JP7076915B2 - Wireless communication device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless communication device that can be moved together with a vehicle or the like.

Conventionally, existing technologies such as DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) and ACS (Auto Channel Selection) have existed for prevention of interference and collision avoidance of wireless LAN channels. When DFS detects channel interference due to radar, it can scan other channels and automatically select a channel that does not interfere.

By the way, in order to improve the communication quality, it is desirable to continue to use the 5 GHz band rather than the 2.4 GHz band where channel interference does not occur, but once channel interference is detected, in other channels of the 5 GHz band. There are restrictions such as it takes 60 seconds to confirm that radar interference has not occurred, and channels with channel interference cannot be used for 30 minutes even if channel interference disappears, so channel interference is as much as possible. It is necessary to devise to use a channel in the 5 GHz band that does not occur. For example, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to switch the channel at the current position by using the interference data which is information on the reach of the radio wave transmitted from another system that uses the 5 GHz band and transmits / receives the radio wave in a stationary state. A wireless communication device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

International Publication No. 2013/179397

By the way, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, since the channel of the 5 GHz band that can be used is selected each time according to the interference data and the position of the own vehicle, the processing becomes complicated and the number of times of channel switching is large. There was a problem of becoming. When switching to a channel in the 5 GHz band, it is desirable that the number of channel switchings is small because of the various restrictions described above. In addition, in order to acquire the latest interference data, it is desirable to receive the interference data in a network environment, but at present, the network environment is not always in place for in-vehicle devices, and channel interference in the 5 GHz band is easily reduced. A method that can be used is desired.

The present invention has been created in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device capable of reducing channel interference by simple processing.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the wireless communication device of the present invention is a channel used at power-on in a wireless communication device that communicates by designating a channel to be used from a plurality of channels having a possibility of channel interference. When the channel storage means for storing the data, the channel interference determination means for determining the presence or absence of channel interference by the radar, and the channel interference determination means for the channel to be used determine the presence or absence of channel interference, the channel interference occurs at that time. An alternative channel search means that searches for other channels that have not occurred and sets them as the channel to be used, a storage channel update means that replaces the channel stored in the channel storage means with the channel used at that time when the power is turned off, and an alternative channel search. It is provided with an update execution / cancellation determination means for determining the execution or cancellation of the channel replacement operation for the storage channel update means according to the situation of the own device when another channel is searched by the means.

It is possible to estimate whether or not the possibility of channel interference occurring after that is low for the channel used when the power is turned off, depending on the status of the own device when a new channel is searched for when channel interference occurs. It is possible, and channel interference can be reduced by a simple process of switching whether or not to continue using the channel at the next power-on by reflecting this estimation result.

Further, the above-mentioned update execution / cancellation determination means stores when the position of the own device when another channel is searched by the alternative channel search means is included in the living area of the user who owns or uses the own device. Instructs the channel update means to perform the channel replacement operation, and instructs the channel update means to cancel the channel if it is not included .

In the user's living area, if channel interference by radar is detected for the channel in use and the channel used is changed, channel interference may occur by continuing to use the same channel even after the next power on. The sex can be reduced.

On the other hand, when channel interference by radar is detected for the channel in use outside the user's living area and the channel used is changed, it just happens that channel interference occurs at that location, and the next power is turned on. If you switch the channel to be used at times and continue to use the same channel when you return to the living area, it may cause channel interference after that, so by not updating the channel to be used at the next power-on, this It is possible to suppress the occurrence of such channel interference.

In addition, the above-mentioned update implementation / cancellation determination means determines that the position of the own device is included in the living area when the position of the own device is included in the predetermined range from the user's home, and the position of the own device is from the user's home. If it is not included in the predetermined range, it is determined that it is not included in the living area. By considering the surrounding area centered on the user's home, it is possible to easily and accurately grasp whether or not it is a living area.

In addition, the own device is arranged in the vehicle, and the update execution / cancellation determination means does not provide the movement guidance for guiding the movement of the user along the movement route to the predetermined destination, and the alternative channel. When another channel is searched by the search means, it is determined that the channel is included in the living area, and at other times, it is determined that the channel is not included in the living area . By considering a range of land that can be moved without using a navigation function such as a map application, it is possible to easily and accurately grasp whether or not it is a living area.

