JP4675679B2 - Communication system and communication terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system in which transmission data transmitted by a communication terminal is transferred by another communication terminal. The present invention also relates to a communication terminal used in the communication system.

  A communication terminal typified by a mobile phone terminal communicates with a communication terminal in another area via a base station in the area where the own terminal exists. For this reason, if it becomes impossible to communicate with a base station in an area where the terminal exists due to a wide-area catastrophe, etc., or if the terminal exists in a place where there is no base station in the vicinity, The area around the terminal becomes an incommunicable area (or an out-of-service area) that cannot communicate with the base station. Conventionally, a communication network in an area where a relay station can communicate data from the transmitting station (communication area, coverage area / service area capable of communicating with a base station) using a terminal existing around the transmitting station as a relay station. There is technology to relay up to.

  For example, there are the following storage-type data relay technologies. As shown in FIG. 23 (a), when the transmitting station 41 transmits data in the incommunicable area, the surrounding terminals 42 receive and store the data. When the terminal 42 enters a wireless service area communicable with the base station 51, the terminal 42 transmits the data received and accumulated from the transmitting station 41 to the base station 51. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 23 (b), the terminal 44 receives and stores the data transmitted by the transmission station 43, and then transmits the data to surrounding terminals 45. Similarly, the terminal 45 accumulates data and then transfers the data to the terminal 46. The terminal 46 is located within a wireless service area that can communicate with the base station 52, and receives and accumulates data from the terminal 45, and then transmits the data to the base station 52.

There is also a real-time relay type data relay technology in which a transmitting station that exists in an incommunicable area uses a mobile communication terminal as a relay station and transmits / receives data to / from a terminal in an area in real time. For example, as shown in FIG. 24, when the calling station 47 communicates with the telephone 71 connected to the public line network 62 connected to the wireless communication network 61, the data transmitted from the calling station 47 is , Transferred to terminal 50 by terminals 48 and 49. The terminal 50 transmits the data received from the terminal 49 to the base station 53. Data received by the base station 53 is transferred to the telephone 71 via the wireless communication network 61 and the public line network 62. On the other hand, the data transmitted from the telephone 71 is transferred to the transmitting station 47 through the reverse route.
JP 2002-271257 A JP 7-162935 A

  However, in the above-described storage-type data relay technology, when the amount of data increases, there is a possibility that the memory of another mobile station that has become a relay station may be compressed. In addition, when data is transmitted and received, if the communication time is long, the time that other mobile stations serving as relay stations occupy for data relay becomes longer, and the battery consumption in other mobile stations increases. . Furthermore, in the real-time relay type data relay technology, another mobile station that has become a relay station is occupied by data relay until the communication is completed. Also in this relay technology, the battery consumption in other mobile stations that have become relay stations has increased. Thus, the conventional data relay technology has a problem that the load on other mobile stations increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system and a communication terminal that can reduce a load on a communication terminal that relays data.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and employs the following means.
A communication system according to the present invention is a communication system including a plurality of communication terminals that operate as a transmission station that transmits data or a relay station that relays the data from the transmission station. the data is divided based on the channel quality of the communication terminal which operates as a relay station, a dividing means for generating a plurality of transmission data, each of the transmission data, based on said channel quality, as different the relay station And a data transmission means for allocating and transmitting to an operating communication terminal .

  The communication terminal, when receiving the transmission data from the preceding communication terminal that transmitted the transmission data, a reception completion transmitting means for transmitting a reception completion notification indicating completion of reception to the preceding communication terminal, and the transmission It further comprises call disconnecting means for disconnecting a call with the next-stage communication terminal when the reception completion notification is received from the next-stage communication terminal that has received the data.

  The dividing means divides the transmission data so that more data is transmitted to other communication terminals having good channel quality among other communication terminals to be transmitted.

  The data transmission means transmits the transmission data to the preceding communication terminal when the line with the next communication terminal is disconnected before the transmission of the transmission data to the next communication terminal is completed. It is characterized by doing.

  The transmission data includes identification information of the transmission station, and further includes a server that receives the transmission data transferred by the relay station and charges the transmission station based on the identification information. Features.

  Transmitting station position information indicating the position of the transmitting station is added to the transmission data.

  The communication terminal further includes a server that transmits the reception confirmation to which the transmission station position information is added, for receiving the transmission data and notifying the transmission station of reception of the transmission data, and the communication terminal is another communication terminal Request means for requesting relay station position information indicating the position of the other communication terminal, receiving means for receiving the reception confirmation and the relay station position information, and the transmitting station added to the reception confirmation Based on the position information and the relay station position information, a determination means for determining a transfer destination communication terminal of the reception confirmation, and a reception confirmation for transmitting the reception confirmation to the transfer destination communication terminal determined by the determination means And a transmission means.

