JP2016111640A - Radio communication device, access point search control method, and program for access point search control - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a search time and to reduce power consumption in a radio communication device which can make connection to a plurality of access points.SOLUTION: Connection frequency information 115 of each profile 101-1 to 1-1-N of each time zone of a plurality of regulated time zones, held by an access point connection record holding part 106 is notified to a profile priority determination part 107, and the profile priority determination part 107 determines priorities of each profile 101-1 to 1-1-N on the basis of the connection frequency information 115. A profile priority setting part 103 sets profile priority information 111 determined by the profile priority determination part 107 in each profile 101-1 to 1-1-N. An access point search connection part 104 searches an access point according to priorities set in each profile 101-1 to 1-1-N.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication system having a plurality of access points, an access point search control method, and an access point search control program, and more particularly, to a wireless communication apparatus connectable to a plurality of access points, an access point search control method, and an access. The present invention relates to a program for point search control.

  In a wireless LAN system having a plurality of access points, in order for a wireless LAN terminal to connect to an access point, search for access points existing in the vicinity and check whether or not there is an access point to be connected. It is required to do.

  A wireless LAN terminal normally holds information (SSID, security setting, etc.) of an access point to be connected, and searches for an access point to be connected based on this access point information (hereinafter referred to as a profile). In general, multiple profiles can be stored. For portable devices such as notebook PCs (Personal computers), mobile phones, and portable game machines, multiple profiles are used according to the location of use. Often holds.

  When a wireless LAN terminal holding a plurality of profiles connects to an access point, it searches for each held profile in order, but for the purpose of shortening search time and power consumption. Generally, the search priority is set in the profile, and the priority of the profile for the access point connected immediately before is increased (Patent Document 1), or the access points existing in the vicinity (current connection) The priority of profile search is appropriately set by a method of increasing the priority of the profile with respect to the access point selected as the connection destination from among the access points that can be connected) (Patent Document 2).

JP 2004-343458 A JP 2010-192993 A

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, when a wireless LAN terminal connected to a certain access point (referred to as access point A) goes out of range from the range where the radio waves of access point A reach, it was connected immediately before Since the priority of the profile with respect to the access point A is the highest, the access point A is searched based on this profile. However, since the wireless LAN terminal is out of the access point A range, this search fails.

  When a wireless LAN terminal far from the access point A enters a range of another access point (access point B) and the wireless LAN terminal holds a profile for the access point B, the wireless LAN terminal Detect and connect to it and change the profile priority for access point B to the first.

  Thereafter, when the wireless LAN terminal goes out of range from the range where the radio waves of access point B reach and returns to the range of access point A, the wireless LAN terminal first searches for access point B. Will fail.

  Subsequently, the wireless LAN terminal searches for the access point A, connects after detection, and changes the profile priority for the access point A to the first.

  As described above, in the invention of Patent Document 1, the priority of the profile is changed after a search failure of the access point connected immediately before, and an extra search operation is performed until the priority of the profile is changed. Necessary.

  In the invention described in Patent Document 2, first, in order to detect an access point currently present in the vicinity (access point that can be currently connected), a search is performed for all profiles held by the wireless LAN terminal, and the search result is obtained. Information (information indicating whether each access point is connectable or not connectable) is presented to the user, and the priority of the profile for the access point selected by the user is increased.

As described above, in the invention described in Patent Document 2, an extra search and a user operation are required before the priority order of profiles is changed.
[Object of invention]
The present invention automatically changes the priority order of profiles without requiring an extra search or user operation, and increases the probability that the access point to be connected can be detected in the first access point search. The purpose is to realize shortening and reduction of power consumption.

The wireless communication device of the present invention is a wireless communication device capable of wireless communication with a plurality of access points,
Profile holding means for holding, as a profile for each access point of the plurality of access points, information on an access point including information used for searching for an access point and connecting to the access point, and a plurality of the plurality of the access points Profile priority order determining means for determining profile priority order, access point connection record holding means for storing connection frequency information for each of the plurality of profiles, and the priority order determined by the profile priority order determining means as the profile holding means Profile priority setting means for setting the plurality of profiles held in the profile, and search for access points and access according to the priority set for the plurality of profiles held in the profile holding means. It has an access point searching connection means for connecting to a point, and
The access point connection record holding means uses the access point connection information output from the access point search connection means, holds the access point connection frequency for each of a plurality of prescribed time zones, and For each specified time period, the connection frequency of a plurality of access points corresponding to the time period is output as connection frequency information, and the profile priority order determination unit is connected to the connection frequency output from the access point connection record holding unit The wireless communication apparatus determines priority of the plurality of profiles based on information.

