JP5476287B2 - Bluetooth network communication method and wireless information distribution apparatus thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication method of a Bluetooth (registered trademark) network and a wireless information distribution device thereof, and more particularly, a wireless information distribution device including a plurality of Bluetooth modules including a Bluetooth module dedicated to master operation and a Bluetooth module dedicated to slave operation. And a communication method thereof.

  In recent years, digital signage has attracted attention, and services that distribute content such as video and information in a timely manner to displays installed in stores, transportation facilities, campuses, offices, etc. have begun to spread. Generally, an information distribution server is connected to a digital signage via a network cable. The digital signage receives content from the information distribution server and dynamically updates the display contents on the display, but the network cable facility is difficult. Below, there is a need for wireless communication.

  Today's digital signage is mainly used to display various types of information and advertisements on the display, but in the future, products and campaign information will be distributed to mobile phones owned by users and guided to stores. Mobile collaboration function is required.

  In order to propagate data between a plurality of terminals, a method in which each terminal communicates with a wireless LAN access point as a repeater is most widely used. Communication methods based on IEEE802.11, which is one of the wireless LAN standards, are broadly divided into infrastructure networks that communicate via relay devices (wireless access points) and ad hoc networks that consist only of terminals that can communicate wirelessly. Is done.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an infrastructure network construction apparatus that integrates and manages various household devices and personal devices with automatic configuration. Since this infrastructure network has automatic connection configuration management means for the wireless access point to automatically collect information on currently available wireless terminals and present it to each terminal, a plurality of wireless terminals are connected via the wireless access point. You can configure a star network that connects to each other.

  However, when configuring a hierarchical network in which multiple infrastructure networks are connected, advanced network setting know-how is required to provide a routing function for mutual communication between wireless terminals, and the setting procedure is extremely It becomes complicated. In addition, the installation of the wireless access point facility itself becomes large due to the securing of the power source and space.

  On the other hand, according to the ad hoc network, wireless terminals can be connected even in a situation where there is no wireless access point. In Patent Document 2, by using PLC device wireless ad hoc function, terminals can be connected with each other via a point-to-point wireless link, thereby enabling communication between any wireless nodes directly or via one or more wireless nodes. The technology is disclosed.

  However, in order to establish an ad hoc network, a wireless terminal functioning as a base station on the ad hoc network temporarily shares its wireless communication device with other wireless terminals, and the wireless terminal serving as the base station and the others It is necessary to match communication setting information (SSID: Service Set Identifier, WEP: Wired Equivalent Privacy, etc.) with other wireless terminals. In addition, information setting for each wireless terminal is generally performed manually, which places a heavy workload on the user. Moreover, Patent Document 2 does not disclose a routing function for communicating with each other between specific wireless terminals when configuring a hierarchical network in which a plurality of ad hoc networks are connected.

  On the other hand, Bluetooth, which is installed in many mobile phones with power saving, can easily connect a wireless terminal and other terminals and peripheral devices without going through a wireless access point. It is promising as a wireless system for connecting devices such as TVs, STBs, game machines, computers and mobile terminals.

  Bluetooth also uses a frequency hopping spread spectrum method that communicates with a slight shift in frequency when devices using the same frequency band are nearby, making it less susceptible to interference than wireless LANs. It has become.

  However, according to the Bluetooth specification, one communication piconet is composed of a master that takes the initiative in communication and slaves under its control, and the number of slaves that can be connected to one master is limited to seven. Yes. Therefore, in order to transfer data between a plurality of piconets, as shown in FIG. 9, a terminal that operates as a slave in one piconet is connected as a master by operating as a master in another piconet. There is a need to configure a larger network called the Scatternet. Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose information distribution techniques using such a scatternet mechanism.

  However, in a conventional scatternet, a terminal belonging to an area where a plurality of piconets overlap each other when transferring data received on one piconet operating as a slave to the other piconet operating as a master, Therefore, there is a technical problem that a relatively large delay occurs because data communication must be performed in a time-sharing manner while switching.

