for authenticating the first communication terminal device is transmitted to the second communication terminal device.

  According to such a configuration, when the communication between the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device is first performed via the mediation communication terminal device, the mediation communication terminal device and the first communication terminal device By switching to direct communication between the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device at a predetermined timing under a situation in which communication can be performed between the communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device. It can cope with various communication purposes.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the intermediary communication terminal apparatus is in a poor communication state between the intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the first communication terminal apparatus and / or the intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the first communication terminal apparatus. When it is determined that the communication status with the second communication terminal device is not good, information for authenticating the second communication terminal device is transmitted to the first communication terminal device and to the second communication terminal device. Since the information for authenticating the first communication terminal device is transmitted, for example, in a situation where the communication status between the intermediary communication terminal device and the first communication terminal device has deteriorated, the first communication terminal device And the second communication terminal device are in an area where direct communication can be performed, the first communication terminal device and the second communication are transmitted by transmitting information that can authenticate each from the communication terminal device for mediation. The terminal device authenticates each other Can, before the communication becomes impossible, it is possible to communicate directly without intermediaries.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the communication status based on the current position information of the intermediary communication terminal apparatus, the current position information of the first communication terminal apparatus, and the current position information of the second communication terminal apparatus Therefore, it is possible to make an accurate determination.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since it is determined that the communication status is not good based on the remaining amount of the battery serving as the power source of the intermediary communication terminal device, the communication terminal device originally provided with means for detecting the remaining battery level If so, the determination can be made with a simple configuration.

  According to the invention of claim 5, it is determined whether or not the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device can directly communicate with each other by the intermediary communication terminal device. Since the determination is made based on whether the distance between the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device is within a range in which wireless communication can be performed, a highly accurate determination can be made.

  In the invention concerning Claim 6, the communication terminal device for mediation which mediates communication with the 1st communication terminal device, the 2nd communication terminal device, and the 1st communication terminal device and the 2nd communication terminal device; The intermediary communication terminal apparatus can communicate with the intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the first communication terminal apparatus, and the intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the second communication terminal apparatus can communicate with each other. Then, in a situation where the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device have determined that direct communication is possible, information for authenticating the second communication terminal device is transmitted to the first communication terminal device. At the same time, by transmitting information for authenticating the first communication terminal device to the second communication terminal device, the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device start direct wireless communication. To do.

  According to such a configuration, when the communication between the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device is first performed via the mediation communication terminal device, the mediation communication terminal device and the first communication terminal device By switching to direct communication between the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device at a predetermined timing under a situation in which communication can be performed between the communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device. It can cope with various communication purposes.

  According to the invention of claim 7, the intermediary communication terminal apparatus is in a poor communication state between the intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the first communication terminal apparatus and / or the intermediary communication terminal apparatus and the first communication terminal apparatus. When it is determined that the communication status with the second communication terminal device is not good, information for authenticating the second communication terminal device is transmitted to the first communication terminal device and to the second communication terminal device. Since the information for authenticating the first communication terminal device is transmitted, for example, in a situation where the communication status between the intermediary communication terminal device and the first communication terminal device has deteriorated, the first communication terminal device And the second communication terminal apparatus are in an area where direct communication can be performed, information that can authenticate each is transmitted from the intermediary communication terminal apparatus, and the first communication terminal apparatus and the second communication terminal apparatus Direct communication with Because There is subsequently performed, it is possible to perform stable communication.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the communication status is based on the current position information of the intermediary communication terminal apparatus, the current position information of the first communication terminal apparatus, and the current position information of the second communication terminal apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to make an accurate determination.

  According to the invention of claim 9, since it is determined that the communication status is not good based on the remaining amount of the battery serving as the power source of the intermediary communication terminal device, the communication terminal device originally provided with means for detecting the remaining battery level If so, the determination can be made with a simple configuration.

  According to the invention of claim 10, whether or not the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device can directly communicate with each other by the intermediary communication terminal device is determined by the first communication terminal device. Since the determination is made based on whether the distance between the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device is within a range in which wireless communication can be performed, a highly accurate determination can be made.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the communication system in embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence of the communication system in embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the condition where the communication which mediates cannot be performed in the communication system in the embodiment of the present invention. It is the flowchart figure which showed the process of the communication terminal device which performs mediation in embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the communication system in other embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies a communication system and an intermediary communication terminal apparatus for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is applied to the communication system and the intermediary communication terminal apparatus. It is not intended to be specific, and the technical scope of the present invention is defined by the description of the scope of claims.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes three communication terminal devices including a communication terminal device A, a communication terminal device B, and a communication terminal device C. The communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device B are owned by the owner X, and the communication terminal device B is assumed to be owned by the owner Y.