The access point search method of the present invention is an access point search method for a wireless communication apparatus capable of wireless communication with a plurality of access points,
Information on access points including information used for searching for access points and connecting to the access points is profiled for each access point of the plurality of access points, and priorities of the plurality of profiles are set and held in the profile holding means A first holding step, a search for searching for an access point and connecting to the access point based on the priority order of the plurality of held profiles, a connection step, and access point connection information. A second holding step for holding the access point connection frequency in the access point connection record holding means for each of the plurality of time zones; and a plurality of access points corresponding to the corresponding time zone among the plurality of time zones Based on the connection frequency of the plurality of profiles. A determination step of determining a priority of Le, a setting step of setting the priority of the first holding step on the priority determined in said determining step, an access point search method with.

  The first effect of the present invention is that the access point search time can be shortened. The reason is to detect the access point to be connected by increasing the priority of the profile for the access point that is likely to connect, and increasing the probability of detecting the access point to be connected in the first access point search operation. This is because the time to do is shortened.

  The second effect of the present invention is that power consumption can be reduced. The reason is that it is possible to connect to the access point with the minimum necessary operation by shortening the access point search time.

  The third effect of the present invention is that user operations can be reduced. The reason is that an access point having a high possibility of connection is estimated, and the priority of the profile for the access point is automatically increased.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of a wireless communication apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the connection frequency information for demonstrating the connection frequency information management method of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the connection frequency information for demonstrating the connection frequency information management method in the time of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the connection frequency information for demonstrating the connection frequency information management method in the time of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the connection frequency information for demonstrating the connection frequency information management method in the time of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the connection frequency information for demonstrating the connection frequency information management method in the time of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the connection frequency information for demonstrating the connection frequency information management method in the time of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the connection frequency information for demonstrating the connection frequency information management method in the time of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of connection frequency information switching for demonstrating the connection frequency information management method in the time of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the priority change for demonstrating the priority change method at the time of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic functional structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic function structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic function structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus by the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic function structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus in the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the connection frequency information for demonstrating the connection frequency information management method of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the system state in a certain time for demonstrating the priority change method of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the system state in a certain time for demonstrating the priority change method of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the connection frequency information for demonstrating the priority change method at the time of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the connection frequency information for demonstrating the priority change method at the time of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the system state in a certain time for demonstrating the priority change method of the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus of the present invention will be described.

[Description of configuration]
A wireless communication apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a profile holding unit 102 having a plurality of profiles 101-1 to 101-N that hold information necessary for connection with an access point and priority information. , The profile priority order setting unit 103 for setting the profile priority order information 111 in each of the profiles 101-1 to 101-N, and the access point according to the information (profile information 116) held in each of the profiles 101-1 to 101-N Access point search connection unit 104 that searches for and connects to an access point, date / day of the week / time management unit 105 that manages the current date / day of the week / time, and access point that is notified from the access point search connection unit 104 From the connection information 113 and the date / day / time management unit 105 The access point connection record holding unit 106 that records and holds the connection frequency to the access point at a specific date / day of the week / time from the current date / day of the week / time information 114 to be recorded for each predetermined unit time. A profile priority order determining unit 107 that determines the priority order of profiles from the connection frequency information 115 notified from the point connection record holding unit 106 and notifies the profile priority order setting unit 103 of the profile priority order information 111. A date / day of the week / time management unit 105 for managing the current date / day of the week / time may be included in the access point connection record holding unit 106. The profile priority order setting unit 103 and the profile priority order determination unit 107 may be integrated and provided as a profile priority order determination / setting unit.

[Description of operation]
In FIG. 1, in order for the wireless communication apparatus 100 to connect to an access point, the access point search / connection unit 104 notifies the profile holding unit 102 of a profile information request 112 for requesting profile information having the highest priority. To do.

  In response to the profile information request 112 from the access point search connection unit 104, the profile holding unit 102 notifies the access point search connection unit 104 of profile information 116 (profile 101-M) having the highest priority. .

  Receiving the profile information 116 (profile 101-M information) from the profile holding unit 102, the access point search / connection unit 104 selects an access point according to the access point information held in the profile information 116 (profile 101-M information). It searches and connects after detecting the target access point, and notifies the access point connection record holding unit 106 of the information that it is connected to the access point as the access point connection information 113.

