JP2021111817A - Wireless communication device, wireless communication system, wireless communication method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable a client terminal to easily switch a wireless master unit used by a client terminal.SOLUTION: A wireless communication device that operates as a wireless master unit includes communication means that wirelessly communicates with a client terminal that operates as a wireless slave unit, and transmission means that transmits wireless connection information used by a wireless communication device in connection with a client terminal to a requested wireless communication device in order to encourage the requested wireless communication device that the client terminal newly uses as a wireless master unit to be connected to the client terminal when the communication means receives a switching request from the client terminal for switching the wireless communication device used as the wireless master unit while the communication means is wirelessly connected to the client terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to wireless communication devices, wireless communication systems, wireless communication methods and programs.

Conventionally, in order to facilitate wireless connection, when a communication device connects to a first AP (wireless master unit, access point), wireless connection information of a second AP on the same network as the first AP There is known a technique in which a communication device acquires the above and uses it for connection with a second AP (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-23441

The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the client terminal can easily switch the wireless master unit used by the client terminal.

In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the wireless communication device according to the present invention is a wireless communication device that operates as a wireless master unit, and a communication means that wirelessly communicates with a client terminal that operates as a wireless slave unit. When the communication means receives a switching request from the client terminal for switching the wireless communication device used as the wireless master unit while the communication means is wirelessly connected to the client terminal, the client terminal Wireless connection information used by the wireless communication device in connection with the client terminal in order to encourage the requested wireless communication device to be newly used as a wireless master unit to connect to the client terminal. Is provided with a transmission means for transmitting the above-mentioned to the requested wireless communication device.

The block diagram which shows the example of the wireless communication system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the network camera which is the wireless communication device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The sequence diagram which shows the example of the operation of the wireless communication system which concerns on embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows another example of the operation of the wireless communication system which concerns on embodiment. The figure which shows the example of the switching guidance screen of the network camera displayed on the mobile terminal which is a client terminal. The figure which shows the example of the notification screen displayed on the mobile terminal when the network camera cannot be switched. A flowchart showing an example of an operation in which a network camera currently used as an AP by a mobile terminal hands over wireless connection information to another network camera. A flowchart showing an example of an operation in which a network camera generates information necessary for a list of switchable cameras displayed on a client terminal. A flowchart showing an example of an operation performed by a network camera that the user wants to use as an AP next.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a network camera connected to a network will be described as an example of a wireless communication device that operates as a wireless master unit.
The embodiment described below is an example as a means for realizing the present invention, and should be appropriately modified or changed depending on the configuration of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. It is not limited to.
In the present embodiment, the client terminal operating as the wireless slave unit transmits a switching request for switching the network camera used as the wireless master unit to the network camera to which the client terminal is currently connected. The network camera that has received the switching request transmits the wireless connection information in use to another network camera, and the network camera that has received the wireless connection information wirelessly communicates with the client terminal using the wireless connection information.

(Configuration of wireless communication system)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless communication system includes a plurality of network cameras 1a, 1b ..., a mobile terminal 3, an information terminal 4, a wireless network 5, and a network 6.
Each of the network cameras 1a, 1b ... Is equipped with not only an imaging function but also a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) function (for example, Wi-Fi function), especially in AP (wireless master unit, access point) mode. Has a function to operate. Each network camera can transmit the captured image to another device via the connected network, and can receive various internal parameter setting commands and operation commands from the other device. Each network camera sets internal parameters according to the received setting command. In addition, each network camera changes the imaging direction or the imaging magnification according to the received operation command.

The mobile terminal 3 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The mobile terminal 3 connects to any of the network cameras 1a, 1b ... Activated in the AP mode as a wireless slave unit, that is, a client terminal. The user of the mobile terminal 3 can select which of the network cameras 1a, 1b ... Is used as the AP.
The mobile terminal 3 has a display device and a web browser that controls the display device, and displays an image supplied from the network camera that is the AP, an internal parameter setting screen of the network camera, and an operation screen of the network camera that is the AP. It can be displayed on the display device. The user of the mobile terminal 3 can make simple settings (for example, image quality adjustment) of the network camera which is an AP, and can change the imaging direction and the imaging magnification.
The information terminal 4 is always connected to a plurality of network cameras 1a, 1b ... As a main management device. The information terminal 4 has a display device, and can display images supplied from each of the network cameras 1a, 1b ... And a screen for setting internal parameters of the network camera on the display device. The user of the information terminal 4 can use the information terminal 4 to process video and comprehensively set each network camera.

