JP4027378B2 - Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus and a wireless communication method for transmitting voice, data, and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various types of wireless telephone exchange systems that provide a wireless connection apparatus as an extension interface of a main apparatus and accommodate a cordless telephone have been put into practical use (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-276144 JP-A-63-191423 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 04-213933

  By the way, the conventional telephone exchange system has a problem that a data terminal or the like that performs peer-to-peer communication cannot access a public line. Note that peer-to-peer is a method of performing direct communication between terminals without going through a central control station such as a main device, and is also referred to as a distributed control method.

  Therefore, there is a demand for a system that realizes data transmission such as voice to the public line and high-speed data transmission on the premises using a single wireless unit.

  However, even when a system that allows a terminal that performs voice data transmission to the public line and a terminal that has a function of performing high-speed data transmission on the premises to use the same radio unit, data such as voice to the public line Unless a method for enabling effective access is provided for a terminal having a function of simultaneously performing transmission and high-speed data transmission on the premises, it is not sufficient to use the same radio unit in all terminals.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable an apparatus having a function of performing, for example, data transmission such as voice and high-speed data transmission to efficiently communicate.

The present invention determines the attribute of the communication partner, based on the attributes of a communication partner that the determination whether the communication via the relay device having the relay function with other devices, communication without via the relay device It is characterized in that it is determined whether the communication is performed directly with the other party, and communication is performed using a different channel access method according to the determination.

Further, the communication partner attribute is determined, and based on the determined communication partner attribute, communication is performed via a relay device having a relay function with another device, or the communication partner is not connected via the relay device. Whether the communication is direct communication is determined, and the communication path is changed according to the determination.

With the above configuration, based on the attributes of the communication partner, the communication via the relay device, among the communication performing direct communication party without passing through the relay device, can be switched to the proper communication, further, a relay device Can be efficiently communicated by a channel access method corresponding to communication via the communication and communication not via the relay device . In addition, communication can be efficiently performed through communication paths according to communication via the relay device and communication not via the relay device .

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The system of this embodiment includes a main apparatus 1 having a switching function connected to a public network line 7, telephones 2-1 and 2-2 accommodated in the main apparatus 1, a facsimile 3, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a “computer”). 4), a printer 5, and a copier 6.

  Among these, for example, the personal computer 4 has a function of simultaneously performing a data transmission function such as voice to a public line and a high-speed data transmission function on the premises, which will be described as an extension terminal.

  The main device 1 is an electronic switching device having a public line connection interface and data switching function. The main device 1 includes a CPU 8 for controlling the whole, a time switch 9 for exchanging a communication path, and a public network line 7. It has a public line interface 10 for accommodating, and wireless connection devices 11-1 and 11-2 for accommodating the above-described telephones and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of each terminal in this embodiment.

  As illustrated, the terminal includes a CPU 12 that performs overall control, a memory 13 that stores various data, a user interface unit 14 such as a key input unit, a wireless interface unit 15 that performs wireless communication, And an antenna 16.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless interface unit provided in each terminal of the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, this wireless interface unit performs serial / parallel conversion for converting the data input 27, the control data input 28, the data output 29, and the control data 30 transmitted in serial, and the inverse conversion thereof. Unit 20, ECC 21 for error correction processing, frame assembly / disassembly unit 22 for assembling / disassembling format based on synchronization signal 31, DPLL 23 for performing bit synchronization, and transmission / reception control unit for controlling transmission / reception operation 24, a frequency setting unit 25 for setting a transmission frequency, and a radio unit 26 including a modem unit.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a time division multiplex communication format performed between the main unit and the extension telephone, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a packet format in data communication (high-speed data transmission other than voice) performed on the premises. FIG.

  Next, an operation when a terminal having a function of simultaneously performing a data transmission function such as voice to a public line and a high-speed data transmission function on the premises performs data transmission will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a basic procedure when the extension terminal performs data transmission.

  When a data transmission request is generated in the extension terminal (S1), the CPU 12 of the extension terminal recognizes the destination address input via the user interface 14 (S2). Based on the address information recognized as the information stored in the memory 13, whether the requested transmission is (1) sent to the public network via the main unit, or (2) the premises It is determined whether the call is for a telephone, or (3) whether the call is for a terminal other than a local telephone (S3, S4).

  As a result of the determination, in the case of (1) and (2), the mode shifts to a mode of communication via the main apparatus 1 (S6), and in the case of (3), peer-to-peer is not performed without the main apparatus. Transition to the peer communication mode (S7).

  Hereinafter, specific operations in the respective modes will be described.

<When communicating via the main unit>
First, (1) processing when the extension terminal transmits voice or data to the public line will be described.

