JP3432177B2 - Wireless communication device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless communication device that communicates using relay.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional system, a wireless terminal device has a function of a relay station, and when radio waves do not reach a master station from a terminal, other terminal stations are successively communicated to the master machine as relay stations ( Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-292577).

When the communication partner is out of the communicable range, a relay communication instruction signal is output to another terminal, and the received terminal relays the communication (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-259955). It was.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, particularly in a battery-powered terminal, the battery state of the relaying terminal is not taken into consideration, and the communication range becomes narrow due to insufficient battery level, and relay communication is performed. In such cases, there is a risk that stable communication cannot be performed, such as a communication failure due to a reduction in the battery level during relay communication because there is no means for keeping the relay communication power low.

[0005]

To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a host computer and a wired or wireless connection.
Connect to a wireless communication system that has a base station connected to
Wireless communication device, which outputs a relay request to another device when it cannot communicate with a certain partner, and relays when the relay request is received when the relay request is received. And a relay means for performing the communication request.
When the base station receives the relay request,
Sent to the station, and the host computer decides the relay partner
Set .

[0006]

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

[0010]

[0011] Also, when it is not possible to communicate with a certain partner, output
Switch the level and output the relay request,
Depending on whether to respond to the output level relay request,
The wireless communication method that determines the lowest output level
The other terminal that responded to the relay request is set as the relay partner.

Alternatively, when communication cannot be established with a certain party,
The power level is switched and the relay request is output.
Other party depending on whether it responds to the relay request of the output level of
A wireless communication method for determining
Other than adding the information indicating the level and receiving the relay request
Of the output level of its own based on the output level information.
Decide the le .

Alternatively, when communication cannot be established with a certain party,
The power level is switched and the relay request is output.
Other party depending on whether it responds to the relay request of the output level of
A wireless communication method for determining a
A terminal connected to the communication system can communicate with
When there is not, switch the output level and output the relay request,
The other terminal, which has received the relay request, transmits to the base station
When notifying that a communication request has been received, set the output level
The information is switched and output, and both the information indicating the output level added to the received relay request and the information indicating the own output level are added and transmitted.

As a result, the power consumption of both the relay request terminal and the relay terminal can be reduced.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable electronic device which is a wireless communication device embodying the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a battery as a main power source, and a power source section 2 controls ON / OFF and supplies power to each section. The power supply unit 2 has a function of measuring the voltage of the battery 1 as a means for knowing the remaining amount of the battery.

The voltage limiting circuit 3 serves to supply power to the transmitter of the radio unit 4.

The radio section 4 mainly includes modulation and demodulation of transmission and reception including an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals. The output level of transmission is determined by the voltage supplied from the voltage limiting circuit 3.

The communication control unit 5 determines the modulation / demodulation frequency by setting the frequency channel used and I
It controls wireless communication, such as determining D.

Reference numeral 6 is a control unit for controlling the entire equipment, and in accordance with a program stored in the memory of 7, data transmission / reception via the communication control unit 5 during wireless communication,
The remaining battery level can be read from the power supply unit 2.

The memory 7 is mainly composed of a ROM and a RAM, and the ROM includes a program including an application,
Data is stored in the RAM.

The control unit 6 is composed of a microcomputer and reads out a program stored in the ROM of the memory 7 to execute control.

Reference numeral 8 is an input unit such as a key, and 9 is a display unit such as an LCD, all of which are controlled by the control unit 6.

FIG. 2 shows the input / output of the voltage limiting circuit 3.

Reference numeral 10 represents the battery voltage of the battery 1 as the input voltage.

The battery voltage 10 is the voltage VM of 11 when fully charged, and the voltage decreases as the capacity decreases.
At the voltage VE of 12, the operation is stopped due to the battery voltage drop.

Reference numeral 13 is an output voltage of the voltage limiting circuit 3,
When the battery voltage 10 is equal to or higher than the limit voltage VL of 14, it is limited to the limit voltage VL, and when the battery voltage 10 is equal to or lower than the limit voltage VL14, the battery voltage 10 is output as it is.

