JP5411213B2 - Radio relay apparatus and radio relay method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio relay apparatus and a radio relay method for performing a relay process between a local side wireless LAN terminal and a network side wireless LAN or a mobile communication network. Here, the mobile communication network on the network side is, for example, a 3rd generation, 3.5th generation, or 3.9th generation mobile phone network. Examples of the standards include HSPA (High speed packet access), WCDMA (Wide band code division). multiple access), EDGE (Enhanced data rates for GSM evolution), LTE (Long Term Evolution), and the like.

  When comparing a mobile communication network such as HSPA with a wireless LAN, the mobile communication network generally has a wide cover area but a low communication speed, and the wireless LAN has a feature that the cover area is narrow but the communication speed is high. Therefore, in order to take advantage of the features of the mobile communication network and the wireless LAN, a wireless IF that can be connected to the mobile communication network and the wireless LAN is provided. There is a wireless relay device that switches to a wireless LAN when a connection is possible (Patent Document 1).

FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of a conventional wireless relay device.
In FIG. 6, the wireless relay device connects to a wireless LAN terminal and a network-side wireless LAN-IF unit 11 connected to a wireless LAN access point, a mobile communication network-IF unit 12 connected to a base station of the mobile communication network, and a wireless LAN terminal. A local side wireless LAN-IF unit 13; a control unit 14 that performs relay processing between a wireless LAN on the network side or a mobile communication network and a wireless LAN terminal connected to the local side wireless LAN-IF unit 13; And an access detection unit 15 that detects an access (connection request or data transmission) from a wireless LAN terminal connected to the wireless LAN-IF unit 13.

  When the control unit 14 detects an access from the wireless LAN terminal via the local side wireless LAN-IF unit 13 and the access detection unit 15, the network side wireless LAN-IF unit connected to the wireless LAN as a connection destination on the network side 11 or one of the mobile communication network-IF units 12 connected to the mobile communication network is selected to perform relay processing. Further, the control unit 14 recognizes the disconnection of the wireless LAN terminal when the wireless LAN terminal is notified of the attribution cancellation (for example, the disassociation message), and performs a process of shifting from the normal mode to the power saving mode. Or the control part 14 will perform the process which transfers to a power saving mode from normal mode, if the non-communication time with a wireless LAN terminal continues for a fixed period.

  Here, the power saving mode is a mode in which each functional unit other than the local side wireless LAN-IF unit 13 and the access detection unit 15 for detecting access from the wireless LAN terminal is put in a sleep state to save power. . Further, the local side wireless LAN-IF unit 13 and the access detection unit 15 may also be intermittently operated repeatedly in an active state and a sleep state during the power saving mode. When an access from a wireless LAN terminal is detected while operating in the power saving mode, the mode immediately returns to the normal mode (active state), and relay processing between the wireless LAN terminal and the wireless LAN on the network side or the mobile communication network is performed.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional mode transition processing procedure and an operation example.
In FIG. 7 (1), when the control unit 14 operates in the normal mode A (S0) and detects that there is no traffic relaying between the wireless LAN terminal and the network (no communication state) (S1), A no-communication timer is activated (S2), and it is monitored whether there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal before the no-communication timer times out (S3, S4). Here, if there is an access before the no-communication timer times out, the mode returns to the normal mode A (S0), and if the no-communication timer times out before the access is detected, the mode shifts to the power saving mode S (S5). When a notification of belonging cancellation is sent from the wireless LAN terminal, the normal mode A immediately shifts to the power saving mode S (S0 → S5).

  Next, during operation in the power saving mode S (S5), it is monitored whether there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal (S6), and if there is no access from the wireless LAN terminal, the power saving mode S is continued (S5). If there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal, the mode shifts to the normal mode A (S0).

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 (2), the wireless relay device in the normal mode A enters the power saving mode S after the timeout of the non-communication timer after entering the non-communication state with the wireless LAN terminal, and from the wireless LAN terminal. If there is access (the figure shows an example of a connection request), the normal mode A can be returned.

JP 2010-021878 A

  By the way, when the wireless LAN terminal periodically attempts to access the network, for example, when a connection request is periodically made to the wireless relay device for confirmation of incoming mail, the wireless LAN terminal's non-communication time And the non-communication timer value (timeout time of the non-communication timer) are subject to the following problems.

  FIG. 8 shows a case where “no-communication time <no-communication timer value” and periodic access occurs before the no-communication timer of the wireless relay device times out. In this case, the wireless relay device cannot enter the power saving mode S from the normal mode A, and the power saving effect cannot be obtained.