  The access point connection record holding unit 106 that has received the access point connection information (information indicating connection to the access point) 113 from the access point search / connection unit 104, the current date / day of the week notified from the date / day / time management unit 105 / Time information 114 (assumed as TA) and access point connection information (information indicating connection to an access point) 113 are combined and held as connection frequency information.

  When the connection with the access point is disconnected for some reason, the access point search connection unit 104 notifies the access point connection record holding unit 106 that the connection with the access point is disconnected as the access point connection information 113. .

  The access point connection record holding unit 106 notified of the access point connection information (information that the connection with the access point has been disconnected) 113 is notified from the date / day / time management unit 105. The current date / day of the week / time information 114 (TB) and the access point connection information (information that the connection with the access point is disconnected) 113 are combined and held as connection frequency information.

  The access point search / connection unit 104 notifies the access point connection record holding unit 106 of the access point connection information 113 every time it connects to the access point and disconnects from the access point. The access point connection record holding unit 106 that has received the information 113 is combined with the current date / day of the week / time information 114 notified from the date / day of the week / time management unit 105 every time the access point connection information 113 is received, and the connection frequency Hold as information.

  Here, the operation of the access point connection record holding unit 106 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the access point connection record holding unit 106 holds connection frequency information for each of the profiles 101-1 to 101-N in the time periods T1 to TN divided for each predetermined unit time. . The time width of each of the time zones T1 to TN may not be a constant value. For example, when setting the time zone for each day, the time width (unit time) is 1 hour from 6 o'clock to 20 o'clock, and the time width (unit is from 0 o'clock to 6 o'clock and from 20 o'clock to 24 o'clock) It is also possible to set the time to 2 hours.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when access point connection information 113 indicating that a connection to an access point for profile 101-M is received from access point search / connection section 104 at time TA included in time zone T1, profile 101 is received in time zone T1. -Holds connection frequency information for M. At this time, since the profile 101-M has the highest connection frequency in the time zone T1, the connection frequency information of the profile 101-M remains “1” (shaded area in FIG. 3).

  Next, when the access point connection information 113 that the connection with the access point for the profile 101-M is disconnected is received from the access point search connection unit 104 at the time TB included in the time zone T3, the time zone T3 and the time zone In the time zone T2 between T1 and the time zone T3, the connection frequency information for the profile 101-M is set to “1” (shaded area in FIG. 4).

  Thereafter, it is assumed that access point connection information 113 to the access point corresponding to the profile 101-1 is received from the access point search connection unit 104 and, as a result, connection frequency information as shown in FIG. 5 is held.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the access point connection information 113 indicating that the access point for the profile 101-M is connected is received from the access point search connection unit 104 at the time TC included in the time zone T1, the time zone T1 Holds the connection frequency information for the profile 101-M. At this time, the connection frequency information of the profile 101-M having the highest connection frequency in the time zone T1 is kept “1”, and the connection frequency information of the profile 101-1 in the time zone T1 is changed to the connection of the profile 101-M. It is changed to “0.5” indicating the ratio to the frequency (shaded area in FIG. 6).

  Next, when the access point connection information 113 that the connection with the access point for the profile 101-M is disconnected is received from the access point search connection unit 104 at the time TD included in the time zone T2, as shown in FIG. The connection frequency information of the profile 101-M that has the highest connection frequency in the time period T2 remains “1”, and the connection frequency information of the profile 101-1 in the time period T2 is set to the connection frequency of the profile 101-M. The ratio is changed to “0.5” (shaded area in FIG. 7).

  Thereafter, the access point connection information 113 to the access point for the profiles 101-1, 101-M, 101-N is received a plurality of times from the access point search / connection unit 104, and as a result, the connection frequency information as shown in FIG. 8 is retained. Suppose that As shown in FIG. 8, the profile 101-M has the highest connection frequency in the time zones T1 and T2, the profile 101-N is the next highest, and the profile 101-1 is the next highest. In the time zone T3, the profile 101-N has the highest connection frequency, then the profile 101-M has the highest connection frequency, and the profile 101-1 has a connection frequency of “0” (no access point connection).