The wireless network 5 is a wireless LAN, and connects the mobile terminal 3 to any of the network cameras 1a, 1b ... Used as APs to the mobile terminal 3.
The network 6 connects a plurality of network cameras 1a, 1b ... To the information terminal 4. In the following description, the network 6 is a wired LAN, but the communication mode in the network 6 may be wireless.

(Network camera configuration)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of each network camera according to the embodiment of the present invention. The network camera includes an imaging unit 11, an image processing unit 12, a video output unit 13, a system control unit 14, a storage unit 15, a wired communication processing unit 17, a wireless communication processing unit 16, and a serial communication processing unit 18.
The image pickup unit 11 has a lens and an image pickup element, and performs imaging of a subject and conversion of an image signal obtained by imaging into an electric signal.
The image processing unit 12 performs image processing and compression coding processing on the electric signal converted by the imaging unit 11 to generate image data.
The video output unit 13 converts the image data generated by the image processing unit 12 into a format suitable for an external display device (display device of the mobile terminal 3 and the information terminal 4). The format is a format suitable for a video output interface such as HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) or SDI (Serial Digital Interface) (registered trademark).

The system control unit 14 is a general control unit of the network camera, and is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The system control unit 14 analyzes the command transmitted to the network camera and performs processing according to the command. For example, the system control unit 14 controls the wireless communication processing unit 16 and activates the AP mode. As a result, the network camera is used as an AP in the mobile terminal 3.
The storage unit 15 is a non-volatile memory, and stores image quality adjustment, imaging direction and imaging magnification parameters, setting values for setting network cameras on the network, and the like. Even when the network camera is restarted, the system control unit 14 can read and use the previous parameters and set values stored in the storage unit 15.
The memory area of the storage unit 15 has a connection information area and a backup area. The connection information area stores wireless connection information used when the network camera operates as an AP. The backup area stores the past wireless connection information used by the network camera as an AP in the past or the wireless connection information unique to the network camera.
Further, the storage unit 15 stores a program necessary for the system control unit 14 to execute the process. That is, the system control unit 14 reads a necessary program from the storage unit 15 and executes the read program to realize various functional operations. However, the program may be stored in a memory device different from the storage unit 15 that stores the parameters and set values.

The wireless communication processing unit 16 performs transmission / reception processing of network communication by the wireless LAN, that is, the wireless network 5. The wireless communication processing unit 16 can operate in the AP mode for executing the AP function and the STA mode for executing the STA (wireless slave unit, client) function. When the AP mode is activated, the wireless communication processing unit 16 wirelessly communicates with the mobile terminal 3 operating as a wireless slave unit. By activating the network camera in AP mode, the user can access the network camera without worrying about complicated network environment construction and wiring even at the time of initial installation of the network camera. That is, the user of the mobile terminal 3 can easily check the image captured by the network camera and set and operate the network camera.
The wired communication processing unit 17 is used when the network 6 is Ethernet (registered trademark). The wired communication processing unit 17 performs transmission / reception processing of network communication via Ethernet.
The serial communication processing unit 18 is used when the network 6 is a network that deals with serial communication. The serial communication processing unit 18 performs transmission / reception processing of network communication using a serial communication interface such as RS-232C.

Under the above configuration, the network camera uses the wireless communication processing unit 16 to perform wireless communication with the mobile terminal 3 via the wireless network 5, and uses the wired communication processing unit 17 or the serial communication processing unit 18 to perform network communication. Wired communication is performed with the information terminal 4 via 6.

(Approximate operation in wireless communication system)
The procedure of the operation of switching the network camera used by the mobile terminal 3 in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. This operation is executed while the network camera operates in the AP mode and is wirelessly connected to the mobile terminal 3 as a wireless slave unit.
In the following description, the network camera currently used as the AP by the mobile terminal 3 is referred to as the network camera 1a.

