JP5049069B2 - Wireless communication terminal device and communication network program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal having a wireless communication function such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) mounted with a wireless communication card, a notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “notebook PC”) mounted with a wireless communication card, and the like. When a device performs communication while moving between a plurality of different types of wireless communication systems such as a wide area access service covering a wide area and a high speed access service covering a specific area such as a hot spot, a heterogeneous wireless communication system It is related with the radio | wireless communication terminal device and communication network which enabled the roaming operation | movement between.

JP 10-327463 A JP 2005-39795 A

  Conventionally, with the spread and development of PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) equipped with wireless communication cards and notebook PCs equipped with wireless communication cards, it has become possible to communicate voice and data even while moving. A ubiquitous society is being realized.

  As the wireless communication means mounted on the wireless communication terminal apparatus 1000, as shown in FIG. 30, for example, a wireless communication base station arranged for each cell in order to make it possible to use a wide area access service covering a wide area. Some of them adopt a first standard such as a CDMA system such as 3GPP or 3GPP2 that communicates with 2012 or an OFDM system such as IEEE 802.16 or 802.10. Although this type of wireless communication means is expanded over a wide area, it has a feature that the communication speed is relatively low and the communication cost is relatively high.

  The wireless communication means implemented in the wireless communication terminal device 1000 may be, for example, IEEE 802.11b or 802.11 that performs communication with a wireless LAN router 2022 arranged in a specific area called a hot spot. a, and those adopting the second standard such as 802.11g. This type of wireless communication means has a feature that the communication speed is high and the communication cost is low, but the communicable area is limited to a narrow area.

  Therefore, usually, a wireless communication terminal device provided with a standard wireless communication unit that meets the user's needs is selected, or a standard wireless communication unit that meets the user's needs is mounted on the wireless communication terminal device. As a result, voice and data communication during movement is performed.

  By the way, in order to allow the user to use both the wide-area access service and the high-speed access service of the different types of standards described above, the wireless communication means adopting the first standard and the second standard are adopted. It is necessary to use a wireless communication terminal device equipped with wireless communication means.

  Now, the first standard wireless communication means and the second standard wireless communication means described above are mounted on one wireless communication terminal apparatus, and a user who uses the wireless communication terminal apparatus uses the first standard. Consider a case where the user enters the second standard high-speed service area while moving in the standard wide service area.

  Since the wide service area of the first standard covers a wide area, the high-speed service area of the second standard is included in the wide service area of the first standard. .

  31 to 33 are schematic diagrams showing roaming operations between systems using a wireless communication terminal device such as a conventional notebook PC.

  When the wireless communication terminal apparatus is outside the high-speed wireless standard service area and is located within the wide-area wireless standard service area, as shown in FIG. A link is established with an information processing apparatus (server) 3000 that is a communication partner via a communication network 2000 such as the Internet. The information processing device (server) 3000 and the wireless communication terminal device 1000 are configured to transmit and receive packets via the wide area access network.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 32, when the wireless communication terminal apparatus 1000 moves into a high-speed wireless standard service area, the wireless communication terminal apparatus 1000 uses a high-speed wireless standard service in addition to the wide-area wireless standard service. It will be possible to do.

  However, even in this case, the wireless communication terminal apparatus 1000 and the information processing apparatus (server) 3000 perform packet transmission / reception via the wide area access network as shown in FIG. It is not possible to communicate with the information processing apparatus (server) 3000 via a wireless standard network.

  Therefore, when the wireless communication terminal apparatus moves from the wide area wireless standard service area to the high speed wireless standard service area, the wide area wireless standard wireless communication means that has been communicating until then, the high speed wireless standard wireless communication. It is necessary to switch to means.

  However, the conventional technique has the following problems. That is, the wireless communication means conforming to the wide-area wireless standard and the wireless communication means conforming to the high-speed wireless standard have different physical layers and data link layers in the protocol stack of the wireless communication terminal device. The data link layer depends on the OS, which is basic software. Therefore, when the wireless communication terminal apparatus moves from the wide area wireless standard service area to the high speed wireless standard service area, the OS is controlled to conform to the first wireless communication standard as shown in FIG. The user must perform the operation of switching to the wireless communication means conforming to the second wireless communication standard after the communication by the wireless communication means is temporarily interrupted, and the user's operation is very complicated and convenient. It had a technical problem of lacking.

  Further, when the wireless communication terminal apparatus 1000 moves out of the high-speed wireless standard service area, as shown in FIG. 33, by controlling the OS again, wireless communication conforming to the second wireless communication standard is performed. There has been a technical problem that the user has to perform an operation of switching to a wireless communication means that conforms to the first wireless communication standard after the communication by the means is once interrupted.

  The user convenience can be improved if the above-mentioned wireless communication means can be automatically switched, but the automatic switching of the wireless communication means is required without changing the network equipment of the wide area wireless standard and the high speed wireless standard. There is.