Further, it is desirable that the plurality of channels described above are included in the communication band of the 5 GHz band. As a result, it is possible to effectively use the 5 GHz communication band, which has many obstacles due to the use of radar, and it is possible to perform wireless communication with a higher throughput than when the 2.4 GHz communication band is used.

Further, it is desirable that the wireless communication device is mounted on the vehicle. In the case of a wireless communication device mounted on a vehicle, the usage environment of the wireless communication device may change significantly as the vehicle travels. By not changing the setting, it is possible to prevent the situation where channel interference occurs.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the vehicle-mounted device of one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of a wireless communication device. It is a flow chart which shows the operation procedure of the wireless communication apparatus which sets and updates the activation channel. It is explanatory drawing of the activation channel update at the time of traveling in a living area at the time of a channel change due to a channel interference. It is explanatory drawing of the activation channel update at the time of traveling outside the living area at the time of channel change due to channel interference.

Hereinafter, an in-vehicle device according to an embodiment to which the wireless communication device of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an in-vehicle device according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 100 of the present embodiment includes a navigation processing unit 10, an operation unit 20, an input processing unit 22, a display processing unit 30, a display device 32, and a digital-to-analog converter (D / A) 40. , A speaker 42, a CPU 50, a memory 60, and a wireless communication device 80. The in-vehicle device 100 is, for example, a head unit mounted on a vehicle, operates as a navigation device, and has a function as a wireless LAN access point.

The navigation processing unit 10 uses the map data stored in the memory 60 to perform a navigation operation for guiding the traveling of the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device 100 is mounted. This navigation operation includes detecting the position of the own vehicle using the GPS device 12, displaying a map around the position of the own vehicle, searching for a route to calculate the travel route to the destination, and traveling to the destination along the calculated travel route. Each operation such as route guidance to guide is included. Further, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the home of the owner (or user) of this vehicle is registered. The map data required for the navigation operation is stored in the memory 60, but it can be stored in another storage device such as a hard disk device, or by wireless communication from an external map distribution server (not shown). You may try to get it.

The operation unit 20 is for receiving an operation by a user (a user who owns or uses the in-vehicle device 100) with respect to the in-vehicle device 100, and various operation keys, operation switches, and operation switches arranged around the display device 32. It is configured to include operation knobs and the like. Further, when various operation screens and input screens are displayed on the display device 32, the user directly points to a part of these operation screens and input screens with a finger or the like, so that the display items of the operation screens and input screens are displayed. Is possible, and in order to enable operations using such an operation screen or input screen, a touch panel that detects the position of the pointed finger or the like is a part of the operation unit 20. It is equipped as. The input processing unit 22 monitors the operation unit 20 and determines the operation content by the user.

The display processing unit 30 outputs video signals for displaying various operation screens, input screens, and the like, displays these screens on the display device 32, and displays a map screen, an intersection guidance screen, and the like created by the navigation processing unit 10. The video signal to be displayed is output and these screens are displayed on the display device 32. The display device 32 is installed in front of the center of the driver's seat and the passenger's seat, and is configured by using, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD).

The digital-to-analog converter 40 converts the guidance voice or the like generated by the navigation processing unit 10 into an analog voice signal and outputs it from the speaker 42.

The CPU 50 controls the entire in-vehicle device 100 by executing a predetermined program stored in the memory 60, and supports the provision of various information necessary for setting the activation channel in the wireless communication device 80. I do.

The memory 60 is used as a work area for storing the operation program of the CPU 50 and storing various data necessary for the operation of the CPU 50. The operation program executed by the CPU 50 includes a program for the support operation related to the above-mentioned activation channel. The memory 60 is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory such as a ROM or RAM, and may include a hard disk device or the like in addition to these.