First, the mobile terminal 3 transmits a switching request for switching the network camera used by the mobile terminal 3 as an AP to the network camera 1a (S1). The switching request specifies a network camera, which is a requested wireless communication device that the mobile terminal 3 next requests to be used as an AP. The switching request is transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 to the network camera 1a via the wireless network 5. In the following description, the network camera that the user of the mobile terminal 3 wants to use as the AP next is referred to as the network camera 1b.

Upon receiving the switching request, the network camera 1a transmits an AP mode activation availability inquiry to the network camera 1b, which is the requested wireless communication device specified in the switching request, via the network 6 (S2). The AP mode activation availability inquiry asks the network camera 1b whether or not the network camera 1b can activate the AP mode.
Upon receiving the AP mode activation availability inquiry, the network camera 1b confirms whether or not the network camera 1b itself can activate the AP mode (S3). For example, when the user of the information terminal 4 sets the network camera 1b to prohibit the activation of the AP mode by the administrator authority, the network camera 1b cannot activate the AP mode. Such settings are stored in a specific memory area of the storage unit 15 of the network camera 1b. By referring to this memory area, the network camera 1b can confirm whether or not the network camera 1b itself can activate the AP mode.

When it is impossible for the network camera 1b to activate the AP mode, the network camera 1b returns an AP mode activation availability response indicating that to the network camera 1a via the network 6 (S4). Upon receiving this result, the network camera 1a determines that the network camera 1b cannot activate the AP mode, and transmits a non-switchable notification to the mobile terminal 3 via the wireless network 5 (S5). ..
Further, even if the network camera 1a does not receive the AP mode activation enable / disable response within a certain period of time after S2, the network camera 1a states that the network camera 1b cannot activate the AP mode. to decide. Therefore, the network camera 1a transmits a non-switchable notification to the mobile terminal 3 via the wireless network 5. For example, when the power of the network camera 1b is not turned on, or when the network camera 1b is not connected to the network 6, the network camera 1b does not receive the AP mode activation availability inquiry and responds with an AP mode activation availability response. It doesn't even send.
Upon receiving the non-switchable notification, the mobile terminal 3 notifies the user that the network camera 1b desired by the user cannot be used as an AP.

On the other hand, when the network camera 1b can activate the AP mode, the network camera 1b returns an AP mode activation enable / disable response indicating that to the network camera 1a via the network 6 (S6 in FIG. 4). ). Upon receiving this result within a certain period of time after S2, the network camera 1a determines that the network camera 1b can activate the AP mode, and wirelessly connects to the network camera 1b via the network 6. Information is transmitted (S7).

However, the above-mentioned method for determining whether or not the network camera 1b can activate the AP mode by the network camera 1a is an example, and is not limited to this example. For example, when the network 6 is a network that deals with serial communication, a network camera control protocol for serial communication may be used. Specifically, the network camera 1a may determine whether or not the network camera 1b can activate the AP mode by using a specific bit of the signal transmitted from the network camera 1b as a determination flag.
Alternatively, the network camera 1a may inquire the information terminal 4 whether or not the network camera 1b can activate the AP mode via the network 6. For example, in response to an inquiry, even if the user of the information terminal 4 permits or denies the activation of the network camera 1b as an AP for the mobile terminal 3, and the information terminal 4 transmits the result to the network camera 1a. good.

The wireless connection information transmitted in S7 is the wireless connection information of the network camera 1a used by the network camera 1a in connection with the mobile terminal 3. In order for devices to communicate with each other via a wireless LAN, it is necessary for the devices to perform registration processing and construct a wireless communication path. In addition, information exchange processing (pairing) for performing data encryption may be involved as needed. The wireless connection information in the present embodiment includes information for registration processing and information for pairing. The wireless connection information in this embodiment includes at least the SSID, PreSharedKey, wireless authentication method, and IP address of the network camera 1a. In this way, the network camera 1a encourages the network camera 1b to newly connect to the mobile terminal 3 as an AP instead of the network camera 1a.
When the wireless connection information is received from the network camera 1a, the network camera 1b writes the wireless connection information of the network camera 1a into a specific memory area (connection information area) of the storage unit 15 (S8). As described above, the connection information area stores wireless connection information used when the network camera operates as an AP.

