JP2017011382A - Communication device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce possibility in which frequency channels of a plurality of radio networks for participation are different from one another, even when connected to other radio networks generated by other communication devices, after a device itself generates a radio network.SOLUTION: A communication device of the present invention comprises: selection means for selecting one out of radio networks to which the communication device was connected in the past as a slave station, on the basis of a predetermined condition; first determination means for determining a frequency channel of the radio network which is selected by the selection means; generation means for generating the radio network as a base station, in the frequency channel determined by the first determination means; and communication means for making communications in other radio networks using the frequency channel determined by the first determination means, while maintaining the radio network generated by the generation means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device that participates in a plurality of wireless networks.

  In recent years, there is a technique for participating in a plurality of wireless networks using one wireless unit. Since one radio unit cannot communicate using different frequency channels simultaneously, it is desirable that the frequency channels of a plurality of radio networks be the same.

  Therefore, when another wireless network is generated while connected to the wireless network, there is a technique for generating another wireless network using the same frequency channel as the connected wireless network (Patent Document 1).

JP 2014-107761 A

  The frequency channel used by the wireless network is determined by the base station that generates the wireless network. Therefore, when connecting to another wireless network generated by another base station after the own device generates a wireless network, the frequency channels of the participating wireless networks are not always the same.

  In order to make the frequency channels of a plurality of participating wireless networks the same, it is necessary to stop one of the wireless networks once and change the frequency channel, which reduces convenience.

  In view of the above problems, there is a possibility that the frequency channels of a plurality of participating wireless networks may be different even when connecting to another wireless network generated by another communication device after the device has generated the wireless network. It aims at reducing.

  In view of the above-described problems, the communication device of the present invention selects, based on a predetermined condition, a selection unit that selects one of wireless networks that the communication device has connected as a slave station in the past, and the selection unit selects A first determination unit that determines a frequency channel of the wireless network, a generation unit that generates a wireless network as a base station in the frequency channel determined by the first determination unit, and a radio generated by the generation unit Communication means for communicating in another wireless network using the frequency channel determined by the first determination means while maintaining the network.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication device for searching for a wireless network existing in the vicinity, and a single wireless network based on a predetermined condition from the wireless networks searched by the searching means. Selecting means for selecting, generating means for generating a wireless network as a base station in the frequency channel of the wireless network selected by the selecting means, and selecting by the selecting means while maintaining the wireless network generated by the generating means And a communication means for communicating in another wireless network using the frequency channel of the wireless network.

  According to the present invention, there is a possibility that the frequency channels of a plurality of participating wireless networks may be different even when connecting to another wireless network generated by another communication device after the device has generated the wireless network. Can be reduced.

System Configuration Hardware configuration diagram of communication apparatus 101 Flowchart realized by communication device 101

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of the present embodiment. Here, an example using a wireless LAN system compliant with the IEEE 802.11 series will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to communication devices compliant with other wireless communication systems such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), UWB, ZigBee, and MBOA. Here, MBOA is an abbreviation for Multi Band OFDM Alliance. UWB includes wireless USB, wireless 1394, WINET, and the like.

  The communication device 101 includes an access point function unit (not shown) (hereinafter referred to as an AP function unit) that generates a wireless network and a station function unit (not illustrated) that is connected to another wireless network generated by another communication device (hereinafter referred to as an STA). Functional part). The AP function unit further determines the frequency channel of the wireless network to be generated. The communication apparatus 101 can operate the AP function unit and the STA function unit in parallel.

  The AP function unit of the communication apparatus 101 generates the wireless network 104 as a base station (parent station). Another communication apparatus 102 participates in the wireless network 104 as a slave station. The base station 103 generates a wireless network 105. The STA function unit of the communication apparatus 101 is connected to the wireless network 105 and wirelessly communicates with the base station 103.

  The communication device 101 may be an image input device such as an imaging device (camera or video camera) or a scanner, or may be an image output device such as a printer, a copier, or a projector. Further, it may be a storage device such as a hard disk device or a memory device, or may be an information processing device such as a personal computer (PC) or a smartphone.

  FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the communication apparatus 101.