  Returning to FIG. 1, the access point connection record holding unit 106 includes the profiles 101-1 to 101-101 in the time zone including the current date / day of the week / time information 114 notified from the date / day of the week / time management unit 105. N connection frequency information is notified to the profile priority order determination unit 107 as connection frequency information 115, and the current date / day of the week / time information 114 notified from the date / day of the week / time management unit 105 is a time zone. The connection frequency information 115 notified to the profile priority order determination unit 107 is switched to information in the next time zone. The current date / day of the week / time information 114 notified from the date / day of the week / time management unit 105 is notified to the profile priority order determination unit 107, and the current date / day of the week / time information 114 is the boundary of the time zone. Then, the profile priority order determination unit 107 may request the connection frequency information 115 in the next time zone from the access point connection record holding unit 106. The date / day of the week / time management unit 105 for managing the current date / day of the week / time may be included in the file priority order determination unit 107.

  The profile priority determining unit 107 that has received the connection frequency information 115 from the access point connection record holding unit 106 determines the priority of each of the profiles 101-1 to 101 -N based on the received connection frequency information 115, The profile priority order setting unit 103 is notified as profile priority order information 111.

  The profile priority order setting unit 103 that has received the profile priority order information 111 from the profile priority order determination unit 107 receives the profile priority order information 111 for each of the profiles 101-1 to 101-N held by the profile holding unit 102. Set.

  Here, the operation of the profile priority order determination unit 107 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the access point connection record holding unit 106 holds the connection frequency information as shown in FIG. 8, the current date / day / time information 114 (TE) notified from the date / day / time management unit 105 is set. ) Is the boundary between the time periods T2 and T3, the connection frequencies of the profiles 101-1, 101-M, 101-N notified from the access point connection record holding unit 106 to the profile priority determining unit 107 The information 115 is switched as shown in FIG.

  When the connection frequency information 115 from the access point connection record holding unit 106 is switched, the profile priority order determination unit 107 matches the received connection frequency information 115 with the profiles 101-1, 101-M, as shown in FIG. The priority of 101-N is changed. Specifically, the profile priority order determination unit 107 sets the priority order of the profile 101-M as the first place, the profile 101-N as the second place, and the profile 101-1 as the third place in the time slot T3. The priorities of the profile 101-N are the first, the profile 101-M is the second, and the profile 101-1 is the third.

  The configuration and operation of the wireless communication apparatus according to this embodiment have been described above. Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the wireless communication apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.

  The access point connection record holding unit 106 first acquires the current date, day of the week, and time from 105 for date, day of week, and time management. Next, the past access point connection record (connection frequency information to each access point) on the acquired date, day of the week, and time is notified to the profile priority order determination unit 107. Next, the profile priority order determination unit 107 has the highest priority for the profile with the highest connection frequency in the acquired access point connection record, the second highest priority for the profile with the highest connection frequency, And determine the priority of each profile. Next, the determined priority order is notified to the profile priority order setting unit 103.

  The profile priority order setting unit 103 sets the priority order notified from the profile priority order determination unit 107 to each profile stored in the profile storage unit 102.

  When the wireless communication apparatus of the present embodiment is out of service area away from the range where the radio waves of the connected access point reach, the access point search / connection unit 104 is set to each profile held by the profile holding unit 102 Search for access points according to priority.

  As described above, in this embodiment, an access point with a high probability of connecting to a specific date, day of the week, and time is estimated from the access point connection record, and the priority of the profile for the access point is automatically increased. Thus, it is possible to reduce the search time and the power consumption by eliminating the user operation for changing the priority order and increasing the probability that the access point to be connected can be detected by the first access point search operation.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a wireless communication apparatus 200 in which a profile priority order setting valid / invalid control unit 201 is added as a component to the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 11, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same components is omitted in the following description.

  The profile priority order setting valid / invalid control unit 201 notifies the profile priority order setting unit 103 of the profile priority order setting function valid / invalid information 211, thereby providing the profile priority order setting function of the profile priority order setting unit 103. Has the function of controlling the validity / invalidity of

  For example, when the wireless communication device 200 is used in the immediate vicinity of a specific access point for a certain period, it is convenient not to change the priority order of the profiles.

  In such a case, the profile priority order setting enable / disable control unit 201 temporarily disables the profile priority order setting function of the profile priority order setting unit 103 so that the profile priority order is not changed.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a wireless communication apparatus 300 in which a unit time control unit 301 is added as a component to the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 12, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same components is omitted in the following description.

  The unit time control unit 301 notifies the access point connection record holding unit 106 of unit time information 311, thereby changing the unit time when the access point connection record holding unit 106 manages connection frequency information. Have.

  When the unit time when the access point connection record holding unit 106 manages the connection frequency information is changed, the update frequency of the connection frequency information 115 notified to the profile priority order determining unit 107 by the access point connection record holding unit 106 changes. To do.

