JPH1127277A - Radio communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily cope with various kinds of interfaces by constituting an interface unit to exchange data between two interfaces of a radio unit and a data processor. SOLUTION: Pieces of radio LAN equipment 100-1 to 100-3 are made common with radio LAN units 200-1 to 200-3 to be connected with a radio communication route 500. Interface units 300-1 to 300-3 to be plugged in the pieces of the radio LAN equipment 100-1 to 100-3 are exchanged according to interfaces of personal computers 2-1 to 2-3 on which pieces of the radio LAN equipment 100-1 to 100-3 are mounted. Consequently, pieces of the radio LAN equipment 100-1 to 100-3 are connected without depending on the interfaces of the personal computers 2-1 to 2-3. In addition, each interface is coped by simply exchanging the interface units, therefore, a system is inexpensively constituted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio communication device, and more particularly to a radio communication device for connecting data processing devices by a radio communication path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, there are various types of methods for connecting to a personal computer. For example,
"DOS / VISA", "EISA", "PCI",
Interfaces using “MCA”, “PC card”, “parallel port connection”, “serial port connection”, “Nu bus”, and “C bus” are provided.

[0003] However, personal computers do not have all of the above interfaces, but one.
Alternatively, a plurality of interfaces are mounted to selectively connect to the outside. For this reason, when connecting a peripheral device or the like, it is necessary to select a peripheral device in which an interface matching the personal computer to which the peripheral device is to be connected is set.

[0004] On the other hand, in recent years, network construction by personal computers has been actively performed, and LANs (Local Area Networks) have been actively introduced. The LAN includes a wired L connecting personal computers through a wired communication path such as an optical fiber.
In addition to the AN, there is a wireless LAN connected by wireless.

[0005] Here, a wireless LAN system will be described. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an example of a conventional wireless LAN system. FIG. 4 shows a so-called wireless LAN (Local Area Network) system in which a plurality of personal computers are connected via a wireless communication path and data can be exchanged between the plurality of personal computers.

Personal computers 2-1 to 2-3 are connected to wireless LAN communication devices 1-1 to 1-3 for connecting to a wireless communication path of a wireless LAN. Wireless LA
A wireless shared transmission path 3 is formed between the N communication devices 1-1 to 1-3, and data exchange is performed by adding information of a destination of information and a source of information to data. The transmission is performed by radio, and the reception destination recognizes the transmission destination information in the transmission information, recognizes that the information is directed to the own device, and performs reception.

FIG. 5 shows a data configuration diagram of information transmitted between wireless LAN devices. Wireless LAN devices 1-1 to 1--1
3 is a destination address (D) for specifying a partner to whom information should be given as shown in FIG.
A: Destination Address) 10, Source address (SA) 1 for specifying the source of information transmission
0, information 30 to be transmitted from the source address SA to the destination address DA.

In transmitting information in the wireless LAN devices 1-1 to 1-3, the address of the transmission destination is changed to the destination address DA in FIG.
10, the address of its own device is set to the source address SA20 in FIG.
The data supplied from 2-3 is set in the information 30 of FIG. 5, and transmitted from the antennas 4-1 to 4-3 to the outside. When the information is received by the wireless LAN devices 1-1 to 1-3, when the information is received by the antennas 4-1 to 4-3, the destination address 10 in the received information is detected, and the detected destination address 10 is set to the own device. If the detected destination address 10 and the own device address match with each other, it can be determined that the information is transmitted to the own device. Therefore, the source address SA of the supplied information and the data of the information 30 can be determined. Is extracted and supplied to the personal computers 2-1 to 2-3.

The wireless LAN devices 1-1 to 1-3 are composed of:
The personal computers 2-1 to 2-3 are connected to the personal computers 2-1 to 2-3 by cables 5-1 to 5-3 corresponding to interfaces mounted on the personal computers 2-1 to 2-3. For example, if the interface of the personal computer 2-1 is a serial port interface, a wireless LAN to which the personal computer 2-1 should be connected
A device in which the wireless unit 6-1 of the device 1-1 is designed as a circuit for a serial port is required. If the interface of the personal computer 2-2 is a parallel port interface, the personal computer 2-2
To which the wireless unit 6 of the wireless LAN device 1-2 should be connected
-2 is required as a circuit designed for a parallel port. Further, if the interface of the personal computer 2-3 is an Ethernet interface, a wireless LAN
A device in which the wireless unit 6-3 of the device 1-2 is designed as an Ethernet circuit is required.