After S7, the network camera 1a stops the AP mode (S9), and notifies the network camera 1b that the network camera 1a has stopped the AP mode via the network 6 (S10). Upon receiving this notification, the network camera 1b activates the AP mode using the wireless connection information of the network camera 1a written in the storage unit 15 in S8 (S11). Then, the network camera 1b wirelessly connects to the mobile terminal 3 as an AP via the wireless network 5 and starts wireless communication (S12). Therefore, the wireless connection information of the network camera 1a is smoothly inherited by the network camera 1b. Then, the mobile terminal 3 can establish a wireless connection with the network camera 1b without the user setting the wireless connection information in the mobile terminal 3 which is a wireless slave unit. In this way, the mobile terminal 3 can easily switch the AP, and the convenience of the user can be enhanced.

After confirming that the network camera 1a has stopped the AP mode, the network camera 1b activates the AP mode in order to prevent two APs using the same wireless connection information (for example, SSID) from existing at the same time. Is. The above method for confirming the AP mode stop of the network camera 1a by the network camera 1b is an example, and is not limited to this example. For example, when the network 6 is a network that deals with serial communication, a network camera control protocol for serial communication may be used. Specifically, the network camera 1b may confirm that the network camera 1a has stopped the AP mode by using a specific bit of the signal transmitted from the network camera 1a as a determination flag.
Alternatively, the network camera 1b may inquire the information terminal 4 whether or not the network camera 1a has stopped the AP mode via the network 6.

After the wireless communication with the mobile terminal 3 is completed, the network camera 1b stops the AP mode (S13) and returns to the old setting (S14). That is, the network camera 1b can operate as an AP using the past wireless connection information used by the camera 1b or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1b before using the wireless connection information of the camera 1a. .. Specifically, the network camera 1b reads the past wireless connection information or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1b from the backup area of the storage unit 15 and writes it in the connection information area of the storage unit 15. As a result, the wireless connection information of the camera 1a stored in the connection information area of the storage unit 15 is overwritten with the past wireless connection information or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1b. Therefore, the network camera 1b discards the wireless connection information inherited from the network camera 1a and returns to the state before the wireless connection information is inherited.
The past wireless connection information or the wireless connection information specific to the camera 1b is read from the connection information area of the storage unit 15 by the network camera 1b and written in the backup area before S8. This prevents the network camera 1b from completely losing the past wireless connection information or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1b in S8. In S14, the network camera 1b reads the past wireless connection information or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1b from the backup area, and uses the wireless connection information of the camera 1a stored in the connection information area as the past wireless connection information or the past wireless connection information. Replace with wireless connection information unique to camera 1b.

(Network camera switching guidance screen)
FIG. 5 shows an example of a switching guidance screen of a network camera displayed on the display device of the mobile terminal 3. This switching guide screen is displayed before S1 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The camera switching guidance screen has a switchable camera list 20 and a switching button 21.
The switchable camera list 20 lists candidates for network cameras that the mobile terminal 3 can use as an AP. Candidates for network cameras are other network cameras connected by network 6 to the network camera currently used by the mobile terminal 3 as an AP.
The switchable camera list 20 has items such as a camera ID, a camera MAC (Media Access Control) address, and a model name in order to identify candidates for individual network cameras. However, the switchable camera list 20 shown in the figure is an example, and the contents of the items included in the switchable camera list 20 are not limited as long as the information can identify the candidates of individual network cameras.

The user of the mobile terminal 3 uses a web browser to select one of the camera candidates presented in the switchable camera list 20 (a network camera that requests to be newly used as an AP), and presses the switch button 21. push. As a result, the above switching request is transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 to the network camera (for example, the network camera 1a) currently used as the AP by the mobile terminal 3.
The information necessary for displaying the switchable camera list 20 on the mobile terminal 3 is provided from the network camera (for example, the network camera 1a) currently used as the AP by the mobile terminal 3. This information is provided from, for example, a network camera currently used as an AP by the mobile terminal 3 in response to a request from the mobile terminal 3. The details of the method of generating this information will be described later.

(Screen notifying that the network camera cannot be switched)
FIG. 6 shows an example of a notification screen displayed on the display device of the mobile terminal 3 when the network camera cannot be switched. This screen is displayed when the mobile terminal 3 receives the non-switchable notification (S5 in FIG. 3). In this way, the mobile terminal 3 notifies the user that the network camera (for example, the network camera 1b) that the user wants to use as the AP is not available as the AP.
However, the illustrated notification screen is an example, and the user may be notified by another method that the desired network camera cannot be used as an AP. For example, the user may be notified by a blinking pattern of an LED (light emitting diode) mounted on the mobile terminal 3. Alternatively, instead of the mobile terminal 3, the user may be notified by the blinking pattern of the LED mounted on the network camera currently used as the AP by the mobile terminal 3 or the network camera newly requested to be used as the AP. good.