  When accessing the public line, the extension terminal starts communication with the wireless connection apparatus of the main apparatus 1, but the communication format between the wireless connection apparatus and the extension terminal is as shown in FIG. The frame assembly / disassembly unit 22 in the wireless interface unit shown in FIG.

  When the extension terminal receives the data transmitted from the wireless connection apparatus, the extension terminal transmits the data to the wireless connection apparatus at a certain timing. In this case, the transmission path is time-division multiplexed, and in the example of FIG. 4, four channels are multiplexed. As a result, one wireless connection device can communicate with up to four telephones simultaneously. One transmission / reception cycle is called a frame.

  In transmission between the wireless connection device and the telephone, the frequency to be used is changed for each frame according to a predetermined pattern. As described above, by changing at regular intervals, even when a specific channel is disturbed, only a part of time is affected, and as a result, high-quality communication can be realized.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for transmitting from the extension terminal to the public line.

  When a request to transmit data to the public line is generated (S11), the extension terminal makes a transmission request to the wireless connection apparatus using a control channel provided between the main apparatus and the wireless connection apparatus (S12). The wireless connection device that has received this transmission request notifies the CPU 8 of the main device of the request for transmission to the public line (S13).

  Thus, the CPU 8 notifies the public line interface 10 of a transmission request, and a call is made to the partner terminal via the public line (S14).

  Thereafter, when there is a response from the partner terminal within a predetermined time (S15, S16), the public line interface 10 notifies the CPU 8 that there is a response (S17). Switching (S18). As a result, the extension terminal can start data transmission to the public line (S19).

  This data transmission is performed in the format shown in FIG. Here, since it has a transmission capability of 32 kbps per channel, it is possible to transmit ADPCM-encoded voice and low-speed data.

  The extension call (2) can be basically performed in the same procedure as the transmission to the public network line.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for transmitting voice from the extension terminal to the extension telephone.

  Here, a case where a call is made from an extension terminal to an extension telephone will be described. When there is a call from the extension terminal (S21), the wireless connection apparatus accepts the call request (S22), and notifies the CPU 8 of the main apparatus that the call request has been made from the extension terminal to the extension telephone (S23). ). The CPU 8 performs incoming communication with the wireless connection apparatus corresponding to the extension telephone (S24), and the wireless connection apparatus sends a ringing command to the extension telephone (S25).

  Thereafter, when the extension telephone responds within a predetermined time (S26, S27), the wireless connection apparatus notifies the CPU 8 that there is a response (S29), and the CPU 8 controls the time switch 9 and corresponds to the extension terminal. The time slot to be connected is connected to the extension telephone (S30).

  As a result, a link is established between the extension terminal and the extension telephone, and a call is started (S31).

  The communication format between the extension terminal and the wireless connection device during a call is the same as that in the case of outgoing call to the public line described above. That is, time division multiplexing is performed, and the frequency is changed for each frame.

<When performing peer-to-peer communication without going through the main unit>
Next, communication when the mode is switched to the mode of transmitting data on peer-to-peer (3) will be described.

  The terminal that has made the transmission request transmits a packet as shown in FIG. 5 using the control channel. The packet contains frequency channel number information used for data transmission. If there is a transmission request for the received packet addressed to its own terminal, the terminal waiting on the control channel responds to the transmission permission and waits on the previously designated channel. On the other hand, the transmission terminal that has received transmission permission starts data transmission using the designated channel.

  For example, when data of the personal computer 4 is transmitted to the printer 5 or the copying machine 6 and a print output is desired, a communication request is made from the personal computer 4 to the printer 5 or the copying machine 6. When the printer 5 or the copying machine 6 accepts an incoming call, a transmission permission packet is returned to the personal computer 4, and data transmission from the personal computer 4 to the printer 5 or the copying machine 6 is started on the designated channel.

  A packet has a maximum of about 1500 bytes, and when data larger than that is transmitted, it is divided into a plurality of packets and transmitted. The above procedure is repeated every time a packet is transmitted. At that time, the frequency channel to be used is changed every time so that each channel is used evenly.

  In addition, when performing peer-to-peer communication, data is sent from the personal computer 4 to the printer 5 or the copier 6 at a transmission speed of about several hundred kbps because there is no restriction on the transmission capacity or time switch of the public line. It is done.

  FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are flowcharts showing a procedure when data other than voice is transmitted from an extension terminal to a terminal other than the telephone on the premises.

  First, each terminal stands by in a predetermined control channel (F1) (S41, S61). Then, the extension terminal (personal computer 4) that issued the transmission request (S42) sends out a packet as shown in FIG. 5 using the control channel (S43 to S45), switches the control channel, and waits for a reception permission packet. (S46).