  The storage unit 201 includes a ROM and a RAM, and stores various information such as a program for performing various operations described later and communication parameters for wireless communication. In addition to the memory such as ROM and RAM, the storage unit 201 is a storage medium such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a DVD. May be used.

  The control unit 202 is configured by a CPU or MPU, and controls the entire communication apparatus 101 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 201. Note that the entire communication apparatus 101 may be controlled in cooperation with an OS (Operating System) executed by the control unit 202.

  The control unit 202 also controls the function unit 203 to execute predetermined processing such as imaging, printing, and projection. The functional unit 203 is hardware for the communication apparatus 101 to execute predetermined processing. For example, when the communication apparatus 101 is a camera, the function unit 203 is an imaging unit and performs an imaging process. For example, when the communication apparatus 101 is a printer, the function unit 203 is a printing unit, and performs a printing process. For example, when the communication apparatus 101 is a projector, the function unit 203 is a projection unit, and performs a projection process. The data processed by the function unit 203 may be data stored in the storage unit 201 or data communicated with another communication device via the communication unit 206 described later.

  The input unit 204 receives various operations from the user. The output unit 205 performs various outputs to the user. Here, the output includes at least one of display on a screen, sound output by a speaker, vibration output, and the like. Note that both the input unit 204 and the output unit 205 may be realized by one module like a touch panel.

  The communication unit 206 controls wireless communication and IP communication based on the IEEE802.11 series. In addition, the communication unit 206 controls the antenna 207 to transmit and receive wireless signals for wireless communication.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process flow realized by the control unit 202 reading and executing the program stored in the storage unit 201 when the AP function unit of the communication apparatus 101 generates a wireless network. Show. Note that at least a part of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 may be realized by hardware. When realized by hardware, for example, a dedicated circuit may be automatically generated on the FPGA from a program for realizing each step by using a predetermined compiler. FPGA is an abbreviation for Field Programmable Gate Array. Further, a Gate Array circuit may be generated in the same manner as an FPGA and realized as hardware.

  First, the communication apparatus 101 receives a wireless network generation instruction from the communication apparatus 101 from the user via the input unit 204 (S301). The instruction may be an activation instruction of the AP function unit.

  When receiving the instruction, the communication apparatus 101 confirms whether it is already connected to the wireless network 105 generated by the base station 103 (S302). When already connected to the wireless network 105, the communication apparatus 101 determines the frequency channel used by the already connected wireless network 105 (S303). And the communication apparatus 101 produces | generates the wireless network 104 using the determined frequency channel (S304). As a result, the frequency channel of the connected wireless network and the generated wireless network can be made the same.

  When the wireless network 104 is generated, the communication apparatus 101 starts beacon transmission on the frequency channel to be used. The beacon includes the identifier of the wireless network 104 and information on the frequency week channel, and is transmitted periodically. The communication apparatus 101 waits for reception of a search request (Probe Request) or a connection request (Association Request) from another communication apparatus 102. When receiving a search request, the communication device 101 transmits a search response (Probe Response). When receiving a connection request, the communication device 101 is connected to another communication device 102 and wirelessly communicates with the other communication device 102. In this way, the communication apparatus 101 performs communication over a plurality of wireless networks (S305).

  On the other hand, when not connected to the wireless network 105, the communication apparatus 101 confirms whether it has been connected to the wireless network in the past as a slave station (S311). This is performed by confirming whether the wireless network information to which the communication apparatus 101 has been connected is stored in the storage unit 201. The slave station is a device that operates in accordance with the control of the base station in the wireless network generated by the base station. For example, the slave station communicates using the frequency channel determined by the base station.

  When the information of the wireless network that has been connected is stored in the storage unit 201, the wireless network to which the communication apparatus 101 was most recently connected is selected (S312). Further, the communication apparatus 101 determines a frequency channel used by the selected wireless network (S313). Here, the frequency channel used when the communication apparatus 101 is connected to the selected wireless network is stored in the storage unit 201 in advance, and the frequency channel is determined by referring to this. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the communication device 101 searches the surroundings over a plurality of frequency channels and detects the selected wireless network, the communication device 101 determines the frequency channel currently used by the wireless network. It may be. If the selected wireless network cannot be detected, the frequency channel used when the communication apparatus 101 is connected to the selected wireless network is determined.