  First, the configuration of each communication terminal device will be described. Communication terminal apparatus A, which is an intermediary communication terminal apparatus, is a mobile phone. The communication terminal apparatus A has a configuration normally provided as a mobile phone, for example, an antenna, a duplexer, a transmission / reception circuit, a modulator / demodulator, a codec, a battery, etc., as well as a control unit 11, a current position detection unit 12, an operation unit 13, a storage Unit 14, audio output unit 15, communication unit 16, and display unit 17.

  The control unit 11 includes a microprocessor (CPU) having a RAM and a ROM, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM.

  The current position detection unit 12 includes a GPS receiver that receives radio waves including time information from a plurality of GPS satellites, and detects the current position based on the received radio waves. In addition, as the current position detecting means 12, the communication terminal device A, which is a mobile phone, communicates with the base station so that the position of the mobile phone can be grasped, so the current position is determined based on the distance from the base station. It may be detected. Further, if the communication terminal device A is equipped with a direction sensor or the like, the current position may be detected using them.

  The operation unit 13 includes a key for selecting various functions in the communication terminal device A, a key for inputting a telephone number, a key for inputting a mail transmission destination and text, or a touch panel. Then, when the owner X of the communication terminal apparatus A inputs operation information via the operation unit 13, various functions of the communication terminal apparatus A are executed.

  The storage unit 14 stores identification information related to the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C, which will be described later, position information of the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C, and the like. The audio output unit 15 is configured by a speaker or the like in a mobile phone.

  The communication unit 16 performs communication for directly exchanging data between terminals located at a short distance. As data, in addition to image data, audio data, and the like, position information of a communication terminal device B and a communication terminal device C, which will be described later, and the like. As such a short-range wireless communication technology, there is a wireless LAN that is a technical standard of IEEE802.11 series such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) as described above, Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the like. well known. In order to communicate with other devices, it is configured as a communication unit based on wireless LAN specifications and Bluetooth (registered trademark) specifications together with an antenna (not shown) and the like. Although not shown in particular, the communication terminal device A, which is a mobile phone, naturally includes a mobile phone communication unit for executing a telephone communication function, a mail function, and the like provided in a normal mobile phone. Communication is performed between the mobile phone communication unit and the base station, and calls and mail exchanges with third parties are performed from the base station via a network such as a mobile phone network.

  The display unit 17 displays a menu of various functions in the communication terminal device A, displays a telephone number, and displays mail, and is configured by a display body such as an LCD panel.

  Next, the communication terminal device B is a storage device having a communication function. The communication terminal device B includes a control unit 21, a current position detection unit 22, an operation unit 23, a data storage unit 24, a voice output unit 25, a communication unit 26, and a display unit 27.

  The control unit 21 includes a microprocessor (CPU) having a RAM and a ROM, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM.

  The current position detection unit 22 includes a GPS receiver that receives radio waves including time information from a plurality of GPS satellites, and detects the current position based on the received radio waves.

  The operation unit 23 includes a key for selecting various functions in the communication terminal device B, a touch panel, and the like. When the owner X of the communication terminal apparatus B inputs operation information via the operation unit 23, various functions of the communication terminal apparatus B are executed.

  The data storage unit 24 is for storing various data such as images transferred from the communication terminal device A described later. It is preferable that the storage capacity is relatively large, and a hard disk drive, an optical drive, or the like may be used.

  The audio output unit 25 is constituted by a speaker or the like. Similar to the communication unit 16 of the communication terminal device A, the communication unit 26 performs communication for directly exchanging data between terminals existing at a short distance. The display unit 27 displays a menu of various functions in the communication terminal apparatus B, and is configured by a display body such as an LCD panel.

  The communication terminal device B includes the data storage unit 24 having a relatively large storage capacity. However, other storage devices having a communication function may be, for example, a mobile phone or a navigation device. This is because even mobile phone devices and navigation devices are recently equipped with a large-capacity memory and a memory card.