  The transmission request packet contains frequency channel number information used for data transmission. The terminal (printer 5 or copier 6) waiting on the control channel (F1) responds to the reception permission to the packet received in S62 if there is a transmission request addressed to its own terminal. (S63, S64), it waits in the channel designated previously (S65).

  On the other hand, the transmitting terminal that has received the reception permission packet before the timeout (S48) (S47) starts data transmission using the designated channel (S49, S50).

  Thereafter, the exchange of packets and reception responses is repeated between the transmission side and the reception side (S51 to S53, S66 to S69).

  The processing in the case where the extension terminal (for example, the personal computer 4) having the function of simultaneously performing the data transmission function such as voice to the public line and the high-speed data transmission function on the premises has been described.

  As described above, the public line can be used using a single radio unit by switching the mode depending on whether the transmission is required via the main unit or the transmission is performed peer-to-peer transmission. It has become possible to achieve both access to the Internet and high-speed private data transmission.

  In the above first embodiment, the description has been made assuming frequency hopping in which the frequency is switched within a certain time. However, the same effect can be expected even when used without changing the frequency.

As described above, the determination based on the attribute of the communication partner can appropriately switch between communication via the relay device and communication performed directly with the communication partner without using the relay device. Can be efficiently communicated by a channel access method corresponding to the communication that is not performed and the communication that is not performed. In addition, communication can be efficiently performed through communication paths corresponding to communication via the relay device and communication not via the relay device.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the radio | wireless communications system by the Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of each terminal in the said Example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radio | wireless interface part provided in each terminal of the said Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the time division multiplex communication format performed between the main apparatus of the said Example and an extension telephone. It is explanatory drawing which shows the packet format in the data communication performed on the premises of the said Example. It is a flowchart which shows the basic procedure in case the extension terminal of the said Example performs data transmission. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which transmits with respect to a public line from the extension terminal of the said Example. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which transmits a voice with respect to the telephone of an extension from the extension terminal of the said Example. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission procedure in the case of transmitting data other than a voice from the extension terminal of the said Example to terminals other than a telephone in a premises. It is a flowchart which shows the reception procedure in the case of transmitting data other than a voice | voice from the extension terminal of the said Example to terminals other than a telephone in a premises.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... main unit,
2-1, 2-2 ... exchanges,
3. Facsimile,
4 ... Personal computer,
5 ... Printer,
6 ... Copier,
7 ... Public network line,
8 ... CPU,
9 ... Time switch,
10 ... Public line interface,
11-1, 11-2: Wireless connection devices.

Claims (11)

Determining means for determining the attributes of the communication partner;
Based on the attributes of a communication partner which the determining means determines, whether the communication via the relay device having the relay function with other devices, whether a communication carried out directly with the communication partner without going through the relay apparatus Discriminating means for discriminating;
Communication means for communicating using different channel access methods according to the determination by the determination means;
A wireless communication apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The communication means, when performing communication via the relay device, performs communication in synchronization with data transmitted from the relay device. In claim 1,
The wireless communication apparatus, wherein the communication unit performs communication asynchronously with data transmitted from the relay apparatus when performing communication not via the relay apparatus. In claim 1,
The wireless communication apparatus performs frequency hopping communication. In claim 1,
The communication unit transmits data based on the data from the relay device according to the determination by the determination unit, or confirms channel availability information prior to transmission and confirms channel availability. A wireless communication apparatus for transmitting data. In claim 1,
The wireless communication device, wherein the relay device is connected to a wired line, and the determining unit determines whether or not the communication is via the wired line. In claim 6 ,
The relay device is connected to a wired line,
The determination means determines whether the communication is with the communication partner via the wired line based on the identification information of the communication partner, and determines that the communication is not with the communication partner via the wired line . If, determines the attribute of the communication partner, the discrimination means, on the basis of the determination by said determining means, whether the communication via the relay device determines whether a direct communication without through the relay device A wireless communication apparatus. In claim 1,
The wireless communication apparatus, wherein the determining means determines whether the communication partner is a voice communication apparatus. The communication partner attribute is determined, and based on the determined communication partner attribute, communication is performed via a relay device having a relay function with another device or directly with the communication partner without using the relay device. A wireless communication method comprising: determining whether communication is performed, and performing communication using a different channel access method according to the determination. Determining means for determining the attributes of the communication partner;
Based on the attributes of a communication partner which the determining means determines, whether the communication via the relay device having the relay function with other devices, whether a communication carried out directly with the communication partner without going through the relay apparatus Discriminating means for discriminating;
Selection means for selecting a communication path according to the determination by the determination means;
A wireless communication apparatus comprising: The communication partner attribute is determined, and based on the determined communication partner attribute, communication is performed via a relay device having a relay function with another device or directly with the communication partner without using the relay device. A wireless communication method characterized by determining whether communication is performed and changing a communication path in accordance with the determination.

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