  Further, in order to avoid the above-described complexity, the communication speed is relatively low or the communication cost is low despite the movement from the wide-area wireless standard service area to the high-speed wireless standard service area. High-speed wireless based on the second wireless communication standard that requires the use of a wide-area wireless standard service based on the relatively high first wireless communication standard, has a high communication speed, and low communication costs There is a technical problem that the standard service cannot be used.

  Therefore, as a technique for solving such a technical problem and enabling selection of various workpiece switching modes according to the user's preference, for example, JP-A-10-327463, JP-A-2005-39795, etc. Have already been proposed.

  The portable information terminal device according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-327463 has a plurality of wireless communication means, and is based on a charge and / or a priority determined based on contents transmitted / received using the wireless communication means. Any one of the plurality of wireless communication means can be selectively used, and more specific configuration includes a plurality of wireless communication means and data for executing a plurality of application software for executing different processes. Processing means, detection means for detecting application software executed based on information received from the data processing means and generating priority information of the plurality of wireless communication means, and communication enable / disable information of the plurality of wireless communication means. Generating means, control means for outputting a switching signal in accordance with the output of the detection means and the communication enable / disable information, and the output of the control means Is obtained by configured with a switching means for enabling operation of one of the wireless communication means from said plurality of wireless communication means in accordance with.

  Further, the mobile wireless terminal device according to the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-39795 is a mobile wireless terminal device connectable to a cellular wireless network and a public wireless LAN network, and each area of the cellular wireless network and the public wireless LAN network. An area detecting means for detecting whether or not the data belongs to a predetermined period and generating a detection result, and indicating that the detection result belongs to an area of the cellular wireless network and the public wireless LAN network Sometimes the characteristic comparison means for comparing the characteristics of the cellular wireless network and the public wireless LAN network to generate a comparison result, and either the cellular wireless network or the public wireless LAN network having a predetermined characteristic based on the comparison result Switching hand to switch Notification means for making a determination as to whether or not to switch to either the cellular wireless network or the public wireless LAN network having predetermined characteristics based on the comparison result, and the cellular wireless based on the notification Selecting means for selecting either the network or the public wireless LAN network.

  However, in the case of the portable information terminal device according to the former JP-A-10-327463, it is necessary to autonomously switch a plurality of wireless communication means on the portable information terminal device side, and a switching signal is output. It is necessary to add new hardware to the portable information terminal device, such as control means and switching means that enables one wireless communication means to operate from a plurality of wireless communication means according to the output of the control means. Has a technical problem that it cannot be handled when the type of the wireless network is changed. Further, when the portable information terminal device is realized by a notebook PC or the like equipped with a wireless communication card, a new wireless communication card having a plurality of wireless communication means and capable of autonomous switching of the wireless communication means is newly provided. There is also a technical problem that needs to be developed.

  Also in the case of the mobile wireless terminal device according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-39795, new switching means such as area detection means, characteristic comparison means, and switching means are used to switch between the cellular wireless network and the public wireless LAN network. When the hardware needs to be added to the mobile radio terminal device, the configuration becomes complicated, the cost is increased, and the type of the wireless network changes depending on the type of cellular radio network or public wireless LAN network It has a technical problem that it cannot respond. In addition, when the mobile wireless terminal device is realized by a notebook PC equipped with a wireless communication card, a wireless communication card having a plurality of wireless communication means and capable of autonomous switching of the wireless communication means is newly developed. There is also a technical problem that needs to be done.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for new development of a new wireless communication card and to utilize existing network equipment. It is possible to perform a simple configuration and low cost, and can automatically switch between different types of wireless networks without depending on the types of wireless networks, thereby improving user convenience. It is an object to provide a wireless communication terminal device and a wireless communication network capable of performing the above.

That is, the invention described in claim 1 has a plurality of wireless communication means for communicating with an information processing apparatus via a plurality of different types of wireless communication systems, and switches the plurality of wireless communication means. In a wireless communication terminal device that performs continuous communication via the different types of communication systems,
In order to switch and connect an application and a plurality of networks set corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication means to the wireless communication terminal device, the application layer and the plurality of network layers are switched via the transport layer. A plurality of socket function units corresponding to the plurality of networks to be connected are provided,
A wireless communication terminal apparatus, wherein a plurality of wireless communication means used when the wireless communication terminal apparatus communicates with the information processing apparatus is switched using the plurality of socket function units while enabling simultaneous connection. is there.

In the invention described in claim 2 , the socket function unit selectively connects an application and a plurality of networks set corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication means, and in response to an instruction from the application. 2. The wireless communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a wireless communication means used when the wireless communication terminal apparatus communicates with the other device is determined.