  For example, when the unit time when the access point connection record holding unit 106 manages the connection frequency information is changed from “1 hour” to “30 minutes”, the access point connection record holding unit 106 instructs the profile priority order determining unit 107 to The update frequency of the connection frequency information 115 to be notified changes from every hour to every 30 minutes.

  In this way, by changing the unit time when the access point connection record holding unit 106 manages the connection frequency information, the granularity (more finely / more roughly) of the profile priority order changing operation can be changed.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a wireless communication apparatus 400 in which a management level control unit 401 is added as a component to the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 13, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same components is omitted in the following description.

  The management level control unit 401 has a function of changing a period level when the access point connection record holding unit 106 manages connection frequency information by notifying the access point connection record holding unit 106 of the management level information 411. Have.

  For example, when it is desired to change the profile priority order according to the day of the week, the management level control unit 401 sets the period level when the access point connection record holding unit 106 manages the connection frequency information to “week”. The access point connection record holding unit 106 determines whether the current date / day of the week / time information 114 notified from the time management unit 105 to the access point connection record holding unit 106 is “what day of the week is what time”. Manage connection frequency information. Such management can be suitably used when the movement route of the wireless communication device is changed depending on the day of the week. Further, management of connection frequency information from Monday to Friday and management of connection frequency information on Saturday and Sunday can be managed separately.

  As another example, when the period level when the access point connection record holding unit 106 manages the connection frequency information is set to “day” by the management level control unit 401, the access point connection is made from the date / day of the week / time management unit 105. The access point connection record holding unit 106 manages the connection frequency information according to “what time” is the current date / day of the week / time information 114 notified to the record holding unit 106.

  In this way, by changing the period level when the access point connection record holding unit 106 manages the connection frequency information, a flexible profile priority order changing operation according to the operation mode of the wireless communication apparatus can be realized. .

  While the first to fourth embodiments have been described above, the second to fourth embodiments can be combined as appropriate. That is, the profile priority order setting enable / disable control unit 201 shown in FIG. 11, the unit time control unit 301 shown in FIG. 12, and the management level control unit 401 shown in FIG. 13 can be combined as appropriate. In an embodiment described later, the case where the wireless communication apparatus includes a unit time control unit 301 shown in FIG. 12 and a management level control unit 401 shown in FIG. 13 in addition to the configuration of FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication apparatus 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 14, the same components as those in FIGS. 1, 12, and 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same components is omitted in the following description.

  In the wireless communication apparatus 500, the unit time when the access point connection record holding unit 106 manages the connection frequency information is set to “1 hour” by the control from the unit time control unit 301, and the access point connection record holding unit 106 The period level when managing the connection frequency information is set to “day” by the control from the management level control unit 401.

  In wireless communication apparatus 500, profile holding unit 102 has two profiles, profile 101-1 (profile 1) and profile 101-2 (profile 2).

  In wireless communication apparatus 500, it is assumed that access point connection record holding section 106 holds connection frequency information as shown in FIG.

  At time 17:00, as shown in FIG. 16, wireless communication apparatus 500 is within a range where radio waves of access point 600-1 (access point 1) can reach and is connected to access point 600-1. . Note that the circles indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 16 indicate ranges where radio waves reach the access point 600-1 and the access point 600-2 (access point 2), respectively.

  Here, in the wireless communication apparatus 500, the profile 101-1 held by the profile holding unit 102 is for the access point 600-1 in FIG. 16, and the profile 101-2 held by the profile holding unit 102 is shown in FIG. 16 for the access point 600-2.

  At time 18:00, as shown in FIG. 17, wireless communication apparatus 500 has moved out of the range where radio waves of access point 600-1 reach, so that connection with access point 600-1 is disconnected. As a result, in the wireless communication apparatus 500, the access point search / connection unit 104 notifies the profile holding unit 102 of a profile information request 112 for requesting profile information having the highest priority in order to search for an access point. To do.

  The profile holding unit 102 that has received the profile information request 112 from the access point search connection unit 104 notifies the access point search connection unit 104 of the profile information 116 having the highest priority, but at time 18:00. The connection frequency information 115 that the access point connection record holding unit 106 notifies to the profile priority order determination unit 107 is as shown in FIG. 18, and the priority order of the profiles 101-1 and 101-2 is Since they are the same, the priority order determined by the profile priority order determination unit 107 and set in the profile 101-1 and the profile 101-2 by the profile priority order setting unit 103 is not changed. As a result, the time zone 17:00 Profile with the highest priority in 01-1 information is notified as the profile information 116 to the access point searching connection 104.