(The operation of a network camera passing wireless connection information to another network camera)
FIG. 7 shows an example of an operation executed by the network camera currently used as the AP by the mobile terminal 3 according to the switching request received from the mobile terminal 3. This operation is executed while the mobile terminal 3 is wirelessly connected to the network camera as an AP. This operation is executed by the system control unit 14 of the network camera controlling the wireless communication processing unit 16 and the wired communication processing unit 17 or the serial communication processing unit 18.
In the following description, the network camera currently used as the AP by the mobile terminal 3 is referred to as the network camera 1a.

When it is determined that the network camera 1a has received the switching request from the mobile terminal 3 (S20), the operation proceeds to S21. In S21, the network camera 1a determines whether or not the camera (selected by the user of the mobile terminal 3) specified in the switching request can activate the AP mode. The method of this judgment is as described above.
If the determination in S21 is negative, the network camera 1a transmits a non-switchable notification to the mobile terminal 3 via the wireless network 5 (S22), and waits for the reception of a new switching request.
If the determination in S21 is affirmative, the network camera 1a transmits the wireless connection information currently in use to the camera (for example, the network camera 1b) selected by the user of the mobile terminal 3 via the network 6 (S23). ).
After that, the network camera 1a stops the AP mode (S24), and notifies the network camera 1b that the network camera 1a has stopped the AP mode via the network 6 (S25).

After that, the network camera 1a determines whether or not there is an old setting (S26). That is, the network camera 1a determines whether or not the past wireless connection information used by the camera 1a or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1a is stored in the backup area of the storage unit 15. The reason for determining S26 is that the network camera 1a may take over the wireless connection information of another network camera and wirelessly connect to the mobile terminal 3 as an AP. If the determination in S26 is negative, the operation ends.
If the determination in S26 is affirmative, the network camera 1a returns to the old setting (S27). Specifically, the network camera 1a reads the past wireless connection information or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1a from the backup area of the storage unit 15 and writes it in the connection information area of the storage unit 15. As a result, the wireless connection information of the other camera stored in the connection information area of the storage unit 15 is overwritten with the past wireless connection information or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1a. Therefore, the network camera 1a discards the wireless connection information inherited from the other network camera, and returns to the state before the wireless connection information is inherited. That is, the network camera 1a can operate as an AP using the past wireless connection information used by the camera 1a or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1a before using the wireless connection information of another camera. Become. After this, the operation ends.

(Generation of information required for switchable camera list)
FIG. 8 shows an operation of generating information necessary for displaying the switchable camera list 20 (see FIG. 3). This operation is performed before S1 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) by the network camera currently used by the mobile terminal 3 as an AP. This operation is executed by the system control unit 14 of the network camera controlling the wireless communication processing unit 16 and the wired communication processing unit 17 or the serial communication processing unit 18.
In the following description, the network camera currently used as the AP by the mobile terminal 3 is referred to as the network camera 1a.

The user of the mobile terminal 3 can instruct the mobile terminal 3 to send the switchable camera list request to the network camera 1a using a web browser.
When it is determined that the network camera 1a has received the switchable camera list request from the mobile terminal 3 (S30), the operation proceeds to S31. In S31, the network camera 1a broadcasts a camera search command to the network 6.
Each of the other network cameras that received the camera search command via the network 6 returns as a response information that can identify the network camera, such as the MAC address and model name of the network camera itself.

After S31, after the completion of the response reception period for the camera search command (S32), the network camera 1a determines whether or not there is a response to the camera search command (S33). The response reception period is a fixed period longer than the period required for the response reception from the command transmission on the network 6.
If the judgment of S33 is affirmative (if the network camera 1a receives a response from one or more network cameras), the network camera 1a registers the other network camera that returned the response in the information of the switchable camera list (). S34). In the information of the switchable camera list, information that can identify the camera is associated with the camera ID of each camera.
After that, the network camera 1a transmits the information of the switchable camera list to the mobile terminal 3 which is the transmission source of the switchable camera list request (S35). Upon receiving this information, the mobile terminal 3 displays a switching guidance screen (see FIG. 5) of the network camera including the switchable camera list 20 indicating the network camera which is one or more switchable AP candidates on the display device.