  The communication terminal device C is a mobile phone provided with a camera. Similarly to the communication terminal device A, the communication terminal device C has an original configuration as a mobile phone, a control unit 31, a current position detection unit 32, an operation unit 33, a storage unit 34, an audio output unit 35, a communication unit 36, A display unit 37 is provided. Since these are the same as those of the communication terminal apparatus A, description thereof is omitted. In addition, the communication terminal device C includes a microphone unit 38 and a camera unit 39.

  The camera unit 39 includes an image sensor such as a CCD camera, and an image processing unit that performs various processes on the captured image. The camera unit 39 shoots still images and moving images. Further, the microphone unit 38 converts an audio signal such as a voice at the time of moving image shooting into an electric signal.

  Next, communication using the communication terminal device A as a mobile phone, the communication terminal device B as a storage device having a communication function, and the communication terminal device C as a mobile phone with a camera will be described. As described above in the background art, in the communication system 1, the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C communicate with each other through the communication terminal device A.

  As a specific example assumed for such communication, Y takes a moving image by the communication terminal device C, and transmits this moving image data to the communication terminal device A of X by the communication terminal device C. And the case where the moving image data which the communication terminal device A received is transferred to the communication terminal device B and memorize | stored by the communication terminal device B is considered. In addition to this, for example, music data stored in the communication terminal device C is transmitted to the communication terminal device A where Y is X by the communication terminal device C. The music data received by the communication terminal device A may be transferred to the communication terminal device B and stored in the communication terminal device B.

  As an object of performing such communication, it is conceivable to store image data in the communication terminal apparatus B in order to suppress the use of the memory of the communication terminal apparatus A in which X is a mobile phone. In addition, the existence of the communication terminal device B that stores important data as X is not actively known to Y, and Y can be recognized as the Y communication terminal device C and the X communication terminal device A. It is possible to think that they are only communicating with each other.

  A specific image of such a communication system 1 is shown in FIG. 2A and 2B are conceptual diagrams of the communication system 1 according to the present invention. First, the communication terminal device A, the communication terminal device B, and the communication terminal device C have a range in which data can be transmitted in each communication terminal device. This transmittable range is in a circle indicated by a solid line having a radius indicated by a dotted line for each communication terminal device in FIG. In this way, each communication terminal device can transmit data within the area indicated by a circle.

  As described above, in the communication system 1, the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C communicate with each other through the communication terminal device A. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, such communication is possible when each communication terminal device exists in an area where the transmission ranges of the communication terminal devices overlap.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a processing procedure when communication terminal apparatus B and communication terminal apparatus C communicate with each other via communication terminal apparatus A. First, a connection request is made from the communication terminal device C to the communication terminal device A (step 101). If the communication terminal device A permits the connection with the communication terminal device C, the connection is permitted to the communication terminal device C (step 102). Communication between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device C becomes possible by these processes.

  Here, between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device C, wireless communication is performed between the communication unit 16 of the communication terminal device A and the communication unit 36 of the communication terminal device C. And between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device C, authentication information is transmitted and received so that communication between two parties can be performed. This authentication information is, for example, identification information for identifying a terminal having an IP address or a MAC address in the case of a wireless LAN, and an encryption key if encryption communication is set. In the case of Bluetooth (registered trademark), a link key, a pass key, and the like are used. About such an encryption key etc., it is more preferable that it can be used only once, or the expiration date is determined.

  Similarly, the communication terminal apparatus A requests connection to the communication terminal apparatus B (step 103), and permits the connection with the communication terminal apparatus B (step 104). Communication is possible between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device B.

  Next, the intermediary communication terminal apparatus A requests the communication terminal apparatus C for the current position of the communication terminal apparatus C (step 105). In response to this request, the communication terminal apparatus C acquires the current position from the current position detection unit 32 of the communication terminal apparatus C, and transmits this current position information to the communication terminal apparatus A (step 106). Similarly, the communication terminal apparatus A requests the current position of the communication terminal apparatus B from the communication terminal apparatus B (step 107). In response to this request, the communication terminal apparatus B acquires the current position from the current position detection unit 22 of the communication terminal apparatus B, and transmits this current position information to the communication terminal apparatus A.

  Here, the reason why the communication terminal device A obtains the position information of the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C is to grasp the respective positions. The intermediary communication terminal apparatus A obtains the position information of the communication terminal apparatus B and the communication terminal apparatus C, and the current position detection unit 12 of the communication terminal apparatus A obtains the position information of the communication terminal apparatus A itself. It is possible to determine whether or not the communication terminal device A is in a position where intermediation is possible.