  In response to such a technical problem, the inventors of the present invention attach a Bluetooth module BTm dedicated to master operation and a Bluetooth module BTs dedicated to slave operation to the wireless information distribution device, and the Bluetooth module dedicated to slave operation is superior. Invented a technology that can realize a network similar to a scatternet with a small transfer delay (overheader) by enabling a Bluetooth packet received from a device to be transferred from a Bluetooth module dedicated to master operation to a lower device. Patent application (Patent Document 5).

JP 2003-208366 A JP 2008-14150 A JP 2006-54558 A JP 2002-368758 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-218790

  In Patent Document 5, addressing at the time of packet transfer is a multicast address, and communication specifying a destination wireless information distribution apparatus cannot be performed with a simple routing function and routing processing.

  The object of the present invention is to solve all the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and attach a Bluetooth module BTm dedicated to master operation and a Bluetooth module BTs dedicated to slave operation to one wireless information distribution device, and the same as the scatternet A communication method of a Bluetooth network that can realize a network with a small transfer delay and a wireless information distribution apparatus thereof that can realize communication that can specify a destination wireless information distribution apparatus with a simple routing function and routing processing.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that it has the following configuration.

  (1) The wireless information distribution apparatus according to the present invention includes communication between at least two bus ports on which a Bluetooth module is mounted, a higher-level control process that controls communication with a higher-level device that operates as a master, and a lower-level device that operates as a slave. A lower-level control process for controlling the process, and a process allocation means for allocating a higher-level control process to one of the two Bluetooth modules mounted on each bus port for slave operation, and for allocating a lower-level control process to the other for master operation An ID setting means for setting an identification ID unique to the own device, a detecting means for detecting a lower device in a detectable state, and a lower device connecting means for establishing a Bluetooth connection between the detected lower devices, An ID generating means for generating an identification ID to be assigned to the lower-level device and a transfer packet for transferring a received packet in which the destination identification ID is described based on the identification ID. The ID generating means generates an identification ID expressing a hierarchical relationship between the own apparatus and the lower apparatus for the lower apparatus, and the transfer means has a destination identification ID of the same hierarchy as the own apparatus. Alternatively, the received packet in the higher layer than the own device is transferred to the upper device, and the received packet having the destination identification ID lower than the own device is transferred to the lower device.

  (2) In the communication method of the Bluetooth network of the present invention, each wireless information distribution device includes a Bluetooth module that operates as a slave with respect to a master device that operates as a master, and a Bluetooth module that operates as a master with respect to a slave device that operates as a slave. And a wireless information distribution device that functions as a route includes a first procedure for detecting a subordinate device in a detectable state, a second procedure for establishing a Bluetooth connection between the subordinate device detected, A third procedure for generating an identification ID expressing the hierarchical relationship between the device and the lower device and assigning it to the lower device, and each lower device assigned with the identification ID repeats the first to third procedures and repeats itself. Assign the identification ID to the lower device of the device, and repeat the fourth procedure, and the received packet has the destination identification ID described in the packet in the same hierarchy as the own device or higher than the own device. Transfer If hierarchy to the higher-level device, the identification ID of the destination is to include a fifth procedure for transferring to the lower apparatus if the lower layer than the local.

  According to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

  (1) Each wireless information distribution device includes another wireless information distribution device connected to a higher-level device that operates as a master for the device, and another wireless information distribution device connected to a lower-level device that operates as a slave. In the packet communication, the received packet is sent to either the upper device side or the lower device side based on the destination identification ID described in the packet. Can be transferred. Therefore, not only a routing table that consumes a large amount of memory becomes unnecessary, but also a process for searching for a transfer destination from the routing table becomes unnecessary.

  (2) When two Bluetooth modules are installed in each wireless information distribution device, one of them functions as a Bluetooth module BTm dedicated to master operation, and the other functions as a Bluetooth module BTs dedicated to slave operation. Since the Bluetooth packet received from the lower level device or received by the Bluetooth module BTs from the higher level device is transferred from the Bluetooth module BTs to the higher level device, or transferred from the Bluetooth module BTm to the lower level device, it is the same as the scatternet. The network can be realized with a small transfer delay (overheader).