Even when the judgment of S33 is negative (when the network camera 1a does not receive the response), the network camera 1a transmits the information of the switchable camera list to the mobile terminal 3 which is the source of the switchable camera list request. (S35). In this case, the information in the switchable camera list does not include substantial information. Upon receiving this information, the mobile terminal 3 displays on the display device a network camera switching guidance screen (see FIG. 5) including the switchable camera list 20 indicating that there is no network camera that is a switchable AP candidate. ..
After S35, the operation ends.

The operation of FIG. 8 is an example, and the operation is not limited to this example. For example, in the operation of FIG. 8, the network camera may search for another network camera at regular intervals regardless of the switchable camera list request. In this case, the network camera stores the information of the switchable camera list obtained as a result of the search in the storage unit 15, and when the switchable camera list request is received from the mobile terminal 3, the switchable camera list is switched to the mobile terminal 3. Information may be sent.

(The action performed by the network camera that the user wants to use as the AP next)
FIG. 9 shows an example of an operation executed by a network camera that the user of the mobile terminal 3 wants to use as an AP next. This operation is executed by the system control unit 14 of the network camera controlling the wireless communication processing unit 16 and the wired communication processing unit 17 or the serial communication processing unit 18.
In the following description, the network camera currently used as the AP by the mobile terminal 3 is referred to as the network camera 1a, and the network camera that the user of the mobile terminal 3 desires to use as the AP next is referred to as the network camera 1b.

When it is determined that the network camera 1b has received the AP mode activation availability inquiry (S40), the operation proceeds to S41. In S41, the network camera 1b confirms whether or not the network camera 1b itself can activate the AP mode.
If the determination in S41 is negative, the network camera 1b returns an AP mode activation enable / disable response indicating that the network camera 1b cannot activate the AP mode to the network camera 1a (S42), and the operation is performed. finish.

On the other hand, if the determination in S41 is affirmative, the network camera 1b returns an AP mode activation availability response indicating that the network camera 1b can activate the AP mode to the network camera 1a (S43).
After that, the network camera 1b determines whether or not the wireless connection information is already possessed (S44). Specifically, the network camera 1b determines whether or not the past wireless connection information used by the camera 1b or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1b is stored in the connection information area of the storage unit 15.
If the determination in S44 is affirmative, the network camera 1b reads the past wireless connection information or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1b from the connection information area of the storage unit 15 and writes it in the backup area (S45).

Next, the network camera 1b determines whether or not the network camera 1b is activating the AP mode (S46). That is, the network camera 1b determines whether or not the network camera 1b is wirelessly connected to the client terminal as an AP for the client terminal other than the mobile terminal 3.
If the determination in S46 is affirmative, the network camera 1b notifies the connected client terminal of the disconnection and stops the AP mode (S47). The client terminal that receives the disconnection notification notifies the user of the client terminal of the disconnection by either method. For example, a pop-up may be displayed on the display device of the client terminal, or the LED mounted on the client terminal may be blinked. Alternatively, the user may be notified of the disconnection by the blinking pattern of the LED mounted on the network camera 1b without notifying the client terminal.

After S47, the operation proceeds to S48. Further, when the judgment of S44 is negative and the judgment of S46 is negative, the operation proceeds to S48.
In S48, the network camera 1b waits for the reception of the wireless connection information of the network camera 1a from the network camera 1a. Upon receiving the wireless connection information from the network camera 1a, the network camera 1b writes the wireless connection information of the network camera 1a into the connection information area of the storage unit 15 (S49).

After that, the network camera 1b waits for the network camera 1a to receive the notification that the network camera 1a has stopped the AP mode (S50). After receiving this notification and confirming that the AP mode of the network camera 1a is stopped, the network camera 1b activates the AP mode using the wireless connection information of the network camera 1a stored in S49 (S51).
Then, the network camera 1b wirelessly connects to the mobile terminal 3 as an AP via the wireless network 5 and starts wireless communication (S52).