The transmission output level of the radio section 4 maintains a stable output level above the limit voltage VL14, and lowers the output level with the battery voltage 10 below the limit voltage VL14. Also, this battery voltage 10 is
It can be read by the power supply unit 2. When the battery voltage 10 is the voltage VM11, the remaining amount is 100%, and the voltage VE is 0%.
Can be converted to the remaining battery level.

The limit voltage VL14 is determined by the maximum value of the wireless output.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the control unit 6 when starting wireless communication.

The control unit 6 which is a microcomputer,
The program is read from the ROM of the memory 7 and the control shown in FIG. 3 is executed. The ROM of the memory 7 is a storage medium that stores the program shown in FIG.

In step S101, wireless communication is started.

First, in S102, a "communication request" is sent to the base station.
And waits for a response to the "communication request" from the base station in S102. This "communication request" is this "communication request"
Is transmitted from the transmission unit of the wireless unit 4 on a predetermined channel Y for transmitting.

If there is a response in S103, the process proceeds to S104 and normal communication is performed.

When there is no response in S103, the process proceeds to S105. In S105, the battery voltage V is read from the power supply unit 2,
In S106, it is compared with the limit voltage VL14. Here, when the battery voltage V is higher than the voltage VL14, the output level is maximum, so it is determined that the communication is defective due to other factors, and the process proceeds to S107 to determine whether to "retry". If "retry" is selected here, the process proceeds to S102 and the "communication request" is transmitted again.

In S106, the battery voltage V is set to the limit voltage VL14.
In the following cases, the output level of the "communication request" is insufficient, so it is determined that communication with the base station is impossible, and the process proceeds to S108. In step S108, since a direct communication with the base station is impossible, a "relay request" for a device that can be relayed is transmitted from the transmitter of the wireless unit 4.

If "do not retry" is determined in S107, it is determined in S109 whether a "relay request" is transmitted. The determination of “relay request” and “retry” may be determined by an input from the input unit 8 by the user after the display on the display unit 9 or may be set in advance. Further, the step of S107 may be omitted and the process may proceed from “>” of S106 to S109. Also, the step of S109 is omitted and S10 is omitted.
It is also possible to proceed to S110 from N of 7 or ">" of S106.

If "no relay request" is made here, S
The communication itself is canceled at 110 and the communication ends at S111. If "relay request" is made in S109, S
At 108, a "relay request" is transmitted.

FIG. 4 shows a basic packet data format when transmitting and responding wirelessly.

Reference numeral 15 is an ID indicating a communication destination. For example, in the case of a communication request, BASE indicating a base station enters here. 1
Reference numeral 6 is a communication source ID indicating oneself. Reference numeral 17 is a predetermined “command”, and for example, in the case of a communication request, a code indicating a communication request command preset in accordance with it enters here. Reference numeral 18 is a portion for adding data or incidental information of the command 17, and the content differs depending on the command 17. Therefore, the receiving side determines what the information in this part means according to the type of command.

FIG. 5 shows the contents of the packet when the "relay request" 19 is transmitted.

The communication destination ID 15 is "A" which does not specify the other party.
LL "and the broadcast communication function is used. The communication source ID is “A” here. The command 17 is “relay request”, and the number of data (number of packets) N to be relayed is added to the data 18.

This packet is transmitted using a dedicated channel T prepared beforehand for relaying between the slaves. The channel T for transmitting this "relay request" is
It is different from the channel Y for transmitting the "communication request".

FIG. 6 shows the transmission range of the relay requesting device A20 and the positional relationship between the devices.

Reference numeral 20 is a device A which has transmitted the "relay request", and reference numeral 21 is a base station which is a communication partner. A host computer (not shown) is connected to the base station 21. Two
2 is the maximum output level of the device A20, the output voltage 13 of FIG.
Indicates the communication range when the limit voltage is VL14. 23
Indicates the communicable range of the device A at the current battery voltage. If the battery voltage is equal to or higher than the limit voltage VL14, the device A20 is originally in the communicable range with the base station.
It indicates that the battery voltage of 0 becomes the limit voltage VL14 or less, the output level is lowered, and the communication range is narrowed.