A communication terminal according to the present invention is a communication terminal that operates as a transmitting station that transmits data or a relay station that relays the data from the transmitting station . Dividing means for dividing based on channel quality and generating a plurality of transmission data, and data transmitting means for allocating and transmitting each of the transmission data to different communication terminals operating as relay stations based on the channel quality And.

  When the transmission data is received from the preceding communication terminal that has transmitted the transmission data, a reception completion transmitting means for transmitting a reception completion notification indicating completion of reception to the preceding communication terminal; and after receiving the transmission data And a call disconnecting means for disconnecting the call with the communication terminal at the next stage when the reception completion notification is received from the communication terminal at the second stage.

  The dividing means divides the transmission data so that more data is transmitted to other communication terminals having good channel quality among other communication terminals to be transmitted.

  The data transmission means transmits the transmission data to the preceding communication terminal when the line with the next communication terminal is disconnected before the transmission of the transmission data to the next communication terminal is completed. It is characterized by doing.

  Transmitting station position information indicating the position of the transmitting station is added to the transmission data.

Requesting means for requesting relay station position information indicating the position of the other communication terminal to other communication terminals, receiving the transmission data, and notifying the transmission station of reception of the transmission data, Receiving the reception confirmation from the server that has transmitted the reception confirmation with the transmission station location information added, and receiving means for receiving the relay station location information from the other communication terminal, and the addition added to the reception confirmation Based on the source station position information and the relay station position information, a determination unit that determines a transfer destination communication terminal of the reception confirmation, and transmits the reception confirmation to the transfer destination communication terminal determined by the determination unit A reception confirmation transmission means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load on a communication terminal that relays data.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication terminal according to the present embodiment is a terminal device such as a mobile phone terminal or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) having a wireless communication function. This communication terminal operates as a transmitting station that transmits data, and also operates as a relay station that relays data from the transmitting station. Hereinafter, each component in the figure will be described. The antenna 1 transmits and receives radio waves to and from other communication terminals (transmitting station or relay station) and base stations. The RF circuit unit 2 performs transmission signal modulation processing, reception signal demodulation processing, and the like.

  The transmission data processing unit 3 performs a transmission data division process and a transmission data packetization process after the division, which will be described later. The received data processing unit 4 performs packet decomposition processing of received packets. The data storage unit 5 stores received data received from the relay station. The relay station switching control unit 6 causes the data storage unit 5 to output data to the transmission data processing unit 3 when received data is stored in the data storage unit 5 and the own station operates as a relay station. When the local station operates as a normal mobile station, the relay station switching control unit 6 causes the data output from the control unit 9 to be input to the transmission data processing unit 3.

  The GPS antenna 7 receives radio waves from GPS satellites and outputs received signals to the GPS receiver 8. The GPS receiver 8 performs positioning based on the received signal output from the GPS antenna 7. That is, the GPS receiving unit 8 detects the propagation distance of radio waves based on signals received from a plurality of GPS satellites, and determines the current position of the communication terminal from the distances to the plurality of GPS satellites based on the principle of triangulation. The signal indicating the calculation result is output to the control unit 9.

  The control unit 9 has functions such as control and calculation of each unit in the communication terminal. The data storage unit 10 includes a recording medium such as a memory in which various kinds of data are stored, a circuit for writing and reading data on the recording medium, and the like. The input / output circuit unit 11 processes input / output signals with keys and switches operated by the user. The display unit 12 includes a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays images, characters, and the like based on display signals output from the control unit 9.

  Next, the operation of the communication terminal according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The transmitting station MS1 (refer to FIG. 2 hereinafter) is assumed to be present in an incommunicable area in which the mobile communication network and the public line network have been destroyed due to a wide area catastrophe or the like. In the transmitting station MS1, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the own station is within the area of the base station by measuring the reception strength of the pilot signal periodically transmitted from the base station. In this case, since the reception intensity of the pilot signal received from the base station is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control unit 9 determines that the own station is located in the out-of-service area of the base station.

  The controller 9 determines whether or not to perform a transmission operation by monitoring a signal output from the input / output circuit unit 11. When making a call, the control unit 9 instructs the transmission data processing unit 3 to generate a relay station request for requesting relay of data to mobile stations around the own station. Upon receiving the instruction, the transmission data processing unit 3 generates a relay station request, packetizes it, and outputs it to the RF circuit unit 2. The relay station request is modulated by the RF circuit unit 2 and transmitted via the antenna 1. This relay station request is transmitted to the mobile stations MS2 to MS5, MSx, MSxx and is received by each mobile station.