After the wireless communication with the mobile terminal 3 is completed (S53), the network camera 1b stops the AP mode (S54) and determines whether or not there is an old setting (S55). That is, the network camera 1b determines whether or not the past wireless connection information used by the camera 1b or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1b is stored in the backup area of the storage unit 15.
If the judgment of S55 is negative, the operation ends. If the judgment of S55 is affirmative, the network camera 1b returns to the old setting (S56). Specifically, the network camera 1b reads the past wireless connection information or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1b from the backup area of the storage unit 15 and writes it in the connection information area of the storage unit 15. As a result, the wireless connection information of the camera 1a stored in the connection information area of the storage unit 15 is overwritten with the past wireless connection information or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1b. Therefore, the network camera 1b discards the wireless connection information inherited from the network camera 1a and returns to the state before the wireless connection information is inherited. That is, the network camera 1b can operate as an AP using the past wireless connection information used by the camera 1b or the wireless connection information unique to the camera 1b before using the wireless connection information of the camera 1a. .. After this, the operation ends. The determination of S55 may be omitted so that the network camera 1b always returns to the old setting.

According to the present embodiment, the network camera used as the AP by the mobile terminal 3 transmits the wireless connection information in use to another network camera, and the network camera receiving the wireless connection information transmits the wireless connection information. It is used to wirelessly connect to the mobile terminal 3. In this way, the wireless connection information is smoothly handed over from the network camera to another network camera, and the mobile terminal 3 establishes a wireless connection with the new network camera without the mobile terminal 3 setting the wireless connection information. can do. Therefore, the mobile terminal 3 can easily switch the AP, and the convenience of the user can be improved.
According to the present embodiment, while checking the image displayed on the mobile terminal 3 instead of the information terminal 4 which is the main management device of the network camera, the network camera which is a plurality of APs by the mobile terminal 3 which is a wireless slave unit. It is easy to operate one after another. Therefore, this embodiment is particularly convenient when a plurality of network cameras at the imaging site are remote from the information terminal 4, for example, when a person's performance such as a play is imaged by the plurality of network cameras.

In the present invention, a program that realizes one or more functions of the system control unit 14 of the above embodiment is supplied to the system control unit 14 via a network or a recording medium, and one or more processors in the system control unit 14 supply the program. This can be achieved by the process of reading and executing the program. In this case, the program (program code) itself read from the recording medium realizes the function of the embodiment. In addition, the recording medium on which the program is recorded can constitute the present invention.
The illustrated system control unit 14 is an example, and a plurality of functional blocks may form one functional block, or any of the functional blocks may be divided into blocks that perform a plurality of functions. Also, at least one of the functional blocks may be implemented as hardware. When implementing by hardware, for example, by using a predetermined compiler, a dedicated circuit may be automatically generated on the FPGA from the program for realizing each step. FPGA is an abbreviation for Field Programmable Gate Array. Further, a Gate Array circuit may be formed in the same manner as the FPGA and realized as hardware. Further, it may be realized by ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications and modifications can be made within the technical scope thereof.
For example, in the above embodiment, the network camera is exemplified as the wireless communication device, but the wireless communication device may be another device having a wireless communication function, for example, a robot, an automatic traveling vehicle, or the like.

1a, 1b ... network camera, 3 ... mobile terminal, 14 ... system control unit, 16 ... wireless communication processing unit, 17 ... wired communication processing unit, 18 ... serial communication processing unit

Claims (18)