Furthermore, the invention described in claim 3 is the wireless communication terminal device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the socket function unit is provided in a protocol stack of the wireless communication terminal device. .

The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that the plurality of wireless communication means use any of OFDM, OFDMA, FDM, FDMA, CDM, CDMA, TDM, TDMA, SS, and the like. A wireless communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

Furthermore, the invention described in claim 5 comprises a plurality of identifiers corresponding one-to-one with the plurality of wireless communication means in the wireless communication terminal device, and when communicating with the information processing device, After establishing communication using a plurality of identifiers corresponding to a plurality of wireless communication means, and performing data transmission / reception between the information processing device and the wireless communication terminal device using a path established using each identifier The wireless communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data is processed by the same application.

Further, The invention described in claim 6, wherein the socket function unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it consists of the application programs installed in the storage device of the wireless communication terminal A wireless communication terminal device.

Further, in the invention described in claim 7 , the protocol stack of the wireless communication terminal device includes an application layer, a transport layer, a network layer, a data link layer, and a physical layer, and the socket function unit The wireless communication terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of wireless communication terminal devices are provided so as to connect an application layer and a plurality of network layers via a transport layer. .

Further, the invention described in claim 8 is a communication network in which a wireless communication terminal device communicates with an information processing device via a plurality of different types of wireless communication systems in a plurality of different types of wireless communication systems.
The wireless communication terminal apparatus switches between an application layer and a plurality of network layers via a transport layer in order to switch and connect an application and a plurality of networks set corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication means. A plurality of socket function units corresponding to the plurality of networks to be connected ;
Switching between a plurality of wireless communication means used when the wireless communication terminal device communicates with the information processing device using the plurality of socket function units , enabling simultaneous connection,
When there is a new connection request from the same wireless communication terminal device via a different type of wireless communication system during a call with an arbitrary wireless communication terminal device, the information processing apparatus performs the new connection request in parallel. The communication network is provided with a parallel reception function unit that enables reception.

Furthermore, in the invention described in claim 9, when the information processing apparatus receives a new connection request from the same wireless communication terminal apparatus via different types of wireless communication systems, the information processing apparatus issues the new connection request. 9. The communication network according to claim 8 , wherein a unique identifier and an identification number are assigned to the wireless communication terminal device when reception is possible in parallel.

  In the present invention, it is not necessary to newly develop a new wireless communication card, and it is possible to utilize existing network equipment, which has a simple configuration and low cost, and depends on the type of wireless network. Therefore, it is possible to provide a wireless communication terminal device and a communication network that can automatically switch between different types of wireless networks and improve user convenience.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a communication network to which the wireless communication terminal device and the information processing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention are applied.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a wireless communication terminal device composed of a notebook PC. The wireless communication terminal device 100 is connected via a communication network 200 including at least a part of a plurality of different types of wireless communication systems 201 and 202. Thus, data communication is performed with the information processing apparatus 300 such as a server. Among the plurality of wireless communication systems 201 and 202, the first wireless communication system 201 is a wide area network using a first standard such as a CDMA system such as 3GPP or 3GPP2 or an OFDM system such as IEEE 802.16 or 802.10. (WAN: Wide Area Network) is configured, and in the first wireless communication system 201, the wireless communication terminal device 100 communicates with the antenna 213 of the wireless communication base station 212 arranged for each cell 211. Configured to do. The first wireless communication system 201 is, for example, spread over a wide area so as to substantially cover the whole of Japan, and can communicate almost anywhere the wireless communication terminal device 100 is located throughout the country. It has become. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, only one wireless communication terminal device 100 and one information processing device 300 are shown, but there are a plurality of these wireless communication terminal devices 100 and information processing devices 300. Of course, it is also good.

  The communication network 200 also includes the Internet 203 configured via a telephone line or the like.

  In addition, the wireless communication terminal device 100 is not limited to a notebook PC mounted with a wireless communication card, but may be a PDA or the like mounted with a wireless communication card.

  On the other hand, the other second wireless communication system 202 is, for example, a local area network (LAN) in a limited area such as a hot spot using a second wireless communication standard such as IEEE 802.11b, 802.11a, or 802.11g. In the second wireless communication system 202, the wireless communication terminal device 100 communicates with a wireless LAN router 222 arranged in a specific area 221 such as a hot spot. Is configured to do. In addition, the second wireless communication system 202 is deployed in a spot shape at a predetermined location in the area, for example, and can communicate only when the wireless communication terminal device 100 is located in a specific region 221. Yes.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a hardware configuration of the wireless communication terminal apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the wireless communication terminal device 100 includes a CPU 101 that realizes various functions of the wireless communication terminal device 100, and a ROM, RAM, or hard disk that stores programs, parameters, and the like executed by the CPU 101. And the like, the user interface 103 including a keyboard, numeric keys, character keys, a liquid crystal display panel, and the like for the user to operate the wireless communication terminal device 100, and the first wireless communication system 211. A first network interface 104 serving as a first wireless communication unit and a second network interface 105 serving as a second wireless communication unit that communicates via a second wireless communication system 221. .