  The present invention provides a mode transition process between a normal mode and a power saving mode for obtaining a reliable power saving effect in a wireless relay device for a usage mode in which a wireless LAN terminal periodically accesses the wireless relay device. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless relay device and a wireless relay method that enable the above.

  The first invention provides no communication with the wireless LAN terminal during operation in the normal mode in which relay processing is performed between the local wireless IF unit connected to the wireless LAN terminal and the IF unit connected to the network side. In a wireless relay device comprising control means for performing control to shift to a power saving mode when the time continues for a certain period and to shift to a normal mode when accessed from a wireless LAN terminal during operation in the power saving mode, The means is configured to update the certain period to a value smaller than the no-communication time when the no-communication time is shorter than the certain period and the wireless LAN terminal cannot shift to the power saving mode by regular access while operating in the normal mode. is there.

  In the wireless relay device of the first invention, the control means is configured to update a value smaller than a minimum value or an average value of no communication time recorded for each access from the wireless LAN terminal as a certain period.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is no communication with the wireless LAN terminal during operation in the normal mode in which relay processing is performed between the local wireless IF unit connected to the wireless LAN terminal and the IF unit connected to the network side. In a wireless relay device comprising control means for performing control to shift to a power saving mode when the time continues for a certain period and to shift to a normal mode when accessed from a wireless LAN terminal during operation in the power saving mode, The means is such that when no communication time is shorter than a certain period and the wireless LAN terminal cannot be shifted to the power saving mode by regular access while operating in the normal mode, the no communication time is detected even if the regular access is detected. It is assumed that it continues, and is configured to shift to the power saving mode after a certain period of time.

  In the wireless relay device of the first or second invention, the control means records an interval time of access from the wireless LAN terminal, and whether each access is a periodic access compared to the interval time before the previous time. It is the structure which judges whether.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is no communication with the wireless LAN terminal during operation in the normal mode in which the relay process is performed between the local wireless IF unit connected to the wireless LAN terminal and the IF unit connected to the network side. Wireless relay of a wireless relay device having control means for controlling to shift to the power saving mode when the time continues for a certain period and to shift to the normal mode when there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal while operating in the power saving mode In the method, the control means sets the certain period to a value smaller than the no-communication time when the no-communication time is shorter than the certain period and the wireless LAN terminal cannot shift to the power saving mode by regular access while operating in the normal mode. Update.

  In the wireless relay method of the second invention, the control means updates the value smaller than the minimum value or the average value of the no-communication time recorded for each access from the wireless LAN terminal as a certain period.

  In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is no communication with the wireless LAN terminal during operation in the normal mode in which relay processing is performed between the local wireless IF unit connected to the wireless LAN terminal and the IF unit connected to the network side. Wireless relay of a wireless relay device having control means for controlling to shift to the power saving mode when the time continues for a certain period and to shift to the normal mode when there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal while operating in the power saving mode In the method, the control means may detect the periodic access when the no-communication time is shorter than a certain period and the wireless LAN terminal cannot shift to the power saving mode by regular access during the operation in the normal mode. It is assumed that the no-communication time has continued, and shift to the power saving mode after a certain period of time.

  In the wireless relay method of the third or fourth invention, the control means records the interval time of access from the wireless LAN terminal, and whether or not each access is a periodic access compared to the interval time before the previous time. Determine whether.

  In the first and second inventions, when there is periodic access from a wireless LAN terminal and a transition from the normal mode to the power saving mode cannot be made, a certain period as a reference for shifting to the power saving mode is shortened. Then, the power saving effect can be obtained by surely shifting to the power saving mode before the wireless LAN terminal is accessed.

It is a figure which shows the Example of the radio relay apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the transfer processing procedure example 1 from the normal mode A by this invention to the power saving mode S. It is a time chart which shows the transfer operation example 1 from the normal mode A to the power saving mode S by this invention. It is a time chart which shows the transfer operation example 2 from the normal mode A by this invention to the power saving mode S. It is a flowchart which shows the example 2 of a transition process sequence from the normal mode A by this invention to the power saving mode S. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional wireless relay apparatus. It is a figure which shows the conventional mode transfer process procedure and an example of operation. It is a figure explaining the subject in the conventional mode transfer process.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a wireless relay device of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a network side wireless LAN-IF unit 11, a mobile communication network-IF unit 12, a local side wireless LAN-IF unit 13, and an access detection unit 15 constituting a wireless relay device are the same as those of a conventional wireless relay device. It has a function.