  In each mobile station, the relay station request is received via the antenna 1, demodulated by the RF circuit unit 2, and the received packet is output to the reception data processing unit 4. The reception data processing unit 4 extracts data from the reception packet and outputs it to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 analyzes the content of the relay station request included in the data. When it is understood that the relay station is to be established, the control unit 9 instructs the transmission data processing unit 3 to generate an acknowledgment signal. The transmission data processing unit 3 generates an acknowledgment signal and outputs it to the RF circuit unit 2. The acknowledge signal is modulated by the RF circuit unit 2 and transmitted to the transmitting station MS1 via the antenna 1 (see FIG. 3). The control unit 9 of each mobile station instructs the relay station switching control unit 6 to switch to relay station operation. Receiving the instruction, the relay station switching control unit 6 performs transmission data output switching control.

  The acknowledge signal is received by the originating station MS1. It is assumed that the mobile stations MS2 to MS5 that have agreed to become relay stations among the mobile stations MS1 to MS5, MSx, and MSxx that have received the relay station request have transmitted an acknowledge signal. The control unit 9 of the transmission station MS1 starts data transmission control for the mobile stations MS2 to MS5 that have transmitted the acknowledgment signal (see FIG. 4 below). The control unit 9 outputs data for transmission to the transmission data processing unit 3. The transmission data processing unit 3 divides the data by the number of mobile stations that transmitted the acknowledgment signal according to the control by the control unit 9, and generates a plurality of transmission data. In FIG. 4, the data is divided into four. The control unit 9 measures the channel quality with the mobile stations MS2 to MS5 and determines the amount of data transmitted to each mobile station based on the channel quality. When the channel quality is good in the order of mobile stations MS2, MS3, MS4, and MS5, the amount of data D (MS2), D (MS3), D (MS4), and D (MS5) transmitted to each mobile station is D (MS5). MS2)> D (MS3)> D (MS4)> D (MS5).

The amount of data transmitted to each mobile station is determined as follows. For example, assume that Ec / Io (pilot signal strength vs. total received signal strength) is as follows.
Ec / Io_MS2 [dB]: Ec / Io (= X [dB]) in the communication path between the transmitting station MS1 and the mobile station MS2 (X ≦ 0)
Ec / Io_MS3 [dB]: Ec / Io (= X−2.5 [dB]) in the communication path between the transmitting station MS1 and the mobile station MS3
Ec / Io_MS4 [dB]: Ec / Io (= X−6 [dB]) in the communication path between the source station MS1 and the mobile station MS4
Ec / Io_MS5 [dB]: Ec / Io (= X−12 [dB]) in the communication path between the source station MS1 and the mobile station MS5

When the ratio is expressed using X as a reference, it is as follows.
Ec / Io_MS2 [dB] → (10 ^{X / 20} ) / (10 ^{X / 20} ) = 1
Ec / Io_MS3 [dB] → (10 ^{(X−2.5) / 20} ) / (10 ^{X / 20} ) = 10 ^{(−2.5 / 20)} = 0.75
Ec / Io_MS4 [dB] → (10 ^{(X-6) / 20} ) / (10 ^{X / 20} ) = 10 ^(−6/20) = 0.5
Ec / Io_MS5 [dB] → (10 ^{(X-12) / 20} ) / ^{(10X / 20} ) = 10 ^(-12/20) = 0.25

As described above, the control unit 9 sets the data division amount to each mobile station as follows.
Data amount to mobile station MS2 → 1 / (1 + 0.75 + 0.50 + 0.25) = 0.4 → 40%
Data amount to mobile station MS3 → 0.75 / (1 + 0.75 + 0.50 + 0.25) = 0.3 → 30%
Data amount to mobile station MS4 → 0.5 / (1 + 0.75 + 0.50 + 0.25) = 0.2 → 20%
Data amount to mobile station MS5 → 0.25 / (1 + 0.75 + 0.50 + 0.25) = 0.1 → 10%

  The control unit 9 notifies the transmission data processing unit 3 of the number of data divisions, the data amount, the transmitting station ID, and the current position notified from the GPS receiving unit 8. The transmission data processing unit 3 adds a transmission station ID and transmission station position information (current position information) to each divided transmission data, generates a packet, and outputs the packet to the RF circuit unit 2. Each packet is modulated by the RF circuit unit 2 and transmitted to each mobile station via the antenna 1. Each mobile station receives a packet transmitted to the mobile station. In each mobile station, the received packet is decomposed by the reception data processing unit 4 and the data in the packet is stored in the data storage unit 5.

  The transmission station ID and the transmission station location information included in the received packet are notified from the reception data processing unit 4 to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 instructs the transmission data processing unit 3 to generate reception completion (reception completion notification) for notifying that data reception has been completed. Reception completion is generated by the transmission data processing unit 3 and transmitted to the transmitting station MS1 via the RF circuit unit 2 and the antenna 1 (see FIG. 5). When reception completion is received from each mobile station in the transmission station MS1, the reception data processing unit 4 outputs the reception completion to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 performs processing such as instructing the transmission data processing unit 3 to transmit a call disconnect message in order to perform call disconnect processing with the mobile station that has transmitted reception completion. As a result, the calling station MS1 disconnects the call with the mobile stations MS2 to MS5.

