JP5276506B2 - Wireless communication apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus that is in a communicable state by approaching a short distance and a control method thereof.

  Conventionally, there are RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) and NFC (Near Field Communication) technologies for performing close proximity wireless transfer between devices (Non-Patent Document 1, Non-Patent Document 2). There is also a proximity wireless transfer technology called “TransferJet”. Although this transfer technology has a short communication distance of 3 cm at the maximum, the data transfer technology is as fast as about 500 Mbps, and it connects when it is close and disconnects when it is far away.

  In the wireless system, a method of controlling transmission according to a radio wave state or a communication state has been proposed. For example, in a wireless e-mail system, it has been proposed to monitor a radio wave state and to stop or postpone data transmission if the state is bad (Patent Document 1). Further, it has been proposed that a satellite communication terminal monitors a reception state from a satellite and restricts transmission when it is determined that the stability is poor from the state (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-163920 JP 2004-289432 A

JIS standard "X6319-4 2005 edition" ISO standard "ISO 18092: 2004"

  In a device provided with the proximity wireless transfer technology interface, the devices are connected by bringing the devices close to each other, and therefore, it is conceivable that data communication is performed with a communication partner device that is not intended by the user. In order to prevent communication with a communication partner device that is not intended by the user, the communication partner device is registered in advance, and data communication is performed only with the registered communication partner device. Conceivable. However, in that case, the user must perform a registration operation on the communication device, and the operation becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce operational complexity and prevent data communication with an unintended partner.

In order to achieve the above object, a wireless communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following arrangement. That is,
A wireless communication device having a proximity wireless communication interface,
A connection means for connecting to a counterpart wireless communication device via a proximity wireless communication interface;
Prior to the start of data transmission using the connection, confirmation means for confirming whether the connection with the counterpart wireless communication device is maintained even after a predetermined time,
Transmission control means for starting the data transmission when the confirmation means confirms that the connection with the counterpart wireless communication apparatus is maintained even after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the complexity of a user's operation can be reduced and communication with the other party apparatus which the user does not intend can be prevented.

(A) is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless communication device according to the first embodiment, (b) is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless communication device of the second and third embodiments. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a communication operation of the wireless communication device according to the embodiment. The flowchart explaining the communication operation by 1st Embodiment. The flowchart explaining the communication operation by 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart explaining the communication operation by 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<First Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, regarding data transmission control when a wireless communication device having a proximity wireless communication interface using an electrostatic coupling method performs communication connection with a counterpart wireless communication device, FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG. In particular, a transmission control method by monitoring the connection state will be described. FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the wireless communication apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment. It is assumed that the counterpart communication device has the same configuration, and here, it is assumed that it is a wireless communication device mounted on a digital camera. A data file (for example, an image file) is already stored in the data storage unit 105 of the wireless communication apparatus 101 on the user side. Examples of the data storage unit 105 include a memory provided in a digital camera and a memory card attached to the digital camera. Further, the wireless data transmitting / receiving unit 106 and the antenna unit 102 constitute a close proximity wireless communication interface.

  When the physical distance between the wireless communication device 101 and the partner wireless communication device is short, the connection request transmitted by the control unit 103 via the wireless data transmission / reception unit 106 and the antenna unit 102 reaches the partner wireless communication device (S301). The counterpart wireless communication device that has received this connection request transmits a connection response to the wireless communication device as a response (S302). The control unit 103 transmits an ACK signal via the wireless data transmission / reception unit 106 and the antenna unit 102 to confirm reception (S303). By following such a procedure, connection start processing for starting communication connection with the counterpart wireless communication device is performed (S401). Here, a case where an ACK signal is not transmitted in the connection start process, a case where a connection request is transmitted from the counterpart wireless communication apparatus, and the like are also conceivable. The wireless communication apparatus 101 that has entered the connection state after completing the connection start process enters the transmission control process.

