JP2019106591A - Radio communication device, radio communication system, and radio communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to eliminate necessity to set a radio communication device of a master (centrally managing) for communication control in a radio communication network, to eliminate necessity to measure the channel quality of communication in advance, and to increase radio communication speed between devices.SOLUTION: In steps S6 and S8, data transmission units 12 of transmission side devices 10A and 10B transmit data (communication management information 22) included in a header region (communication management region) 21 separated from a data region (data communication region) 26 of a communication frame 20 at arbitrary timing. In steps S14 and S15, the data transmission units 12 of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B start transmission of data included in the data region 26 at timing instructed by a reception side device 10C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, a wireless communication system, and a wireless communication method for establishing a wireless communication network and performing wireless communication among a plurality of devices.

In recent years, a plurality of wireless communication devices have been mounted also in vehicles such as automobiles, and a wireless communication network has been constructed in order to perform wireless communication between the plurality of devices. In this wireless communication network, each device performs data communication in accordance with a communication frame. A communication frame is defined by a predetermined time, and is a cycle for performing data communication between devices. Therefore, in order to perform wireless communication in synchronization between a plurality of devices, this communication frame is shared among the devices as a predetermined periodic frame.
The communication frame is subdivided into a plurality of slots (in cyclic units), and transmission and reception of data signals are performed in units of the slots.

  As a conventional example in which wireless communication is synchronized between devices, wireless communication of a parent within a parent piconet that performs slot allocation control in a parent-child piconet system (IEEE 802.15.3 standard) configured of a parent piconet and a child piconet It is known to perform data frame (communication frame) relay between parent and child piconets using a device and a child wireless communication device existing between parent and child piconets functioning as a relay device (see, for example, Patent Document 1) ).

  In this system, data communication by time division multiple access (TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access) is first performed among a plurality of wireless communication devices based on broadcast information from the wireless communication device. Next, the wireless communication device of the parent transmits the first notification information in the parent-child piconet, and the wireless communication device of the child transmits the second notification information in the child piconet based on the first notification information. Each wireless communication apparatus performs time synchronization between the parent-child piconet and the child piconet based on the first and second broadcast information. As a result, the first communication slot (slot) in the parent piconet and the second communication slot in the child piconet will be continuous with each other at the same interval. In addition, the child wireless communication apparatus as a relay apparatus transmits the data frame received in the first communication slot in the second communication slot to transfer the data frame.

  Another conventional example relates to a wireless relay network constituted by a wireless communication device for transmission, a wireless communication device for relay, and a wireless communication device for reception, and one or more pilot signals transmitted by the wireless communication device for transmission are transmitted. There is also known one in which a relay wireless communication apparatus transfers data to a reception wireless communication apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this network, each receiving wireless communication device measures channel quality of communication based on the received pilot signal. Then, at least a part of the receiving wireless communication device transmits the measured channel quality information to the transmitting wireless communication device, and the transmitting wireless communication device adjusts the schedule of data transmission based on the channel quality information.

  In the IEEE 802.11 standard, CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Avoidance) is used as a wireless LAN communication protocol. In this CSMA / CA, before the start of communication, it is checked whether there is no wireless communication device currently in communication on the communication network. Then, if the other wireless communication apparatus is not in communication, data is transmitted, and if it is in communication, the wireless communication apparatus waits for a certain period of time, and transmits after waiting. Also, if there is a communication collision with another wireless communication device, the data is retransmitted, but while one of the wireless communication devices is in retransmission, the other wireless communication device is on standby until the retransmission is completed. Must.

JP, 2008-227796, A Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-517918 Publication

  However, in the wireless communication systems described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is necessary to set a parent wireless communication apparatus that performs allocation control of a communication frame slot in the wireless communication system, and the setting is complicated in the process. Could have been. There is also the possibility of reducing the flexibility of the system.