  (3) Since multiple Bluetooth modules are connected to the USB port and each Bluetooth module is recognized as a USB device by the wireless information distribution device, multiple Bluetooth modules can be connected simultaneously even on platforms that cannot recognize multiple Bluetooth modules simultaneously. It can be operated.

It is the figure which showed the structure of the wireless network comprised by the wireless information delivery apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the radio | wireless information delivery apparatus based on this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the method of assigning operation | movement to the Bluetooth module with which the radio | wireless information delivery apparatus was mounted | worn. 5 is a flowchart showing a method for setting an identification ID in a wireless information distribution apparatus. It is the figure which showed a mode that identification ID was set to the radio | wireless information delivery apparatus hierarchically. It is the flowchart which showed the data transfer procedure between radio | wireless information delivery apparatuses. It is the sequence flow which showed the procedure which connects and registers a user terminal with the Bluetooth module of a radio | wireless information delivery apparatus. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure which controls the operation | movement of the several Bluetooth module with which the radio | wireless information delivery apparatus is mounted | worn. It is the figure which showed an example of the scatter net.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a Bluetooth network composed of a plurality of wireless information distribution apparatuses 1 to which the present invention is applied. All the wireless information distribution apparatuses 1 have the same or equivalent configuration, and Bluetooth connection is established.

  Each wireless information distribution device 1 includes a Bluetooth module BTm dedicated to master operation, a Bluetooth module BTs dedicated to slave operation, and at least one Bluetooth module BTms capable of dynamically switching each operation of the master / slave. Up to seven Bluetooth modules BTm, BTs, and BTms of the distribution apparatus 1 can construct a piconet with other wireless information distribution apparatuses 1 and user terminals 2.

  The Bluetooth module BTms that operates as a master / slave operates as a slave in a standby state, and prepares for a connection request from the user terminal 2 that operates as a master. When a connection request from the user terminal 2 is detected, Then, the operation of the slave is changed (roll change), and then the master operation is performed, so that it is possible to construct a piconet with up to seven user terminals 2 that operate as slaves.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the wireless information distribution apparatus 1, in which a plurality of USB ports Pusb and its control process CP are implemented as bus ports. Each control process CP0 to CPn is implemented with a virtual serial port communication function based on SPP (Serial Port Profile) / RFCOMM (Radio Frequency Communication). The process assignment unit 13 assigns predetermined control processes CP0 to CPn to the Bluetooth module BT attached to each USB port Pusb.

  The control process CP0 is set with a higher-level communication unit 51 that controls communication with the upstream-side radio information distribution apparatus 1 (hereinafter also referred to as a higher-level apparatus) that operates as a master and an identification ID unique to the own apparatus. ID setting unit 55 is provided. In the present embodiment, the identification ID set in the ID setting unit 55 is the identification ID of the wireless information distribution apparatus 1.

  The control process CP1 includes a detection unit 56 that detects a downstream wireless information distribution device (hereinafter also referred to as a lower level device) that operates as a slave, and a lower level device connection unit 57 that connects the detected lower level device to the own device. , An ID generation unit 58 that generates an identification ID set for each lower-level device, and a lower-level communication unit 52 that controls communication with each lower-level device.

  The control processes CP2 to CPn include a terminal communication unit 53 that controls communication with the user terminal 2 and a communication role switching unit 54 that dynamically switches the master / slave operation.

  In the present embodiment, since the Bluetooth module is attached to each USB port Pusb, and the control process CP0 including the upper communication unit 51 is assigned to the first attached Bluetooth module by the process assignment unit 13, The Bluetooth module is dedicated to slave operation (BTs).

  In addition, since the process allocation unit 13 assigns the control process CP1 including the lower communication unit 52 to the second mounted Bluetooth module, the Bluetooth module is dedicated to master operation (BTm).

  Furthermore, since the process allocation unit 13 assigns the control processes CP2 to CPn including the terminal communication unit 53 to the third and subsequent Bluetooth modules, each Bluetooth module performs master / slave operation. (BTms).