The wireless communication device 80 performs wireless communication by designating a channel to be used from a plurality of channels included in the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band, and performs wireless communication of an external mobile terminal device (not shown). It has a function as a relay access point. In this embodiment, the radio band of the 5 GHz band, which has a higher throughput than the case of using the communication band of 2.4 GHz, is preferentially used. Further, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the case where the wireless communication device 80 is built in the vehicle-mounted device 100 has been described, but the vehicle-mounted device 100 may be externally attached to the outside.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the wireless communication device 80. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless communication device 80 includes a wireless communication unit 81, a DFS processing unit 82, a start ch (channel) storage unit 83, a start ch setting unit 84, a start ch update unit 85, and an update execution / cancellation determination. It is configured to include a part 86.

The wireless communication unit 81 controls Wi-Fi wireless communication using any channel included in the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band based on a standard such as IEEE 802.11.

The DFS processing unit 82 detects radio waves used by a weather radar or the like (detection of channel interference) for channels used for wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 81, and searches for other channels in which channel interference does not occur. And perform the process of setting as a new channel to be used.

The activation ch storage unit 83 stores a channel (activation channel) used when the power of the wireless communication device 80 (vehicle-mounted device 100) is turned on.

The start-up ch setting unit 84 sets the channel stored in the start-up ch storage unit 83 as the channel used for wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 81 when the power of the wireless communication device 80 (vehicle-mounted device 100) is turned on.

The activation ch update unit 85 replaces the channel stored in the activation ch storage unit 83 with the channel used at that time when the power of the wireless communication device (vehicle-mounted device 100) is turned off.

The update execution / cancellation determination unit 86 executes a channel replacement operation for the activation channel update unit 85 according to the situation of the in-vehicle device 100 when another channel is searched by the DFS processing unit 82 when channel interference occurs. Alternatively, it is determined to cancel.

The above-mentioned activation channel storage unit 83 is used as a channel storage means, a DFS processing unit 82 is used as a channel interference determination means and an alternative channel search means, an activation channel update unit 85 is used as a storage channel update means, and an update execution / cancellation determination unit 86 is used. Corresponds to each of the implementation / cancellation determination means.

The vehicle-mounted device 100 of the present embodiment has such a configuration, and next, the operation of setting and updating the activation channel in the wireless communication device 80 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of the wireless communication device 80 for setting and updating the activation channel. When the vehicle-mounted device 100 is started by turning on the power, the start-up ch setting unit 84 reads out the channel stored in the start-up ch storage unit 83 (step 100). Next, the DFS processing unit 82 performs radar detection for a predetermined time (60 seconds) on the read channel, and determines whether or not channel interference has occurred (step 102). If no channel interference has occurred, a negative determination is made, and the startup ch setting unit 84 sets this channel as the channel used by the wireless communication unit 81 (step 104). The wireless communication unit 81 performs a wireless communication operation using the set channel to be used (step 106).

After that, the update execution / cancellation determination unit 86 determines whether or not the power is turned off by the user (step 108). For example, assuming that the power off is instructed by turning off the accessory switch (not shown) of the vehicle, a negative determination is made in the determination in step 108 while the accessory switch is not turned off. In this case, the process returns to step 102, and the channel interference determination operation is repeated.

Further, when the radar is detected and the occurrence of channel interference is detected, a positive judgment is made in the determination in step 102. It should be noted that this channel interference includes both the case where it is discovered by the radar detection operation immediately after the power is turned on and the case where it is discovered by the radar detection operation that is operating as an access point thereafter. When channel interference occurs, the DFS processing unit 82 performs a DFS scan to search for other channels in which channel interference does not occur (step 110). As described above, in the present embodiment, the radio band of the 5 GHz band having a higher throughput is prioritized over the communication band of 2.4 GHz, and in step 110, another channel of the 5 GHz band in which channel interference does not occur is searched. To. After that, the process proceeds to step 104, and this newly searched channel is set as the channel to be used.

Further, when the user gives an instruction to turn off the power (accessory switch is turned off), a positive judgment is made in the determination in step 108. Next, the update execution / cancellation determination unit 86 determines whether or not the channel has been changed between the time the power was turned on and the present (step 112). If the channel is not changed, a negative determination is made, and the series of processes is terminated without updating the start channel storage unit 83 (start channel).

