JP2015103868A - Radio communication apparatus, and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio communication apparatus which improves a communication rate or communication quality by selectively using any appropriate frequency band among a plurality of frequency bands, the radio communication apparatus being configured to implement communication by means of a radio communication system conforming to IEEE802.11.SOLUTION: A mobile phone 1 includes: an operation part 50; a communication part 20 capable of implementing communication by means of a communication system conforming to IEEE802.11; and a control part 10 which searches for an access point including an SSID that is matched with a predetermined SSID inputted or selected by the operation part 50, in the case where a use frequency band of one access point found by the search is a first frequency band, uses the first frequency band to connect to the one access point and, in the case where the use frequency band of the one access point found by the search is a frequency band different from the first frequency band, searches for any other access point including an SSID that is matched with the predetermined SSID.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device and a communication method.

  Conventionally, a wireless LAN is known as a wireless communication system compliant with IEEE 802.11, and there are wireless communication devices capable of performing communication using the wireless LAN. Further, there is a 2.4 GHz band as a frequency band used for the wireless LAN, and the frequency band is divided into a plurality of channels (bands) for use by each wireless communication device for communication. Each wireless communication device communicates with the access point using one channel assigned to the own device among a plurality of channels.

  When each wireless communication device starts or communicates with an access point, when an SSID is input or selected, an access point having the same SSID as the input or selected SSID is searched from neighboring access points, and the same SSID is searched. If an access point having a password is found, it connects to the access point. Here, the connection refers to, for example, a state in which no traffic is generated between the wireless communication devices, but a route for flowing traffic is established.

  In Patent Document 1, since a plurality of channels in one frequency band are adjacent to each other, one channel of the plurality of channels may receive interference from another channel. It is described that an interference influence degree indicating the degree of influence from the communication is calculated, and a channel with the smallest interference influence degree is selected to communicate with an access point.

  JP 2008-78698 A

  However, in the prior art, it is assumed that only one frequency band is used, and any one of a plurality of frequency bands (for example, 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band) is preferably selected. Communication is not expected.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in a wireless communication device capable of communication by a wireless communication system compliant with IEEE 802.11, a communication frequency or communication quality can be reduced by selecting and using a suitable frequency band from a plurality of frequency bands. An object is to provide an improved wireless communication device.

  The wireless communication device of the present invention includes an operation unit, a communication unit capable of communication by a communication system compliant with IEEE 802.11, and an access point having an SSID that matches a predetermined SSID input or selected by the operation unit. If the frequency band of the one access point found by the search is the first frequency band, the first frequency band is used to connect to the one access point and the discovery is made by the search And a control unit that searches for another access point having an SSID that matches the predetermined SSID when a frequency band used by the one access point is a frequency band different from the first frequency band.

  Preferably, the control unit searches for the other access point, and when the use frequency band of the other access point found by the search is the first frequency band, the control unit selects the first frequency band. Use to connect to the other access point.

  Preferably, the control unit uses the first frequency band when the use frequency band of the other access point is the first frequency band and the use frequency band satisfies a predetermined condition. To connect to the other access point.

  Preferably, when the control unit finds an access point having an SSID that matches the predetermined SSID for the first time, if the use frequency band of the access point found by the search is the first frequency band, The first frequency band is used to connect to the discovered access point without determining whether the use frequency band satisfies a predetermined condition.

  Preferably, when there are a plurality of access points in the vicinity, the control unit determines whether the SSID included in the beacon matches the predetermined SSID in the order in which beacons transmitted from the access point are received.

  Preferably, the predetermined condition is that a received electric field strength of a beacon transmitted from the other access point is larger than a first threshold value.

  Preferably, the predetermined condition is that a difference between a reception field strength of a beacon transmitted from the other access point and a reception field strength of a beacon transmitted from the one access point is greater than a second threshold. It is.

  Preferably, when the use frequency band of the other access point does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the control unit uses a frequency band different from the first frequency to connect to the one access point.

  Preferably, when the control unit is connected to the access point using the first frequency band, the control unit provides a bandwidth among a plurality of bands provided in the first frequency band and having different bandwidths. Is selected with priority, and the access point is connected using the selected band.

  Preferably, when the control unit is connected to the access point through the first frequency band, the control unit is based on an interference rate or a usage rate of each of the plurality of channels provided in the first frequency band. One channel is preferentially selected, and the selected channel is used to connect to the access point.