  In addition, a situation in which communication terminal apparatus A, which will be described later, cannot perform mediation occurs in the case of a communication terminal apparatus in which at least one of communication terminal apparatus A, communication terminal apparatus B, and communication terminal apparatus C is movable. is there. Therefore, since the communication terminal device C, which is a mobile phone in this embodiment, is a movable communication terminal device, its position may change constantly. Therefore, if such a communication terminal device is used, the communication terminal device A May be configured to periodically request the current position to the communication terminal device C. In addition, the communication terminal device B that is a storage device is usually placed at a fixed position without moving normally. In this embodiment, the position of the communication terminal device B is assumed to be fixed. Therefore, in the case of a communication terminal device that does not move like this communication terminal device B, the communication terminal device A obtains the position information of the communication terminal device B once and stores the position, and then Since it is not necessary, it is sufficient to obtain the position information of the communication terminal device B only once.

  Next, the communication terminal device C transmits a request for the communication terminal device A (step 109). In this embodiment, in order to share the image data of the moving image captured by Y using the communication terminal device C with X of the communication terminal device A, the communication terminal device A is requested to accept the image data. . In this embodiment, the communication terminal device C requests the communication terminal device A to accept image data. However, the communication terminal device A makes a request to the communication terminal device C, and the communication terminal device is based on the request. Naturally, a configuration in which C transmits an image to the communication terminal apparatus A is also conceivable. The communication terminal device C may be configured to transmit image data to the communication terminal device A unilaterally without requesting the communication terminal device A to accept the image data.

  Next, the communication terminal device A accepts the request from the communication terminal device C (step 110). Here, X does not directly store the image data transmitted from the Y communication terminal apparatus C in the communication terminal apparatus A, but stores it in the communication terminal apparatus B via the communication terminal apparatus A. Therefore, the communication terminal apparatus A transmits image data from the communication unit 16 to the communication terminal apparatus B (step 111). Then, the communication terminal apparatus B receives the image data via the communication unit 26 and stores the image data in the data storage unit 24 (step 112).

  Thereafter, the communication terminal apparatus B transmits the result of storing the image data to the communication terminal apparatus A (step 113), and the communication terminal apparatus A that has received the result transmits the result to the communication terminal apparatus C (step 114). ). The transmitted result is displayed on the display unit 37 of the communication terminal device C, for example, so that Y can recognize that the transmitted image data can be shared with X.

  Thus, in the communication system 1, the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C communicate with each other through the communication terminal device A. However, as described above, a situation occurs in which the communication terminal device A cannot mediate. This is because the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device C are mobile telephones, so that X may move while holding the communication terminal device A, or Y may move while holding the communication terminal device C. It is. A situation where communication mediated by the communication terminal device A due to movement of the position of the communication terminal device A or the communication terminal device C will be described with reference to the conceptual diagram shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4A shows a situation in which the communication terminal apparatus A can no longer mediate due to the movement of the communication terminal apparatus A. From the situation of FIG. 2 (b), when X possesses the communication terminal device A and moves to the end of the arrow, the communication terminal device A cannot receive image data from the communication terminal device C, and the communication terminal device. B cannot receive data from the communication terminal device A. At this time, the communication terminal apparatus B and the communication terminal apparatus C are both located in a range where transmission is possible.

  FIG. 4B shows a situation in which the communication terminal device A can no longer mediate due to the movement of the communication terminal device C. From the situation of FIG. 2B, when Y has the communication terminal apparatus C and moves to the tip of the arrow, the communication terminal apparatus A cannot receive image data from the communication terminal apparatus C. At this time, the communication terminal apparatus B and the communication terminal apparatus C are both located in a range where transmission is possible.

  FIG. 4C shows a situation in which the communication terminal device A can no longer mediate due to the movement of the communication terminal device C. From the situation of FIG. 2B, when Y has the communication terminal apparatus C and moves to the tip of the arrow, the communication terminal apparatus A cannot receive image data from the communication terminal apparatus C. In addition, unlike the case of FIG. 4B, communication between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C cannot be performed.

  4 has been described assuming that the position of the communication terminal device B as a storage device is fixed. However, if the communication terminal device B is also movable, the situation other than the situation shown in FIG. Naturally it can occur.