  Each of the control processes CP is connected to the storage unit 12 via the memory bus 11, and data transfer between the control processes CP and the storage unit 12, data transfer between the control processes CP, and transfer of received packets are performed. This is performed by a data transfer command under the control of the transfer control unit 14.

  FIG. 3 shows that each of the wireless information distribution apparatuses 1 selectively selects one of a master operation, a slave operation, and a master / slave operation by the process allocation unit 13 for the Bluetooth module attached to each USB port Pusb. This is a flowchart showing a method of assigning to the USB port. Here, the description starts from a state in which no Bluetooth module is attached to any USB port Pusb.

  In step S1, it is determined whether or not a Bluetooth module is newly connected to any USB port. When a new connection of the Bluetooth module is detected, the process proceeds to step S2, and it is determined how many Bluetooth modules this time are.

  Since it is first determined to be the first one, the process proceeds to step S3, and the slave module is requested for the Bluetooth module. In step S4, the control process CP0 is assigned to the Bluetooth module and dedicated to slave operation (BTs). In step S5, the initial value of the identification ID ([000] in this embodiment) is set in the ID setting unit 55.

  On the other hand, if it is determined as the second one, the process proceeds to step S6, and the master module is requested for the Bluetooth module. In step S7, the control process CP1 is assigned to the Bluetooth module BT and is dedicated to master operation (BTm).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that it is the third or later, the process proceeds to step S8, and the master / slave mode is requested of the Bluetooth module. In step S9, an unallocated control process among CP2 to CPn is allocated to the Bluetooth module.

  In the above description, the first Bluetooth module is dedicated to slave operation (BTs) and the second Bluetooth module is dedicated to master operation (BTm). The second Bluetooth module may be dedicated to master operation (BTs) and the second Bluetooth module may be dedicated to slave operation (BTs).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for establishing a Bluetooth network by mutually interconnecting wireless information distribution apparatuses 1 in an autonomous and distributed manner, and FIG. 5 hierarchically assigns identification IDs to the wireless information distribution apparatuses 1. FIG. In this embodiment, an identification ID is sequentially set to each wireless information distribution device 1 on the lower side by a top-down method by the wireless information distribution device (base station) 1 that operates as the highest route.

  In step S21, RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) included in the signal transmitted from the peripheral device in the detection (discovery) enabled state and received by BTm by the detection unit 56 of the control process CP1 provided with the lower-level communication unit 52. ) Is detected. In step S22, the identification ID and MAC address of the peripheral device are acquired from the RSSI, and the radio field intensity is detected. In step S23, the lower-level device connection unit 57 establishes a Bluetooth connection with each lower-level device based on the detected MAC address of each lower-level device.

  In step S24, a new one is added to each connected lower-level device based on its own identification ID (here, [000] is registered) registered in the identification ID setting unit 55 of the own device. An identification ID to be set to is generated. In the present embodiment, the ID generation unit 58 concatenates the communication port number assigned to the Bluetooth connection with the lower-level device to the identification ID of the own device registered in the ID setting unit 55, thereby An identification ID expressing the hierarchical relationship between the device and the lower device is generated.

  In this embodiment, since the identification ID [000] is assigned to the wireless information distribution device 1 of the route, the communication port is connected to the lower device connected to the wireless information distribution device 1 of the route first. An identification ID [000001] obtained by concatenating the number [001] to the identification ID [000] is generated as an identification ID expressing the hierarchical relationship between the two. In step S25, the identification ID [000001] is notified to the lower device and updated and set in the identification ID setting unit 55 of the lower device.

  Similarly, the identification ID [000002] is assigned to the second lower connected device, and the identification ID [000003] is assigned to the third lower connected device. Further, when the lower-level device to which the identification ID [000001] is assigned behaves as a higher-level device, the communication port number [001] is connected to the identification ID [000001] for the lower-level device to be connected first. The obtained identification ID [000001001] is assigned, the identification device [000001002] is assigned to the second lower connected device, and the identification ID [000001003] is assigned to the third lower connected device.