  The communication method of the present invention is a communication method for communication by a communication system compliant with IEEE 802.11, and searches for an access point having an SSID that matches a predetermined SSID input or selected by a wireless communication device, and performs the search If the use frequency band of the access point found by the first frequency band is connected to the access point in the first frequency band, the use frequency band of the access point found by the search is the first frequency band. If it is not the frequency band of, another access point having an SSID that matches the predetermined SSID is searched.

  According to the present invention, in a wireless communication device capable of communication by a wireless communication system compliant with IEEE 802.11, by selecting and using any one of a plurality of frequency bands, the communication speed or communication quality can be reduced. An improved wireless communication device can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the function of the mobile telephone 1 in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing processing when the mobile phone 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is connected to an access point by a wireless communication system compliant with IEEE 802.11. It is a figure which shows the mobile telephone 1 in embodiment of this invention, and the access point 100 (100a-100c) of the periphery.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing functions of the mobile phone 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The mobile phone 1 includes at least a control unit 10, a communication unit 20, a storage unit 30, a display unit 40, an operation unit 50, and a voice control unit 60. Note that the mobile phone 1 may have other configurations, for example, a camera, various sensors, an interface, a microphone, a speaker, and the like.

  The control unit 10 controls the entire mobile phone 1 and, for example, receives input from the operation unit 50 and performs predetermined processing on each unit such as the communication unit 20. And the control part 10 controls the memory | storage part 30 in the case of a process execution, reads various programs and data, and writes data.

  The communication unit 20 communicates with an external device (such as an access point) using a predetermined frequency band (for example, 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band). Then, the communication unit 20 demodulates the signal received from the antenna, supplies the processed signal to the control unit 10, modulates the signal supplied from the control unit 10, and transmits the signal from the antenna to the external device. To do.

  The communication unit 20 is compatible with a wireless communication system compliant with IEEE 802.11. In addition, the communication unit 20 includes W-CDMA, CDMA20001x (hereinafter referred to as 1x) or GSM (registered trademark), which is a communication system for voice or data communication, CDMA20001xEVDO (hereinafter, EVDO), which is a communication system for data communication, In addition, it may be compatible with LTE, which is a communication system used for high-speed data communication.

  The communication unit 20 receives a beacon transmitted from an access point (hereinafter referred to as AP). The beacon includes parameters of each AP (SSID, BSSID, used frequency band, bandwidth, usage status of the AP, and the like). Here, BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) is the same as the MAC address of the AP. Further, since the SSID is composed of numbers or symbols and can be arbitrarily set, the SSID of each AP may be exactly the same.

  The storage unit 30 includes, for example, a working memory and is used for arithmetic processing by the control unit 10. In addition, various programs according to the present embodiment are stored.

  The display unit 40 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, or the like. The display unit 40 performs display according to an instruction from the control unit 10.

  The operation unit 50 includes, for example, a button, a keyboard, a touch sensor, and the like. When operated by the operation unit 50, the result of the operation is input to the control unit 10. Upon receiving the input, the control unit 10 executes control according to the input. For example, when an operation according to a data communication request is performed by the operation unit 50, a data communication request is input to the control unit 10 as a result of the operation, and the control unit 10 that receives the input receives the input via the communication unit 20. A data communication request is transmitted to an external device (for example, a base station device).

  The voice control unit 60 performs predetermined voice processing on the signal supplied from the communication unit 20 under the control of the control unit 10 and outputs the processed signal to a receiver (not shown). The receiver outputs the signal supplied from the audio control unit 60 to the outside. Note that this signal may be output from a speaker (not shown) instead of or together with the receiver.

  In addition, the voice control unit 60 processes a signal input from a microphone (not shown) under the control of the control unit 10 and outputs the processed signal to the communication unit 20. The communication unit 20 performs predetermined processing on the signal supplied from the audio control unit 60 and outputs the processed signal from the antenna.

  FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing processing when the mobile phone 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is connected to an access point by a wireless communication system compliant with IEEE 802.11.

  First, the control unit 10 detects that an operation for inputting or selecting a predetermined SSID has been performed by the operation unit 50 (step S1). Then, the control part 10 scans (searches) AP (step S2). Here, the control unit 10 controls the communication unit 20 to receive each beacon transmitted from a neighboring AP by scanning the AP.