  Further, in the wireless communication system described in Patent Document 2 described above, in order to adjust the schedule (communication timing) between the devices, the channel quality of communication must be measured in advance, and the communication process becomes complicated. The Furthermore, since CSMA / CA transmits and receives communication frames as one unit (set), when a communication collision occurs, it takes time until data retransmission becomes possible, which improves the communication speed. There was room.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is that there is no need to set a parent (centrally managing) wireless communication device for communication control in a wireless communication network, and communication It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication device, a wireless communication system and a wireless communication method capable of further improving the speed of wireless communication between devices without the need to measure channel quality in advance.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following constitution.
(1)
A data transmission unit that transmits data related to wireless communication according to a predetermined communication frame;
A data receiving unit that receives data transmitted by another wireless communication device;
Equipped with
The communication frame is a communication management area for transmitting and receiving data related to communication management information used to establish wireless communication between devices, and a data communication for transmitting and receiving data related to information other than the communication management information Region, and
The data transmission unit transmits, at an arbitrary timing, data included in the communication management area separated from the data communication area in the communication frame,
The data receiving unit receives, from the other wireless communication device, data regarding timing to start transmission of the data included in the data communication area to the other wireless communication device,
The wireless communication apparatus, wherein the data transmission unit starts transmission of data included in the data communication area at a timing instructed by the other wireless communication apparatus.
(2)
A data transmission unit that transmits data related to wireless communication;
A data receiving unit that receives data transmitted in a predetermined communication frame by another wireless communication device;
An instruction generation unit that generates time instruction information for instructing time of transmission / reception timing of data in the other wireless communication device based on reception by the data reception unit;
Equipped with
The communication frame is a communication management area for transmitting and receiving data related to communication management information used to establish wireless communication between devices, and a data communication for transmitting and receiving data related to information other than the communication management information Region, and
The data receiving unit is configured to transmit data when data included in the communication management area separated from the data communication area in the communication frame is transmitted at different timings from the plurality of other wireless communication devices. Receive
The instruction generation unit generates the time instruction information instructing different timings for each of the plurality of other wireless communication devices, in which the other wireless communication device should start transmitting data included in the data communication area.
The data transmission unit is configured to transmit data relating to timing at which the other wireless communication apparatus should start transmitting data included in the data communication area based on the time instruction information generated by the instruction generation unit. A wireless communication device characterized by transmitting to.
(3)
The communication management information includes an identifier of a device that transmits data, an identifier of a device that receives data, and information on a data frame length of the data communication area, according to (1) or (2). Communication device.

(4)
A wireless communication system comprising a plurality of wireless communication devices constructing a wireless communication network, comprising:
At least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices is the wireless communication device according to (1) or (3),
The wireless communication system, wherein at least another one of the plurality of wireless communication devices is the wireless communication device according to (2) or (3).

(5)
A wireless communication method for transmitting and receiving data related to wireless communication between devices according to a predetermined communication frame in a plurality of wireless communication devices constructing a wireless communication network,
The communication frame is a communication management area for transmitting and receiving data related to communication management information used to establish wireless communication between devices, and a data communication for transmitting and receiving data related to information other than the communication management information Region, and
Transmitting one of the plurality of wireless communication devices, at an arbitrary timing, data included in the communication management area separated from the data communication area in the communication frame;
In the case where data included in the communication management area separated from the data communication area in the communication frame is transmitted at a different timing from the one of the plurality of wireless communication devices, among the plurality of wireless communication devices, Receiving data;
Generating time indication information indicating different timings for each of the plurality of ones where the one should start transmitting data included in the data communication area;
The other transmits data related to a timing at which the one side should start transmitting data included in the data communication area to the one side based on the time indication information;
Receiving data from the other about timing to start transmitting data included in the data communication area from the other to the other;
Starting transmission of data included in the data communication area at a timing when the one is instructed by the other;
A wireless communication method comprising:

According to the configuration of the wireless communication apparatus of (1), the wireless communication apparatus that receives data instructs the wireless communication apparatus that transmits data to adjust the communication timing in a state where the communication collision is avoided. As a result, it is not necessary to set a parent (centrally managed) wireless communication device for performing communication control centrally in the wireless communication network. Further, since the communication timing is generated for each communication between devices, it is not necessary to separately provide a function for measuring the channel quality of the communication as in the prior art. Thus, while avoiding communication collisions, the wireless communication system can be simplified and system flexibility can be increased. Furthermore, even if a communication collision occurs between the devices, it is only necessary to transmit the information of only a part of the communication frame, so the time until the data retransmission can be shortened. Thereby, the speed of wireless communication between devices can be improved.
According to the configuration of the wireless communication device of the above (2), as in the configuration of the above (1), there is no need to set a parent (centrally managing) wireless communication device for communication control in the wireless communication network. Also, there is no need to measure the channel quality of communication in advance, and the speed of wireless communication between devices can be further improved.
According to the configuration of the wireless communication device of the above (3), wireless communication can be established by individual communication between devices without providing a parent (centrally managed) wireless communication device.

  According to the configuration of the wireless communication system of the above (4), there is no need to set a parent (centrally managed) wireless communication apparatus for communication control in the wireless communication network, and the channel quality of communication is measured in advance. It is possible to provide a wireless communication system that further improves the speed of wireless communication between devices without the need to

  According to the configuration of the wireless communication method of the above (5), as in the configurations of the above (1) and (2), the parent (centrally managing) wireless communication device for communication control is set in the wireless communication network. In addition, it is possible to further improve the speed of wireless communication between devices without the need to measure the channel quality of communication in advance.

  According to the wireless communication device, the wireless communication system, and the wireless communication method of the present invention, the wireless communication device that receives data adjusts the time of communication timing in a state where communication collision is avoided for the wireless communication device that transmits data. Instruct As a result, it is not necessary to set a parent (centrally managed) wireless communication device for performing communication control centrally in the wireless communication network. Further, since the communication timing is generated for each communication between devices, it is not necessary to separately provide a function for measuring the channel quality of the communication as in the prior art. Thus, while avoiding communication collisions, the wireless communication system can be simplified and system flexibility can be increased. Furthermore, even if a communication collision occurs between the devices, it is only necessary to transmit the information of only a part of the communication frame, so the time until the data retransmission can be shortened. Thereby, the speed of wireless communication between devices can be improved.