Further, when the channel is changed, an affirmative judgment is made in the determination in step 112. Next, the update execution / cancellation determination unit 86 determines whether or not the position of the own vehicle at the time of channel change is within the living area of the user (step 114).

Whether or not it is included in the living area is determined by, for example, the following criteria. The criteria shown below are examples, and criteria may be added, changed, or deleted as appropriate. Further, the information for determining whether or not the vehicle is in the living area (own vehicle position, home position, whether or not the route guidance operation is in progress, etc.) is created by the navigation processing unit 10 and provided via the CPU 50.
(1) The vehicle position at the time of channel change is included in a predetermined range (for example, within 10 km in a straight line distance) from the user's home (assuming that the home position is registered in the navigation processing unit 10 in advance). In some cases, it is determined that it is included in the living area, and if it is not included, it is determined that it is not included in the living area.
(2) With no movement guidance (route guidance) that guides the movement of the own vehicle along the travel route to the predetermined destination (destination specified by the user) obtained by the route search process. It is determined that the vehicle is included in the living area when the channel is changed, and it is determined that the vehicle is not included in the living area when the channel is changed during the movement guidance (route guidance).

When the vehicle position is within the living area, a positive judgment is made in the determination in step 114. Next, the update execution / cancellation determination unit 86 determines whether or not the channel used when the power is turned off and the channel stored in the activation channel storage unit 83 are the same (step 116). If they are different (when channel interference occurs between power-on and power-off and the channel used is changed), a negative judgment is made. In this case, the update execution / cancellation determination unit 86 sends an execution instruction to the start channel update unit 85, and an operation of replacing the channel stored in the start ch storage unit 83 with the channel used when the power is turned off is executed. (Step 118). If the channel used when the power is turned off and the channel stored in the start ch storage unit 83 are the same, an affirmative judgment is made in the determination in step 116, and the update operation for the start ch storage unit 83 in step 118 is omitted. Will be done.

If the vehicle position is outside the living area, a negative determination is made in the determination in step 114. In this case, the update execution / cancellation determination unit 86 sends a stop instruction to the start channel update unit 85, and the update operation of the channel stored in the start ch storage unit 83 is stopped.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of activation channel update when traveling in a living area when a channel is changed due to channel interference. In the example shown in FIG. 4, after being set to the channel used (100ch) when the power is turned on, for example, channel interference is detected in the living area around the home and the channel is changed to another channel (120ch), and then the power is turned off. Was done. In this case, since the vehicle position at the time of channel change is in the living area, when the power is turned off, the activation ch storage unit 83 is updated by the activation ch update unit 85, and the activation channels up to that point are from 100ch to 120ch. Will be changed to. When the power is turned on next time, the activation channel (120ch) stored in the activation channel storage unit 83 is read out and set as the channel used by the wireless communication unit 81.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of activation channel update when traveling outside the living area when the channel is changed due to channel interference. In the example shown in FIG. 5, after the channel is set to the used channel (100ch) when the power is turned on, channel interference is detected while traveling outside the living area and the channel is changed to another channel (120ch), and then the power is turned off. Was done. In this case, since the vehicle position at the time of channel change is outside the living area, the update of the start ch storage unit 83 by the start ch update unit 85 is stopped when the power is turned off, and the start channel up to that point remains 100 ch. Be maintained. When the power is turned on next time, the activation channel (100ch) stored in the activation channel storage unit 83 is read out and set as the channel used by the wireless communication unit 81.

As described above, in the in-vehicle device 100 (wireless communication device 80) of the present embodiment, the channel used when the power is turned off is thereafter according to the situation of the own device at the time when a new channel is searched for when channel interference occurs. It is possible to estimate whether or not the possibility of channel interference is low, and the channel can be simply processed by reflecting this estimation result and switching whether or not to continue using the channel at the next power-on. Interference can be reduced.

In particular, in the user's living area, if channel interference by radar is detected for the channel in use and the channel used is changed, channel interference will occur by continuing to use the same channel even after the next power-on. The possibility of occurrence can be reduced.