  Next, a procedure in which each wireless information distribution device 1 receives a Bluetooth packet and transfers the received packet to the destination wireless information terminal device 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

  In step S31, when the Bluetooth packet transmitted from the upper device or the lower device is received by the Bluetooth module BTs dedicated to the slave operation or the Bluetooth module BTm dedicated to the master operation, respectively, in step S32, the received packet is received by the reception buffer. (Not shown) is temporarily stored. In step S33, an Ack packet is returned to the transmission source of the received packet.

  In step S34, the transfer path of the received packet is analyzed based on the destination identification ID described as header information in the received packet. In step S35, based on the analysis result, the received packet is transferred to the upper device or the lower device, or stored in the storage unit 12 of the own device.

  For example, paying attention to the wireless information distribution apparatus whose identification ID is [000 001 002] in FIG. 5, the destination identification ID described in the received packet has a higher hierarchy such as [000] or [000 002] with a small number of digits. If it is the same ID or [000 001 001] or [000 001 003] having the same number of digits, the process proceeds to step S36. In step S36, the received packet is transferred via the memory bus 11 from the Bluetooth module BTs dedicated to slave operation to the host device (here, the wireless information distribution device of [000 001]).

  On the other hand, if the identification ID of the destination described in the received packet is an identification ID on the lower layer side such as [000 001 002 001] having more digits than its own identification ID, the process proceeds to step S38. In step S38, the received packet is transferred via the memory bus 11 from the Bluetooth module BTm dedicated to the master operation to the lower-level device (here, the wireless information distribution device of [000 001 002 001]).

  In step S39, it is determined whether or not a reception completion notification has been received from the higher-order device or lower-order device of the transfer destination. If not received, the process returns to step S31, the next Bluetooth packet is received, and the above processes are repeated.

  In step S35, if the destination identification ID matches the identification ID of the own device, the process proceeds to step S37, and the received packet is stored in the storage unit 12 of the own device.

  According to this embodiment, when two Bluetooth modules are attached to each wireless information distribution apparatus 1, one of them functions as a Bluetooth module BTm dedicated to master operation, and the other functions as a Bluetooth module BTs dedicated to slave operation. Bluetooth module BTm received from lower-level devices, or Bluetooth module BTs received from higher-level devices can be transferred from Bluetooth module BTs to higher-level devices, or from Bluetooth module BTm to lower-level devices, respectively. Therefore, a network similar to the scatternet can be realized with a small transfer delay (overheader).

  Each wireless information distribution device 1 includes another wireless information distribution device connected to the higher-level device operating as a master for the device and another wireless information distribution device connected to the lower-level device operating as a slave. In the packet communication, the received packet is sent to either the upper device side or the lower device side based on the destination identification ID described in the packet. Can be transferred. Therefore, not only a routing table that consumes a large amount of memory becomes unnecessary, but also a process for searching for a transfer destination from the routing table becomes unnecessary.

  Each wireless information distribution device 1 recognizes that the network topology has changed, for example, when the packet transmission by the identification ID fails, the wireless information distribution device 1 that is the destination or via is disconnected from the network, and the wireless of the route The information distribution device 1 is requested to reconfigure the network. In this embodiment, the destination address of the route (the upper three digits in this embodiment) can be easily recognized only by referring to the identification ID of the hierarchical structure assigned to the own device.

  In response to the reconfiguration request, the route wireless information distribution apparatus 1 executes the network construction process described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, and each subordinate apparatus performs the same process in a top-down manner. The Bluetooth network is reconstructed by repeating the above in sequence.

  FIG. 7 is a sequence flow showing a procedure for connecting and registering the user terminal 2 to the Bluetooth module BTms of the wireless information distribution apparatus 1.

  In the user terminal 2, when the terminal user performs a key operation for a connection request on the Bluetooth module BTms detected in advance, at time t1, the status of the user terminal 2 changes to the master M, and the Bluetooth module BTms in the standby state. A connection request (HCI_Connection_Request) message is transmitted.

  In the wireless information distribution apparatus 1, when the connection request message is detected by the Bluetooth module BTms and received by the RFCOMM of the control process at time t2, the connection request is transferred to the communication role switching unit. At the time t3, the role as the master M is requested from the communication role switching unit 54 to the RFCOMM. At time t4, a connection response (HCI_Accept_Connection_Request) message for requesting transition to the master M is returned to the user terminal 2.

