JP2017139596A - Wireless communication device, wireless communication system and wireless network setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless communication device which allows even a user, not having the knowledge about wireless network, to easily construct the environment of wireless LAN such as a satellite office.SOLUTION: A wireless communication system 1 includes: a BLE transmitter 2 for transmitting electromagnetic waves based on a BT communication system; multiple terminals 3 communicating on the basis of a WF communication system via a wireless network 5; and a wireless AP10 receiving the transmission radio waves of the transmitter 2 and communicating with each terminal 3. The wireless AP10 includes: a WF communication section 11b communicating with the multiple terminals 3 in a room by the WF communication system via the wireless network 5; a BT receiving section 11a for acquiring setting information related to the setting of communication of the multiple terminals 3 by the BT communication system different from the WF communication system; and a device control section 13 for setting the wireless network 5, on the basis of the setting information acquired by the BT receiving section 11a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, a wireless communication system, and a wireless network setting method.

  Satellite offices and free offices (hereinafter referred to as “satellite offices”, etc.) are becoming more popular due to the recent work style reform. Along with this, mobile terminals (notebook PCs, tablets, smartphones) are often used in business, and there is an increasing need for wireless LAN (Local Area Network) environments even in satellite offices.

  When constructing a wireless LAN environment in a satellite office, etc., it becomes easy to cause security problems if it is shared in each section of the satellite office, etc., so a dynamic environment that can be used only when necessary in the required section Is desirable. Furthermore, it is desirable that the wireless LAN can be easily set up and used.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a wireless communication system applied to a building air conditioning system is known as a wireless LAN that can be easily set (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 1 describes an access point formed as a centralized control station, a plurality of wireless nodes provided for each air conditioner to control the air conditioner, and a predetermined set value by communicating with these wireless nodes. A portable mobile setting terminal.

  In this configuration, in the conventional configuration, during normal operation in which the wireless node controls the air conditioner, control is performed between the access point and each wireless node using a normal channel, and initial setting of the wireless node When changing the initial setting value, the normal channel is switched to the initialization channel, and the setting value is transmitted from the setting terminal to the wireless node.

  However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, for example, in the initialization setting, the initialization period is set based on the frequency setting of the normal channel and the initialization channel, and the number of wireless nodes and the data amount of the setting value. Because of this configuration, specialized knowledge is required to operate the wireless network.

  Therefore, if the one described in Patent Document 1 is applied to the construction of a wireless LAN environment such as a satellite office, it will be necessary to secure experts who have expertise in wireless networks and outsourcing, and the operation of the satellite office will become complicated. Operational costs will increase.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and a wireless communication apparatus, a wireless communication apparatus, and a wireless communication apparatus that can easily construct a wireless LAN environment such as a satellite office even for a user who has no knowledge about a wireless network. An object is to provide a communication system and a wireless network setting method.

  A wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a communication unit that communicates with a plurality of terminal apparatuses by a first communication method via a wireless network within a predetermined area, and a second communication method different from the first communication method. Setting information acquisition means for acquiring setting information related to the communication settings by a communication method, and wireless network setting means for setting the wireless network based on the setting information acquired by the setting information acquisition means It has a configuration.

  The present invention provides a wireless communication apparatus, a wireless communication system, and a wireless network setting method that have an effect that even a user who does not have knowledge about a wireless network can easily construct an environment of a wireless LAN such as a satellite office. It can be provided.

It is a functional block diagram in one Embodiment of the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on this invention. It is a hardware block diagram in one Embodiment of the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the advertisement packet which comprises the BLE signal in this embodiment. In this embodiment, it is a timing chart in case a user installs wireless AP in the room in which the BLE transmitter was provided. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of wireless AP in this embodiment. It is an example of the wireless communication system according to the present invention, and is a diagram showing a construction example when a wireless AP is operated alone. It is an example of the radio communication system according to the present invention, and is a diagram showing a construction example at the time of operation connected to a WAN. It is an example of the wireless communication system according to the present invention, and is a diagram showing a construction example during operation by guest connection.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An example in which the wireless communication apparatus of the present invention is applied to a wireless communication system that performs wireless communication using a wireless LAN in a room (satellite office or the like) in a building will be described.