  In S312, the base station that generated the wireless network to which the communication apparatus 101 was most recently connected may be selected. In this case, the communication apparatus 101 searches for a wireless network currently generated by the base station over a plurality of frequency channels. If a wireless network currently generated by the base station is detected, the communication apparatus 101 determines a frequency channel used by the wireless network in S313. On the other hand, when the currently generated wireless network is not detected, the frequency channel used when the communication apparatus 101 is connected to the selected wireless network is determined. That is, the communication apparatus 101 may determine a wireless network currently generated by a base station connected in the past, and determine a frequency channel currently used by the wireless network.

  And the communication apparatus 101 newly produces | generates the wireless network 104 using the frequency channel determined in this way (S314).

  Instead of the most recently connected wireless network, a wireless network with the largest amount of data communication may be selected from wireless networks to which the communication apparatus 101 has been connected. Further, the wireless network with the longest connection time may be selected from the wireless networks to which the communication apparatus 101 has been connected. Note that the user may be able to set in advance which of these conditions is used to select a wireless network.

  As described above, the wireless network 104 is generated using the same frequency channel as the wireless network that is likely to be connected after the communication apparatus 101 generates the wireless network 104. Thereby, the possibility that the frequency channels of a plurality of participating wireless networks are different can be reduced.

  When the wireless network 104 is generated, the communication apparatus 101 starts beacon transmission on the frequency channel to be used. The beacon includes the identifier of the wireless network 104 and information on the frequency week channel, and is transmitted periodically. The communication apparatus 101 waits for reception of a search request (Probe Request) or a connection request (Association Request) from another communication apparatus 102. When receiving a search request, the communication device 101 transmits a search response (Probe Response). When receiving a connection request, the communication device 101 is connected to another communication device 102 and wirelessly communicates with the other communication device 102. That is, the communication apparatus 101 performs wireless communication in the wireless network 104 (S315). In parallel with the above operation, the communication apparatus 101 receives from the user an instruction to connect to another wireless network generated by another base station via the input unit 204 (S316). Note that the communication apparatus 101 continues the wireless communication in the wireless network 104 while the connection instruction is not received from the user.

  Upon receiving the connection instruction, the communication apparatus 101 connects to the other specified wireless network while maintaining the generated wireless network 104 (S317).

  In this way, the communication apparatus 101 communicates in a wireless network generated by itself, and also communicates in another wireless network generated by another base station using the same frequency channel (S305). If the frequency channel used by the other specified wireless network is different from the frequency channel used by the generated wireless network 104, the communication apparatus 101 notifies the user of an error and notifies the other wireless network. Is not connected. Note that it may be determined whether there is another device connected in the generated wireless network 104, and the wireless network 104 may be terminated and connected to another wireless network only when there is no such device. .

  Next, a case where the wireless network information that has been connected is not stored in the storage unit 201 (No in S311) will be described. In such a case, the communication apparatus 101 confirms whether the communication apparatus 101 has generated a wireless network in the past (S321). Specifically, the communication apparatus 101 confirms whether or not the wireless network information generated by the communication apparatus 101 in the past is stored in the storage unit 201. If stored, the communication apparatus 101 selects the wireless network generated most recently by the communication apparatus 101 (S322). Further, the communication apparatus 101 determines a frequency channel used by the selected wireless network (S313). And the communication apparatus 101 produces | generates the wireless network 104 using the determined frequency channel (S314). Then, the process proceeds to step S315. Subsequent processing is the same as described above, and is omitted.

  Instead of selecting the most recently generated wireless network, a wireless network with the largest data communication amount may be selected from among the wireless networks generated by the communication apparatus 101. Further, the wireless network having the longest connection time may be selected from the wireless networks generated by the communication apparatus 101.