  When the situation shown in FIG. 4 occurs, communication between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C that mediate the communication terminal device A that has been performed first cannot be performed. On the other hand, in the situation of FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), communication by the communication terminal device A cannot be performed, but the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C can continue to communicate with each other. Existing.

  In such a situation, in the present embodiment, the communication terminal device A configuring the communication system 1 grasps the positions of the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C, and in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). Before the situation occurs, the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C are configured to perform direct communication. Such processing of the communication terminal apparatus A will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in a situation where the communication terminal apparatus B and the communication terminal apparatus C are communicating via the communication terminal apparatus A, the communication terminal apparatus A detects the current position of the communication terminal apparatus A by the current position detection unit 12 ( Step 201).

  Next, the communication terminal device A acquires the current position information from the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C (step 202). This may be configured to request the current position information from the communication terminal apparatus A as shown in FIG. 3, or the communication terminal apparatus B and the communication terminal apparatus C may directly request the current position information without a request from the communication terminal apparatus A. It may be configured to transmit information. Thereby, the communication terminal device A can know the current positions of the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C.

  Next, the communication terminal device A determines whether the communication state between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C via the communication terminal device A is good (step 203). Specifically, this is determined based on whether or not the communication between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device B is good, and whether or not the communication between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device C is good. To do. This determination makes it possible to know whether or not communication via the communication terminal device A as shown in FIG. 4 is likely to occur.

  As a specific method for determining whether or not the communication between the communication terminal apparatus A and the communication terminal apparatus B is good, a circuit that detects the electric field strength of the received signal such as RSSI (Receiving Signal Strength Indicator) in the communication terminal apparatus A. If the RSSI value is measured for the signal between the communication terminal apparatus B and the measured value falls below a certain threshold value, the communication between the communication terminal apparatus A and the communication terminal apparatus B is not good. to decide. Similarly, if the RSSI value between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device C is measured and the measured value falls below a certain threshold value, the communication between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device C is not good. to decide.

  As another determination method, since communication terminal apparatus A has position information of communication terminal apparatus B and communication terminal apparatus C at step 202, determination may be made based on this position information. Specifically, the distance between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device B is calculated based on the acquired position information, and when this distance becomes larger than a predetermined distance, the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal It is determined that the communication with the device B is not good. Similarly, the distance between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device C is calculated, and when the distance is greater than the predetermined distance, it is determined that the communication between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device C is not good. In addition, the predetermined distance said here can consider the distance etc. which were decided based on the communication distance in which the signal transmission of the communication terminal device A is possible.

  As another determination method, a means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery serving as a power source is provided in the communication terminal device A which is a mobile phone, and the remaining amount of the battery of the communication terminal device A becomes a predetermined amount or less. Then, it is determined that the communication between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C via the communication terminal device A is not good. This is because the communication terminal device A cannot mediate when the battery of the communication terminal device A runs out. Such a determination based on the remaining amount of the battery can be easily realized because the mobile communication terminal device such as a mobile phone is often provided with a remaining amount detecting means.

  As another determination method, it may be determined that communication between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C via the communication terminal device A is not good due to an increase in the error rate by measuring the error rate. . Note that whether or not communication between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C via the communication terminal device A is good is determined based on the situation before the communication via the communication terminal device A becomes impossible. Therefore, it may be set so that the determination that the communication is not good is performed early in order to increase safety, or the determination that the communication is not good so that the communication terminal device A mediates until just before is determined. It may be set not to be performed.

  If it is determined in step 203 that the communication via the communication terminal device A is good, the process proceeds to step 204 where the communication terminal device A communicates with the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C via the communication terminal device A. Continue to do.

  If it is determined in step 203 that the communication via the communication terminal device A is not good, the communication terminal device A then determines whether direct communication between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C is possible. Perform (step 205). Specifically, for example, the communication terminal device A has acquired the position information of the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C, so the distance between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C is first determined by this position information. It is calculated and determined based on whether or not this distance is within a range where wireless communication can be performed. Whether or not wireless communication is possible is determined by the wireless communication technology used (for example, the communication distance is about 1 km for a wireless LAN, and the communication distance is several for Bluetooth (registered trademark)). m to several tens of meters), the communication terminal device A stores the communication distance data in advance, and if the distance between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C is within this communication distance, the communication terminal It is determined that direct communication is possible between the device B and the communication terminal device C. As another method, the distance between the communication terminal apparatus B and the communication terminal apparatus C is calculated, and the distance between the communication terminal apparatus A and the other party (for example, the communication terminal apparatus C) whose RSSI value has decreased has also been determined. If the distance between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C is shorter than that calculated from the information and compared between the two distances, direct communication between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C is possible. Judge.