  First, the configuration of an embodiment of a wireless communication system according to the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a wireless communication system 1 according to this embodiment includes a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) that transmits radio waves based on a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication method (hereinafter referred to as “BT communication method”). A plurality of terminal devices 3 that communicate with the transmitter 2 based on a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication method (hereinafter referred to as “WF communication method”) via the wireless network 5, and a transmission radio wave of the transmitter 2 And a wireless access point (AP) 10 that performs communication with each terminal device 3.

  The BLE transmitter 2 is a device provided in a satellite office or the like and used for indoor positioning technology, for example, and transmits an extremely low power BLE signal 4 including a BT communication type beacon at a predetermined time interval. It has become. This BLE transmitter 2 is an example of a transmission means.

  The BLE signal 4 periodically transmitted by the BLE transmitter 2 includes setting information for constructing the environment of the wireless network 5 in a room where the wireless AP 10 is installed, as will be described later. The BLE transmitter 2 may be any communication device that uses a communication method different from the WF communication method. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which replaces with the BLE transmitter 2 and utilizes a smart phone, for example.

  The plurality of terminal devices 3 communicate with the wireless AP 10 via the wireless network 5 by the WF communication method. In addition, the some terminal device 3 is a notebook PC, a tablet, a smart phone, etc., for example.

  The wireless AP 10 includes a wireless communication control unit 11, a wired communication control unit 12, a device control unit 13, an operation control unit 14, a memory 15, and a nonvolatile memory 16.

  The wireless communication control unit 11 controls a wireless communication function, and includes a Bluetooth (BT) reception unit 11a and a WF communication unit 11b.

  The BT receiver 11 a receives the BLE signal 4 transmitted from the BLE transmitter 2 and acquires setting information included in the BLE signal 4.

  The WF communication unit 11b communicates with each terminal device 3 through the wireless network 5 by the WF communication method.

  In other words, the WF communication unit 11b is an example of a communication unit that communicates with a plurality of terminal devices 3 by the WF communication method (first communication method) via the wireless network 5 in a predetermined room (area). .

  The BT receiver 11a is an example of a setting information acquisition unit that acquires setting information related to communication settings of a plurality of terminal devices 3 by a BT communication method (a second communication method different from the first communication method). .

  For example, the wired communication control unit 12 performs communication control when the wireless AP 10 is connected to a WAN (Wide Area Network) in a company with a cable. In the present embodiment, wired communication is taken as an example. However, for example, a device that performs a wide-area wireless communication system used in a mobile phone, satellite communication, or the like may be used.

  The device control unit 13 is responsible for overall control of the wireless AP 10. For example, the device control unit 13 sets the wireless network 5 based on the setting information acquired by the BT reception unit 11a receiving the BLE signal 4. That is, the device control unit 13 is an example of a wireless network setting unit.

  The device control unit 13 also includes a room setting mode for constructing the environment of the wireless network 5 when the wireless AP 10 is installed in the room in which the BLE transmitter 2 is provided, and a plurality of terminal devices 3 wirelessly using the WF communication method. The normal mode for communicating via the network 5 is switched.

  The apparatus control unit 13 can set the WF output level of the WF communication unit 11b based on the WF output level information corresponding to the area of the room included in the room information described later. As a result, the wireless AP 10 can optimize the WF output level of the WF communication unit 11b and can ensure security because communication using the WF communication method can be performed only in a limited space such as a satellite office. .

  The operation control unit 14 includes, for example, a button switch that allows the user to set the operation of the wireless AP 10, a display that displays predetermined information, a control unit that controls the button switch, the display, and the like.

  The memory 15 is used by software that realizes the functions of the wireless communication control unit 11, the wired communication control unit 12, the device control unit 13, and the operation control unit 14 at the time of execution.

  The non-volatile memory 16 stores information that must be retained even when the wireless AP 10 is powered off. Examples of this type of information include room information (room area, allowable number of people, uses, etc.) of the room where the wireless AP 10 is installed, an SSID (Service Set Identifier) for identifying the wireless network 5, There is information on the encryption key for authenticating the user.