  The wireless relay device according to the present embodiment is characterized in that, in the mode transition determination unit 16 connected between the control unit 14 and the access detection unit 15, the control unit 14 performs wireless LAN monitoring while using a non-communication timer. The timing when the access from the terminal is detected and the number of receptions are recorded, and the transition timing from the normal mode to the power saving mode and from the power saving mode to the normal mode is controlled.

  In addition, although a present Example is equipped with the network side wireless LAN-IF part 11 and the mobile communication network-IF part 12, and becomes a structure which selects any one by the control part 14, the interface part by the side of a network is Either one of the network side wireless LAN-IF unit 11 and the mobile communication network-IF unit 12 may be used. For example, the present invention is also applicable to a wireless relay device that performs a relay process between a wireless LAN terminal connected to the local wireless LAN-IF unit 13 and a public wireless LAN connected to the network wireless LAN-IF unit 11. Application is possible.

  FIG. 2 shows a procedure example 1 of a transition process from the normal mode A to the power saving mode S according to the present invention. Here, an example corresponding to a case where there is periodic access from the wireless LAN terminal and the wireless relay device cannot shift to the power saving mode S due to “no communication time <no communication timer value” described in FIG. .

  In FIG. 2, when the control unit 14 is operating in the normal mode A (S0) and detects that there is no traffic relayed between the wireless LAN terminal and the network (no communication state) (S1), the control unit 14 sets the no communication timer. It is started (S2), and it is monitored whether there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal before the no-communication timer times out (S3, S4). If the no-communication timer times out before detecting access, the mode shifts to the power saving mode S (S5). While operating in the power saving mode S (S5), it is monitored whether there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal (S6). If there is no access from the wireless LAN terminal, the power saving mode S is continued (S5). If there is an access from the terminal, the mode shifts to the normal mode A (S0).

  If there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal before the no-communication timer times out (S3: Yes), the interval time from the previous access and no communication until the access is detected after the no-communication timer is activated. The time is recorded (S11), and the recorded interval time is compared with the previous or previous interval time to determine whether the access is a periodic access (S12). If it cannot be determined (S12: No), the no-communication timer is reset and the normal mode A is continued (S0).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the access from the wireless LAN terminal is periodic (S12: Yes), the no-communication timer value is set to a value smaller than the minimum or average value of the no-communication time at that time or the past several no-communication times. (S13) and return to the normal mode A (S0). In this way, if the access before the non-communication timer times out is periodic, the non-communication timer value is updated to a smaller value, thereby allowing time-out before the next periodic access to save power. It is possible to shift to mode S.

  Note that the number of periodic accesses before the no-communication timer times out is counted, the no-communication timer value is not changed before it reaches the specified number, and the no-communication timer value is decreased when the specified number is reached. The value may be changed to shift to the power saving mode S before the next periodic access.

  In addition, after shifting to the power saving mode S, when shifting to the normal mode A by access from the wireless LAN terminal, it is possible to appropriately select whether to maintain the changed no-communication timer value or reset to the initial value. . In addition, when no attribution is notified from the wireless LAN terminal and the mode immediately shifts from the normal mode A to the power saving mode S (S0 → S5), the no-communication timer value may be reset to the initial value.

FIG. 3 shows an operation example 1 of transition from the normal mode A to the power saving mode S according to the present invention.
In FIG. 3, when “no communication time <no communication timer value”, access from the wireless LAN terminal is detected before the no communication timer of the wireless relay device times out, but it is determined that this is periodic access. Then, the no-communication timer value is updated to a value smaller than the no-communication time. Accordingly, the wireless relay device can shift to the power saving mode S because the no-communication timer times out before detecting the next periodic access.

Hereinafter, a modification example of the migration processing procedure example 1 shown in FIG. 2 and the migration operation example 1 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.
FIG. 4 shows an operation example 2 of transition from the normal mode A to the power saving mode S according to the present invention.
In FIG. 4, when “no communication time <no communication timer value”, access from the wireless LAN terminal is detected before the no communication timer of the wireless relay device times out, but it is determined that this is periodic access. Then, without resetting the non-communication timer, the non-communication timer is timed out as it is, and the mode is shifted to the power saving mode S. During the power saving mode S, the mode is shifted to the normal mode A by access from the wireless LAN terminal. Similarly, in the next normal mode A, if the access is periodic, the no-communication timer is timed out without resetting the no-communication timer, and the mode is shifted to the power saving mode S.