  In the transmission control of the first embodiment, prior to the start of data transmission using the communication connection, the control unit 103 communicates with the counterpart wireless communication apparatus after a delay time due to execution of a predetermined process from the start of the communication connection. Detect whether the connection is maintained. In the present embodiment, the connection monitoring unit 108 waits for the measurement of a predetermined time by the time measuring unit 104 and confirms the maintenance of the connection after the elapse of a predetermined elapsed time from the start of connection. That is, first, the time measuring unit 104 starts the connection maintenance timer (S402). The timer value of the connection maintenance timer is set in advance, and is 3 seconds here. The timer value may be set by the user. The connection maintenance timer is a timer for not performing data communication for a fixed time, and is controlled so as not to perform data communication while the timer is activated.

  When the control unit 103 receives a connection maintenance timer timeout notification from the time measuring unit 104 (S403), the connection monitoring unit 108 checks whether the connection is maintained (S404). In confirming the maintenance of the communication connection, the connection monitoring unit 108 transmits a probe request as a signal for confirming whether the connection is valid to the partner communication device (S304). Here, the probe signal is used to confirm the connection maintenance, but it can be replaced if it has a function for confirming the connection between the wireless communication apparatus 101 and the partner wireless communication apparatus.

  The counterpart wireless communication apparatus that has received the probe request transmits an ACK signal as a response (S305). The control unit 103 receives this ACK signal, thereby confirming the maintenance of the connection with the counterpart wireless communication device. When the control unit (103) confirms that the communication connection is maintained, the wireless data transmission / reception unit 106 transmits the data file to the partner wireless communication device, assuming that the partner wireless communication device is the partner intended by the own device ( S306, S307, S405). Note that the transmitted data file is, for example, an image file stored in the data storage unit 105. Here, an example is shown in which data transmission is performed from the wireless communication device 101 that has confirmed the maintenance of the connection. However, the wireless communication device 101 that has confirmed the maintenance of the communication connection requests the partner wireless communication device to transmit data, and the partner wireless communication Data may be transmitted from the apparatus to the wireless communication apparatus 101. Further, after confirming the maintenance of the communication connection, data may be sent but not received until a predetermined time elapses. On the other hand, when the wireless communication apparatus 101 cannot receive the ACK signal in response to the probe request, the communication is disconnected (S406). At this time, a message for releasing the connection may be displayed on the display unit 107. Note that the display of the message by the display unit 107 may be a display using a liquid crystal panel or the like, or a display using a state of LED dots or the like. As described above, even if the wireless communication apparatus 101 is connected to another apparatus, data is transmitted or received after a predetermined time has elapsed, so that data is transmitted or received to the apparatus that has been slowly connected. Can be prevented.

  Also, device information is acquired from the counterpart wireless communication device in connection start processing such as a connection processing sequence, and transmission of data is started immediately without detecting maintenance of the communication connection described above based on the device information. It may be configured. For example, when it is possible to know the device information of the partner wireless communication device in the connection processing sequence and the partner wireless communication device is a device driven by a commercial power supply (AC power supply) or non-mobile, the transmission control described above It can also be configured not to perform the above. In this case, since there is a high possibility that the user has intentionally brought the devices close to each other, data transmission is performed immediately after establishing the communication connection. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG.

  First, the control unit 103 acquires device information of the counterpart wireless communication device in the connection processing sequence. That is, when the control unit 103 transmits a connection request to the counterpart wireless communication device (S301), the counterpart wireless communication device that has received the connection request simultaneously transmits a connection response and device information of the own device as a response. It transmits to the communication apparatus 101 (S302). That is, the control unit 103 acquires device information from the counterpart wireless communication device at the start of communication connection. Here, it is assumed that the transmitted device information is information indicating that the fixed device is supplied with power by an AC power source. The control unit 103 that has received the device information performs control so as not to perform the transmission control described above. That is, data transmission is performed immediately after establishing a communication connection by the connection processing sequence. As described above, when the device information of the own device is transmitted to the wireless communication device 101 together with the connection response, the device information of the counterpart wireless communication device can be known.