  As the first network interface 104, for example, a wireless communication card employing a standard such as a CDMA system such as 3GPP or 3GPP2 or an OFDM system such as IEEE 802.16 or 802.120 is used. As the second network interface 105, for example, a wireless communication card adopting a second standard such as IEEE 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g or the like is used.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus including a server.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the information processing apparatus 300 includes a CPU 301 that realizes various functions of the information processing apparatus 300, a ROM or RAM that stores programs, parameters, and the like executed by the CPU 301, or a hard disk. Wired communication means for communicating via the storage system 302, a user interface 303 including a keyboard and a mouse for the user to operate the information processing apparatus 300, and a wired communication system including a telephone line, ADSL, optical fiber, etc. As external interfaces 304 to 306. Note that not only wired communication means but also wireless communication means may be employed.

By the way, in this embodiment, it has a plurality of wireless communication means for communicating with an information processing apparatus via a plurality of different types of wireless communication systems, and the plurality of wireless communication means are switched to differ in the type. In a wireless communication terminal device that performs continuous communication via a communication system,
The wireless communication terminal device is provided with a socket function unit for switching and connecting an application and a plurality of networks set corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication means,
The wireless communication terminal device is configured to switch a plurality of wireless communication means used when communicating with the information processing device using the socket function unit.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication terminal apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes a protocol stack 110 in order from an upper layer, an application layer 111, a transport layer 112, a network layer 113, and data A data link layer 114 composed of a device driver or the like that guarantees correct transfer between hosts that transmit and receive data, and a network interface 104 that physically realizes a path that connects the wireless communication terminal device 100 and the information processing device 300, etc. And a physical (PHY) layer 115 made of 105 or the like. In this embodiment, two network interfaces 104 and 105 as the physical (PHY) layer 115 are provided, and the data link layer 114 ₁ , corresponding to these two network interfaces 104 and 105 are provided. 114 ₂ and _two network layers 113 ₁ and 113 ₂ are also provided.

In this embodiment, as a socket function unit for switching and connecting the application layer 111 and the plurality of IP layers 113 ₁ and 113 ₂ via a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) layer 112 as a transport layer, the first A plurality (two in the illustrated example) of socket function units 120 including a socket function unit 121 and a second socket function unit 122 are provided. The socket function unit 120 is configured by an application program installed in the storage device 102 of the wireless communication terminal device 100.

  In the wireless communication terminal device 100, as shown in FIG. 1, when communication is performed with the information processing device 300 as another device, transmission data is generated by the application layer 111 and then generated by the application layer 111. The transmitted data is sent to the TCP layer 112 serving as a transport layer for each packet. In the TCP layer 112, a link is established to the information processing apparatus 300 which is a communication partner, and byte links are communicated between networks via this link, that is, data is communicated in units of 1 byte. In the TCP layer 112, as shown in FIG. 5, a TCP header is added to transmission data divided for each packet.

  The TCP layer 112 has a function of maintaining communication reliability by performing accurate data transfer, that is, checking for data errors, omissions, duplications, order errors, etc., and re-requesting data immediately if there is an error. Plays. In addition, by flow control, in order to prevent occurrence of packet transmission time differences due to a plurality of routes, a route to the information processing apparatus 300 as a transmission destination is first created, and packets can be transmitted in order.

  In the TCP layer 112, a port number is used to determine to which application data is to be passed. The port number ranges from 1 to 65535 and identifies the application at both ends of the communication. Of these, 1 to 1023 are reserved for server applications, and client applications are dynamically assigned numbers greater than 1023.

  The port numbers of protocols that are normally used are defined in RFC 1700. For example, HTTP is number 80, FTP is number 21, and telnet server is number 23. In this way, even when a plurality of applications are used at the same time between the same wireless communication terminal devices 100, each other's data is transmitted to the partner application without confusion.

  The IP (Internet Protocol) layer 113 as a network layer is a protocol for exchanging data via the Internet 203. In the IP layer 113, data to be transmitted is divided into data units called packets. When a packet is sent from the wireless communication terminal device 100 at the start point to the information processing device 300 at the end point while being relayed by the relay device of the Internet 203, a route that seems to be appropriate for the destination of the next IP packet at each relay device. The data is sequentially transferred to the target information processing apparatus 300 while automatically searching.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, an IP header in which external information such as a transmission destination of the packet is written is added to the head of each packet. The IP address corresponding to the address of the packet transmission destination is assigned to all devices such as the wireless communication terminal device 100 and the information processing device 300 that perform communication via the Internet 203. The IP address is based on a network address for identifying a specific network from an external network and a host address for identifying addresses of the wireless communication terminal device 100 and the information processing device 300 connected to the inside of the specific network. It is configured.