  Next, an outline of the hardware configuration of the wireless AP 10 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the hardware configuration diagram illustrated in FIG. The wireless AP 10 has each functional configuration shown in FIG. 1 by the hardware configuration and program shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless AP 10 in this embodiment includes a CPU 21 that executes various processes, a ROM 22 that stores various programs and data necessary for the processes of the CPU 21, and data that is being processed by the CPU 21 temporarily. RAM 23, EEPROM 24 for storing information that must be retained even when the wireless AP 10 is turned off, and an input / output interface (I / F) unit to which various switches and WAN connectors are connected 25 and a bus 26 for transferring data between the components.

  For example, the ROM 22 stores a control program for controlling each process based on the BT communication method and the WF communication method, information related to room information, for example, information on the WF output level corresponding to the area of the room, and the like. It functions as a storage device. The CPU 21 executes arithmetic processing based on the control program stored in the ROM 22. The RAM 23 temporarily stores calculation results by the CPU 21, information processed by the operation control unit 14, and the like.

  The CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, and EEPROM 24 are connected to each other via a bus 26 and are connected to an input / output I / F unit 25. A button switch 27 and a WAN connector 28 are connected to the input / output I / F unit 25.

  The button switch 27 is pressed when the user constructs the environment of the wireless network 5 when installing the wireless AP 10 in the room where the BLE transmitter 2 is provided.

  The WAN connector 28 is used, for example, when the wireless AP 10 is connected to a WAN in a company with a cable.

  Next, the BLE signal 4 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The BLE signal 4 is composed of, for example, an advertisement packet 30 shown in FIG.

  The advertisement packet 30 has a PDU (Protocol Data Unit) payload 31. The PDU payload 31 includes an AdvA portion that indicates an advertiser address with a data length of 6 octets, and subsequent advertising data. The advertising data has a Data portion 32 having a data length of 26 octets.

  The Data section 32 is a data area in which arbitrary data (Manufacturer Specific Data) of each company that uses the advertisement packet 30 is described. That is, the wireless AP 10 can grasp whether or not the room where the BLE transmitter 2 is provided is a company's satellite office or the like by referring to the manufacturer arbitrary information.

  In the present embodiment, the Data section 32 (26 octets) includes a vendor code (2 octets) that can identify the wireless AP 10 as the manufacturer's arbitrary information, and the wireless network 5 in the room where the BLE transmitter 2 is installed. Setting information (24 octets) for environment construction is described.

  Specifically, the setting information includes data type, room information, SSID, and encryption key information. This setting information is set in advance for each satellite office or the like by, for example, a system administrator.

  Data type information is indicated by a data length of 1 octet, “00” indicates room information, and “01” indicates other information.

  The room information is indicated by a data length of 1 octet (8 bits), 0 to 3 bits indicate the area of the room, 4 to 5 bits indicate the number of people allowed in the room, and 6 to 7 bits indicate the information on the usage of the room. In the room usage information, “0” indicates that the wireless AP 10 is operated alone, “1” indicates that the operation is connected to the WAN, “2” indicates that the connection is based on guest connection, and “3” indicates that it is undefined (free). Show.

  The SSID information is security related information for identifying the wireless network 5 based on the WF communication method. The encryption key is authentication-related information related to security for authenticating the user of the wireless network 5 based on the WF communication method.

  Next, the operation of the wireless communication system 1 when the user installs the wireless AP 10 in the room where the BLE transmitter 2 is provided will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the wireless network setting method in the present embodiment.

  When the user presses the button switch 27, the operation control unit 14 recognizes that the button switch 27 has been pressed (step S1), and notifies the apparatus control unit 13 accordingly.

  The device control unit 13 sets the wireless AP 10 in the room setting mode (step S2), and notifies the wireless communication control unit 11 accordingly.

  The wireless communication control unit 11 starts monitoring the BLE signal 4 by the BT reception unit 11a (step S3).

  The BT receiver 11a receives and analyzes the BLE signal 4 (Advertising signal) periodically transmitted from the BLE transmitter 2, and extracts room information from the BLE signal 4 (step S4).