  If it is determined in step 205 that direct communication between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C is not possible, the process proceeds to step 206 to notify that communication continuation is dangerous. For example, in the case of the communication terminal device A, it is conceivable that the display unit 17 displays a danger message and informs X. For communication terminal apparatus B, it is conceivable that data for displaying that communication continuation is dangerous is transmitted from communication terminal apparatus A and displayed on display unit 27 of communication terminal apparatus B to inform X. . Similarly, the communication terminal device C may be displayed on the display unit 37 and notified to Y.

  If it is determined in step 205 that direct communication is possible between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C, the communication terminal device A communicates directly between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C. It is determined whether or not to permit (step 207). Specifically, for example, the communication terminal device A transmits a signal for displaying whether the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C permit direct communication. Then, the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C display whether or not direct communication is permitted on the display unit 27 and the display unit 37, respectively, and return the result selected by the owner to the communication terminal device A, respectively. It may be possible to make a judgment based on the above. In the present embodiment, since the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device B are owned by X, the communication terminal device A can make a determination without making an inquiry to the communication terminal device B. May be.

  If it is determined in step 205 that direct communication is possible between communication terminal apparatus B and communication terminal apparatus C without performing the process of step 207, the process may proceed to step 208.

  If it is determined in step 207 that direct communication between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C is not permitted, the process proceeds to step 206 and the above-described processing is performed.

  If it is determined in step 207 that direct communication is permitted between the communication terminal apparatus B and the communication terminal apparatus C, the communication terminal apparatus A is configured so that the communication between the communication terminal apparatus B and the communication terminal apparatus C can be continued. Information that enables direct communication is transmitted to the communication terminal apparatus B and the communication terminal apparatus C (step 208). Specifically, the authentication information regarding the communication terminal apparatus B acquired by the communication terminal apparatus A when communication is performed between the communication terminal apparatus A and the communication terminal apparatus B is transmitted to the communication terminal apparatus C. In addition, the communication terminal device A transmits authentication information about the communication terminal device C acquired by the communication terminal device A when communication is performed between the communication terminal device A and the communication terminal device C to the communication terminal device B. This authentication information is identification information for identifying a terminal, such as an IP address or a MAC address, an encryption key, etc. as described above.

  The communication terminal apparatus B can authenticate the communication terminal apparatus C by acquiring the authentication information regarding the communication terminal apparatus C from the communication terminal apparatus A. And by acquiring the authentication information regarding the communication terminal device B, the communication terminal device C can authenticate the communication terminal device B. And by authenticating the other party in this way, it becomes possible to continue communication between the two parties of the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C.

  Thus, according to the communication system 1, when the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C are communicating via the communication terminal device A, the communication terminal device A or the communication terminal device C moves. Thus, before the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C can no longer communicate with each other before the mediation by the communication terminal device A as shown in FIGS. By transmitting information that can authenticate the other party to the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C, the communication between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C can be continuously performed.

  (Modification) A modification of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As a situation where the communication terminal apparatus B and the communication terminal apparatus C communicate with each other via the communication terminal apparatus A, in addition to the situation shown in FIG. 2B, as shown in FIG. The situation is possible. As such a situation, when the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C are too far apart to be able to perform direct communication, the communication terminal device B is mediated by the communication terminal device A. A situation in which communication between the communication terminal device C and the communication terminal device C can be realized is considered.

  Even in such a situation, a situation as shown in FIG. 6B can also occur if it is a mobile communication terminal device, but even in the case of FIG. 6B, the communication system of the present invention. According to 1, it is possible to continue communication between the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C even when the communication terminal device A cannot intervene. In the case of the modification, the communication terminal apparatus B and the communication terminal apparatus C can directly communicate with each other by moving the communication terminal apparatus from the situation of FIG. 6A (FIG. 2). (Situation like (b)), the intermediary communication terminal device A transmits the authentication information of the other party to the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C, and the communication terminal device B and the communication terminal device C May be configured to start direct communication.

