JP2735011B2 - IC card wireless modem and communication system using the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC card wireless modem which can be used in combination with a plurality of infrastructure (hereinafter simply referred to as "infrastructure") corresponding parts, and a communication system using the modem. An IC card wireless modem capable of accommodating a plurality of connectable infrastructure supporting units in one dedicated package (modem body) and realizing communication with an infrastructure network arbitrarily selected from the IC card unit side, and a communication system using the same About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of IC card wireless modem has an IC card unit and one infrastructure corresponding unit corresponding to one infrastructure network, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-268390. Are configured to form a pair (set) inside the card or outside the card.

[0003]

In the above-described conventional IC card wireless modem, since the IC card main body and the infrastructure corresponding unit are configured in a pair state, in a communication system using the IC card wireless modem, When data communication is to be performed via a different infrastructure network, the IC card wireless modem connected to the system device as the command input device is replaced with an IC card wireless modem corresponding to the type of the infrastructure network. To communicate. As described above, there is a problem that a communication system using a conventional IC card wireless modem cannot cope with a need to communicate with an arbitrary infrastructure network by command control or the like from the system device side.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to arbitrarily perform data communication using an IC card wireless modem from a plurality of infrastructure networks. An object of the present invention is to provide an IC card wireless modem configured to be executed by the same system device without replacing an IC card unit for one selected infrastructure network, and a communication system using the same.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an IC card unit having a memory unit storing infrastructure type information, and an IC card unit via an IC card interface unit. An IC card wireless modem is provided, comprising: a plurality of infrastructure corresponding units connected to the card unit in a multipoint manner; and an antenna for transmitting information to a designated external infrastructure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the plurality of infrastructure corresponding portions according to the first aspect have a slot for accommodating an antenna and for inserting the IC card unit. An IC card wireless modem is provided, which is housed in two modem bodies.

[0007] The IC card unit according to any one of the first and second aspects is connected to a PCMCIA interface unit and connected to the PCMCIA interface unit.
An IC card control unit for controlling the entire C card;
A memory unit connected to the C card control unit; and an infrastructure compatible interface unit connected to the IC card control unit. Each of the plurality of infrastructure compatible units is connected to the IC card unit. An IC card interface unit for which connection control is performed according to a predetermined control procedure, an infrastructure compatible control unit connected to the IC card interface unit, and an infrastructure network compatible interface unit connected to the infrastructure compatible control unit. It is configured.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the IC card unit is connected to the IC card unit via the interface unit having the interface function conforming to the PCMCIA standard and the IC card unit storing the infrastructure type information in the memory unit. A system device for inputting a command relating to start of data communication and designation of an infrastructure to be used, and a plurality of infrastructure corresponding units connected to the IC card unit via an IC card interface unit in a multipoint manner. A communication system using an IC card wireless modem is provided, which can perform communication via an arbitrary infrastructure corresponding unit selected from a unit side.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of infrastructure corresponding parts according to the third aspect have an slot for accommodating an antenna and for inserting the IC card unit. A communication system characterized by being housed in two modem bodies is provided.

The IC card unit according to any one of the third and fourth aspects is connected to a PCMCIA interface unit and the PCMCIA interface unit.
An IC card control unit for controlling the entire C card;
A memory unit connected to the C card control unit; and an infrastructure compatible interface unit connected to the IC card control unit. Each of the plurality of infrastructure compatible units is connected to the IC card unit. An IC card interface unit for which connection control is performed according to a predetermined control procedure, an infrastructure compatible control unit connected to the IC card interface unit, and an infrastructure network compatible interface unit connected to the infrastructure compatible control unit. It is configured.

[0011]

In order to designate an infrastructure corresponding section for data communication by the communication system of the present invention, a used infrastructure corresponding section is first designated by the system device, and at the same time, a data communication start command is inputted via the PCMCIA interface section. Subsequently, the IC card control unit reads the applied infrastructure information stored in the memory unit of the IC card unit based on a command from the system device. Further, it extracts infrastructure information of the actually connected infrastructure corresponding unit and compares whether or not the extracted information matches the applied infrastructure information. If they match, processing necessary for transmission is performed to realize data communication. On the other hand, if they do not match, information checks on the remaining unconfirmed infrastructure corresponding units are sequentially performed.
As described above, it is possible to realize switching of the infrastructure corresponding unit used for each data communication call in accordance with the use infrastructure designation command from the system unit without replacing the IC card unit already mounted on the system unit. It is possible to promote smooth data communication.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention relating to a communication system using an IC card wireless modem 2. As shown in FIG. FIG. 1 simultaneously shows one IC card unit 1 and a plurality of infrastructure corresponding units 10A to 10N.
A specific example of an IC card wireless modem 2 having a configuration in which is actually connected is shown.