  The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading the modes for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter, referred to as “embodiments”) with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of a communication frame used in the wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of the header area (communication management area) shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram functionally illustrating the software configuration of the wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of wireless communication between the plurality of wireless communication devices shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a time chart explaining the operation of the plurality of wireless communication devices shown in FIG. It is a time chart explaining the condition of operation of a plurality of wireless communication devices in a modification concerning a 1st embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the wireless communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of a header area (communication management area) of a communication frame used in the wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram functionally illustrating the software configuration of the wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG.

  A plurality of specific embodiments of a wireless communication apparatus, a wireless communication system, and a wireless communication method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In addition, the "part" said by this embodiment is not limited only to the physical structure implement | achieved by the hardware, What contains the function which the structure has implement | achieved by softwares, such as a program, is also included. Further, the function of one configuration may be realized by two or more physical configurations, or the function of two or more configurations may be realized by, for example, one physical configuration.

First Embodiment
First, a first embodiment of a wireless communication apparatus, a wireless communication system, and a wireless communication method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The wireless communication device and the wireless communication system of the present embodiment are mounted on a vehicle such as a car. Further, in the wireless communication network of the present embodiment (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “network”), communication can be basically performed between wireless communication devices mutually located in the signal reach range. Further, as a communication technology for constructing such a network, for example, a wireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like can be used as appropriate.

<Configuration of Wireless Communication System>
The configuration of the wireless communication system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of the wireless communication system 1 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication system 1 configures one network, and includes a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) wireless communication devices 10. In FIG. 1, among the three wireless communication devices 10, devices shown by reference numerals 10A and 10B are devices that transmit data included in a data area (data communication area) 26 described later (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "transmission side apparatus"). It is. What is indicated by the remaining reference numeral 10C is a device that receives the data (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a “receiving device”).
In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the wireless communication devices 10A and 10B are set as the transmission side device, and the wireless communication device 10C is set as the reception side device, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As described later, the transmission side devices 10A and 10B and the reception side device 10C have the same hardware and software configuration, and these devices 10A, 10B and 10C are appropriately transmission side according to the contents of transmission / reception data and the communication timing thereof. Become a device or become a receiving device.

  In the wireless communication system 1 of the present embodiment, first, data included in a header area (communication management area) 21 of a communication frame 20, which will be described later, is exchanged between the transmission side devices 10A and 10B and the reception side device 10C. By this exchange, the communication management information 22 included in the data is shared among the devices 10A, 10B and 10C. The communication management information 22 is information used to establish wireless communication. A network is constructed based on the communication management information 22 and the like. And by construction of this network, transmission and reception of data will be performed among the devices 10A, 10B and 10C in this network. That is, in order to establish a network between the devices 10A, 10B, and 10C, it is essential to first share data included in the communication management area of the communication frame 20.

  Here, the positional relationship between the devices 10A, 10B, and 10C will be described. The receiving device 10C is located within the signal reachable range 11A of the transmitting device 10A. Similarly, the transmitting device 10A is located within the signal reachable range 11C of the receiving device 10C. Thus, the transmitting device 10A and the receiving device 10C can directly communicate with each other. Also, the receiving device 10C is located within the signal reachable range 11B of the transmitting device 10B. Similarly, the transmission side device 10B is located within the signal reachable range 11C of the reception side device 10C. Thus, the transmitter device 10B and the receiver device 10C can directly communicate with each other. That is, in the present embodiment, both of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B can directly communicate with the reception side device 10C.

  The wireless communication device 10 may be a control device of an engine, a control device of a door, a control device such as a drive recorder device, or a recording device. Also, the wireless communication device 10 may be externally connected to or incorporated in these devices functioning as application devices.

<Configuration of communication frame and header area>
Next, with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the configuration of the communication frame 20 exchanged between the transmitting side devices 10A and 10B and the receiving side device 10C of this embodiment and the header area 21 of the communication frame 20 will be described. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of the communication frame 20 used in the transmission side devices 10A and 10B and the reception side device 10C. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of the header area 21 of the communication frame 20. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the communication frame 20 is configured to include a header area 21 and a data area 26. The header area 21 is an area for transmitting and receiving data related to communication management information 22 (described later) used to establish wireless communication among the devices 10A, 10B, and 10C. The data area 26 is an area for transmitting and receiving data related to information other than the communication management information 22.
The data transmitted and received in the data area 26 is not data for establishing wireless communication, but is control data of an engine, control data of a door, or a moving image or image of a drive recorder among the devices 10A, 10B, 10C. It is exchanged using wireless communication.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the header area 21 is configured to include communication management information 22. The communication management information 22 includes source MAC address information 23 as an identifier of the devices 10A and 10B that transmit data, destination MAC address information 24 as an identifier of the device 10C that receives data, and a data frame length of the data area 26 And data frame length information 25 as information related to.