A wireless communication device that operates as a wireless master unit
A communication means that wirelessly communicates with a client terminal that operates as a wireless slave unit,
When the communication means receives a switching request from the client terminal for switching the wireless communication device used as the wireless master unit while the communication means is wirelessly connected to the client terminal, the client terminal Wireless connection information used by the wireless communication device in connection with the client terminal in order to encourage the requested wireless communication device to be newly used as a wireless master unit to connect to the client terminal. A wireless communication device including a transmission means for transmitting the above-mentioned to the requested wireless communication device. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless connection information includes at least the SSID, authentication method, PreSharedKey, and IP address of the wireless communication device. The first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the communication means stops the operation of the client terminal as a wireless master unit after the transmission means transmits the wireless connection information to the requested wireless communication device. Wireless communication device. When the communication means receives the switching request, a determination means for determining whether or not the requested wireless communication device can operate as a wireless master unit, and
Further provided with a notification means for notifying the client terminal that the requested wireless communication device cannot operate as the wireless master unit when the requested wireless communication device cannot operate as the wireless master unit.
Any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the requested wireless communication device can operate as a wireless master unit, the transmitting means transmits wireless connection information to the requested wireless communication device. The wireless communication device described in. When the communication means receives the switching request, the determination means asks the requested wireless communication device whether or not the requested wireless communication device can operate as a wireless master unit, and within a certain time from the inquiry, the request means. When a response indicating that the requested wireless communication device can operate as the wireless master unit is received from the requested wireless communication device, it is determined that the requested wireless communication device can operate as the wireless master unit. The wireless communication device according to claim 4, wherein the wireless communication device is characterized. The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, as a candidate for the requested wireless communication device, a providing means for providing the client terminal with a list of wireless communication devices connected to the wireless communication device via a network is further provided. 5. The wireless communication device according to any one of 5. The wireless communication device according to claim 6, wherein the providing means provides the list to the client terminal in response to a request from the client terminal. A wireless communication device that operates as a wireless master unit
While the client terminal operating as a wireless slave unit is wirelessly connecting the old-use wireless communication device, which is another wireless communication device, as the wireless master unit, the old-use wireless communication device is connected to the client terminal from the old-use wireless communication device. The receiving means for receiving the wireless connection information used in the connection of
A wireless communication device comprising: a communication means for wirelessly communicating with a client terminal by using the wireless connection information when the receiving means receives the wireless connection information. The wireless communication device according to claim 8, wherein the wireless connection information includes at least the SSID, authentication method, PreSharedKey, and IP address of the old wireless communication device. The communication means is characterized in that after confirming that the old-use wireless communication device has stopped operating as a wireless master unit for the client terminal, it wirelessly communicates with the client terminal using the wireless connection information. The wireless communication device according to claim 8 or 9. A means for determining whether or not the wireless communication device can operate as a wireless master unit, and
The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, further comprising a notification means for notifying the old-use wireless communication device of the determination result of the determination means. Further provided with a storage means for storing past wireless connection information used by the wireless communication device in the past or wireless connection information unique to the wireless communication device.
After the communication means stops operating as a wireless master unit with respect to the client terminal, the communication means can operate as a wireless master unit using the past wireless connection information or the unique wireless connection information. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the wireless communication device is characterized by the above. A writing means for writing wireless connection information to the storage means is further provided.
The storage means has a connection information area for storing wireless connection information used by the wireless communication device, and a backup area for storing the past wireless connection information or the unique wireless connection information.
The writing means reads the past wireless connection information or the unique wireless connection information from the connection information area and writes it in the backup area before the communication means operates as a wireless master unit for the client terminal. After that, the wireless connection information received from the old wireless communication device is written in the connection information area.
After the communication means stops operating as a wireless master unit for the client terminal, the writing means reads the past wireless connection information or the unique wireless connection information from the backup area and puts it in the connection information area. The wireless communication device according to claim 12, wherein the wireless communication device is characterized by writing. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
A wireless communication system including the wireless communication device according to any one of claims 8 to 13. To communicate wirelessly as a wireless master unit with a client terminal that operates as a wireless slave unit,
While wirelessly connecting to the client terminal, receiving a switching request from the client terminal for switching the wireless communication device used by the client terminal as a wireless master unit, and
When the switching request is received from the client terminal, the wireless communication is performed in order to encourage the requested wireless communication device requesting the client terminal to newly use the wireless master unit to connect to the client terminal. A wireless communication method comprising transmitting wireless connection information used by the device in connection with the client terminal to the requested wireless communication device. A wireless communication device that operates as a wireless master unit
While the client terminal operating as a wireless slave unit is wirelessly connecting the old-use wireless communication device, which is another wireless communication device, as the wireless master unit, the old-use wireless communication device is connected to the client terminal from the old-use wireless communication device. To receive the wireless connection information used in the connection of
A wireless communication method comprising receiving the wireless connection information and wirelessly communicating with the client terminal as a wireless master unit using the wireless connection information. A program for causing a computer to function as each means of the wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A program for causing a computer to function as each means of the wireless communication device according to any one of claims 8 to 13.

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