  Incidentally, IP addresses having the same network address can directly communicate with each other, and such hosts are “on the same network”. On the other hand, if the destination host is not on the same network, the host sends a packet to a host called a gateway that connects the network and the outside Internet 203, and the gateway goes to the gateway that seems to be closest to the destination. And forward the packet. The gateway that received the packet accepts the destination if it is in its network, and if not, forwards the packet to the closest gateway again, so that the packet is finalized. To the target information processing apparatus 300.

  Further, the data link layer 114 guarantees correct transfer between two hosts that transmit and receive data, and transmission data is sent to the physical layer 115 via the data link layer 114. In the data link layer 114, an Ethernet (registered trademark) header is added to the head of each packet to be transmitted, and the source and destination IDs are embedded in the Ethernet (registered trademark) header. The wireless communication terminal device 100, the information processing device 300, or the relay device captures this packet only when the destination ID at the head of the received packet matches its own ID. The ID is called a MAC (Media Access Control) address.

  In addition, the physical layer 115 realizes a path that physically connects two points such as the wireless communication terminal device 100 and the information processing device 300. In this embodiment, the wireless communication terminal device 100 includes: A first network interface 104 and a second network interface 105 are provided.

  The first network interface 104 and the second network interface 105, for example, the wireless LAN card as the second network interface 105, is assigned a unique MAC address at the time of factory shipment. It consists of an ID represented by 6 hexadecimal bytes such as “aa: bb: cc: dd: ee: ff”.

  As described above, each packet on the network has a portion called an IP header after the Ethernet (registered trademark) header at the head of each packet, and the IP addresses of the transmission source and the reception destination are included in this IP header. Embedded.

  FIG. 6 shows a Linux program for setting a default route installed in the storage device 103 of the wireless communication terminal device 100. The following are all programs for Linux.

  The first line of this program is a script header, and the second to eighth lines are a network adapter name, an IP address, and a router address. The 10th to 13th lines show routing table settings, and the 15th to 16th lines show settings of routing rules. Here, for example, a rule for switching between the first socket function unit 121 and the second socket function unit 122 is set by the routing rule in the 15th to 16th lines. As a rule for switching between the first socket function unit 121 and the second socket function unit 122, when priority is given to speed, the second wireless communication means 105 having a high communication speed can communicate stably. At this time, a rule of automatically switching to the second wireless communication means 105 is adopted. However, the rules for switching between the first socket function unit 121 and the second socket function unit 122 are not limited to this, and importance is attached to communication stability, communication costs are considered, or these rules are switched. Considering a plurality of factors, the first socket function unit 121 and the second socket function unit 122 may be switched.

  With this setting, when a transmission source address is designated and transmitted, application data is transmitted from the network interface having the address.

  FIG. 7 shows a header. Lines 1-6 show the definition of constants and lines 7-8 show the definition of global variables.

  FIG. 8 shows the binding_addr function. Lines 1-8 are used for converting the connection destination address into a variable format that can be used in the socket by the gethostbyname () function.

  FIG. 9 shows a swapsocket function, which is a function for switching sockets using a timer. Lines 5-6 return the original socket number as a return value if the set timer has not elapsed, and lines 9-16 set a timer value corresponding to the switching destination socket number. Return the switch destination socket as a return value.

  FIG. 10 shows the first main function. Lines 25-43 create a first socket and a second socket corresponding to the respective network interfaces 104 and 105, and establish a connection.

  FIG. 11 shows a second main function. This second main function makes it possible to use a plurality of connections from a single process using the select function. Lines 1 to 22 use the select function to acquire data, lines 23 to 24 select a standby socket from the first socket and the second socket, and lines 43 to 62 indicate data to be transmitted. If there is no more, the connection is closed and the termination process is executed. Otherwise, the transmission data is created, written in the selected socket, and the termination process is executed at lines 64-70. .

  12 to 15 show programs installed in the storage device 303 of the information processing apparatus 300. The information processing apparatus 300 can also perform a plurality of processes for receiving a plurality of connection requests from the wireless communication terminal apparatus 100. Multithreading is used.

  FIG. 12 shows the tcp_listen function. Lines 1-5 define constants. Lines 10-52 create a socket for listening for a connection at a specific port, and return it as a return value.

  FIG. 13 shows a main function. In this main function, lines 11 to 18 create a standby socket, lines 21 to 31 wait for a multiple connection request from the wireless communication terminal device 100, and a request is received. If there is, create a new socket on a new port and create another thread.

  FIG. 14 shows the doit function. In the doit function, the sixth line separates the own thread from the main thread, and the seventh line requests the data reception function to perform processing.