  Subsequently, each mobile station performs a relay operation. First, the mobile station MS2 will be described as an example (see FIG. 6 below). The control unit 9 of the mobile station MS2 determines that the own station is located in the out-of-service area of the base station, and starts data relay processing to other mobile stations. Similar to the operation described above, the mobile station MS2 transmits a relay station request to the mobile stations MS6 and MSxxx. It is assumed that only the mobile station MS6 returns an acknowledgment signal among the mobile stations MS6 and MSxxx that have received the relay station request (see FIG. 7).

  The mobile station MS2 receives the acknowledge signal from the mobile station MS6, determines that data should be transmitted to the mobile station MS6, and transmits the data received from the source station MS1 to the mobile station MS6 (see FIG. 8). In this case, data is output from the data storage unit 5 to the transmission data processing unit 3 in accordance with control by the relay station switching control unit 6. The control unit 9 notifies the transmission data processing unit 3 that it is not necessary to divide the data, and the transmission station ID and the transmission station position information. The transmission data processing unit 3 adds a transmission station ID and transmission station location information to the data, generates a packet, and outputs the packet to the RF circuit unit 2. The packet is modulated by the RF circuit unit 2 and transmitted to the mobile station MS6 via the antenna 1. The mobile station MS6 receives the packet transmitted to itself and transmits a reception completion to the mobile station MS2 (see FIG. 9). The mobile station MS2 receives the reception completion and disconnects the call with the mobile station MS6.

  The mobile station MS6 transmits a relay station request to the surrounding mobile stations (see FIG. 10), and divides the data received from the mobile station MS2 into three parts for the mobile stations MS7 to MS9 (see FIG. 11) that have returned the acknowledgment signal. Then send. At this time, if the channel quality is good in the order of mobile stations MS7, MS8, MS9, the amount of data D (MS7), D (MS8), D (MS9) transmitted to each mobile station is D (MS7)> D (MS8)> D (MS9).

The amount of data transmitted to each mobile station is determined as follows. For example, assume that Ec / Io is as follows.
Ec / Io_MS7 [dB]: Ec / Io (= Y [dB]) in the communication path between the mobile station MS6 and the mobile station MS7 (Y ≦ 0)
Ec / Io_MS8 [dB]: Ec / Io (= Y−a [dB]) in the communication path between the mobile station MS6 and the mobile station MS8 (a ≧ 0)
Ec / Io_MS9 [dB]: Ec / Io (= Y−b [dB]) in the communication path between the mobile station MS6 and the mobile station MS9 (b ≧ 0)

The ratio is expressed as follows using Y as a reference.
Ec / Io_MS7 [dB] → (10 ^{Y / 20} ) / (10 ^{Y / 20} ) = 1
Ec / Io_MS8 [dB] → (10 ^{(Y−a) / 20} ) / (10 ^{Y / 20} ) = 10 ^{(−a / 20)} (assuming to be 0.6)
Ec / Io_MS9 [dB] → (10 ^{(Y−b) / 20} ) / (10 ^{Y / 20} ) = 10 ^{(−b / 20)} (= 0.4)

From the above, the control unit 9 of the mobile station MS6 sets the data division amount to each mobile station as follows.
Data amount to mobile station MS7 → 1 / (1 + 0.6 + 0.4) = 0.5 → 50%
Data amount to mobile station MS8 → 0.6 / (1 + 0.6 + 0.4) = 0.3 → 30%
Data amount to mobile station MS9 → 0.4 / (1 + 0.6 + 0.4) = 0.2 → 20%

  The mobile station MS6 transmits the divided data to the mobile stations MS7 to MS9 (see FIG. 12). Each mobile station receives the packet transmitted to the mobile station and transmits a reception completion to the mobile station MS6 (see FIG. 13). The mobile station MS6 receives the reception completion and disconnects the call with the mobile stations MS7 to MS9. Operations similar to those of the mobile station MS2 are also performed by the mobile stations MS3 to MS5.

  Thereafter, the above-described operation is repeatedly performed. When the mobile station that has become the relay station is located within the area of the base station, the mobile station transmits data received from other mobile stations to the base station. As shown in FIG. 14, the divided data is received by mobile stations MS100 to MS105 located in the area of the base station, and the data is transmitted to base stations BS1 to BS6 with which each mobile station can communicate. The data received by the base stations BS1 to BS6 is transmitted to the server 201 (billing server) connected to the communication network 301, and is combined by the server 201 to restore the original data.

  The combined data is transferred to the telephone LAND that is the communication partner of the originating station MS1. The server 201 performs a billing process for the transmitting station MS1 based on the transmitting station ID added to the divided data received from the base stations BS1 to BS6. As a result, the relay station that relayed the data is not charged. In the present embodiment, the server 201 performs both the combination of the divided data and the billing process. However, separate servers may perform the combination of the divided data and the billing process. .