24-28 are devices B around the device A,
C, D, E and F are shown. Device B24 is device A20
Since it is outside the communication range 23, the "relay request" transmitted by the device A20 is not received, but other devices can receive it. If there is no other device in the communication range 23 or if the received device does not respond, the communication is canceled without responding to the "relay request".

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart when the "relay request" is received.

The flowchart of FIG. 7 is similar to the flowchart of FIG. 3, and the control unit 6 which is a microcomputer.
Represents a program for executing the control, and the memory 7
Stored in the ROM. The memory 7 stores the program of FIG. 3 and a program including the program of FIG. 7. Then, the control unit 6 operates according to the flowchart of FIG. 3 when starting communication, and operates according to the flowchart of FIG. 7 when receiving a relay request.

When the "relay request" packet 19 is received from the channel T by the receiving unit of the radio unit 4 in S201, S2
At 02, the battery voltage is read out to check the remaining battery level of the user. In S203, the read battery voltage V and limit voltage VL
Compare 14 Here, when the battery voltage is equal to or lower than the limit voltage VL14, it is determined that the relay power is insufficient, and the process proceeds to S204, where the relay request is rejected (specifically, ignored).

When the battery voltage is higher than the limit voltage VL14 in S203, the process proceeds to S205, in which the voltage Vn required for relay is set.
(All power is converted to voltage) is calculated by the equation (1).

Vn = N × Vp + VL (1) This formula calculates the voltage for transmitting the number N of relay packets from the voltage Vp necessary for transmitting one packet in advance. The limit voltage VL14 is added for stable communication until the end.

In S206, the battery voltage V acquired in S202 and the required voltage Vn calculated in S205 are compared. Here, when the battery voltage V is equal to or lower than the required voltage Vn, it is determined that there is no voltage required for communication, and the relay request is rejected in S204. S
When the battery voltage V is higher than the required voltage Vn in 206, it is determined that relay is possible, and the process proceeds to S207.

It should be noted that the step S203 is omitted and the step S2 is performed.
You may make it progress from 02 to S205.

In S207, it is checked whether the automatic response is set to the relay request. S20 for automatic response setting
8 accepts the relay request and responds.

In step S208, the "relay acceptance" command is transmitted from the transmitter of the radio section 4. The "relay acceptance" command is transmitted to the channel Y used for transmitting the communication request in S102 of FIG. In this "relay acceptance" command, the communication destination ID 15 in FIG. 4 is BASE indicating the base station 21, and the command 17 is "relay acceptance" indicating relay acceptance.

When it is not automatically set in S207,
The user is notified by displaying on the display unit 9 that the relay request has been received, and it is asked whether or not to respond in S210. If "no response" is given in S210, the relay request is rejected in S204. If "respond" is selected in S210, the relay request is accepted and responded in S208.

The steps of S207, S209, and S210 can also be omitted. From ">" in S206 to S208.
You may proceed to.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the battery state of each device that has received the "relay request" shown in FIG.
The remaining amount of the shaded portion is shown for 00%. Further, Vn of 29 is the required voltage calculated in S205 of FIG.

Since the device C25 is below the limit voltage VL14, the relay is rejected in S203 of FIG.

The device D26 has a voltage of Vn29 or higher and is accepted as a relay.

The device E27 is Vn 14 or more, but Vn
Because of the following, relay is rejected in S206 of FIG.

The device F28 has a voltage of Vn29 or higher and is accepted as a relay.

As a result, the device D26 and the device F27 can be relayed. Whichever is selected, the one that has communicated first, that is, the one that has transmitted the "accept relay acceptance" command first has priority. That is, the base station 21 determines the device that responds earliest as the relay partner according to the order in which the "relay acceptance" command is received.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing transitions of packets of the relay request source device A20, the relay device D26, and the base station 21 when the relay is accepted.

First, the device A 20 sends a relay request packet 19
Is transmitted on channel T. In this figure, only the communication destination ID 15, the command 17 and the data 18 in the packet are simplified and shown. The device D26, which has received the relay request 19 from the channel T, accepts the relay request according to the flowchart of FIG. 7, sends a “relay acceptance” command from the device A20 to the base station at 30 on the channel Y.