<Configuration of Wireless Communication Device>
Next, with reference to FIG. 4, software configurations of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B and the reception side device 10C will be described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram functionally illustrating the software configuration of the wireless communication device 10 of the present embodiment.
In the present embodiment, the hardware and software configurations of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B and the reception side device 10C are the same. The wireless communication device 10 is instantaneously switched to the transmission device 10A or 10B or the reception device 10C according to the timing of data transmission and reception.

  The wireless communication device 10 (10A, 10B, 10C) includes a data transmission unit 12, a data reception unit 13, and an instruction generation unit 14.

  The data transmission unit 12 transmits data related to wireless communication in accordance with the communication frame 20. Specifically, when the self is the transmission side devices 10A and 10B, the data transmission unit 12 is included in the header area 21 separated from the data area 26 in the communication frame 20 at an arbitrary timing. Data and communication management information 22 are transmitted. In addition, the data transmission unit 12 transmits the data included in the data area 26 at the timing instructed by the reception side device 10C based on the time instruction information generated by the instruction generation unit 14 of the reception side device 10C described later. Start. On the other hand, when the self is the reception side device 10C, the transmission side devices 10A and 10B transmit the data included in the data area 26 based on the time indication information generated by the indication generation unit 14. The data regarding the timing which should start transmission is each transmitted to the said transmission side apparatus 10A, 10B.

  The data receiving unit 13 receives data transmitted by another wireless communication device 10. Specifically, when the transmitting device 10A or 10B itself is the data receiving unit 10C, the timing to start transmitting the data included in the data area 26 from the receiving device 10C to the receiving device 10C Receive data about On the other hand, when the self is the receiving side device 10C, the data receiving unit 13 separates the header area 21 separated from the data area 26 of the communication frame 20 at different timings from the transmitting side devices 10A and 10B. When the data contained in is transmitted, the data is received.

The instruction generation unit 14 generates time instruction information for instructing the transmission / reception timing of data in each of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B based on the reception of the data reception unit 13. Specifically, the instruction generation unit 14 generates time instruction information instructing different timings for each of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B that the transmission side devices 10A and 10B should start transmission of the data included in the data area 26. .
The instruction generation unit 14 is inactive and does not operate when the device 10C is not the reception device 10C, that is, when the devices 10A and 10B are the transmission device.

<Operation Flow of Wireless Communication Between Multiple Wireless Communication Devices>
Next, with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the operation flow of the wireless communication between the transmission side devices 10A and 10B and the reception side device 10C of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of wireless communication between the transmission side devices 10A and 10B and the reception side device 10C. FIG. 6 is a time chart for explaining the state of operation of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B and the reception side device 10C.
In FIGS. 5 and 6, “HD” means data included in the header area 21 separated from the data area 26 in the communication frame 20. Also, “DT” means data included in the data area 26 of the communication frame 20 separated from the header area 21. Also, "OD" means time designation information.

As shown in FIG. 5, in steps S1 and S2, the transmission side devices 10A and 10B transmit the data HD included in the header area 21 separated from the data area 26 of the communication frame 20 at an arbitrary timing, ie, Communication management information 22 is transmitted. However, since transmission is simultaneous at this time, a communication collision occurs between the transmitted data in step S3, and the reception side device 10C can not receive (see FIG. 6).
Each of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B immediately stops transmission of the communication management information 22 when it detects that the other transmission side devices 10A and 10B are communicating, and the transmission side devices 10A and 10B It may be configured to wait until communication is established.

  Then, in steps S4 and S5, the transmission side devices 10A and 10B detect the situation of the communication collision. Based on this detection, the data transmission unit 12 of the transmission side device 10A transmits the data HD (the communication management information 22) again at a timing earlier than the transmission side device 10B (at different timings from the transmission side devices 10A and 10B). . In step S7, the data receiving unit 13 of the receiving device 10C receives the data HD of the transmitting device 10A because the data HD is transmitted by the transmitting device 10A.

In step S8, the data transmission unit 12 of the transmission side device 10B transmits the data HD at a timing later than that of the transmission side device 10A. In step S9, the data receiving unit 13 of the receiving device 10C receives the data HD of the transmitting device 10B because the data HD is transmitted by the transmitting device 10B.
In the present embodiment, the timing of data transmission in the header area 21 between the transmission side devices 10A and 10B is, for example, CSMA / CA or the like at a time interval set in advance for the transmission side device 10B. It is adjusted so that time shifts do not cause communication collisions (see FIG. 6). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the time shift may be provided as a result by randomly generating a waiting time until the timing of data transmission in the header area 21. Alternatively, for example, immediately after the transmission side device 10A transmits the data HD, the transmission side device 10B does not transmit the data HD, the time instruction information OD described later is transmitted (returned) from the reception side device 10C It may be configured to wait only.