  The access point search / connection unit 104 searches for the access point 600-1 according to the information of the profile 101-1 notified from the profile holding unit 102. However, since the access point 600-1 is out of the range where the radio wave of the access point 600-1 reaches, The point 600-1 cannot be detected.

  Next, the access point search and connection unit 104 notifies the profile holding unit 102 of a profile information request 112 for requesting profile information having the second highest priority.

  The profile holding unit 102 that has received the profile information request 112 from the access point search connection unit 104 sends the information on the profile 101-2 as profile information 116 as profile information 116 having the second highest priority to the access point search connection unit 104. To notify.

  The access point search / connection unit 104 searches for the access point 600-2 according to the information of the profile 101-2 notified from the profile holding unit 102. However, the access point search / connection unit 104 is out of the range where the radio wave of the access point 600-2 reaches. The point 600-2 cannot be detected.

  At time 19:00, the connection frequency information 115 notified by the access point connection record holding unit 106 to the profile priority order determination unit 107 is as shown in FIG. 19, and the connection frequency of the profile 101-2 is the profile. Since the connection frequency is higher than the connection frequency of 101-1, the priority order determined by the profile priority order determination unit 107 and set in the profile 101-1 and the profile 101-2 by the profile priority order setting unit 103 is the first: the profile 101- First, second: Profile 101-2 is changed to First: Profile 101-2, Second: Profile 101-1.

  At time 19:30, as shown in FIG. 20, the wireless communication device 500 moved into a range where the radio waves of the access point 600-2 reach.

  Since the profile with the highest priority is the profile 101-2 at the time of 19:00, the access point search connection unit searches for the access point 600-2 according to the information of the profile 101-2. As shown in FIG. 20, the access point 600-2 can be detected and connected because it is within the reach of the radio waves of the access point 600-2.

  Although the embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described above, the access point search connection unit 104, the date / day of the week / time management unit 105, which are shown in FIGS. 1, 11, 12, 13, and 14, The access point connection record holding unit 106, profile priority order determination unit 107, profile priority order setting unit 103, profile priority order setting enable / disable control unit 201, unit time control unit 311, and management level control unit 401 are configured by hardware. Or it may be configured by software. Some or all of the functions of these components can be realized by a computer reading a program that realizes the function from a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD, or flash memory and executing the program.

  For example, the present embodiment and the embodiment are implemented by a computer including a storage unit that stores programs such as a hard disk and a ROM, a display unit such as a liquid crystal display, a DRAM that stores data necessary for calculation, a CPU, and a bus that connects the units. An example wireless communication device can be configured. Specifically, taking the first embodiment as an example, the access point search connection unit 104, the date / day of the week / time management unit 105, the access point connection record holding unit 106, the profile priority order determination unit 107, shown in FIG. The functions of the profile priority setting unit 103 are described in a program, the program is stored in a storage unit such as a ROM, and information necessary for calculation (a plurality of profiles, connection frequency information for each of the plurality of profiles, etc.) is stored in a DRAM. And the function of the radio | wireless communication apparatus of 1st Embodiment is realizable with a program by operating the said program by CPU.

  Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  A part or all of the above embodiment can be described as the following supplementary notes, but is not limited to the following configuration.

(Appendix 1)
A wireless communication device capable of wireless communication with a plurality of access points,
Profile holding means for holding, as a profile for each access point of the plurality of access points, information relating to an access point including information used for searching for an access point and connecting to the access point;
Profile priority order determining means for determining the priority order of the plurality of profiles of the plurality of access points;
Access point connection record holding means for holding connection frequency information for each of the plurality of profiles;
Profile priority order setting means for setting the priority order determined by the profile priority order determination means to the plurality of profiles held in the profile holding means;
Access point search connection means for searching for an access point and connecting to the access point according to the priority set in the plurality of profiles held in the profile holding means;
Have
The access point connection record holding means uses the access point connection information output from the access point search connection means, holds the access point connection frequency for each of a plurality of prescribed time zones, and For each specified time zone, the connection frequency information of multiple access points corresponding to the time zone is output as connection frequency information.
The profile priority order determining means is a wireless communication apparatus that determines the priority order of the plurality of profiles based on connection frequency information output from the access point connection record holding means.

(Appendix 2)
The profile priority order setting means further comprises profile priority order setting enable / disable control means for setting validity / invalidity of a priority order setting operation for setting priority order to a plurality of profiles,
The profile priority order setting means switches between valid / invalidity of a priority order setting operation for setting priorities in a plurality of profiles according to the validity / invalidity set by the profile priority order setting valid / invalid control means. The wireless communication device according to attachment 1.