On the other hand, when channel interference by radar is detected for the channel in use outside the user's living area and the channel used is changed, it just happens that channel interference occurs at that location, and the next power is turned on. If you switch the channel to be used at times and continue to use the same channel when you return to the living area, it may cause channel interference after that, so by not changing the channel to be used at the next power-on. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of such channel interference.

In addition, when determining whether or not the area is within the living area, it is possible to easily and accurately grasp the area by considering the surrounding area centered on the user's home. Alternatively, when determining whether or not the area is within the living area, it is possible to easily and accurately grasp the range by considering the range of the land that can be moved without using the navigation function such as the map application.

Further, by appropriately updating the activation channel in this way, it is possible to effectively use the 5 GHz communication band, which has many obstacles due to the use of radar, and the throughput is higher than when the 2.4 GHz communication band is used. It becomes possible to perform wireless communication.

Further, in the case of the wireless communication device 80 mounted on the vehicle, the usage environment of the wireless communication device 80 may change significantly as the vehicle travels. By not changing the channel settings at the same time, it is possible to prevent the situation where channel interference occurs.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the wireless communication device 80 mounted on the vehicle has been described, but an access point is a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone having a map application capable of detecting the position of the own device, registering at home, and performing navigation operations. The present invention can also be applied when used as a device.

As described above, according to the present invention, channel interference may still occur in the channel used when the power is turned off, depending on the situation of the own device at the time when a new channel is searched for when channel interference occurs. It is possible to estimate whether or not the property is low, and it is possible to reduce channel interference by a simple process of switching whether or not the channel is continuously used at the next power-on by reflecting this estimation result.

100 In-vehicle device 10 Navigation processing unit 80 Wireless communication unit 81 Wireless communication unit 82 DFS processing unit 83 Start-up ch storage unit 84 Start-up ch setting unit 85 Start-up ch update unit 86 Update implementation / cancellation determination unit

Claims (4)

In a wireless communication device that communicates by designating the channel to be used from among multiple channels that may interfere with the channel.
A channel storage means that stores the channel used when the power is turned on,
Channel interference determination means for determining the presence or absence of channel interference by radar for the channel used,
When the channel interference determination means determines that there is channel interference, an alternative channel search means that searches for another channel that does not have channel interference at that time and sets it as the channel to be used.
A storage channel updating means that replaces the channel stored in the channel storage means with the channel used at that time when the power is turned off.
An update execution / cancellation determination means for determining execution or cancellation of a channel replacement operation for the storage channel update means according to the status of the own device when the other channel is searched by the alternative channel search means. ,
When the position of the own device when the other channel is searched by the alternative channel search means is included in the living area of the user who owns or uses the own device. Is instructed to perform the channel replacement operation to the storage channel updating means, and is instructed to stop when it is not included, and the position of the own device is included in a predetermined range from the user's home. If it is, it is determined that it is included in the living area, and if the position of the own device is not included in the predetermined range from the user's home, it is determined that it is not included in the living area. Device. In a wireless communication device that communicates by designating the channel to be used from among multiple channels that may interfere with the channel.
A channel storage means that stores the channel used when the power is turned on,
Channel interference determination means for determining the presence or absence of channel interference by radar for the channel used,
When the channel interference determination means determines that there is channel interference, an alternative channel search means that searches for another channel that does not have channel interference at that time and sets it as the channel to be used.
A storage channel updating means that replaces the channel stored in the channel storage means with the channel used at that time when the power is turned off.
An update execution / cancellation determination means for determining execution or cancellation of a channel replacement operation for the storage channel update means according to the situation of the own device when the other channel is searched by the alternative channel search means. ,
The own device is placed in the vehicle,
The update execution / cancellation determination means stores the memory when the position of the own device when the other channel is searched by the alternative channel search means is included in the living area of the user who owns or uses the own device. A movement that instructs the channel update means to perform a channel replacement operation, and if it is not included, instructs the channel to be stopped, and guides the movement of the user along a movement route to a predetermined destination. When the other channel is searched by the alternative channel search means without guidance, it is determined that the other channel is included in the living area, and at other times, it is determined that the other channel is not included in the living area. A wireless communication device characterized by The wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the plurality of channels are included in a communication band in the 5 GHz band. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the wireless communication device is mounted on a vehicle.

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