  Next, the control unit 10 includes all the SSIDs (hereinafter referred to as reception SSIDs) included in each beacon transmitted from the neighboring AP in step S2, and the SSID input or selected by the operation unit 50 in step S1. It is determined whether or not the determination of whether or not (hereinafter referred to as the input SSID) matches (step S3).

  If the control unit 10 determines that all the received SSIDs and the input SSIDs have not been determined (NO in step S3), the control unit 10 still determines whether the received SSIDs still match the input SSIDs. One received SSID that has not been determined is selected, and it is determined whether or not the selected one received SSID matches the input SSID (step S4). Thereby, the control unit 10 searches for an access point having an SSID that matches the input SSID. Here, the determination whether or not the selected one received SSID matches the input SSID is performed, for example, by comparing the received SSID included in the beacon with the input SSID in order from the received beacon. Note that the order of comparison of received SSIDs is not limited to the order in which beacons are received. As an example, the reception SSID included in each beacon may be preferentially determined in descending order of the RSSI of each beacon. As another example, a received SSID whose use frequency band included in the beacon is a 5 GHz band may be preferentially determined.

  Further, when the control unit 10 determines that the determination of whether or not all the received SSIDs match the input SSID (YES in step S3), the received SSID that matches the input SSID among all the determined received SSIDs. If there is an SSID corresponding to the 5 GHz band determined not to satisfy a certain condition in step S8 described later, the AP having the received SSID has a frequency band used by the AP (having the received SSID). The communication unit 20 is controlled to connect in the frequency band included in the beacon. On the other hand, if there is no received SSID that matches the input SSID, the control unit 10 determines that there is no AP having an SSID that matches the input SSID, and displays a display to that effect on the display unit 40. Here, if the control unit 10 determines that it is out of the service area, the communication unit 20 may control the AP to scan the AP after a predetermined time has elapsed since it was determined to be out of service. In addition, when there are a plurality of SSIDs as selection candidates, the next SSID may be automatically selected and the process of FIG.

  When it is determined that the one received SSID selected in step S4 matches the input SSID (YES in step S4), the control unit 10 determines whether or not the determination of matching is the first time (step S5). Here, the first time means that the determination that the received SSID matches the input SSID after the new SSID is input or selected in step S1 is the first time.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 10 determines that the one received SSID selected in step S4 does not match the input SSID (NO in step S4), the control unit 10 returns to step S3.

  When determining in step S5 that the one received SSID selected in step S4 matches the input SSID in step S5 (YES in step S5), the control unit 10 determines the AP having the one received SSID. It is determined whether or not the used frequency band is a 5 GHz band (step S6). Here, the used frequency band of the AP having the received SSID refers to a frequency band included as a parameter of the AP in the beacon that includes the received SSID.

  When determining that the one received SSID selected in step S4 matches the input SSID is not the first time (NO in step S5), the control unit 10 has one received SSID as in step S6. It is determined whether or not the use frequency band of the AP is the 5 GHz band (step S7).

  If the control unit 10 determines in step S6 that the use frequency band of the AP having one received SSID is the 5 GHz band (YES in step S6), the BSSID of the AP having the one received SSID (the received SSID is included) The BSSID included in the received beacon is stored in the storage unit 30 and connected to the AP having the one received SSID in the 5 GHz band. As a result, when the use frequency band of the AP having the reception SSID determined first is the 5 GHz band, the AP having the reception SSID can be immediately connected in the 5 GHz band, compared with the 2.4 GHz band. Communication can be started more quickly in the 5 GHz band with less interference and good communication quality.

  On the other hand, in step S6, the control unit 10 determines that the use frequency band of the AP having one reception SSID is not the 5 GHz band (for example, the use frequency band of the AP having one reception SSID is the 2.4 GHz band). If it is determined (NO in step S6), the process returns to step S3 to select another received SSID that has not been determined whether or not it matches the input SSID, and whether or not the other received SSID matches the input SSID. Judgment is made.

  When the control unit 10 determines in step S7 that the use frequency band of the AP having one reception SSID is the 5 GHz band (YES in step S7), the use frequency band of the AP having the one reception SSID is constant. It is determined whether or not the condition is satisfied (step S8). Here, when the received field strength (RSSI) of the beacon that includes the received SSID is higher than a predetermined threshold, and / or the received SSID that matches the RSSI of the beacon that includes the received SSID and the input SSID. When the difference between the RSSI of a beacon transmitted by another AP having the value is within a predetermined value (the predetermined value is, for example, 30 dBm), the used frequency band of the AP having the one received SSID satisfies a certain condition Is determined.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 10 determines in step S7 that the use frequency band of the AP having one reception SSID is not the 5 GHz band (NO in step S7), the control unit 10 returns to step S3.