In step 10, the instruction generation unit 14 of the reception side device 10C transmits the data included in the data area 26 to be transmitted by the transmission side devices 10A and 10B based on the reception of the data reception unit 13 of the reception side device 10C. The time instruction information OD which instructs different timings is generated for each of the side devices 10A and 10B. In the present embodiment, the time instruction information OD is generated so that the transmission side device 10A transmits at a timing earlier than the transmission side device 10B.
In the time instruction information OD, the transmission timing in the data area 26 of the transmission side device 10A is set at a predetermined time interval so that transmission in the header area 21 of the transmission side device 10B is sufficiently possible. .

  In step S11, the data transmission unit 12 of the reception-side device 10C is data related to the timing at which the transmission-side device 10A should start transmitting the data DT included in the data area 26 based on the time instruction information OD generated by the instruction generation unit 14. That is, the time indication information OD is transmitted to the transmission side device 10A. At the same time, the data transmission unit 12 of the reception side device 10C transmits the time indication information OD also to the transmission side device 10B based on the time indication information OD. That is, the data transmission unit 12 of the reception side device 10C collectively transmits the time instruction information OD at the same timing to both of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B (see FIG. 6).

  In steps S12 and S13, the data receiving units 13 of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B respectively receive the time instruction information OD at the same timing (see FIG. 6).

  In step S14, the data transmission unit 12 of the transmission-side device 10A transmits the timing (designated time) instructed by the reception-side device 10C based on the time instruction information OD transmitted by the data transmission unit 12 of the reception-side device 10C. The transmission of the data DT is started at a designated time before the side device 10B. In step S15, the data transmission unit 12 of the transmission side device 10B transmits the data DT at a designated time after the transmission side device 10A based on the time instruction information OD transmitted by the data transmission unit 12 of the reception side device 10C. Start (see Figure 6).

  As described above, by executing the series of steps from step S1 to step S15, it is necessary to set the parent (centrally managed) wireless communication device 10 for communication control in the network in order to avoid communication collision. Also, there is no need to measure the channel quality of conventional communication in advance. Further, since the data HD contained in the header area 21 separated from the data area 26 in the communication frame 20 is transmitted first, it is also possible to improve the speed of wireless communication between the devices 10A, 10B, 10C.

<Advantages of Wireless Communication Device, Wireless Communication System, and Wireless Communication Method>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the self is the transmission side device 10A, 10B, the data transmission unit 12 of the transmission side device 10A, 10B can set the data of the communication frame 20 at any timing. Data (communication management information 22) included in the header area (communication management area) 21 separated from the area (data communication area) 26 is transmitted, and the data reception unit 13 of the transmission side apparatuses 10A and 10B Data (time instruction information) regarding timing to start transmission of the data included in the data area 26 to the reception side device 10C from the other wireless communication device 10C is received, and the data transmission unit 12 of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B Starts transmission of data included in the data area 26 at a timing instructed by the reception side device 10C. When the receiving device 10C is the receiving device 10C, the data receiving unit 13 of the receiving device 10C receives data of the communication frame 20 at a timing different from that of the transmitting device (a plurality of other wireless communication devices) 10A and 10B. When data (communication management information 22) included in the header area (communication management area) 21 separated from the area (data communication area) 26 is transmitted, the data is received, and the instruction generation unit of the reception side device 10C 14 generates time instruction information for instructing different timings for each of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B that the transmission side devices 10A and 10B should start transmission of the data included in the data area 26, and data transmission of the reception side device 10C The unit 12 transmits the data included in the data area 26 to the transmitting device 10A based on the time instruction information generated by the instruction generating unit 14 of the receiving device 10C. 10B transmits data on the timing to start transmitting the transmission-side device 10A, to 10B.

  Therefore, the reception-side device 10C instructs the transmission-side devices 10A and 10B to adjust the communication timing in a state where the communication collision is avoided. As a result, it is not necessary to set the parent (centrally managed) wireless communication device 10 for performing communication control centrally in the wireless communication network. Further, since the communication timing is generated in each communication between the devices 10A, 10B, and 10C, it is not necessary to separately provide a function for measuring the channel quality of the communication as in the prior art. Therefore, the wireless communication system 1 can be simplified and the flexibility of the system can be enhanced while avoiding the communication collision. Furthermore, even if a communication collision occurs between the devices 10A, 10B, and 10C, only the information of only a part of the communication frame 20 may be transmitted, so the time until the data retransmission can be shortened. As a result, the speed of wireless communication between the devices 10A, 10B, and 10C can be improved.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the communication management information 22 includes the transmission source MAC address information 23 as an identifier of the devices 10A and 10B that transmit data, and the destination MAC address information 24 as an identifier of the device 10C that receives data. And data frame length information 25 as information on the data frame length of the data area 26. Therefore, wireless communication can be established by individual communication between the devices 10A, 10B, and 10C without providing the parent (centrally managing) wireless communication device 10.