  Next, data relay similar to the data relay described above will be described using the examples shown in FIGS. In this communication system (hereinafter, see FIG. 15), base stations BS7 to BS10 are connected to a communication network 302. The originating station MS11 is originally located within the area of the base station BS10, but the base station BS10 has been damaged by a wide-area catastrophe or the like, and therefore cannot communicate with the base station (communication impossible) Is located in the area.

  The transmitting station MS11 divides data and transmits it to the mobile stations MS12 to MS15 in the same manner as described above. The data transmitted from the transmitting station MS11 is added with the transmitting station ID of the transmitting station MS11 and the transmitting station position information. The data transmitted to the mobile station MS12 is transferred to the mobile station MS16 and transmitted from the mobile station MS16 to the base station BS7. The data transmitted to the mobile station MS13 is divided by the mobile station MS13 and transmitted to the mobile stations MS17 and MS18. The data transmitted to the mobile station MS17 is transmitted to the base station BS8 by the mobile station MS19. The data transmitted to the mobile station MS18 is transferred to the base station BS8 by the mobile stations MS20 and MS21. The data transmitted to the mobile station MS14 is transferred to the base station BS9 by the mobile station MS22. The data transmitted to the mobile station MS15 is transferred to the base station BS9 by the mobile stations MS23 and MS24.

  Data received by the base stations BS7 to BS9 (refer to FIG. 16 below) is transferred to the server 202 connected to the communication network 302. The server 202 combines the received data and restores the original data. When the data transfer is completed, a relay route to the originating station MS11 is established as follows. The server 202 generates a reception confirmation for notifying the transmission station MS11 that the reception of data is completed. In this reception confirmation, the transmission station ID of the transmission station MS11 and the transmission station position information are added as information for the relay station to search for the transmission station MS11.

  For example, the server 202 transmits a reception confirmation to the mobile station MS21 that lastly transmitted the data from the transmission station MS11. The acknowledgment is received by the mobile station MS21 via the base station BS8. Subsequently, the mobile station MS21 transmits a location information request for requesting location information (relay station location information) of each mobile station to surrounding mobile stations. The operation for transmitting the position information request is the same as the operation for transmitting the relay station request. The location information request is received by the mobile stations MS19 and MS20.

  The received position information request is output from the received data processing unit 4 to the control unit 9. Based on the position information request, the control unit 9 notifies the transmission data processing unit 3 of the position information of the current position notified from the GPS reception unit 8 and instructs the transmission data processing unit 3 to notify the mobile station MS21. To do. Upon receiving the instruction, the transmission data processing unit 3 generates a packet including position information and outputs the packet to the RF circuit unit 2. The packet is modulated by the RF circuit unit 2 and transmitted to the mobile station MS21 via the antenna 1.

  Mobile station MS21 receives packets from mobile stations MS19 and MS20. The control unit 9 recognizes the position of each mobile station based on the position information of the mobile stations MS19 and MS20 included in the received packet. The control unit 9 determines the next relay station (reception confirmation transfer destination) based on the source station position information included in the reception confirmation, the position information of the mobile stations MS19 and MS20, and the position information of the own station. That is, the control unit 9 calculates the orientations of the transmitting station MS11, the mobile station MS19, and the mobile station MS20 with reference to the position of the local station, and which of the mobile stations MS19 and MS20 depends on the orientation of the transmitting station MS11. Determine whether they are close.

  The criterion for this determination is not limited to the azimuth. For example, a mobile station closer to the transmitting station MS11 may be the next-stage relay station. As a result of the determination, the control unit 9 determines that the mobile station MS20 is the next-stage relay station. The reception confirmation is transmitted from the mobile station MS21 to the mobile station MS20. Similarly, the mobile station MS20 determines the mobile station MS25 as the next relay station, and transmits a reception confirmation to the mobile station MS25. The mobile station MS25 transmits a reception confirmation to the transmission station MS11, and the transmission station MS11 receives the reception confirmation.

  When relaying data from the source station MS11, each mobile station stores the mobile station of the communication partner, and when transmitting the reception confirmation, it transmits to the stored mobile station. Good.

  Next, a modified example of the communication terminal will be described. Normally, in a wireless section, data may be broken in bursts depending on radio wave conditions, and therefore error correction code processing and interleaving processing are performed as a wireless interface. FIG. 17 shows a configuration of a communication terminal having a function of performing error correction code processing and interleaving processing.

  In the figure, an error correction code processing unit 13 adds an error correction code to transmission data. The interleave unit 14 performs an interleave process on the transmission data. For example, in the case of frequency interleaving, the order of data in a data sequence composed of a plurality of data is changed, and the data sequence is assigned to subcarriers (subcarriers) that are not adjacent on the frequency axis. In multipath environments where frequency selective fading occurs, the same information is distributed to subcarriers with low correlation by applying frequency interleaving, so that high frequency diversity gain can be obtained and communication quality can be improved. Can do.