  From the user terminal 2, a setting preparation (HCI_Command_Status) message is transmitted at time t5, and a role switching request (HCI_Role_change) message for switching its own role from master M to slave S is transmitted at time t6. At time t7, a connection completion (HCI_Connection_Complete) message is transmitted from the user terminal 2 to RFCOMM. At time t8, the RFCOMM requests the communication role switching unit 54 to execute role switching. At time t9, the communication role switching unit 54 notifies the communication unit 53 of the completion of role switching. Thereby, since the role of the user terminal 2 is switched from the master M to the slave S, a piconet having the Bluetooth module BTms as the master M and the user terminal 2 as the slave S is constructed.

  At time t10, a connection completion response is transmitted from the user terminal 2 to the wireless information distribution apparatus 1. At time t11, content transmission is started from the wireless information distribution apparatus 1 to the user terminal 2. Thereafter, when a connection request (HCI_Connection_Request) message is transmitted from another user terminal 2 at time t12, the same procedure as described above is repeated, and the user terminal 2 can also participate in the piconet as the slave S.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for controlling operations of a plurality of Bluetooth modules BTms mounted on the wireless information distribution apparatus 1. In this embodiment, when a plurality of Bluetooth modules BTms are attached to the wireless information distribution device 1, other Bluetooth modules BTms are connected until seven user terminals are connected to one Bluetooth module BTms and there are no empty ports. By waiting, a plurality of Bluetooth modules BTms do not respond simultaneously to a connection request from the user terminal 2.

  In step S51, only one of the plurality of Bluetooth modules BTms attached to the wireless information distribution apparatus 1 is activated, and all the remaining Bluetooth modules BTms are set to the standby mode. In step S52, it is determined whether or not there is no idle port in the standby state in the activated Bluetooth module BTms (not necessarily one). Since there is an empty port at first, the process returns to step S52.

  Thereafter, the connection process of FIG. 3 is repeated to connect a plurality of user terminals 2, and when there is no empty port in the activated Bluetooth module BTms, the process proceeds to step S53. In step S53, one of the waiting Bluetooth modules BTms is selected and additionally activated. Therefore, the newly activated Bluetooth module BTms responds to user terminals that request connection thereafter.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the third Bluetooth module that operates as a master / slave can perform a slave operation during standby so that it can respond to a connection request from a user terminal that operates as a master. After that, since role switching is performed with the user terminal and the master operation is performed, a plurality (up to seven) of user terminals and piconets can be configured at the same time.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described by taking the application to digital signage as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an unspecified person in an event, a meeting, a vote, a class, or the like. It is possible to apply to various cases where it is necessary to join an ad hoc network from time to time. As a typical example, a conference participant carries a portable terminal in a conference, thereby participating in an ad hoc network as needed, and the present invention is used when collecting questionnaires and votes from the conference participant via this terminal. be able to.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wireless information delivery apparatus, 2 ... User terminal, 11 ... Memory bus, 12 ... Memory | storage part, 13 ... Process allocation part, 14 ... Transfer control part, 51 ... Upper communication part, 52 ... Lower communication part, 53 ... Terminal communication unit, 54 ... Communication role switching unit, 55 ... ID setting unit, 56 ... Detection unit, 57 ... Subordinate device connection unit, 58 ... ID generation unit

Claims (15)