(Appendix 3)
The access point connection record holding means further comprises unit time control means for setting a unit time for managing connection frequency information,
The wireless communication apparatus according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the access point connection record holding unit manages an update frequency of the connection frequency information according to a unit time set by the unit time control unit.

(Appendix 4)
The access point connection record holding means further comprises management level control means for setting a period level for managing connection frequency information,
4. The wireless communication apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, wherein the access point connection record holding unit manages connection frequency information according to a period level set by the management level control unit.

(Appendix 5)
A date / day / time management means for managing the date / day of the week / time;
The access point connection record holding means uses the access point connection information output from the access point search connection means and the date / day of the week / time information output from the date / day of the week / time management means. The wireless communication device according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, wherein the access point connection frequency is held for each of the plurality of time zones.

(Appendix 6)
An access point search method for a wireless communication device capable of wireless communication with a plurality of access points,
Information on access points including information used for searching for access points and connecting to the access points is profiled for each access point of the plurality of access points, and priorities of the plurality of profiles are set and held in the profile holding means A first holding step,
A search for connecting to the access point and searching for an access point based on the priority order of the plurality of stored profiles, a connection step;
Using the access point connection information, a second holding step of holding the access point connection frequency in the access point connection record holding means for each of a plurality of prescribed time zones;
A determination step of determining the priority order of the plurality of profiles based on the connection frequency of a plurality of access points corresponding to a corresponding time zone among the plurality of time zones;
An access point search method comprising: a setting step of setting the priority of the first holding step to the priority determined in the determination step.

(Appendix 7)
The access point searching method according to appendix 6, wherein the setting step operation is set to be valid / invalid, and the setting step is activated / invalidated according to the set valid / invalid state.

(Appendix 8)
In the determining step, the connection frequency of a plurality of access points corresponding to the corresponding time zone is provided as connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles, and a unit time for managing the connection frequency information is arbitrarily set and set. The access point search method according to appendix 6 or 7, wherein the update frequency of connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles is managed according to a unit time.

(Appendix 9)
In the determining step, connection frequencies of a plurality of access points corresponding to a corresponding time zone are provided as connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles, and a period level for managing the connection frequency information is arbitrarily set and set. The access point search method according to any one of appendices 6 to 8, wherein connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles is managed according to a period level.

(Appendix 10)
The access point connection record holding means holds the access point connection frequency for each of a plurality of defined time zones, using the access point connection information and date / day of the week / time information. The access point search method according to any one of appendices 6 to 9.

(Appendix 11)
A program for causing a computer as a wireless communication device capable of wireless communication with a plurality of access points to execute an access point search,
Information on access points including information used for searching for access points and connecting to the access points is profiled for each access point of the plurality of access points, and priorities of the plurality of profiles are set and held in the profile holding means A first holding step,
A search for connecting to the access point and searching for an access point based on the priority order of the plurality of stored profiles, a connection step;
Using the access point connection information, a second holding step of holding the access point connection frequency in the access point connection record holding means for each of a plurality of prescribed time zones;
A determination step of determining the priority order of the plurality of profiles based on the connection frequency of a plurality of access points corresponding to a corresponding time zone among the plurality of time zones;
A setting step of setting the priority of the first holding step to the priority determined in the determination step.

(Appendix 12)
The program according to appendix 11, wherein the setting step operation is set to be valid / invalid and the setting step is activated / invalidated according to the set valid / invalid state.

(Appendix 13)
In the determining step, the connection frequency of a plurality of access points corresponding to the corresponding time zone is provided as connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles, and a unit time for managing the connection frequency information is arbitrarily set and set. The program according to appendix 11 or 12, wherein the update frequency of connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles is managed according to a unit time.

(Appendix 14)
In the determining step, connection frequencies of a plurality of access points corresponding to a corresponding time zone are provided as connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles, and a period level for managing the connection frequency information is arbitrarily set and set. 14. The program according to any one of appendices 11 to 13, wherein connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles is managed according to a period level.

(Appendix 15)
The access point connection record holding means holds the access point connection frequency for each of a plurality of defined time zones, using the access point connection information and date / day of the week / time information. The program according to any one of appendices 11 to 14.

(Appendix 16)
A wireless communication system comprising: a plurality of access points; and the wireless communication apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, capable of wireless communication with the plurality of access points.