Although the actual communication partner is a host computer connected to the base station 21, it is simply referred to as the base station 21 in this description.

The base station 21 receives this command and
When 1 is selected, a "relay OK" command for approval of relay and a frequency channel N used for relay communication are transmitted to D. This channel N is put in the data 18 of FIG. This channel N is different from the channel Y used for “communication request” in S102 of FIG. 3 and the channel T used for “relay acceptance” in S208 of FIG.

The received device D26 sets the channel N and waits for reception.

Further, at 32, the device A20 as well as the device D26.
The device receives the "relay request" from the device and sends a "relay determination" command for notifying that the relay partner has been determined by broadcast communication. This "determine relay" command is used as the destination I of FIG.
D15 is ALL indicating the broadcast, and command 17 is "relay decision".

The other device (for example, the device F28) receives the "relay determination" command and cancels the "relay request" from the device A20.

At 33, the "relay OK" command for notifying the device A that the relay partner has been determined, the device D26 as the relay partner, and the frequency channel N to be used are notified. The fact that the relay partner is the device D26 and the channel used is N is entered in the data 18 of FIG.

The device A20 which has received the data sets the channel N and shifts to the data transmission. At 34, one packet of data is transmitted by the "relay DT" command indicating that the data is to be relayed to the device D26. In the received device D26, the received data is added to the base station 2 by adding the data indicating that the source is the device A20 by the "relay DT" command.
Send to 1.

When the transmission is completed, the subsequent data is transmitted in packets from the devices A20 to 36, and similarly, the data is transmitted from the devices D to 37.
To the base station 21. Repeat the same flow, 38
Then, the final data packet is transmitted from the device A20 to the device D26, is transmitted from the device D26 to the base station 21 at 39, and the relay communication is completed.

In FIG. 7, each device determines whether or not to respond to the “relay request”, and in FIG. 9, the device that responds earliest is determined to be the relay partner. Next, a communication method in which the base station 21 (actually, a control device connected to the base station) determines a relay partner will be described.

The parts from the device A20 to the part for issuing the "relay request" (FIGS. 1 to 6) are all the same.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart when the "relay request" is received.

The flow chart of FIG. 10 is a modification of the flow chart of FIG. 7. Like the flow chart of FIG. 7, the control unit 6 which is a microcomputer represents a program for executing control, and is stored in the ROM of the memory 7. It is stored.

In step S301, the "relay request" command is received and started.

In S302, the battery voltage V as the remaining battery power
Read, and in S303, the battery voltage V and the limit voltage VL14
To compare. Here, when the battery voltage V is VL14 or less, it is determined that stable communication cannot be performed due to insufficient remaining amount, and the relay request is rejected (ignored). When the battery voltage V is higher than VL14 in S303, the relay request is accepted in S305.

When the remaining battery level of each device shown in FIG. 8 is judged in this flowchart, the device C25 rejects the relay request at VL14 or less, but the device D26, the device E27, and the device F28.
Will be accepted as relay.

FIG. 11 shows a packet transmitted to the base station when the relay request is accepted.

Reference numeral 40 is a packet transmitted from the device E27, and the destination ID 15 is the BAS indicating the base station 21.
E, device E16 as the sender ID 16, “relay acceptance” indicating that the relay request is accepted as the command 17, and data 18
Is added with the request source [A], the number N of data (packets) sent from the device A, and the own battery voltage V. 41, 4
Reference numeral 2 is a "relay acceptance" packet transmitted from the device D26 and the device F28, respectively.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart in which the base station 21 determines a relay partner. The base station 21 includes a radio unit 4, a communication control unit 5, a control unit 6, and a memory 7 as in the device shown in FIG.
And so on. The base station 21 also has an interface and the like for connecting a host computer (not shown).

In step S401, a "relay acceptance" packet is received and started, and in step S402, packet information is stored. S4
In 03, start a timer that measures a certain time,
In S404, the reception is waited for a fixed time. When it is received here, the process proceeds to S405, the information of the packet received in S406 is additionally stored, the process returns in S407, and the process returns to S404. When a certain time has passed in S404, the voltage Vn required for communication is calculated from the number N of data (packet) in the packet in S408.
Is calculated based on the equation (1).