  As described above, according to the communication system of the present invention, when the communication between the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device is first performed through the mediation communication terminal device, the first communication is performed at a predetermined timing. By switching to direct communication between the communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device, it is possible to meet various communication purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication system 11,21,31 Control part 12,22,32 Current position detection part 13,23,33 Operation part 14,34 Storage part 24 Data storage part 15,25,35 Audio | voice output part 16,26,36 Communication part 17, 27, 37 Display unit 38 Microphone unit 39 Camera unit

Claims (10)

The first communication terminal apparatus and the second communication terminal apparatus by performing wireless communication with the first communication terminal apparatus and also performing wireless communication with the second communication terminal apparatus. An intermediary communication terminal device that mediates communication with
At least one of the intermediary communication terminal device, the first communication terminal device, and the second communication terminal device is a movable communication terminal device,
The intermediary communication terminal device is:
The intermediary communication terminal device and the first communication terminal device can communicate,
The intermediary communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device can communicate with each other,
In a situation where the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device have determined that direct communication is possible,
The information for authenticating the second communication terminal apparatus is transmitted to the first communication terminal apparatus, and the information for authenticating the first communication terminal apparatus is transmitted to the second communication terminal apparatus. An intermediary communication terminal device characterized by that. The intermediary communication terminal device is:
The communication status between the mediating communication terminal device and the first communication terminal device is not good and / or the communication status between the mediating communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device is good. If you decide that
The information for authenticating the second communication terminal apparatus is transmitted to the first communication terminal apparatus, and the information for authenticating the first communication terminal apparatus is transmitted to the second communication terminal apparatus. The intermediary communication terminal device according to claim 1.   The intermediary communication terminal device is based on the current location information of the intermediary communication terminal device, the current location information of the first communication terminal device, and the current location information of the second communication terminal device. The intermediary communication terminal device according to claim 2, wherein it is determined that the communication status is not good.   The intermediary communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the intermediary communication terminal apparatus determines that the communication state is not good based on a remaining amount of a battery serving as a power source of the intermediary communication terminal apparatus. Communication terminal device.   Whether the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device can directly communicate with each other by the intermediary communication terminal device is determined by the first communication terminal device and the second communication. The intermediary communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the intermediary communication terminal device is performed based on whether or not a distance between the terminal device and the terminal device is within a range where wireless communication can be performed. A first communication terminal device;
A second communication terminal device;
The first communication terminal apparatus and the second communication are performed by performing wireless communication with the first communication terminal apparatus and also performing wireless communication with the second communication terminal apparatus. A mediating communication terminal device that mediates communication with the terminal device,
Among the first communication terminal device, the second communication terminal device, and the intermediary communication terminal device, at least one of them is a communication system that is a movable communication terminal device,
The intermediary communication terminal device,
The intermediary communication terminal device and the first communication terminal device can communicate,
The intermediary communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device can communicate with each other,
In a situation where the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device have determined that direct communication is possible,
The information for authenticating the second communication terminal apparatus is transmitted to the first communication terminal apparatus, and the information for authenticating the first communication terminal apparatus is transmitted to the second communication terminal apparatus. By
The first communication terminal apparatus that has received information for authenticating the second communication terminal apparatus, and the second communication terminal apparatus that has received information for authenticating the first communication terminal apparatus. A communication system characterized by starting direct communication by radio. The intermediary communication terminal device is:
The communication status between the mediating communication terminal device and the first communication terminal device is not good and / or the communication status between the mediating communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device is good. If you decide that
The information for authenticating the second communication terminal apparatus is transmitted to the first communication terminal apparatus, and the information for authenticating the first communication terminal apparatus is transmitted to the second communication terminal apparatus. The communication system according to claim 6.   The intermediary communication terminal device is based on the current location information of the intermediary communication terminal device, the current location information of the first communication terminal device, and the current location information of the second communication terminal device. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein it is determined that the communication status is not good.   8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the intermediary communication terminal apparatus determines that the communication state is not good based on a remaining amount of a battery serving as a power source of the intermediary communication terminal apparatus. .   Whether the first communication terminal device and the second communication terminal device can directly communicate with each other by the intermediary communication terminal device is determined by the first communication terminal device and the second communication. The communication system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the communication is performed based on whether or not the distance to the terminal device is within a range where wireless communication can be performed.

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