  FIG. 15 shows the str_echo function. Lines 9-21 receive data and display it on the console.

  In the above configuration, in the wireless communication network to which the roaming apparatus between the different types of wireless communication systems according to this embodiment is applied, new development of a new wireless communication card is not necessary and the existing network is as follows. It is possible to utilize the equipment, it is a simple configuration and low cost, and it is possible to automatically switch between different types of wireless networks without depending on the types of wireless networks, thereby improving user convenience. It is possible to improve.

  First, in performing data communication, the wireless communication terminal device 100 includes a first socket function unit 121 and a second socket corresponding to the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit, as shown in FIG. A function unit 122 is created and a connection is established.

  At that time, the wireless communication terminal device 100 creates the first and second socket function units 121 and 122 by the socket function, and the first socket function unit 121 and the second socket function unit 122 by the bind function. Assign an IP address and port number. Then, the wireless communication terminal device 100 uses the first and second socket function units 121 and 122 created by the connect function to connect to the specific port number of the IP address of the information terminal device 300 and connect If not, wait until connected or discard the socket and exit.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the wireless communication terminal apparatus 100 acquires data to be transmitted from the application layer 111 using the select function, selects a standby socket function unit, and has no data to transmit. Then close the connection and execute the termination process. Otherwise, transmission data is created, the data is written to the first socket function unit 121 or the second socket function unit 122 selected by the write function, the data is transmitted, and the termination process is executed. Even if the endless communication terminal 100 is not actively closed, the server is disconnected from the server side after an effective time determined by the server.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, the information processing apparatus 300 creates a socket for waiting for a connection at a specific port using the socket function, and returns it as a return value.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the information processing apparatus 300 waits for a connection request from the wireless communication terminal apparatus using the listen function, and when there is a connection request, creates a new socket at a new port. Create a thread.

  Next, the information processing apparatus 300 separates its own thread from the main thread using the doit function and requests the data reception function to perform processing. As a result, even when a plurality of connection requests are received from the same endless communication terminal device 100, the information processing device 300 creates a new socket at a new port and creates another thread, thereby creating its own thread. Can be separated from the main thread, and a new connection request from the same endless communication terminal apparatus 100 can be received. Thereafter, the information processing apparatus 300 requests the data reception function to perform the previous process.

  Note that the information processing apparatus 300 may be configured to allow simultaneous processing using a fork () function without using multithreading.

  As described above, a network is formed between the wireless communication terminal apparatus 100 and the information processing apparatus 300 as shown in FIG. 16, and data communication is performed between the two.

  As described above, the endless communication terminal device 100 does not require new development of a new wireless communication card, can utilize existing network equipment, has a simple configuration, and is low in cost. It is possible to automatically switch between different types of wireless networks without depending on the type of wireless network, and to improve the convenience for the user.

  Consider a case where a mobile terminal passes through a high-speed wireless standard service area while moving in a wide-area wireless standard service area.

  FIG. 17 shows a case where the endless communication terminal apparatus 100 exists outside the service area 221 of the high-speed wireless standard. In this case, the endless communication terminal apparatus 100 has a communication speed that is slower than that of the high-speed wireless standard service area, but is moving within a wide-area wireless standard service area that allows communication over a wide area. A link is established with the information processing apparatus 300 via the network 201. At this time, the information processing apparatus 300 assigns a unique identifier and identification number to the endless communication terminal apparatus 100, and recognizes the endless communication terminal apparatus 100 using the unique identifier and identification number. The information processing apparatus 300 and the endless communication terminal apparatus 100 transmit and receive packets via the wide area wireless standard network 201.

  FIG. 18 shows a state immediately after the endless communication terminal apparatus 100 moves into the service area 221 of the high-speed wireless standard. The endless communication terminal device 100 communicates with the information processing device 300 using the second socket function unit 105, performs authentication for using the high-speed wireless standard, establishes a link, and establishes the network 202 of the high-speed wireless standard. By transmitting the identifier given from the information processing device 300 via, the information processing device 300 is made to recognize that it is the same terminal. The information processing device 300 confirms whether an identifier exists and whether an identification number exists, and then gives a new identifier and identification number to the endless communication terminal device 100 if necessary.

  FIG. 19 illustrates a state in which the information processing apparatus 300 recognizes that both the wide-area wireless standard terminal and the high-speed wireless standard terminal are the same mobile terminal, and transmits and receives packets via the high-speed wireless standard network 202. ing. In this case, since it is also within the service area of the wide area wireless standard, packets can be transmitted and received even using wide area access.