  In the connection processing sequence, the configuration in which the device information is included in the connection response to the connection request has been described. However, the device information request sequence can also be used. Transmission control in this case will be described. First, the control unit 103 of the wireless communication apparatus 101 transmits a connection request to the counterpart wireless communication apparatus (S301). The counterpart wireless communication apparatus that has received the connection request transmits a connection response to the wireless communication apparatus 101 as a response (S302). Subsequently, the control unit 103 of the wireless communication apparatus 101 transmits a device information request to the counterpart wireless communication apparatus (not shown). The counterpart wireless communication device that has received the device information request transmits a device information response to the wireless communication device 101 as a response (not shown). It is also possible to acquire device information in such a procedure, and the transmission control after acquiring the device information is as described above.

  The transmission control method by monitoring the connection state has been described above. However, when the wireless communication apparatus 101 has registered in advance the partner wireless communication apparatus, the above-described configuration for confirming the maintenance of the communication connection is not performed. It may be. Thereby, regarding the communication with the intended apparatus, it can communicate immediately.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, data transmission is performed after confirming the maintenance of the communication connection after a predetermined time has elapsed since the communication connection was established. For this reason, it is possible to prevent data transmission unintended by the user, such as data transmission being performed between the communication devices.

Second Embodiment
In the second embodiment, in the wireless communication device using the electrostatic coupling method, the transmission control when the wireless communication device connects to the counterpart communication device is illustrated in FIG. 1B, FIG. 2 and FIG. It explains using. In the second embodiment, a transmission control method by monitoring the communication connection state and the radio wave state in this order will be described. FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the wireless communication apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment. It is assumed that the counterpart communication device has the same configuration, and here, it is assumed that it is a wireless communication device mounted on a digital camera. The difference from the first embodiment (FIG. 1A) is that a stability determination unit 201 is provided.

  First, connection processing is performed as in the first embodiment (S301-S303, S601). The wireless communication apparatus 101 that has entered the connection state after terminating the connection process starts the transmission control process. In the transmission control, the control unit 103 first activates a connection maintenance timer of the time measuring unit 104 (S602). When the control unit 103 detects a timeout of the connection maintenance timer (S603), the connection monitoring unit 108 is used to check whether the communication connection is maintained (S604). Confirmation of connection maintenance (S304 to S305) by the connection monitoring unit 108 is as described in the first embodiment. If connection confirmation cannot be confirmed, the connection is released (S610), and data transmission is not executed.

  On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the connection is maintained, the control unit 103 causes the stability determination unit 201 to determine whether the radio wave state is stable. First, the control unit 103 activates a signal quality acquisition timer of the time measuring unit 104 (S605). The timer value is input in advance, and here it is assumed to be 3 seconds. The signal quality acquisition timer is controlled to be a period for acquiring signal quality. Further, the number of times may be controlled by a counter (for example, reception of a signal for obtaining signal quality is performed a predetermined number of times) instead of time control by a timer.

  While the signal quality acquisition timer is operating, the stability determination unit 201 acquires the signal quality a plurality of times (S606). Here, the SNR value (signal-to-noise ratio) is acquired as a value indicating the signal quality, but if there is no signal being received, a wireless signal that does not affect the connection is transmitted as a confirmation signal to the counterpart wireless communication device. The reception quality of the response signal may be measured.