  If the control unit 10 determines in step S8 that the used frequency band of the AP having one received SSID satisfies a certain condition (YES in step S8), the BSSID of the AP having the received SSID (the received SSID is included). The BSSID included in the beacon that was included as a parameter of the AP) is stored in the storage unit 30, and the communication unit 20 in the 5 GHz band with the AP having the reception SSID (the AP that transmitted the beacon including the reception SSID) Control to connect by.

  Thereby, for example, the mobile phone 1 uses, for example, the reception frequency band of one AP having the reception SSID determined to match the input SSID first in the 2.4 GHz band, and the reception SSID determined to match the input SSID after the next time. When the frequency band used by other APs having 5 GHz is the 5 GHz band, the other APs are connected in the 5 GHz band only when the frequency band used by the other AP (5 GHz band) satisfies a certain condition. On the other hand, if the frequency band used by another AP (5 GHz band) does not satisfy a certain condition, the communication quality of the communication frequency can be reduced by connecting to one AP used frequency band (2.4 GHz band). Connection with an unfavorable frequency band (5 GHz band) can be reduced, and connection with an AP can be performed with a frequency band with good communication quality (2.4 GHz).

  Also, in the 5 GHz band, IEEE 802.11n has a 40 MHz (HT40) band (channel), while 802.11ac has 80 MHz (HT80) and 160 MHz (HT160) bands (channels). ing. Here, when connecting to the AP in the 5 GHz band, the control unit 10 preferentially uses a wide bandwidth (channel) (preferentially uses in the order of 160 MHz, 80 MHz, and 40 MHz). May be.

  Further, when selecting a channel (band) to be used in the 5 GHz band, the control unit 10 may preferentially select a channel having a low channel interference rate or usage rate. The channel interference rate depends on the number of wireless communication devices using the channel and a channel adjacent to the channel, and the channel usage rate depends on the number of wireless communication devices using the channel. .

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the mobile phone 1 and the surrounding APs 100 (100a to 100c) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Here, APs 100 a to 100 c are arranged around the mobile phone 1.

  The AP 100a has an SSID of abc and a used frequency band of 2.4 GHz, the AP 100b has an SSID of abc and a used frequency band of 5 GHz, and the AP 100c has an SSID of abd and a used frequency band of 5 GHz. is there.

  In FIG. 3, a process until the mobile phone 1 connects to the AP 100a will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  First, when an operation for inputting or selecting a predetermined SSID (abc) is performed by the operation unit 50 (step S1), the mobile phone 1 scans the AP (step S2).

  Next, since the mobile phone 1 has not yet completed the determination whether all the received SSIDs (the SSIDs of the APs 100a to 100c) match the input SSID (abc) (NO in step S3), all the received SSIDs are received. Among the SSIDs, the SSID (abc) of the AP 100b is selected from the received SSIDs of the APs 100a to 100c as one received SSID that has not yet been determined whether or not it matches the input SSID. Here, for example, it is assumed that the AP 100b beacon is received first, the AP 100a beacon is received, and the AP 100c beacon is finally received.

  The mobile phone 1 determines that the SSID (abc) of the selected AP 100b matches the input SSID (abc) (step S4 YES), and determines that the match is the first time (YES in step S5).

  The mobile phone 1 determines that the use frequency band of the AP 100b is the 2.4 GHz band, and determines that it is not the 5 GHz band (NO in step S6).

  Then, since the SSID of the AP 100a and the SSID of the AP 100c that have not been determined whether or not they match the input SSID remain (NO in step S3), the mobile phone 1 then inputs the SSID (abc) of the AP 100a. It is determined whether or not the SSID (abc) matches (step S4).

  Here, the mobile phone 1 determines that the SSID (abc) of the AP 100a matches the input SSID (abc) (YES in step S4), and already determines that the SSID (abc) of the AP 100b matches the input SSID (abc). Therefore, it is determined that the coincidence determination is not the first time (step S5 NO), and it is determined whether or not the use frequency band of the AP 100a is the 5 GHz band (YES in step S5).