In S409, the battery voltages V1, V2, ... Are compared from the stored information to obtain the maximum value Vm of the battery voltage. In S410, the maximum value Vm obtained in S409 is compared with the required voltage Vn calculated in S408. Here, when Vm is equal to or lower than Vn, it is determined that all the devices that have transmitted the “relay acceptance” command do not have sufficient voltage for relay communication, and in S411, “relay N” is meant.
The “G” command is transmitted to the relay request source, and the process ends.

When the maximum voltage Vm is higher than the required voltage Vn in S410, "relay OK" is transmitted to the device which has transmitted the packet of the maximum voltage Vm and the transmission request source in S412, and "relay communication" is executed in S413. To start. The relay communication method is the same as the description of 31 to 39 in FIG.

The other devices that have transmitted "relay reception" are
If there is no response after a certain period of time, the "relay request" is canceled.

Next, a description will be given of a radio communication device having a function of switching the output level and performing relay communication with a device at the closest position.

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of the wireless communication apparatus.

In FIG. 13, with respect to the block diagram of FIG.
The voltage limiting circuit 3 in FIG. 1 is replaced with a voltage switching circuit 43. The voltage switching circuit 43 has a function of stepwise switching the voltage supplied to the transmission unit of the wireless unit 4, and the voltage is controlled by the control unit 6.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing inputs and outputs of the voltage switching circuit 43.

In the voltage switching circuit 43, the battery voltage 10 as the input voltage is set to VL4 of 44, VL3 of 45, and V of 46.
It has a function of limiting and outputting to VL1 of L2 and 47 and VL0 of 48, and the selection is performed by the control unit 6. The wireless output level changes with respect to this output voltage, and the output levels are 49 L4, 50 L3, 51 L2, 5 respectively.
It corresponds to L1 of 2 and L0 of 53. However, when the battery voltage 10 is lower than the limited voltage, the battery voltage 10 is output as it is.

FIG. 15 shows the positional range of each device and the communication range for each level.

The device A is the transmitter and the communication range is L44.
It gradually narrows from 9 to L053. Further, in order to perform communication from the positional relationship with each device, the base station 2
It can be seen that the devices G of 1 and 54 require the output level of L4 49, the device H of 55 requires the level of L350, and the device I 56 of 56 requires the output level of L2 51.

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart for transmitting a relay request.

In step S501, a relay request is entered. The relay request is
Occurs when the base station cannot communicate at the maximum output level. For example, in the case of the positional relationship shown in FIG. 15, the battery voltage 10 of the device A20 becomes the voltage VL4 or lower,
This occurs when the communication cannot be performed with the base station 21 due to the output level of No.

The battery voltage V is read in S502 and S50
3, the maximum output level is determined by the voltage of the battery voltage V (specifically, the read battery voltage V is VL in FIG. 14).
(Compare which voltage range from 444 to VL0 48) and substitute for the variable Lm.

Next, in step S504, L0 53 is set to the variable L which is the output level, that is, the output of the voltage switching circuit 43 is limited to L0 48 from the control unit 6, and the "relay request" command is transmitted in step S505.

In S506, a response to the "relay request" is waited for a fixed time. If there is a response here, the process proceeds to S507 and the relay partner is determined.

If there is no response in S506, the process proceeds to S508, and the currently set transmission level L and maximum output level L are set.
Compare m. If L is greater than or equal to Lm, it is determined that communication is impossible because there is no other party to respond even at the maximum output level, and communication is canceled.

If L is smaller than Lm in S508, S51
When it is 0, the output level is increased by 1 level, and the "relay request" is transmitted again in S505.

In this way, a device that responds at the lowest level is searched for and the relay is determined for that device.

Considering this flowchart in the positional relationship of FIG. 15, there is no response at the level 0 53 to the relay request from the device A20. No response at level 1 52. At level 251, the device I56 is within the reception range and can respond. If the user responds here, the relay partner is determined for the device I56.