The stability determination unit 201 determines whether or not the radio wave state is stable based on the obtained variation in the plurality of communication qualities (SNR values in this example). In other words, when the stability determination unit 201 detects a timeout of the signal quality acquisition timer (S607), the stability determination unit 201 determines the communication stability from the plurality of acquired SNR values by, for example, the following equation (1). That is, the standard deviation which is the square root of the numerical value obtained from the equation (1) is calculated. If the standard deviation is less than 1, it is determined that the communication is stable.
(Total of ((the received electric field value−the average of the received electric field value) squared)) / number (1)

  Note that a value other than the SNR may be used as a value indicating the signal quality, or an index other than the standard deviation may be used. For example, if the average signal quality is a predetermined value or more, it is determined that the communication is stable. When the stability determining unit 201 determines that “communication (the radio wave state) is stable”, the control unit 103 determines that the partner wireless communication device is the partner intended by the own device, and transmits the data file to the partner wireless device. It is transmitted to the communication device (S306, S307, S608, S609). Note that the transmitted data file is, for example, an image file stored in the data storage unit 105. Further, as described in the first embodiment, the data transmission from the wireless communication apparatus 101 may be performed by transmitting a data transmission request message to the counterpart wireless communication apparatus and receiving the data. Further, after confirming the maintenance of the communication connection, data may be sent but not received until a predetermined time elapses. On the other hand, if the stability determination unit 201 determines that “communication (radio wave state) is not stable”, the connection is released (S610). At this time, as in the first embodiment, a message indicating connection release may be displayed on the display unit 107.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to confirming the maintenance of communication, the radio wave condition is determined, so that data communication with an unintended partner is prevented and data communication is executed. Stable data communication will be performed. Further, as described in the first embodiment, whether to maintain the connection state or confirm the stability of the radio wave state may be controlled according to the device information. For example, if the device information indicates a fixed device (non-mobile) driven by a commercial power supply or if it indicates a registered device, data transmission can be started immediately without performing the above confirmation. As for communication with the intended device, communication can be performed immediately.

<Third Embodiment>
In the third embodiment, in the wireless communication device using the electrostatic coupling method, the transmission control when the wireless communication device performs connection with the counterpart communication device is illustrated in FIG. 1B, FIG. 2 and FIG. The explanation will be given. In the second embodiment, the radio wave state is confirmed after confirming the connection state. In the third embodiment, a transmission control method by monitoring the radio wave state and the connection state in this order will be described. The configuration of the wireless communication apparatus 101 according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment ((b) in FIG. 1). In addition, it is assumed that the counterpart communication device has the same configuration, and here, it is assumed that it is a wireless communication device mounted on a digital camera.

  First, the control unit 103 performs connection processing similar to that in the first embodiment and the second embodiment (S301-S303, S801). The wireless communication apparatus 101 that has entered the connection state after terminating the connection process starts the transmission control process. In the third embodiment, when a communication connection is established, the stability determination unit 201 acquires a predetermined number of signals during a signal quality acquisition timer operation and starts reception before starting data transmission using the communication connection. It is determined whether the radio wave condition of the signal is stable.

  First, the stability determining unit 201 acquires signal quality (S802). Here, the SNR value is acquired as a value indicating the signal quality. However, if there is no signal being received, a wireless signal that does not affect the connection is transmitted to the counterpart wireless communication device as a confirmation signal, and the response signal is received. You may make it measure quality. The stability determination unit 201 that has acquired the signal quality has a signal quality acquisition counter therein, and is configured to acquire the signal quality for the number of times indicated by the counter. The counter value is set in advance, and is set to 10 here. The counter value may be set by the user. The stability determination unit 201 determines the communication stability at a stage where 10 SNR values are obtained (S803) (S804). Note that the determination of the communication stability (the radio wave condition) is as described in the second embodiment.

  When the stability determination unit 201 determines that “communication is not stable”, the connection is released (S805). At this time, a message indicating that the connection is canceled may be displayed on the display unit 107. On the other hand, when the stability determining unit 201 determines that “communication is stable”, it is next checked whether or not the connection is maintained (S806). Here, as described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the connection monitoring unit 108 confirms connection maintenance (S304 to S305, S806). If connection confirmation cannot be confirmed, the connection is released (S805) and data transmission is not performed. When the connection maintenance is confirmed, the control unit 103 transmits the data file to the partner wireless communication device, assuming that the partner wireless communication device is the partner intended by the own device (S306, S807). Note that the wireless communication apparatus 101 may receive data as described in the first and second embodiments.