  Next, a case where the wireless network information generated by the communication apparatus 101 in the past is not stored in the storage unit 201 (No in S321) will be described. In such a case, the communication apparatus 101 searches for a wireless network in each of a plurality of frequency channels (S331). The search is performed by the communication apparatus 101 transmitting a probe request signal that is a search signal and receiving a probe response signal that is a response signal to the search signal from a base station that generates a wireless network. Note that the search may be performed by receiving a beacon signal periodically transmitted from a base station generating a wireless network.

  Then, it is determined whether a wireless network is detected as a result of the search (S332). When the wireless network is not detected, that is, when there is no wireless network around, the communication apparatus 101 newly generates a wireless network 104 using an appropriate frequency channel (S333).

  Here, it is assumed that a frequency channel with the least noise among a plurality of searched frequencies is used. Thereby, the communication quality in the wireless network which the communication apparatus 101 produced | generated can be improved. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a frequency channel designated by the user may be used, or a frequency channel set as a default may be used. According to this alternative means, the communication apparatus 101 does not have to compare noise for each frequency channel, so that the processing load on the communication apparatus 101 can be reduced.

  On the other hand, when a wireless network is detected in the vicinity (Yes in S332), the communication apparatus 101 selects a wireless network having the highest radio field intensity (RSSI) of the received signal (probe response signal or beacon signal) (S341). . Further, the communication apparatus 101 determines a frequency channel used by the selected wireless network (S313). And the communication apparatus 101 newly produces | generates the wireless network 104 using the determined frequency channel (S314). Then, the process proceeds to step S315. Subsequent processing is the same as described above, and is omitted.

  As described above, the wireless network 104 is generated using the same frequency channel as the wireless network that is likely to be connected after the communication apparatus 101 generates the wireless network 104. Thereby, the possibility that the frequency channels of a plurality of participating wireless networks are different can be reduced.

  Instead of selecting the wireless network with the highest radio field intensity, it is determined whether or not a predetermined wireless network registered in advance by the user is detected, and if it is detected, the predetermined wireless network is selected. May be. Further, instead of the above-described S331 to 332, the predetermined wireless network may be selected based on the position of the communication apparatus 101 and the position where the predetermined wireless network registered in advance by the user exists. For example, the position of the communication apparatus 101 acquires the current location using GPS (Global Positioning System). Further, the position where the predetermined wireless network registered in advance by the user exists is registered by the user in advance, or the position when connected to the predetermined wireless network is acquired by GPS. When the distance between the position of the communication apparatus 101 and the position where a predetermined wireless network registered in advance by the user is within a predetermined threshold, the predetermined wireless network is selected. As described above, when a predetermined wireless network registered in advance by the user is close, that is, when there is a high possibility of connecting to the predetermined wireless network, the predetermined wireless network is selected. Thereby, the possibility that the frequency channels of a plurality of participating wireless networks are different can be reduced.

  Further, instead of selecting the wireless network with the highest radio field strength, the wireless network with the highest security strength may be selected. For example, a wireless network corresponding to WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) is preferentially selected over WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). Thereby, when connecting preferentially to a wireless network with high security strength based on user settings and default settings of the communication apparatus 101, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the frequency channels of a plurality of participating wireless networks are different.

  Further, the wireless network with the fastest communication speed may be selected. For example, a wireless network compatible with IEEE 802.11ac is preferentially selected over IEEE 802.11b. Thereby, when connecting preferentially to a wireless network with a high communication speed based on the user setting or the default setting of the communication apparatus 101, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the frequency channels of a plurality of participating wireless networks are different.

  In these cases, the wireless network with the highest security strength or the fastest communication speed is selected from wireless networks in which the radio wave intensity (RSSI) of the signal received by the communication device 101 exceeds a predetermined threshold. You may make it select. Here, a probe response signal or a beacon signal can be used as the received signal.

  In addition, the user may be able to set in advance which of these conditions is used to select a wireless network. This increases the possibility that a wireless network can be generated using the same frequency channel as the frequency network of the wireless network intended by the user.

  In the above-described embodiment, any one or a plurality of steps of S302, S311, S321, and S332 may be omitted. If omitted, it may be handled in the same manner as in the case where each determination is No. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the effect mentioned above can be acquired.