(Modification of the first embodiment)
A modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a time chart for explaining the state of operation of a plurality of wireless communication devices in this modification.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the present modification, the data transmission unit 12 of the reception side device 10C transmits the data DT included in the data area 26 based on the time instruction information OD generated by the instruction generation unit 14. Alternatively, data on the timing at which the transmission side device 10B should start transmission, that is, time indication information OD, is individually transmitted to each of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B. In response to the individual transmission, the data reception units 13 of the transmission side devices 10A and 10B receive the time instruction information OD at different timings. In the present modification, the transmission side device 10A receives the time instruction information OD earlier than the transmission side device 10B.

Second Embodiment
The second embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus, the wireless communication system, and the wireless communication method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The same or equivalent parts as or to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals in the drawings, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

<Configuration of Wireless Communication System>
The configuration of the wireless communication system 3 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of the wireless communication system 3 of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, the receiving device 30C is located within the signal reachable range 31B of the transmitting device 30B. Similarly, the transmitting device 30B is located within the signal reachable range 31C of the receiving device 30C. Thus, the transmitting device 30B and the receiving device 30C can directly communicate with each other. However, the receiving device 30C is located outside the signal reachable range 31A of the transmitting device 30A. Similarly, the transmission device 30A is located outside the signal reachable range 31C of the reception device 30C, and the transmission device 30A and the reception device 30C can not communicate directly.

  On the other hand, the transmitting device 30B is located within the signal reachable range 31A of the transmitting device 30A. Similarly, the transmission device 30A is located within the signal reachable range 31B of the transmission device 30B, and the transmission device 30A and the transmission device 30B can communicate directly. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the transmitting device 30B enters between the transmitting device 30A and the receiving device 30C to relay data. As a result, the reception device 30C can receive the data transmitted by the transmission device 30A.

<Configuration of header area>
Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the header area (communication management area) 41 of the communication frame 20 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of the header area 41 of the communication frame 20. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in addition to transmission source MAC address information 43, destination MAC address information 44, and data frame length information 45, the communication management information 42 of the header area 41 of this embodiment includes relay route information. 47 is further comprised.

  The relay route information 47 is instruction information indicating what route should be relayed by the data relay unit 35 of the transmission side device 30B described later.

<Configuration of Wireless Communication Device>
Next, with reference to FIG. 10, software configurations of the transmission side devices 30A and 30B and the reception side device 30C will be described. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram functionally illustrating the software configuration of the wireless communication device 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the wireless communication apparatus 30 of the present embodiment further includes a data relay unit 35 in addition to the data transmission unit 32, the data reception unit 33, and the instruction generation unit 34.

The data relay unit 35 relays and transmits data when it is determined that it should be relayed between the devices 30A, 30B, and 30C. For example, when the self device 30B is the transmission side device 30B (see FIG. 8), the data relay unit 35 of the transmission side device 30B first refers to the communication management information 42 transmitted from the transmission side device 30A and relay route information 47 Extract Then, the data relay unit 35 of the transmission side device 30B determines whether to relay based on the extracted relay path information 47. If the data relay unit 35 of the transmission side device 30B determines that the data should be relayed, the data transmitted from the transmission side device 30A, specifically, the data area of the communication frame 20 (data communication area) The data contained in the header area (communication management area) 41 separated from 26 and the data contained in the data area 26 are relayed and transmitted to the reception side device 30C. Conversely, the transmission device 30B data relay unit 35 relays data on the timing at which the transmission device 30A should start transmission, transmitted from the reception device 30C, to the transmission device 30A for transmission.
The data relay unit 35 is inactive and does not operate when it is determined that the data relay unit 35 should not be relayed while entering between the devices 30A, 30B, and 30C. In the case of the present embodiment, when the self is the transmission side device 10B, the data relay unit 35 is activated and operates as described above.

<Advantages of Wireless Communication Device, Wireless Communication System, and Wireless Communication Method>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the communication management information 42 further includes relay route information 47 indicating what route should be relayed, and the wireless communication apparatus 30 itself is an apparatus 30A, 30B, 30C. And further includes a data relay unit 35 that relays and transmits data when it is determined that the relay should be relayed. For this reason, even if the transmitting device 30A and the receiving device 30C can not communicate directly, the wireless communication device 30B having the data relay unit 35 enters and relays data between them, so the transmitting device 30A and the reception The side device 30C can communicate via the wireless communication device 30B.

  Although the description of the specific embodiments is completed above, the aspects of the present invention are not limited to these embodiments, and appropriate modifications, improvements, etc. are possible.