  Further, as described in the first embodiment, device information of the counterpart wireless communication device may be acquired by a connection processing sequence or the like, and the transmission control may be switched based on the acquired device information. For example, when it is determined from the acquired device information that the counterpart wireless communication device is a device that is supplied with power by an AC power supply, data transmission may be started immediately. Further, as described in the second embodiment, when the counterpart wireless communication device is a device registered in the wireless communication device 101 from the device information, data transmission may be started immediately. In this way, the communication with the intended device can be performed immediately.

  In the above embodiment, the transmission control (configuration for confirming the maintenance of the connection state before the start of data transmission) when the wireless communication apparatus 101 newly establishes a communication connection has been described. However, such transmission control may be performed each time data is transmitted (for example, each time data of one file is transmitted).

  In the present invention, the same processing as in the first to third embodiments can be realized by a computer program. In this case, some or all of the above-described components may be functioned by a function or a subroutine executed by the CPU. In general, the computer program is stored in a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and is set in a reading device (such as a CD-ROM drive) included in the computer and copied or installed in the system. Become executable. Therefore, it is obvious that such a computer readable storage medium is also within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

A wireless communication device having a proximity wireless communication interface,
A connection means for connecting to a counterpart wireless communication device via a proximity wireless communication interface;
Prior to the start of data transmission using the connection, confirmation means for confirming whether the connection with the counterpart wireless communication device is maintained even after a predetermined time,
Radio communication comprising: a transmission control means for starting the data transmission when the confirmation means confirms that the connection with the counterpart wireless communication apparatus is maintained even after a predetermined time has elapsed. apparatus. A judgment means for judging whether or not a radio wave condition with the counterpart wireless communication device is stable;
2. The transmission control unit starts the data transmission when the determination unit determines that the radio wave state is stable after the confirmation unit detects that the connection is maintained. A wireless communication device according to 1.   The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not a radio wave state is stable based on a plurality of acquired signal variations.   The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the determination unit determines that the communication is not stable, the connection is released. Prior to the start of data transmission using the connection, the apparatus further includes a determination unit that acquires a predetermined number of signals from the start of connection by the connection unit and determines whether the radio wave state of the received signal is stable. ,
The confirmation unit detects the maintenance of the connection with the counterpart wireless communication device when the determination unit determines that the radio wave state is stable,
The transmission control unit starts the data transmission when it is determined by the determination unit that the radio wave state is stable and the confirmation unit confirms that the connection with the counterpart wireless communication device is maintained. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1. Obtain device information from the counterpart wireless communication device,
It said transmission control means based on the device information, the to start the data transmission waiting for confirmation of the maintenance of connection by said confirming means, immediately the data transmission without waiting for confirmation of the maintenance of connection by said confirming means The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device controls whether to start the communication. When the transmission control means indicates that the device information is a non-mobile device, or when the device information indicates a device driven by a commercial power supply, the transmission control means is connected by the confirmation means. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the data transmission is started immediately without waiting for confirmation of maintenance.   The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the close proximity wireless communication interface performs close proximity wireless communication using RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification), NFC (Near Field Communication), or TransferJet.   The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the close proximity wireless communication interface performs close proximity wireless communication using electrostatic coupling. A method of controlling a wireless communication device having a proximity wireless communication interface,
A connection step of connecting to a partner wireless communication device via a proximity wireless communication interface;
Prior to the start of the data transmission using the connection, a confirmation step of connection to the counterpart wireless communication apparatus confirms whether it is maintained even after the lapse of a predetermined time,
And a transmission control step of starting the data transmission when the connection with the counterpart wireless communication apparatus is maintained even after a predetermined time has elapsed. The computer program for functioning a computer as each means of the radio | wireless communication apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 9 .

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