In the wireless information distribution device constituting the Bluetooth network,
At least two bus ports to which the Bluetooth module is installed;
A higher-level control process that controls communication with a higher-level device that operates as a master;
A lower-level control process for controlling communication with the slave lower-level device;
A process allocating means for allocating a higher-level control process to one of the two Bluetooth modules mounted on each bus port for slave operation, and for allocating a lower-level control process to the other for master operation;
ID setting means for setting a unique identification ID for the own device;
A detecting means for detecting a subordinate device in a detectable state;
Subordinate device connection means for establishing a Bluetooth connection with the detected subordinate device;
ID generating means for generating an identification ID of the lower device and assigning it to the lower device;
A transfer control means for transferring a received packet in which a destination identification ID is described based on the identification ID;
The ID generation means generates an identification ID for the lower level device that expresses the hierarchical relationship between the own device and the lower level device,
The transfer control means forwards a received packet whose destination identification ID is the same layer as the own device or higher layer than the own device to a higher device, and receives a lower layer received packet whose destination identification ID is lower than the own device. A wireless information distribution apparatus, wherein   2. The wireless information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer control unit stores a received packet in which the destination identification ID matches the identification ID of the own apparatus in the own apparatus.   3. The ID generation unit generates an identification ID for a lower-level device by linking a unique ID for each lower-level device that can establish a Bluetooth connection with the identification ID of the own device. The wireless information distribution device described.   The wireless information distribution apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the unique ID is a communication port number assigned to a Bluetooth connection with the lower apparatus. Further comprising at least one terminal control process for controlling communication with the user terminal;
2. The wireless information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process allocating unit allocates the terminal control process to each of the third and subsequent Bluetooth modules attached to the bus port and performs a master / slave operation. .   6. The wireless information distribution apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising communication role switching means for switching a master / slave operation of a Bluetooth module to which the terminal control process is assigned.   The wireless information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bus port is a USB.   The process allocating unit allocates the upper control process to the first Bluetooth module mounted on the bus port and operates as a slave, and allocates the lower control process to the second mounted Bluetooth module and performs a master operation. The wireless information distribution apparatus according to claim 1.   The process allocating unit allocates the lower-level control process to the first Bluetooth module mounted on the bus port and performs master operation, and allocates the upper-level control process to the second mounted Bluetooth module and performs slave operation. The wireless information distribution apparatus according to claim 1.   6. The wireless information distribution apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the process allocating unit allocates the terminal control process to each Bluetooth module connected to the bus port after the third to perform a master / slave operation. Means for recognizing changes in network topology based on success or failure of packet transfer;
When a change in the network topology is recognized, the wireless information distribution device of the route having the highest hierarchy is provided with a means for requesting reconfiguration of the network,
The wireless information distribution device of the route reestablishes a Bluetooth connection with each lower device of the own device in response to the reconfiguration request, and each lower device further communicates with each lower device of the own device. 11. The wireless information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the Bluetooth connection is re-established, and this is repeated. In a communication method of a Bluetooth network in which a plurality of wireless information distribution devices are connected via Bluetooth,
Each wireless information distribution device
A Bluetooth module that operates as a slave to a master device that operates as a master;
A Bluetooth module that operates as a master for a slave device that operates as a slave,
One wireless information distribution device that functions as a route
A first procedure for detecting subordinate devices in a detectable state;
A second procedure for establishing a Bluetooth connection with the detected subordinate device;
A third procedure for generating and assigning an identification ID expressing the hierarchical relationship between the own device and the lower device to the lower device;
A fourth procedure in which each subordinate device to which the identification ID is assigned repeats the first to third procedures to further assign an identification ID to the subordinate device of the own device, and repeats this;
Transfer the received packet to the upper device if the destination ID described in the packet is the same layer or higher than the own device, and if the destination ID is lower than the own device A communication method for a Bluetooth network, comprising: a fifth procedure of transferring to a lower device.   13. The communication method for a Bluetooth network according to claim 12, further comprising a step of storing a received packet in which the identification ID of the destination matches the identification ID of the own device in the own device.   14. In the third procedure, a unique ID for each subordinate apparatus that can establish a Bluetooth connection is connected to an identification ID of the self apparatus to generate an identification ID for the subordinate apparatus. The communication method of the described Bluetooth network. A procedure for recognizing changes in network topology based on the success or failure of packet forwarding;
When the change in the network topology is recognized, the wireless information distribution device of the route having the highest hierarchy is further requested to reconstruct the network,
The wireless information distribution device of the route reestablishes a Bluetooth connection with each lower device of the own device in response to the reconfiguration request, and each lower device further communicates with each lower device of the own device. 15. The Bluetooth network communication method according to claim 12, wherein the Bluetooth connection is re-established, and this is repeated.

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