FIG. 17 shows a packet of the "relay request" command.

Destination 15, source 16 and command 17
Is similar to the description in FIG. 5, but the output level L currently being transmitted is added to the data 18.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the packet transitions of the device A20 which is the relay request source, the device I56 which is the relay partner, and the base station 21.

This is because the device A20 raises the output level stepwise according to the flowchart of FIG. 16, and there is no response at the level 0 53 and the level 1 52, and the output level is raised to the level 2 51.

The device A 20 sets the transmission level to level 2 51
At 57, the level 2 which is the transmission level is added as data to the "relay request" command and transmitted. Equipment I5
In FIG. 6, when the “relay request” is received, it can be known from the data of the reception request packet 57 that the data has been transmitted at level 251. Here, the device I56 sets its own transmission level to 2, and goes to the device A20 at 58 and performs "relay reception".
Level 2 51 which is the set transmission level is added to the command and transmitted.

The transmission level of the device I56 is set to the same level as the data of the received "relay request" packet 57 in this embodiment, but it may be set to an output level higher than that.

The device A20 receives the response of "relay reception", determines the relay partner, and transmits the "relay determination" command to the device I56 at 59.

The device I56 receives the "relay decision", and receives 60
In order to communicate with the base station 21, the maximum output level is set to level 449, and "relay reception" is notified.

In the base station 21, the "relay OK" command for understanding the relay and the frequency channel used for communication are added to the data as the data and transmitted to the device I56.

The device I56 sets the transmission level to the level 251 in order to communicate with the device A20, and transmits the "relay OK" command and the used frequency channel at 62.

In the device A20, the level 2 51 is kept,
The "relay data" is sent to the device I at 63 using the used channel.
56. The device I56 which has received the signal sets the transmission level to level 449, and uses the used channel to send the base station 2
With respect to 1, the data indicating that the data transmission source is the device A20 is added to the “relay data” which is the reception data and transmitted, and the relay communication ends.

Next, a method of selecting a relay partner on the base station side in consideration of the positions of the relay partner and the base station in the configuration of FIG. 13 will be described.

FIG. 19 shows a flowchart for transmitting a relay request.

In step S601, a relay request is started.

The battery voltage V is read in S602, and S60
The maximum output level that can be set in 3 is determined and is substituted into the variable Lm.

In step S604, the level 0 53 is set as the initial value.
To set.

In S605, the packet of the "relay request" command is transmitted at the set output level. This packet is shown in Figure 1.
Same as No. 7, the set output level is added to the data.

In step S606, the current set level L and the settable maximum output level Lm are compared. Where L is Lm
If it is smaller, the output level can still be increased, so the level is increased by one rank in S607, and the "relay request" command is transmitted again in S605.

In step S606, the set output level L is the maximum value Lm.
In the above cases, the level cannot be raised anymore, so S608.
And wait for a reply.

From this, "relay request" is made at all levels from level 0 53 to the maximum output level Lm that can be set.
It will send a command.

The device receiving the "relay request" command
The channel to be used is determined by the communication with the base station 21, and the command transmission of "relay reception" is started.

FIG. 20 shows the packet structure of the "relay reception" command.

Reference numeral 65 is a packet of the "relay request" command, and the data 18 includes the ID of the "relay request" transmitter and the output level value Lr of the received packet of the "relay request" command (hereinafter, reception level). And the current set output level (when transmitting a packet to the base station 21, the wireless unit 4
Lt indicating the transmission level set in the transmission unit of the above. This Lr may be the minimum output level value in the packet of the "relay request" command, as will be described later.

Here, the relay receiver sets the output level to the base station to level 0 5 according to the flowchart of FIG.
The packet 65 of the "relay reception" command is transmitted at all levels from 3 to the maximum output level Lm that can be set.

FIG. 21 shows a flowchart for determining a relay partner at the base station 21. The base station 21 has a radio unit 4, a communication control unit 5, a control unit 6, a memory 7, and the like, like the device shown in FIG. The base station 21 also has an interface and the like for connecting a host computer (not shown). The flowchart of FIG. 21 shows a program of the control unit 6 stored in the memory 7. The control unit 6 is composed of a microcomputer that operates according to a program stored in the memory 7.