Here, the features of the embodiments of the wireless communication device, the wireless communication system, and the wireless communication method according to the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [5], respectively.
[1]
A data transmission unit (12, 32) for transmitting data related to wireless communication according to a predetermined communication frame (20);
A data receiving unit (13, 33) for receiving data transmitted by another wireless communication device (receiving side device, 10, 10C, 30, 30C);
Equipped with
The communication frame (20) transmits / receives data on communication management information (22, 42) used to establish wireless communication among the devices (10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C) A communication management area (header area, 21 and 41) for transmitting and receiving, and a data communication area (data area, 26) for transmitting and receiving data related to information other than the communication management information (header area and 21 and 41). Including
The data transmission unit (12, 32) is configured to transmit the communication management area (header area 21, 21) separated from the data communication area (data area, 26) of the communication frame (20) at an arbitrary timing. 41) transmit the data contained in
The data receiving unit (13, 33) is configured to transmit data included in the data communication area (data area, 26) from the other wireless communication apparatus (receiving side apparatus, 10, 10C, 30, 30C) to the other area. Receiving data on timing to start transmission to a wireless communication device (receiving side device, 10, 10C, 30, 30C);
The data transmission unit (12, 32) is included in the data communication area (data area, 26) at a timing instructed by the other wireless communication apparatus (reception side apparatus, 10, 10C, 30, 30C) Radio transmission apparatus (transmission side apparatus, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) characterized by starting transmission of data.
[2]
A data transmission unit (12, 32) for transmitting data related to wireless communication;
A data receiving unit (13, 33) for receiving data transmitted in a predetermined communication frame (20) by another wireless communication device (sending device, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B);
A time instruction for instructing the transmission / reception timing of data in the other wireless communication device (transmitting device, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) based on the reception of the data receiving unit (13, 33) An instruction generation unit (14, 34) for generating information;
Equipped with
The communication frame (20) transmits / receives data on communication management information (22, 42) used to establish wireless communication among the devices (10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C) A communication management area (header area, 21 and 41) for transmitting and receiving, and a data communication area (data area, 26) for transmitting and receiving data related to information other than the communication management information (header area and 21 and 41). Including
The data receiving unit (13, 33) selects one of the communication frames (20) at a timing different from that of the plurality of other wireless communication devices (transmitting devices, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B). When data included in the communication management area (header area 21 or 41) separated from the data communication area (data area 26) is transmitted, the data is received;
The other wireless communication apparatus (sending device, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) transmits the data included in the data communication area (data area, 26) to the instruction generation unit (14, 34). Generating the time indication information indicating different timings for each of the plurality of other wireless communication devices (sending devices, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) to start transmission;
The data transmission unit (12, 32) performs the other wireless communication on the data included in the data communication area (data area, 26) based on the time instruction information generated by the instruction generation unit (14, 34). The device (sending device, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) has data on the timing to start transmission of the other wireless communication device (transmitting device, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) A wireless communication apparatus (receiving side apparatus, 10, 10C, 30, 30C) characterized by transmitting to the wireless communication apparatus.
[3]
The communication management information (22, 42) is an identifier of a device that transmits data (sender MAC address information, 23, 43), an identifier of a device that receives data (destination MAC address information, 24, 44), and the data The wireless communication apparatus (transmitting side apparatus, receiving side apparatus) according to [1] or [2], including information (data frame length information, 45) regarding the data frame length of the communication area (data area, 26) 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C).
[4]
A wireless communication system (1, 3) comprising a plurality of wireless communication devices (sending device, receiving device, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C) constructing a wireless communication network,
At least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices (transmitting device, receiving device, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C) is the wireless communication device according to [1] or [3] ( 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B), and
At least another of the plurality of wireless communication devices (transmitting device, receiving device, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C) is the wireless communication according to [2] or [3] Radio communication system (1, 3) which is an apparatus (reception side apparatus, 10, 10C, 30, 30C).
[5]
In a plurality of wireless communication devices (sending device, receiving device, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C) constructing a wireless communication network, the devices (10, 10, 10, 10) according to a predetermined communication frame (20) 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C) are wireless communication methods for transmitting and receiving data related to wireless communication,
The communication frame (20) transmits / receives data on communication management information (22, 42) used to establish wireless communication among the devices (10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C) A communication management area (header area, 21 and 41) for transmitting and receiving, and a data communication area (data area, 26) for transmitting and receiving data related to information other than the communication management information (header area and 21 and 41). Including
One of the plurality of wireless communication devices (transmitting device, receiving device, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C) (transmitting device, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) ) Transmits data contained in the communication management area (header area 21, 41) separated from the data communication area (data area 26) of the communication frame 20 at any timing. Steps (S1, S2, S6, S8)
The other of the plurality of wireless communication devices (sending device, receiving device, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C) (receiving device, 10, 10C, 30, 30C) is plural The communication separated from the data communication area (data area 26) of the communication frame (20) at different timing from the one of the above (transmission side apparatus, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) Receiving data when the data included in the management area (header area 21 or 41) is transmitted (S7, S9);
The other (receiving side device, 10, 10C, 30, 30C) is the one (transmitting side device, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) with the data contained in the data communication area (data area, 26). Generating time indication information indicating different timings for each of the plurality of ones (sending devices, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) to start transmission (S10);
The other (receiving side device, 10, 10C, 30, 30C) determines the data included in the data communication area (data area, 26) based on the time indication information as the one (transmitting side device, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) transmitting data on the timing to start transmission to the one side (sending device, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) (S11);
The one side (transmission side device, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) is included in the data communication area (data area, 26) from the other (reception side device, 10, 10C, 30, 30C) Receiving data relating to the timing at which the data to be transmitted should be transmitted to the other (receiving device, 10, 10C, 30, 30C) (S12, S13);
The data communication area (data) at the timing indicated by the one (the transmitting device, 10, 10A, 10B, 30, 30A, 30B) by the other (the receiving device, 10, 10C, 30, 30C) Starting transmission of the data contained in the area 26) (S14, S15);
A wireless communication method comprising:

1 Wireless Communication System 10 Wireless Communication Device 10A Transmitting Device (Wireless Communication Device)
11A Signal reach of transmitting device (wireless communication device) 10B transmitting device (wireless communication device)
11B Signal reach of transmitting device (wireless communication device) 10C receiving device (wireless communication device)
11C Signal reachable range of reception side apparatus (wireless communication apparatus) 12 data transmission unit 13 data reception unit 14 instruction generation unit 20 communication frame 21 header area (communication management area)
22 Communication Management Information 23 Source MAC Address Information (Information on the Identifier of the Device that Transmits Data)
24 Destination MAC address information (information on the identifier of the device that receives data)
25 Data frame length information (information on data frame length)
26 Data area (data communication area)
3 Wireless Communication System 30 Wireless Communication Device 30A Transmitting Device (Wireless Communication Device)
31A Signal reach of transmitting device (wireless communication device) 30B transmitting device (wireless communication device)
31B Signal reach of transmitting device (wireless communication device) 30C receiving device (wireless communication device)
31C Signal arrival range of reception side device (wireless communication device) 32 data transmission unit 33 data reception unit 34 instruction generation unit 35 data relay unit 41 header area (communication management area)
42 Communication Management Information 43 Sender MAC Address Information (Information Related to the Identifier of the Device that Transmits Data)
44 Destination MAC address information (information on the identifier of the device that receives data)
45 Data frame length information (information on data frame length)
47 Information about relay route

Claims (5)

A data transmission unit that transmits data related to wireless communication according to a predetermined communication frame;
A data receiving unit that receives data transmitted by another wireless communication device;
Equipped
The communication frame is a communication management area for transmitting and receiving data related to communication management information used to establish wireless communication between devices, and a data communication for transmitting and receiving data related to information other than the communication management information Region, and
The data transmission unit transmits, at an arbitrary timing, data included in the communication management area separated from the data communication area in the communication frame,
The data receiving unit receives, from the other wireless communication device, data regarding timing to start transmission of the data included in the data communication area to the other wireless communication device,
The wireless communication apparatus, wherein the data transmission unit starts transmission of data included in the data communication area at a timing instructed by the other wireless communication apparatus. A data transmission unit that transmits data related to wireless communication;
A data receiving unit that receives data transmitted in a predetermined communication frame by another wireless communication device;
An instruction generation unit that generates time instruction information for instructing time of transmission / reception timing of data in the other wireless communication device based on reception by the data reception unit;
Equipped with
The communication frame is a communication management area for transmitting and receiving data related to communication management information used to establish wireless communication between devices, and a data communication for transmitting and receiving data related to information other than the communication management information Region, and
The data receiving unit is configured to transmit data when data included in the communication management area separated from the data communication area in the communication frame is transmitted at different timings from the plurality of other wireless communication devices. Receive
The instruction generation unit generates the time instruction information instructing different timings for each of the plurality of other wireless communication devices, in which the other wireless communication device should start transmitting data included in the data communication area.
The data transmission unit is configured to transmit data relating to timing at which the other wireless communication apparatus should start transmitting data included in the data communication area based on the time instruction information generated by the instruction generation unit. A wireless communication device characterized by transmitting to. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication management information includes an identifier of a device transmitting data, an identifier of a device receiving data, and information on a data frame length of the data communication area. . A wireless communication system comprising a plurality of wireless communication devices constructing a wireless communication network, comprising:
At least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices is the wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 3;
A wireless communication system according to claim 2, wherein at least another one of the plurality of wireless communication devices is the wireless communication device according to claim 2 or 3. A wireless communication method for transmitting and receiving data related to wireless communication between devices according to a predetermined communication frame in a plurality of wireless communication devices constructing a wireless communication network,
The communication frame is a communication management area for transmitting and receiving data related to communication management information used to establish wireless communication between devices, and a data communication for transmitting and receiving data related to information other than the communication management information Region, and
Transmitting one of the plurality of wireless communication devices, at an arbitrary timing, data included in the communication management area separated from the data communication area in the communication frame;
In the case where data included in the communication management area separated from the data communication area in the communication frame is transmitted at a different timing from the one of the plurality of wireless communication devices, among the plurality of wireless communication devices, Receiving data;
Generating time indication information indicating different timings for each of the plurality of ones where the one should start transmitting data included in the data communication area;
The other transmits data related to a timing at which the one side should start transmitting data included in the data communication area to the one side based on the time indication information;
Receiving data from the other about timing to start transmitting data included in the data communication area from the other to the other;
Starting transmission of data included in the data communication area at a timing when the one is instructed by the other;
A wireless communication method comprising:

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