  The present invention is applicable to a wireless LAN terminal, particularly a portable wireless LAN terminal that is used while carrying a notebook PC, a mobile phone, a portable game machine, etc., and in which reduction of power consumption is important.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Wireless communication apparatus 101-1 to 101-N 101-M profile 102 Profile holding part 103 Profile priority setting part 104 Access point search connection part 105 Date / day of the week / time management part 106 Access point connection record holding part 107 Profile priority order Determination unit 111 Profile priority information 112 Profile information request 113 Access point connection information 114 Current date / day of the week / time information 115 Connection frequency information 116 Profile information 200 Wireless communication device 201 Profile priority setting enable / disable control unit 211 Profile priority Setting function valid / invalid information 300 Wireless communication device 301 Unit time control unit 311 Unit time information 400 Wireless communication device 401 Management level control unit 411 Management level information 5 0 wireless communication device 600-1 600-2 access points

Claims (10)

A wireless communication device capable of wireless communication with a plurality of access points,
Profile holding means for holding, as a profile for each access point of the plurality of access points, information relating to an access point including information used for searching for an access point and connecting to the access point;
Profile priority order determining means for determining the priority order of the plurality of profiles of the plurality of access points;
Access point connection record holding means for holding connection frequency information for each of the plurality of profiles;
Profile priority order setting means for setting the priority order determined by the profile priority order determination means to the plurality of profiles held in the profile holding means;
Access point search connection means for searching for an access point and connecting to the access point according to the priority set in the plurality of profiles held in the profile holding means;
Have
The access point connection record holding means uses the access point connection information output from the access point search connection means, holds the access point connection frequency for each of a plurality of prescribed time zones, and For each specified time zone, the connection frequency information of multiple access points corresponding to the time zone is output as connection frequency information.
The profile priority order determining means is a wireless communication apparatus that determines the priority order of the plurality of profiles based on connection frequency information output from the access point connection record holding means. The profile priority order setting means further comprises profile priority order setting enable / disable control means for setting validity / invalidity of a priority order setting operation for setting priority order to a plurality of profiles,
The profile priority order setting means switches between valid / invalidity of a priority order setting operation for setting priorities in a plurality of profiles according to the validity / invalidity set by the profile priority order setting valid / invalid control means. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1. The access point connection record holding means further comprises unit time control means for setting a unit time for managing connection frequency information,
The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the access point connection record holding unit manages the update frequency of the connection frequency information according to a unit time set by the unit time control unit. The access point connection record holding means further comprises management level control means for setting a period level for managing connection frequency information,
4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the access point connection record holding unit manages connection frequency information according to a period level set by the management level control unit. 5. A date / day / time management means for managing the date / day of the week / time;
The access point connection record holding means uses the access point connection information output from the access point search connection means and the date / day of the week / time information output from the date / day of the week / time management means. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the access point connection frequency is held for each of a plurality of time zones. An access point search method for a wireless communication device capable of wireless communication with a plurality of access points,
Information on access points including information used for searching for access points and connecting to the access points is profiled for each access point of the plurality of access points, and priorities of the plurality of profiles are set and held in the profile holding means A first holding step,
A search for connecting to the access point and searching for an access point based on the priority order of the plurality of stored profiles, a connection step;
Using the access point connection information, a second holding step of holding the access point connection frequency in the access point connection record holding means for each of a plurality of prescribed time zones;
A determination step of determining the priority order of the plurality of profiles based on the connection frequency of a plurality of access points corresponding to a corresponding time zone among the plurality of time zones;
An access point search method comprising: a setting step of setting the priority of the first holding step to the priority determined in the determination step.   The access point search method according to claim 6, wherein the setting step operation is set to be enabled / disabled, and the setting step operation is enabled / disabled according to the set enabled / disabled state.   In the determining step, the connection frequency of a plurality of access points corresponding to the corresponding time zone is provided as connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles, and a unit time for managing the connection frequency information is arbitrarily set and set. The access point search method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the update frequency of the connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles is managed according to a unit time.   In the determining step, connection frequencies of a plurality of access points corresponding to a corresponding time zone are provided as connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles, and a period level for managing the connection frequency information is arbitrarily set and set. The access point search method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein connection frequency information for each of a plurality of profiles is managed according to a period level.   The access point connection record holding means holds the access point connection frequency for each of a plurality of defined time zones, using the access point connection information and date / day of the week / time information. The access point search method according to any one of claims 6 to 9.

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