  The error correction decoding processing unit 15 performs error correction (error correction combined processing) on the received data. The deinterleaving unit 16 performs a deinterleaving process on the received data, and restores the data before the interleaving process is performed. With the above configuration, data subjected to error correction code processing and interleaving processing is transmitted from the transmitting station. In the mobile station serving as a relay station, the received data is subjected to deinterleave processing and error correction decoding processing, then subjected to error correction code processing and interleaving processing, and transmitted as transmission data.

  FIG. 18 shows another configuration example of the communication terminal. While the communication terminal relays data as a relay station, it is desirable to reliably transfer data. Therefore, when it becomes a relay station, the communication terminal invalidates the operation even if the power key or the like is operated. When the user operates a power key or the like, a signal is output from the input / output circuit unit 11. When the own station is operating as a relay station, a signal from the input / output circuit unit 11 is not input to the control unit 9 by switching a switch or the like. Alternatively, even when a signal is input from the input / output circuit unit 11 to the control unit 9, the control unit 9 determines that the signal is invalid and does not perform processing such as turning off the power. As a result, the relay station can reliably relay data without depending on the operation instruction from the user of the own station.

  Next, an example of an image displayed on the screen of the display unit 12 at the transmission station and the relay station will be described. FIG. 19 is an example of an image displayed by the display unit 12 of the transmitting station. After transmitting the relay station request, the control unit 9 of the transmitting station monitors whether or not an acknowledgment signal is received from the mobile station serving as the relay station. In order to notify the user when no acknowledgment signal is received from any mobile station (that is, reception of the acknowledgment signal cannot be detected within a predetermined time after the relay station request is transmitted, for example) The control unit 9 reads display data from the data storage unit 10, converts it into a display signal, and outputs it to the display unit 12. The display unit 12 displays an image based on the signal output from the control unit 9. Normally, a display as shown in FIG. 19A is performed on the display unit 12, but when a mobile station to be a relay station is not found, a relay route as shown in FIG. 19B is displayed. Is displayed to indicate that does not exist.

  FIG. 20 is an example of an image displayed by the display unit 12 of the relay station. After the acknowledge signal is generated, the control unit 9 of the relay station reads the display data from the data storage unit 10, converts it into a display signal, and outputs it to the display unit 12. The display unit 12 displays an image based on the signal output from the control unit 9. Usually, the display unit 12 displays as shown in FIG. 20 (a). However, when the own station becomes a relay station, the own station relays as shown in FIG. 20 (b). A display indicating that it is a station is performed. In addition, instead of displaying an image as shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, notification to the user may be performed by turning on an LED or the like.

  Next, the operation of the communication terminal when communication (line) between mobile stations is disconnected due to a failure (for example, noise) on the transmission path will be described. As shown in FIG. 21, it is assumed that the mobile station MS32 that has become a relay station divides the data received from the mobile station MS31 that is the original relay station, and tries to transmit the data to the mobile stations MS33 and MS34. For example, when the line between the mobile station MS32 and the mobile station MS33 is disconnected, the following four types of operations are possible. The timing at which the communication is disconnected is any time before the data transmission is completed, for example, after the call with the mobile station MS33 is once established, before data transmission or during data transmission.

  As a first operation example, the mobile station MS32 re-establishes a call (makes a call connection) with the mobile station MS33 and retransmits the data. In this case, the control unit 9 of the mobile station MS32 instructs the transmission data processing unit 3 to transmit a call connection message in order to make a call connection with the mobile station MS33 again after detecting the disconnection of communication with the mobile station MS33. Perform the process. When a call connection is established with the mobile station MS33, the transmission data processing unit 3 processes again the transmission data transmitted to the mobile station MS33 last time in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 9. The transmission data processing unit 3 accumulates the transmitted divided data in a buffer or the like for a predetermined time, and may process the data again when it is necessary to transmit again. Alternatively, the transmission data processing unit 3 may use the data stored in the data storage unit 5 to divide the data again and generate necessary transmission data when it is necessary to transmit the data again. Good.

  As a second operation example, the mobile station MS32 searches for a new relay station, and when a relay station is found, transmits data (data A in FIG. 21) that should have been transmitted to the mobile station MS33 to the new relay station. . In this case, the mobile station MS32 transmits the relay station request again. It is assumed that the mobile station MS35 receives this relay station request and returns an acknowledgment signal to the mobile station MS32. The reception data processing unit 4 of the mobile station MS32 outputs the received acknowledgment signal to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 instructs the transmission data processing unit 3 to process transmission data in order to transmit data to the mobile station MS35. The transmission data is processed by the transmission data processing unit 3 and the RF circuit unit 2 and transmitted to the mobile station MS 35 via the antenna 1.