  The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  In addition, the present invention has some of the effects described above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Communication apparatus 102 Other communication apparatus 103 Base station 104 Wireless network 201 Storage part 202 Control part 203 Function part 204 Input part 205 Output part 206 Communication part

Claims (20)

A communication device,
Selection means for selecting one of wireless networks that the communication device has connected as a slave station in the past based on a predetermined condition;
First determination means for determining a frequency channel of the wireless network selected by the selection means;
Generating means for generating a wireless network as a base station in the frequency channel determined by the first determining means;
Communication means for communicating in another wireless network using the frequency channel determined by the first determination means while maintaining the wireless network generated by the generation means;
A communication apparatus comprising:   2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first determination unit determines a frequency channel used when the wireless network selected by the selection unit and the communication apparatus have been connected in the past. .   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first determination unit determines a frequency channel currently used by the wireless network selected by the selection unit.   The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the selection unit selects a wireless network to which the communication device is most recently connected.   The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the selection unit selects a wireless network based on a data communication amount from wireless networks connected to the communication device in the past. .   The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the selection unit selects a wireless network based on a connection time from wireless networks to which the communication device has been connected in the past. And further comprising an accepting means for accepting an instruction for generating a wireless network from a user,
The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when the reception unit receives the instruction, the generation unit generates a wireless network. Confirmation means for confirming whether the communication device is already connected to a wireless network;
When it is confirmed that the communication device is already connected to a wireless network, second determination means for determining a frequency channel of the connected wireless network;
Further comprising
When it is confirmed that the communication device is already connected to a wireless network, the generation unit generates a wireless network as a base station in the frequency channel determined by the second determination unit,
When it is confirmed that the communication device is not connected to a wireless network, the first determination unit determines a frequency channel of the wireless network selected by the selection unit;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates a wireless network as a base station in the frequency channel determined by the first determination unit. Confirmation means for confirming whether the communication device has been connected to a wireless network in the past;
When the communication device has not been connected to a wireless network in the past, search means for searching for a wireless network existing around,
Further comprising
The communication according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the selection unit selects one wireless network based on a predetermined condition from the wireless networks searched by the search unit. apparatus. A communication device,
Search means for searching for wireless networks existing around,
Selection means for selecting one wireless network based on a predetermined condition from the wireless networks searched by the search means;
Generating means for generating a wireless network as a base station in the frequency channel of the wireless network selected by the selecting means;
Communication means for communicating in another wireless network using the frequency channel of the wireless network selected by the selecting means while maintaining the wireless network generated by the generating means;
A communication apparatus comprising:   The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the search unit searches each of a plurality of frequency channels.   The communication device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the search means searches for a wireless network by transmitting a search signal and receiving a response signal to the search signal.   The said selection means selects the wireless network which the base station which the said communication apparatus connected in the past produces | generates among the wireless networks searched by the said search means. Item 1. The communication device according to item 1.   The said selection means selects one wireless network based on the radio field intensity of the signal which the apparatus which produced | generated the wireless network searched by the said search means transmits. The communication device according to item. A registration means for registering a predetermined wireless network;
The selection means, when the predetermined wireless network is included in the wireless network searched by the search means, selects the predetermined wireless network. The communication apparatus according to claim 1.   The communication device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the selecting unit selects one wireless network based on a security strength of the wireless network searched by the searching unit.   The communication device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the selection unit selects one wireless network based on a communication speed of the wireless network searched by the search unit. A communication device control method comprising:
A selection step of selecting one of the wireless networks that the communication device has previously connected as a slave station, based on a predetermined condition;
A determining step of determining a frequency channel of the selected wireless network;
A generating step of generating a wireless network as a base station in the determined frequency channel;
A communication step of communicating in another wireless network using the determined frequency channel while maintaining the generated wireless network;
A control method characterized by comprising: A communication device control method comprising:
A search step for searching for wireless networks in the vicinity;
A selection step of selecting one wireless network based on a predetermined condition from the searched wireless networks;
A generating step of generating a wireless network as a base station in a frequency channel of the selected wireless network;
A communication step of communicating in another wireless network using the frequency channel of the selected wireless network while maintaining the generated wireless network;
A control method characterized by comprising:   The program for operating a computer as a communication apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 17.