  The wireless communication control unit 11 outputs the room information extracted by the BT reception unit 11 a to the device control unit 13. The device control unit 13 changes (rewrites) the information stored in the nonvolatile memory 16 based on the input room information (step S5), and notifies the wireless communication control unit 11 to that effect.

  The wireless communication control unit 11 ends the monitoring of the BLE signal 4 by the BT reception unit 11a (step S6).

  The device control unit 13 sets the wireless AP 10 from the room setting mode to the normal mode (step S7).

  Next, the operation of the wireless AP 10 and the wireless network setting method in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the initial state, the wireless AP 10 is set to the normal mode.

  The device control unit 13 determines whether or not to set the room setting mode (step S11). Specifically, the device control unit 13 determines that the room setting mode is set when the button switch 27 is pressed, and is not set to the room setting mode when the button switch 27 is not pressed. Judge to maintain the mode.

  If it is determined in step S11 that the room setting mode is set, the apparatus control unit 13 performs the following processing based on the Data unit 32 of the BLE signal 4 received by the BT reception unit 11a.

  That is, the apparatus control unit 13 determines whether the manufacturer arbitrary information included in the Data unit 32 is for the company and the data type is “room information” (step S12).

  In step S12, if it is determined that the manufacturer arbitrary information included in the Data unit 32 is for the company and the data type is “room information”, the device control unit 13 determines “area” from the room information. The WF output level corresponding to the area of the room is set for the WF communication unit 11b (step S13).

  The device control unit 13 extracts the “allowable number” information from the room information and sets the upper limit value of the number of connected devices in the room (step S14).

  The device control unit 13 extracts “use” information from the room information (step S15).

  The device control unit 13 determines whether or not the “use” information is information indicating the operation of the wireless AP 10 alone (step S16).

  If it is determined in step S16 that the information indicates the operation of the wireless AP 10 alone, the apparatus control unit 13 sets the NAT function off and the DHCP function on (step S17), and proceeds to step S24. .

  If it is not determined in step S16 that the information indicates the operation of the wireless AP 10 alone, the apparatus control unit 13 determines whether the “use” information is information indicating a WAN connection (step S18). ).

  If it is determined in step S18 that the “use” information is information indicating a WAN connection, the apparatus control unit 13 sets the NAT function off and the DHCP function off (step S19). Proceed to S24.

  If it is not determined in step S18 that the information indicates WAN connection, the apparatus control unit 13 determines whether the “use” information is information indicating guest connection (step S20).

  If it is determined in step S20 that the “use” information is information indicating a guest connection, the apparatus control unit 13 sets the NAT function on and the DHCP function on (step S21). Proceed to S24.

  The device control unit 13 extracts the SSID information from the data unit 32 and stores it in the nonvolatile memory 16 (step S22).

  The device control unit 13 extracts the encryption key information from the data unit 32 and stores it in the nonvolatile memory 16 (step S23).

  The device control unit 13 executes automatic reboot (step S24). As a result, the settings of various information set by the apparatus control unit 13 are reflected, so that a wireless LAN environment optimized for the room where the wireless AP 10 is installed is constructed.

  If it is not determined in step S11 that the room setting mode is set, and if it is not determined in step S12 that the manufacturer optional information is for the company and the data type is “room information”. The process is terminated.

  As described above, the wireless AP 10 according to the present embodiment can be used in the satellite office or the like provided with the BLE transmitter 2 in response to a simple operation in which the user presses the button switch 27 of the wireless AP 10. It is possible to construct a dynamic environment only when it is necessary for the necessary sections of the wireless LAN, and to make it easy to set up and use the wireless LAN. Therefore, even a user who has no knowledge about the wireless network can easily install or remove the wireless AP 10 in the satellite office or the like.