  As a third operation example, the mobile station MS32 transmits data to the relay station MS34 that has already been connected. In this case, the mobile station MS32 transmits data B to the relay station MS34 and then transmits data A to the same relay station MS34. When the mobile station MS34 notifies the mobile station MS32 of the completion of reception, since the call between the mobile station MS32 and the mobile station MS34 is disconnected, the mobile station MS32 calls the mobile station MS34 again. Connect and send data B to mobile station MS34.

  As a fourth operation example, the mobile station MS32 returns the data (data A in FIG. 21) that should have been transmitted to the mobile station MS33 to the mobile station MS31 that is the preceding relay station. Data is transmitted to the mobile station MS36. The fourth operation example is performed, for example, when data cannot be transmitted to the relay station even if all the first to third operation examples are tried. In this case, the control unit 9 of the mobile station MS32 performs call connection processing with the mobile station MS31 and instructs the transmission data processing unit 3 to transmit data to the mobile station MS31. Upon receiving the instruction, the transmission data processing unit 3 processes the data again, and the data is transmitted to the mobile station MS31.

  Before the data is returned, the control signal is transmitted and received between the mobile station MS31 and the mobile station MS32, and the mobile station MS31 is notified that the data is transmitted. Alternatively, information indicating reply data is added to the data transmitted from the mobile station MS31 and transmitted to the mobile station MS31. The mobile station MS31 receives the data transmitted from the mobile station MS32 and performs data transmission processing to other mobile stations. That is, in the mobile station MS31, when data from the mobile station MS32 is received, the control unit 9 performs a relay station request transmission process. As a result, the relay station request is transmitted from the mobile station MS31.

  When the mobile station MS32 receives the relay station request again, the mobile station MS32 may ignore the relay station request. Further, it is assumed that the mobile station MS36 receives the relay station request and transmits an acknowledgment signal to the mobile station MS31. The mobile station MS31 receives the acknowledge signal and transmits data to the mobile station MS36.

  In the above fourth operation example, the data is returned to the preceding relay station, but there is a possibility that the data is returned to the transmitting station. When the data is returned to the transmitting station and the transmitting station cannot find a relay station that can be newly transmitted, the display unit 12 of the transmitting station may be displayed to notify the user. . FIG. 22 is an example of an image displayed by the display unit 12. Normally, the display unit 12 displays as shown in FIG. 22 (a). However, when the data is returned to the transmitting station and a new relay station cannot be found, the display shown in FIG. As shown in b), a display indicating the disconnection of the relay route is performed. According to the first to fourth operation examples described above, the relay route can be maintained.

  As described above, in the communication system according to the present embodiment, since the communication terminals serving as the transmission station and the relay station divide the data and transfer the data through a plurality of routes, the amount of data transferred by each communication terminal is reduced. be able to. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the load on the memory of the communication terminal that has become the relay station. Further, the communication time can be shortened by reducing the amount of data transferred by each communication terminal. As a result, the battery consumption of the communication terminal that has become the relay station can be reduced.

  In this communication system, the communication terminal that has become a relay station receives data from the preceding communication terminal, accumulates the data, and then disconnects the call with the preceding communication terminal. Subsequently, the communication terminal serving as the relay station connects the call with the communication terminal at the next stage, transmits the accumulated data, and disconnects the call when the transmission is completed. As a result, the time for occupying the communication terminal serving as the relay station can be shortened. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the load on the communication terminal that relays data.

  Further, in this communication system, the communication terminal determines the data division ratio in consideration of the line quality with the communication terminal at the next stage, and allows more data to flow through a route with good line quality. . As a result, when the transmission rate of the communication path with the communication terminal at the next stage is high, data can be transmitted in a shorter time. Further, when the received radio wave intensity from the communication terminal at the next stage is high, the possibility that the line is disconnected during data transmission is reduced, and data can be transmitted more reliably.

  Further, in this communication system, identification information (transmission station ID) of the communication terminal is added to the transmission data transmitted by the communication terminal serving as the transmission station, and the server that performs the charging process is based on the identification information. Then, the communication terminal that becomes the source station is charged. As a result, it is possible to prevent the communication terminal serving as the relay station from being charged.

  Further, in this communication system, the transmission data transmitted by the communication terminal that has become the transmission station is added with the position information of the communication terminal (transmission station position information), and the position is also included in the reception confirmation returned to the transmission station. Information is added. Based on this position information, each communication terminal serving as a relay station determines a transmission partner for reception confirmation, so that an optimum route to the transmission station can be established.