  Here, the mobile phone 1 determines that the use frequency band of the AP 100a is 5 GHz (step S5 YES), and determines whether or not the use frequency band of the AP 100a satisfies a certain condition (step S8).

  When the use frequency band of the AP 100a satisfies a certain condition, the mobile phone 1 transmits the beacon RSSI transmitted from the AP 100a over a predetermined threshold and / or the beacon RSSI transmitted from the AP 100a and the AP 100b. The difference between the beacon and RSSI may be within a predetermined range.

  The mobile phone 1 stores the BSSID of the AP 100a in the storage unit 30 and connects to the AP 100a using the BSSID of the AP 100a, assuming that the use frequency band of the AP 100a satisfies a certain condition (step S8 YES).

  As another embodiment, when the use frequency band of the AP 100a is the 2.4 GHz band (step S7 NO), the SSID (abd) of the remaining AP 100c does not match the input SSID (abc) (step S4 NO). Since the determination of all the received SSIDs (the received SSIDs of the APs 100a to 100c) has been completed, the AP 100a or 100b having the SSID that matches the input SSID is connected to an AP with good communication quality. In this case, in order to connect the BSSID of the AP with good communication quality, it is stored in the storage unit 30.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to embodiment mentioned above. Further, the effects described in the embodiments of the present invention only list the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the above-described embodiments. Absent.

  In addition, the device of the present invention is not limited to the mobile phone 1 in the embodiment, but is a mobile personal computer, a digital camera, a media player, an electronic book reader, a navigator, a portable electronic device such as a game machine, or a communication specialized for communication functions. It may be a stationary electronic device such as a dedicated module, a desktop personal computer, or a television receiver.

1 Mobile phone (wireless communication equipment)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Control part 20 Communication part 30 Storage part 40 Display part 50 Operation part 60 Voice control part 100 Access point

Claims (11)

An operation unit;
A communication unit capable of communication by a communication system compliant with IEEE802.11.
When an access point having an SSID that matches a predetermined SSID input or selected by the operation unit is searched, and the frequency band used by one access point found by the search is the first frequency band, the first When the frequency band of one access point is connected to the one access point using the one frequency band and the frequency band used by the one access point found by the search is a frequency band different from the first frequency band, the predetermined SSID And a control unit that searches for another access point having an SSID that matches the wireless communication device.   The control unit searches the other access point, and when the use frequency band of the other access point discovered by the search is the first frequency band, the control unit uses the first frequency band. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is connected to another access point.   The control unit uses the first frequency band when the use frequency band of the other access point is the first frequency band and the use frequency band satisfies a predetermined condition. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein the wireless communication device is connected to an access point.   When the control unit finds an access point having an SSID that matches the predetermined SSID for the first time, if the use frequency band of the access point found by the search is the first frequency band, the use frequency The wireless communication according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a connection is made to the discovered access point using the first frequency band without determining whether the band satisfies a predetermined condition. machine.   The said control part determines whether the SSID contained in the said beacon corresponds with the said predetermined SSID in the order which received the beacon transmitted from an access point, when there exist multiple access points in the periphery. The wireless communication device according to any one of the above.   The wireless communication device according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined condition is that a received electric field strength of a beacon transmitted from the other access point is larger than a first threshold value.   The predetermined condition is that a difference between a received electric field strength of a beacon transmitted from the other access point and a received electric field strength of a beacon transmitted from the one access point is larger than a second threshold value. The wireless communication device according to 3 or 6.   The control unit connects to the one access point using a frequency band different from the first frequency when a use frequency band of the other access point does not satisfy the predetermined condition. Or the wireless communication device according to any one of 7;   When the control unit is connected to the access point using the first frequency band, the control unit has a wide bandwidth among a plurality of bands provided in the first frequency band and having different bandwidths. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a band is preferentially selected and connected to an access point using the selected band.   When the control unit is connected to the access point through the first frequency band, the control unit selects one channel based on an interference rate or a usage rate of each of the plurality of channels provided in the first frequency band. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the wireless communication device is selected with priority, and is connected to the access point using the selected channel. A communication method for communicating by a communication system compliant with IEEE 802.11,
When an access point having an SSID that matches a predetermined SSID input or selected by the wireless communication device is searched, and the use frequency band of the access point found by the search is the first frequency band, the first frequency band Searching for another access point having an SSID that matches the predetermined SSID when the access point is connected to the access point in a frequency band and the use frequency band of the access point found by the search is not the first frequency band; Communication method.

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