That is, one side of the IC card unit 1 is accommodated in a system device (for example, a personal computer) 3 having an IC card insertion slot, and both are connected to each other. Different infrastructure supporting units 10A to 10N
Can be connected to. Needless to say, these infrastructure supporting sections are configured as wireless modems so as to correspond to various infrastructure networks.

As a specific structure of the IC card wireless modem 2, a plurality of infrastructure corresponding sections 10A to 10N and a plurality of infrastructure corresponding sections 10A to 10N are connected so that one IC card unit 1 is connected to the plurality of infrastructure corresponding sections 10A to 10N in a multipoint manner. It is conceivable that the IC card unit 1 is inserted into an insertion slot formed in one package (modem main body) containing an antenna. Alternatively, multipoint connection may be performed simply by a connector cable or the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment relating to the detailed configuration of the IC card unit 1. A PCMCIA interface unit 13 which is an interface unit for a system device, and an IC card control unit 14 which controls an IC card device. , A memory unit 16 connected to the IC card control unit 14, and an infrastructure compatible interface unit 15 connected to the IC card control unit 14. Further, the IC card unit 1 has a first connector section 11 for connecting to the system device 3 and a second connector section 12 for connecting to the infrastructure corresponding sections 10A to 10N.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the infrastructure corresponding sections 10A to 10N for realizing the wireless infrastructure interface function when configuring the IC card wireless modem 2. IC card interface unit 101 connected to IC card unit 1 and returning applicable infrastructure type information
, An infrastructure correspondence control unit 102, and an infrastructure correspondence interface unit 103 which is an interface unit for an infrastructure network. Note that the antennas for wireless communication that can be shared depending on the type of infrastructure may be put together.

Next, the operation of the communication system of the present invention using the IC card wireless modem 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

IC card unit 1 and infrastructure handling unit 1
0A to 10N are connected by a connection method such as one-to-N connection, for example, multipoint wiring, star wiring, etc.
Whether or not 0N is connected can be confirmed by a polling sequence or the like that is sequentially performed based on a request from the IC card unit 1 (IC card control unit 14).

FIG. 4 shows an example of an operation flow relating to the polling sequence. In this polling sequence, the confirmation sequence shown in FIG. 5 is sequentially performed for a plurality of infrastructure corresponding units 10A to 10N at regular intervals.

The confirmation sequence shown in FIG. 5 is to confirm whether one infrastructure corresponding unit connected via the IC card unit 1 is the correct infrastructure corresponding unit to be selected according to an instruction from the system device 3. This is an operation, and a request for extracting information from the IC card unit side is issued to the connected infrastructure corresponding unit, and the extracted information is checked as to what the connected infrastructure is. . The confirmation result is
It is stored (stored) in the memory unit 16 according to an instruction from the IC card control unit 14 in the C card unit 1.

Next, a method of designating an infrastructure corresponding unit for data communication by the communication system of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the system device 3 designates a broadly used infrastructure corresponding unit such as a facsimile network or a cellular phone network (F-1), and at the same time, a data communication start command is issued by the PCMCIA. The data is input via the interface unit 13 (F-2). Subsequently, the IC card control unit 14 reads out the applied infrastructure information stored in the memory unit 16 based on a command from the system device 3 (F-3). Furthermore, the infrastructure information of the actually connected infrastructure corresponding unit is extracted (F-4), and it is compared whether the extracted infrastructure information matches the connection request infrastructure information read from the memory unit 16 (F- 4).
5). If the two information match, processing necessary for transmission is performed so as to realize data communication (F-6). On the other hand, if they do not match, the information check on the remaining unconfirmed infrastructure corresponding units is sequentially performed as described in the polling sequence (F-7). If there is no information that matches the infrastructure information read from the memory unit even after the information check for all the infrastructure corresponding units is completed, a message “No connection request infrastructure” is issued (F-8), and the infrastructure connection is completed. The request is released (F-
9).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure for selecting an infrastructure corresponding unit to be used for desired data communication.