  Next, examples will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example constructed when the “use” information included in the room information is information indicating the operation of the wireless AP 10 alone. As illustrated, the wireless communication system 1 a includes a BLE transmitter 2, a wireless AP 10, and a notebook PC 3 a, a tablet PC 3 b, and an electronic blackboard 3 c as a plurality of terminal devices 3.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an embodiment constructed when the “use” information included in the room information is information indicating operation by connecting to the WAN. As illustrated, the wireless communication system 1b includes a BLE transmitter 2, a wireless AP 10, a notebook PC 3a and a tablet PC 3b as a plurality of terminal devices 3, a WAN 6, and an electronic blackboard 3c connected to the WAN 6. I have. In this case, when the device control unit 13 of the wireless AP 10 connects to the WAN 6 from the BLE transmitter 2 and acquires information indicating the operation, the wireless AP 10 itself is set as an L2 switch and is connected to the normal-use WAN 6 by wire. is there. Communication control with the electronic blackboard 3c is controlled by the wired communication control unit 12 (see FIG. 1).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example constructed when the “use” information included in the room information is information indicating operation by guest connection. As illustrated, the wireless communication system 1 c includes a BLE transmitter 2, a wireless AP 10, a notebook PC 3 a and a tablet PC 3 b as a plurality of terminal devices 3, a WAN 6, and the Internet 7 connected to the WAN 6. Yes.

  In this case, the wireless AP 10 becomes a router having a NAT function and is connected to the WAN 6, but constitutes an independent guest network. In addition, UTMs (Unified Threat Management) 8 and 9 are installed between the wireless AP 10 and the WAN 6 and between the WAN 6 and the Internet 7 to avoid risks to security threats to the WAN 6. This configuration assumes that the guest network is allowed to use the Internet 7 via the UTMs 8 and 9.

  As described above, the wireless AP 10 according to the present embodiment receives the BLE signal 4 of the BT communication method from the BLE transmitter 2 provided in the satellite office or the like, and acquires setting information for constructing the environment of the wireless network 5. When the button switch 27 is pressed by the user, the environment construction of the wireless network 5 is automatically performed.

  Therefore, the wireless AP 10 according to the present embodiment can easily construct a wireless LAN environment such as a satellite office even if the user has no knowledge about the wireless network.

  In addition, since the wireless AP 10 in the present embodiment acquires room information of the room in which the wireless AP 10 is installed and automatically constructs the environment of the wireless network 5 based on the acquired room information, A wireless LAN environment optimized for a room to be installed can be constructed.

  In addition, since the wireless AP 10 in the present embodiment is configured to acquire room information using a BT communication method different from the WF communication method used in the wireless network 5, the room information is acquired before the wireless network 5 is constructed. It can be applied to the environment construction of the wireless network 5.

  In addition, the wireless AP 10 according to the present embodiment uses the BLE transmitter 2 that is provided in a satellite office or the like and transmits a very low power BLE signal 4 at a predetermined time interval. Communication can be made effective and security can be ensured.

1, 1a, 1b, 1c Wireless communication system 2 BLE transmitter (transmission means)
3 Terminal device 4 BLE signal (setting information)
5 Wireless network 6 WAN
7 Internet 10 Wireless AP (wireless communication device)
11a BT receiver (setting information acquisition means)
11b WF communication unit (communication means)
13 Device control unit (wireless network setting means)

JP 2008-228191 A

Claims (6)

Communication means for communicating with a plurality of terminal devices by a first communication method via a wireless network within a predetermined area;
Setting information acquisition means for acquiring setting information regarding the setting of the communication by a second communication method different from the first communication method;
Wireless network setting means for setting the wireless network based on the setting information acquired by the setting information acquisition means;
A wireless communication apparatus comprising: The area is an area of a room in a building,
The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting information acquisition unit is configured to receive the setting information from a transmission unit that is provided in the room and transmits the setting information at a predetermined time interval. .   The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting information acquisition unit acquires information indicating a size of the room and an allowable number of people as the setting information.   The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting information acquisition unit acquires information indicating a use of the room as the setting information. A wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A plurality of terminal devices communicating with the communication means by the first communication method via the wireless network;
Transmitting means for transmitting setting information relating to the setting of the communication by the second communication method;
A wireless communication system comprising: A wireless network setting method for setting a wireless network using the wireless communication device according to claim 1,
A communication step of acquiring setting information relating to the setting of the communication by a communication method different from a communication method of communicating with a plurality of terminal devices via a wireless network within a predetermined area;
A wireless network setting step for setting the wireless network based on the setting information acquired in the communication step;
A wireless network setting method.

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