In step S701, the "relay reception" command is received and started.

Information is stored in S702, a timer for measuring a fixed time is started in S703, and the reception of a fixed time is waited in S704. Here, when the "relay reception" command is received, the process proceeds from S705 to S706, and it is first determined whether the communication source of the command is a new device or an already received device.
If it is a new device, move to S707 and save the information.
The process returns at 708 and waits for reception. If the device has already been received in S706, information is not stored and the process returns in S708.

This is because when the "relay reception" command is transmitted, the level is raised from the lowest level 0 53 in stages, so if the reception is from the same device, the transmission level of the first "relay reception" packet received is This is because it is the lowest transmission level. By doing this, the Lr (output level value of the packet of the "relay request" command) in the "relay reception" packet saved in S707 is the smallest output of the "relay request" packets received by the device. It becomes the level value Lr.

If the relay receiver transmits the "relay reception" packet when the "relay request" packet is first received, S706 can be omitted.
After S705, the process may proceed to S707. The first received "relay request" packet is a "relay request" packet having the smallest transmission level Lr at which the relay request source transmitted the "relay request" packet among the received "relay request" packets. .

In this case, in the packet 65 of the "relay reception" command, the data 18 contains the ID of the "relay request" transmitter.
And Lr which is the minimum output level value in the received packet of the "relay request" command and the current output level set by itself (transmission level set in the transmission section of the wireless section 4 when transmitting the packet to the base station 21). ) Is added.

When the predetermined time has elapsed in S704, S7
Move to 09. In S709, the reception level Lr and the transmission level Lt are set to the total communication level L for each device from the stored information.
Substitute the sum of.

In step S710, the device having the minimum value of the total communication level L calculated in step S709 is determined, and this device is determined as the relay partner. In step S711, the relay partner determined in step S710 is notified by adding the "relay OK" command and the received minimum transmission output level to the data, and in step S712, the relay request source transmits the "relay OK" command and data to the relay partner and relays the data. The reception level, which is the Lr of the reception packet, and the used channel are added and notified.

Upon receipt of the "relay OK" command, the relay request source transmits data to the relay partner based on the notified data, and the relay partner also sends the data to the base station 2 at the notified transmission output level.
The data is transmitted to No. 1.

Consider the arrangement of FIG. 15 as an example of determining a relay partner. The target devices are the device H55 and the device I5.
6 and the device G54 is out of the communication range.

FIG. 22 shows a layout diagram in which FIG. 15 is simplified.

When viewed from the output level from the relay request source A20, the device I56 is in the range of level 251 of 66, and the device H55 is in the range of level 350 of 67. Further, the range from device I56 to base station 21 is 68, level 4 49, and the range from device H55 to base station 21 is 69, level 2 49.
The range is 51. Therefore, the data of the “relay reception” packet from the device I56 is Lr = 2 and Lt = 4, and the data of the “relay reception” packet from the device H55 is Lr =
3, Lt = 2.

From this, the total reception level calculated by the base station 21 is "6" for the device I56 and "5" for the device H55, and the device H55 is smaller, so that the communication partner is determined to be the device H55.

[0141]

According to the present invention, a host computer and
Wireless communication with base stations connected by wire or wirelessly
A wireless communication device connected to the system,
If it cannot communicate with other devices, it will output a relay request to other devices.
Output means for performing, and when receiving the relay request, a certain amount or more
Equipped with a relay means for relaying when the battery level of
When the communication request is received, the relay request is received.
To the base station, and the host computer
By determining the relay partner , the relay can be reliably performed.

[0142] Moreover, when unable to communicate with some other party, and outputs a relay request to switch the output level, there a wireless communication method of determining the relay destination depending on whether to respond to the routing request which output levels other terminals The lowest output level
By setting another terminal that has responded to the relay request as the relay partner, the output level to the relay partner can be reduced.

A wireless communication method for selecting a relay station from a plurality of wireless communication devices having a relay function, wherein the relay station is selected according to the transmission level of the relay requesting station and the transmission levels of the plurality of wireless communication devices. As a result, the total transmission level required for relay can be reduced.