  FIG. 5 shows a procedure example 2 of a transition process from the normal mode A to the power saving mode S according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, the processes of S0 to S6 and S11 and S12 are the same as those in the migration process procedure example 1 shown in FIG. Here, if the access from the wireless LAN terminal before the no-communication timer times out cannot be determined as a periodic access (S12: No), the no-communication timer is reset and the normal mode A is continued (S0).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the access from the wireless LAN terminal is periodic (S12: Yes), it waits for the no-communication timer to time out without resetting the no-communication timer (S14), and shifts to the power saving mode S. (S5). In this way, if the access before the no-communication timer times out is periodic, the no-communication timer is timed out without resetting the no-communication timer and the normal mode A is shifted to the power saving mode S. Can do.

  The number of periodic accesses before the no-communication timer times out is counted, and before reaching the specified number, the no-communication timer is reset to maintain the normal mode A, and communication is performed when the specified number of times is reached. The non-communication timer may be timed out as it is without resetting the timer to shift to the power saving mode S.

  In the above description, “no-communication time <no-communication timer value” is assumed. However, if “no-communication time> no-communication timer value”, no communication is performed before access is detected as in FIG. Since the timer times out, the mode shifts to the power saving mode S (S4, S5).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Wireless LAN-IF part 12 Mobile communication network-IF part 13 Local side wireless LAN-IF part 14 Control part 15 Access detection part 16 Mode transition determination part

Claims (8)

When there is no communication time with the wireless LAN terminal for a certain period during operation in the normal mode in which relay processing is performed between the local wireless IF section connected to the wireless LAN terminal and the IF section connected to the network side In the wireless relay device provided with control means for performing control to shift to the normal mode when there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal during operation in the power saving mode,
The control means is configured to set the no-communication period to the no-communication period when the no-communication time is shorter than the predetermined period and the wireless LAN terminal cannot shift to the power saving mode by regular access during operation in the normal mode. A wireless relay device that is configured to be updated to a value smaller than the time. The wireless relay device according to claim 1,
The wireless relay device, wherein the control means is configured to update a value smaller than a minimum value or an average value of the no-communication time recorded for each access from the wireless LAN terminal as the certain period. When there is no communication time with the wireless LAN terminal for a certain period during operation in the normal mode in which relay processing is performed between the local wireless IF section connected to the wireless LAN terminal and the IF section connected to the network side In the wireless relay device provided with control means for performing control to shift to the normal mode when there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal during operation in the power saving mode,
The control means detects the periodic access when the no-communication time is shorter than the predetermined period and the wireless LAN terminal cannot shift to the power saving mode by periodic access during the operation in the normal mode. Even so, it is assumed that the non-communication time is continued, and the wireless relay device is configured to shift to the power saving mode after the lapse of the predetermined period. In the wireless relay device according to claim 1 or 3,
The control means is configured to record an interval time of access from the wireless LAN terminal and determine whether each access is the periodic access by comparing with an interval time before the previous time. A wireless relay device. When there is no communication time with the wireless LAN terminal for a certain period during operation in the normal mode in which relay processing is performed between the local wireless IF section connected to the wireless LAN terminal and the IF section connected to the network side In the wireless relay method of the wireless relay device comprising the control means for performing the control to shift to the normal mode when there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal during operation in the power saving mode,
The control means is configured to set the no-communication period to the no-communication period when the no-communication time is shorter than the predetermined period and the wireless LAN terminal cannot shift to the power saving mode by regular access during operation in the normal mode. A wireless relay method characterized by updating to a value smaller than the time. The wireless relay method according to claim 5,
The wireless relay method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit updates a value smaller than a minimum value or an average value of the no-communication time recorded for each access from the wireless LAN terminal as the certain period. When there is no communication time with the wireless LAN terminal for a certain period during operation in the normal mode in which relay processing is performed between the local wireless IF section connected to the wireless LAN terminal and the IF section connected to the network side In the wireless relay method of the wireless relay device comprising the control means for performing the control to shift to the normal mode when there is an access from the wireless LAN terminal during operation in the power saving mode,
The control means detects the periodic access when the no-communication time is shorter than the predetermined period and the wireless LAN terminal cannot shift to the power saving mode by periodic access during the operation in the normal mode. Even if the said no-communication time continues, it transfers to the said power saving mode after progress of the said fixed period, The radio | wireless relay method characterized by the above-mentioned. In the wireless relay method according to claim 5 or 7,
The control unit records an interval time of access from the wireless LAN terminal, and determines whether each access is the periodic access by comparing with an interval time before the previous time. Relay method.

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