  FIG. 20 illustrates the state immediately after the endless communication terminal apparatus 100 moves outside the high-speed wireless standard service area 221. When the endless communication terminal device 100 recognizes the disconnection of the high-speed wireless standard link, the endless communication terminal device 100 requests the information processing device 300 to delete the high-speed wireless standard identification number via the wide area wireless standard network 201. The information processing device 300 erases the identification number when a request is received from the endless communication terminal device 100 or when the communication cannot be performed using the high-speed wireless standard network 202 and the timeout time elapses. To do.

  FIG. 21 shows a state where the endless communication terminal apparatus 100 has completely moved out of the service area 221 of the high-speed wireless standard. Similarly to FIG. 17, the mobile terminal transmits and receives packets using the network 201 of the wide area wireless standard.

  With the above operation, it is possible to realize a network that provides roaming that continuously and automatically switches a plurality of different types of wireless standards while the endless communication terminal apparatus 100 moves. Furthermore, when the endless communication terminal apparatus 100 performs the operations described in [0076]-[0083], switching between the wide area wireless standard and the high speed wireless standard is performed using the identifier, and data is continuously transmitted / received by the same application. Can be realized.

Experimental Example Next, in order to confirm the effect of the present invention, the present inventors performed measurement evaluation using a communication system as shown in FIG. FLASH-OFDM was used as the wide area wireless standard, and IEEE802.11g was used as the high speed wireless standard.

  FIG. 22 shows a measurement system used in the experiment. The measurement was performed by setting a wireless LAN access point in the FLASH-OFDM base station subnet. The instrument used for the measurement is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 26, the experiment was conducted in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture with the cooperation of Tohoku University and the Miyagi Prefectural Office. At present, in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, an experiment for practical use of FLASH-OFDM, which is a wide-area wireless standard, is being conducted, and FLASH-OFDM base stations are experimentally installed at a plurality of locations in the city. The wireless communication using FLASH-OFDM, which is almost a wide area wireless standard, is possible within the range shown in FIG. In Sendai city, as shown by small circles in FIG. 26, service areas 221 of high-speed wireless standards are arranged in spots, and the high-speed wireless standards can be used in the service area 221. Yes.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 22, the notebook PC as the wireless communication terminal device 100 is mounted on the car, and as shown in FIG. An experiment was performed in which a roaming operation for switching from FLASH-OFDM to wireless LAN or from wireless LAN to FLASH-OFDM was repeated.

  First, we evaluated the line disconnection time associated with switching. 24 and 25 show the measurement results of the switching time of FLASH-OFDM → wireless LAN and wireless LAN → FLASH-OFDM, respectively.

  While the switching time from the wireless LAN to FLASH-OFDM is about 50 msec, the switching time from the FLASH-OFDM to the wireless LAN is about 160 msec, which takes 100 msec or more. Since the network to which the wireless LAN and FLASH-OFDM are connected is the same, this time difference is considered to be a difference between wireless sections, but the exact reason is not clear. However, in roaming between different systems, it is assumed that roaming is at most once every few seconds, so that even a cutting time of 160 msec is sufficiently practical.

  FIG. 26 shows the change of the service area and the switching of the connection destination access system when the mobile terminal moves. As shown in FIG. 26, the terminal moves within the service area of the wide area system. It also passes through the high-speed system service area while moving. In this measurement, we adopted the rule of switching to a faster system for switching the access system. A time chart is shown in FIG. At that time, the throughput is expected to improve as the proportion of time depending on the high-speed system service area increases. This is confirmed by actual measurement.

  FIG. 28 shows the measurement results. The horizontal axis represents the wireless LAN connection time ratio, and the vertical axis represents the throughput. A solid line indicates a calculated value obtained by connecting a maximum throughput of 0.69 Mbit / s in the actual measurement of FLASH-OFDM uplink and a maximum throughput of 16.9 Mbit / s in the actual measurement of IEEE 802.11g. The black rhombus is the measured value.

  The maximum deterioration from the actually calculated value is 2.0 Mbit / s at a duty ratio of 0.7. However, the throughput improves as the duty ratio of the wireless LAN increases. This confirmed that roaming between different systems was actually working.

Embodiment 2
FIG. 29 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the socket function unit is An application layer and a plurality of network layers set corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication means are selectively connected, and the wireless communication terminal device communicates with the other device according to an instruction from the application layer It is configured to determine the wireless communication means to be used.

  That is, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 29, only one socket function unit 120 is provided, and the socket function unit 120 is set corresponding to the application layer 111 and a plurality of wireless communication means. The wireless communication terminal apparatus 100 communicates with the information processing apparatus 300 and the like by selectively connecting the plurality of network layers 113 and 113 and switching the plurality of network layers 113 and 113 according to an instruction from the application layer 111. It is configured to determine a wireless communication means to be used when performing.

  The socket function unit 120 is also installed in the storage device 102 of the wireless communication terminal device 100 as an application program.

  Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a hierarchical diagram showing a protocol stack of a radio communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a communication network to which the radio communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing hardware of the radio communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing hardware of the information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the protocol stack and signal flow of the radio communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a program installed in the wireless communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a program installed in the wireless communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a program installed in the wireless communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a program installed in the wireless communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a program installed in the wireless communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a program installed in the wireless communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a program installed in the information processing apparatus. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a program installed in the information processing apparatus. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a program installed in the information processing apparatus. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a program installed in the information processing apparatus. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the protocol stack and signal flow of the wireless communication terminal device and information processing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a communication state of a communication network to which the wireless communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a communication state of a communication network to which the wireless communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a communication state of a communication network to which the wireless communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a communication state of a communication network to which the wireless communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a communication state of a communication network to which the wireless communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a communication network to which a wireless communication terminal apparatus according to an experimental example of the present invention is applied. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing specifications relating to the inter-system roaming measurement device. FIG. 24 is a chart showing measurement results of switching time from FLASH-OFDM to wireless LAN. FIG. 25 is a chart showing measurement results of switching time from wireless LAN to FLASH-OFDM. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating switching of service areas by movement. FIG. 27 is a timing chart showing the switching operation between FLASH-OFDM and the wireless LAN. FIG. 28 is a graph showing the relationship between the ratio of wireless LAN and throughput. FIG. 29 is a hierarchy diagram showing a protocol stack of the radio communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram showing a communication network to which a conventional wireless communication terminal device is applied. FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing a communication state of a communication network to which a conventional wireless communication terminal device is applied. FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram showing a communication state of a communication network to which a conventional wireless communication terminal device is applied. FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram showing a communication state of a communication network to which a conventional wireless communication terminal device is applied.

Explanation of symbols

  100: wireless communication terminal device, 110: protocol stack, 111: application layer, 112: TCP layer, 113: IP layer, 114: data link layer, 115: physical layer, 120: socket function unit, 121: first socket Functional unit, 122: second socket functional unit, 200: communication network, 300: information processing apparatus.

Claims (9)

A plurality of wireless communication means for communicating with the information processing apparatus via a plurality of different types of wireless communication systems; and continuously switching the plurality of wireless communication means via the different types of communication systems In a wireless communication terminal device that performs communication,
In order to switch and connect an application and a plurality of networks set corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication means to the wireless communication terminal device, the application layer and the plurality of network layers are switched via the transport layer. A plurality of socket function units corresponding to the plurality of networks to be connected are provided,
A wireless communication terminal apparatus that switches a plurality of wireless communication means used when the wireless communication terminal apparatus communicates with the information processing apparatus using the plurality of socket function units while enabling simultaneous connection . The socket function unit selectively connects an application and a plurality of networks set corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication means, and the wireless communication terminal device is connected to the other device according to an instruction from the application. The wireless communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a wireless communication unit to be used when performing communication is determined. The wireless communication terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein the socket function unit is provided in a protocol stack of the wireless communication terminal device. Wherein the plurality of radio communication means, OFDM, OFDMA, FDM, FDMA , CDM, CDMA, TDM, TDMA, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that with either SS like Wireless communication terminal device. The wireless communication terminal device includes a plurality of identifiers corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication units on a one-to-one basis, and when communicating with the information processing device, the plurality of identifiers corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication units Using the same application to process the data after transmitting and receiving data on the route established using each identifier between the information processing device and the wireless communication terminal device. The wireless communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wireless communication terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein the socket function unit includes an application program installed in a storage device of the wireless communication terminal device. The protocol stack of the wireless communication terminal device includes an application layer, a transport layer, a network layer, a data link layer, and a physical layer, and the socket function unit includes an application layer via the transport layer, The wireless communication terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of wireless communication terminal devices are provided so as to connect to a plurality of network layers. In a plurality of different types of wireless communication systems, in a communication network in which a wireless communication terminal device communicates with an information processing device via a plurality of different types of wireless communication systems,
The wireless communication terminal apparatus switches between an application layer and a plurality of network layers via a transport layer in order to switch and connect an application and a plurality of networks set corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication means. A plurality of socket function units corresponding to the plurality of networks to be connected ;
Switching between a plurality of wireless communication means used when the wireless communication terminal device communicates with the information processing device using the plurality of socket function units , enabling simultaneous connection,
When there is a new connection request from the same wireless communication terminal device via a different type of wireless communication system during a call with an arbitrary wireless communication terminal device, the information processing apparatus performs the new connection request in parallel. A communication network comprising a parallel reception function unit that enables reception. When there is a new connection request from the same wireless communication terminal device via different types of wireless communication systems, the information processing apparatus can receive the new connection request in parallel. The communication network according to claim 8 , wherein a unique identifier and an identification number are assigned to the communication terminal device.

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