Further, when a plurality of signals relayed by different relay stations are received, one of the relay stations is selected according to the transmission level of the transmission requesting station and the transmission level of each relay station. , The transmission level required for relay can be reduced.

Further, the device which has received the relay request can know the required power in advance, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the communication failure due to the battery exhaustion during the relay.

Further, the terminal with the most remaining battery capacity can be selected, and the battery capacity of the entire terminal as a system can be effectively used.

Further, both the relay request terminal and the relay terminal can communicate with each other with the minimum required power.

Further, the most efficient route can be selected, and the power efficiency of the system can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device that is a wireless communication device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an input / output diagram of a voltage limiting circuit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart diagram at the time of starting wireless communication.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a basic packet structure.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a relay request packet.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a transmission range of the relay requesting device A and a positional relationship between the devices.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart when a relay request is received.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a battery state of a relay request receiving device.

FIG. 9 is a packet transition diagram of a relay requesting device, a relay device, and a base station.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart when a relay request is received.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a packet notified to a base station when a relay request is received.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart diagram in which the base station determines a relay partner.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an electronic device that is a wireless communication device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an input / output diagram of a voltage switching circuit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between communication ranges and respective devices for each output level.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart diagram when a relay request is transmitted.

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of a relay request packet.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a transmission range of the relay requesting device A and a positional relationship between the devices.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart diagram when a relay request is transmitted.

FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram of a relay reception packet.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of determining a relay partner in the base station.

22 is a layout diagram obtained by simplifying FIG. 15. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 battery 2 power supply 3 Voltage limiting circuit 4 radio section 5 Communication control unit 6 control unit 7 memory

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04B ^7/ 24-7/26 102 H04Q ^7/ 00-7/38

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. Wired or wireless with a host computer
Connected to a wireless communication system that has a connected base station.
A wireless communication device that is capable of communicating with a certain other party, and output means for outputting a relay request to another device, and receiving the relay request,
When the communication request is received , the relay means is provided for relaying when the remaining battery power exceeds a certain level, and when the communication request is received, the relay request is received.
To the base station, and the host computer
A wireless communication device characterized by determining a relay partner . 2. An output level when communication with a partner is impossible.
Output by the other terminal and output
Determines relay partner depending on whether to respond to level relay request
The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein another terminal responding to the relay request of the lowest output level is set as a relay partner. 3. Output level when communication with a certain party is not possible
Output by the other terminal and output
Determines relay partner depending on whether to respond to level relay request
The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein information indicating an output level is added to the relay request, and another terminal receiving the relay request determines its output level based on the output level information. Wireless communication method. 4. An output level when communication with a partner is impossible.
Output by the other terminal and output
Determines relay partner depending on whether to respond to level relay request
The wireless communication method, wherein the other terminal receiving the relay request adds the received information of the output level and transmits the notification when the other terminal notifies the reception. 5. An output level when communication with a partner is impossible.
Output by the other terminal and output
Determines relay partner depending on whether to respond to level relay request
In the wireless communication method, a terminal connected to a wireless communication system having a base station,
When that can not be communicating with a partner, to switch the output level
When a relay request is output and another terminal that has received the relay request notifies the base station that the communication request has been received, the output level is switched and output, and the relay request is added to the received relay request. A wireless communication method characterized in that both information indicating an output level and information indicating an own output level are added and transmitted. 6. A wireless communication method for selecting a relay station from a plurality of wireless communication devices having a relay function, wherein the relay station is selected according to the transmission level of a relay requesting station and the transmission levels of a plurality of wireless communication devices. A wireless communication method characterized by the above. 7. When receiving a plurality of signals relayed by different relay stations, selecting one of the relay stations according to the transmission level of the transmission requesting station and the transmission level of each relay station. A characteristic wireless communication method. 8. Receiving means for receiving signals and a plurality of signals relayed by different relay stations respectively,
A wireless communication apparatus comprising: a selection unit that selects one of the relay stations according to the transmission level of the transmission requesting station and the transmission level of each relay station.