  As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and includes design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. . For example, the relay station may be not only a mobile station but also a fixed station such as telemetering. Further, when the transmitting station or relay station transmits data to the next relay station, all data may be transmitted to the next relay station with the best channel quality without dividing the data.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication terminal by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of a communication terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of a communication terminal. It is a reference figure which shows the example of an image displayed by the display part of a communication terminal. It is a reference figure which shows the example of an image displayed by the display part of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a communication terminal. It is a reference figure which shows the example of an image displayed by the display part of a communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the conventional communication terminal. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the conventional communication terminal.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Antenna, 2 ... RF circuit part, 3 ... Transmission data processing part, 4 ... Reception data processing part, 5 ... Data storage part, 6 ... Relay station switching control part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 7 ... GPS antenna, 8 ... GPS receiving part, 9 ... Control part, 10 ... Data storage part, 11 ... Input / output circuit part, 12 ... Display part, 13 ... Error correction code processing unit, 14 ... interleave unit, 15 ... error correction decoding processing unit, 16 ... deinterleave unit

Claims (13)

In a communication system comprising a plurality of communication terminals that operate as a transmitting station that transmits data, or a relay station that relays the data from the transmitting station,
The communication terminal is
Dividing means for dividing the data for transmission based on the line quality with the communication terminal operating as a relay station, and generating a plurality of transmission data;
Data transmission means for allocating and transmitting each of the transmission data to different communication terminals operating as the relay stations based on the channel quality ;
A communication system comprising: The communication terminal is
A reception completion transmitting means for transmitting a reception completion notification indicating completion of reception to the preceding communication terminal when the transmission data is received from the preceding communication terminal that has transmitted the transmission data;
A call disconnecting means for disconnecting a call with the next-stage communication terminal when the reception completion notification is received from the next-stage communication terminal that has received the transmission data;
The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:   The division unit divides the transmission data so that more data is transmitted to other communication terminals having good channel quality among other communication terminals to be transmitted. The communication system according to claim 2. The data transmission means transmits the transmission data to the preceding communication terminal when the line with the next communication terminal is disconnected before the transmission of the transmission data to the next communication terminal is completed. communication system according to one of any claims 1 to 3, characterized in that. The transmission data includes identification information of the transmission station, and further includes a server that receives the transmission data transferred by the relay station and charges the transmission station based on the identification information. communication system according to one of any claims 1 to 4, characterized. Wherein the transmission data, a communication system according to one of any claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the source station position information indicating a position of the originating station is added. A server that receives the transmission data and transmits a reception confirmation to which the transmission station location information is added to notify the transmission station of reception of the transmission data;
The communication terminal is
Requesting means for requesting relay station position information indicating the position of the other communication terminal to another communication terminal;
Receiving means for receiving the reception confirmation and the relay station position information;
Based on the source station location information and the relay station location information added to the reception confirmation,
Determining means for determining a destination communication terminal of the reception confirmation;
A reception confirmation transmitting means for transmitting the reception confirmation to the transfer destination communication terminal determined by the determination means;
The communication system according to claim 6, further comprising: In a communication terminal that operates as a transmitting station that transmits data or a relay station that relays the data from the transmitting station,
Dividing means for dividing the data for transmission based on the line quality with the communication terminal operating as a relay station, and generating a plurality of transmission data;
Data transmission means for allocating and transmitting each of the transmission data to different communication terminals operating as the relay stations based on the channel quality ;
A communication terminal comprising: A reception completion transmitting means for transmitting a reception completion notification indicating completion of reception to the preceding communication terminal when the transmission data is received from the preceding communication terminal that has transmitted the transmission data;
A call disconnecting means for disconnecting a call with the next-stage communication terminal when the reception completion notification is received from the next-stage communication terminal that has received the transmission data;
The communication terminal according to claim 8, further comprising: The dividing means is for other communication terminals having good channel quality among other communication terminals to be transmitted.
The communication terminal according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the transmission data is divided so that more data is transmitted. The data transmission means is configured such that when the line with the communication terminal at the next stage is disconnected before transmission of the transmission data to the communication terminal at the next stage is completed, the data transmission means is connected to the communication terminal at the previous stage. communication terminal according to one of claim 8 to claim 10, characterized by transmitting the transmission data to. Wherein the transmission data, communication terminal according to one of claim 8 to claim 11, wherein the originating station position information indicating a position of the originating station is added. Requesting means for requesting relay station position information indicating the position of the other communication terminal to another communication terminal;
Receiving the transmission data, and receiving the reception confirmation from the server that has transmitted the reception confirmation to which the transmission station location information is added for notifying the transmission station of reception of the transmission data, and the other communication Receiving means for receiving the relay station position information from a terminal;
Based on the source station location information and the relay station location information added to the reception confirmation,
Determining means for determining a destination communication terminal of the reception confirmation;
A reception confirmation transmitting means for transmitting the reception confirmation to the transfer destination communication terminal determined by the determination means;
The communication terminal according to claim 12, comprising:

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