When a facsimile network is designated by the system 3 as an infrastructure network when a data communication command is issued from the system 3, for example, the GI
If no specific use infrastructure such as which group of GIV is to be selected is selected, a predetermined selection method, such as using the highest-speed data communication infrastructure, is used. Alternatively, the characteristics of the infrastructure may be selected from information classified for each infrastructure as a parameter, such as using the infrastructure with the lowest data communication fee, or may be stored in the memory unit 16 of the IC card unit 1 as an initial value. A table may be set and initial values may be set, and the IC card control unit 14 may select an arbitrary infrastructure network according to the established initial value method. In any case, it is possible to flexibly cope with the control program of the IC card control unit 14.

The above description is merely illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Many more modifications and adaptations of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0027]

As described above, the IC card wireless modem of the present invention comprises one IC card unit accommodated in a command input system unit and a plurality of wireless modems corresponding to mutually different infrastructure networks. According to the communication system of the present invention using the IC card wireless modem, switching of the infrastructure corresponding unit to be used for each data communication call in accordance with the use infrastructure designation command from the system device is provided. This can be realized without replacing the IC card unit already mounted on the system device, such as replacement, and has the effect of promoting smooth data communication via wireless communication.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an IC card unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of each infrastructure corresponding unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of a polling sequence.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a confirmation sequence.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure regarding designation of an infrastructure corresponding unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure regarding selection of an infrastructure corresponding unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 IC card unit 2 IC card wireless modem 3 System device 10 A to 10 N Infrastructure support section 11 First connector section 12 Second connector section 13 PCMCIA interface 14 IC card control section 15 Infrastructure support section interface 16 Memory section 101 IC card interface section 102 Infrastructure support control unit 103 Infrastructure support interface unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04L 29/06 H04B 7/26 109H H04Q 7/38 109M H04L 13/00 305C

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] An IC card unit and an IC card
A plurality of infrastructure support units connected to one side, and the IC
A system connected to the other side of the card and used as command means
IC card wireless modem
And the IC card unit is connected to the system device.
The first connection means to be connected and a plurality of external infrastructure networks
Network to multiple infrastructure-related departments.
Second connection means for multipoint connection;
Connection control that controls the connection between the
Control means and memory means for storing detailed application infrastructure information
And wherein the connection control means comprises:
Based on the infrastructure unit designation command from the system unit
Reading the applied infrastructure information stored in the storage means;
And connecting to the applicable infrastructure information
Via the second connection means from
Step to compare and collate the extracted infrastructure information
And the two infrastructure information do not match
From the other infrastructure responding parts connected sequentially
Other infrastructure information drawn through the connection means and said
Sequentially comparing and collating with the applicable infrastructure information.
Is selected from the plurality of infrastructure networks.
IC card wireless modem for realizing communication with a desired infrastructure network . 2. The external device according to claim 1, wherein said second connection means is a designated external device.
The IC card wireless modem according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna for transmitting information to said infrastructure network . 3. The PCMCIA standard according to claim 1, wherein :
3. The IC card wireless modem according to claim 2 , wherein the IC card wireless modem has an interface function conforming to a case . 4. An IC in which each of the plurality of infrastructure corresponding units is connected to the IC card unit and connection control is performed according to a predetermined control procedure.
2. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a card interface unit, an infrastructure-compatible control unit connected to the IC card interface unit, and an infrastructure network-compatible interface unit connected to the infrastructure control unit. An IC card wireless modem according to claim 2. 5. An IC card unit in which infrastructure type information is stored in a memory unit, and connected to the IC card unit via an interface unit having an interface function conforming to the PCMCIA standard, to start data communication and to specify an infrastructure to be used. A system device for inputting a command related to the IC card unit, and a plurality of infrastructure corresponding units connected to the IC card unit via the IC card interface unit in a multipoint manner. A communication system using an IC card wireless modem, capable of performing communication via an infrastructure corresponding unit. 6. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of infrastructure corresponding sections house an antenna and are housed in one modem body having a slot into which the IC card unit is inserted. 6. The communication system according to 5. 7. The PC card according to claim 1, wherein the IC card unit is a PCMCI.
A interface unit, an IC card control unit connected to the PCMCIA interface unit for controlling the entire IC card, a memory unit connected to the IC card control unit, and an infrastructure connected to the IC card control unit The communication system according to claim 5, comprising a corresponding interface unit. 8. An IC in which each of the plurality of infrastructure corresponding units is connected to the IC card unit and connection control is performed according to a predetermined control procedure.
6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising: a card interface unit, an infrastructure-compatible control unit connected to the IC card interface unit, and an infrastructure network-compatible interface unit connected to the infrastructure correspondence control unit. The communication system according to claim 6.