That is, it was necessary to develop a wireless unit compatible with a personal computer interface.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, wireless LAN
The system is in the middle of popularization, and it is difficult to commercialize many types. However, since personal computers have different interfaces depending on the model, wireless LAN systems are limited to personal computers of limited models. This is a situation that can only be applied to wireless LAN systems, and this has caused more and more delays in the spread of wireless LAN systems.

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a wireless communication apparatus which can easily cope with various interfaces.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication apparatus connected to a data processing apparatus and connecting the data processing apparatus to a desired wireless communication path. And the wireless unit are configured separately from the wireless unit, connected to the wireless unit by a first interface, connected to the data processing device by a second interface, and connected to the first interface and the second interface. And an interface unit for mutually converting data between the two interfaces.

According to the first aspect, the wireless unit is common, and the interface unit has a first interface for connecting to the wireless unit and a second interface corresponding to a mode of the interface of the data processing device to be connected to the wireless communication path. By exchanging data with the second interface, the interface corresponding to the data processing device can be connected to the wireless unit having the common configuration simply by exchanging the interface unit.
Connection to a desired wireless communication path becomes possible. For this reason,
It is possible to easily cope with data processing devices having different interfaces, and to improve versatility.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the interface unit is configured to be detachable from the wireless unit. According to the second aspect, the interface unit is configured to be attachable / detachable to / from the wireless unit. By replacing the interface unit attached to the wireless unit, the connection to the data processing device having various types of interfaces can be established. This makes it possible to improve versatility.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a connection means for connecting to another communication path is connected to the interface unit. According to the third aspect, by connecting the interface unit to the connection means for connecting to another communication path, it is possible to connect not only to the wireless communication path connected by the wireless unit but also to another communication path. Performance can be improved.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention. Wireless LAN of this embodiment
The devices 100-1 to 100-3 are connected to the personal computers 2-1 to 2-3 and constitute a wireless LAN system. The wireless LAN devices 100-1 to 100-3 form a wireless LAN unit 200 for forming a predetermined wireless communication path.
-1 to 200-3, wireless LAN unit 200-1 to 2
00-3, and connected to the wireless LAN unit 200-1.
Interface unit 30 for converting a predetermined interface set to .about.200-3 into an interface of predetermined personal computers 2-1 to 2-3 connected thereto
0-1 to 300-3, wireless LAN unit 200-1
Antenna 4 connected to 200-3 for transmitting and receiving information
00-1 to 400-3.

Wireless LAN units 200-1 to 200-
3 has a common configuration among different wireless LAN devices 100-1 to 100-3, and has a common interface. The transmission of information in the wireless LAN devices 200-1 to 200-3 is performed by setting the destination address to the destination address DA in FIG.
10, the address of its own device is set to the source address SA20 in FIG.
The data supplied from 2-3 is set in the information 30 of FIG. 5 and transmitted from the antennas 400-1 to 400-3 to the outside.

The reception of information in the wireless LAN devices 200-1 to 200-3 is performed by the antennas 400-1 to 400-3.
When the information is received, the destination address 10 in the received information as shown in FIG. 5 is detected, the detected destination address 10 is compared with the address of the own device, and the detected destination address 10 and the own device address are compared. If they match, it can be determined that the information is transmitted to the own device. Therefore, the source address SA of the supplied information and the data of the information 30 are extracted, and the interface units 300-1 to 300-3 are extracted.
To supply.

The wireless LAN devices 200-1 to 200-3 are provided with connectors 210-1 to 210-3 for connecting the interface units 300-1 to 300-3, for example, to serially output data. I do. Connectors 310-1 to 310-3 that are plug-in connected to connectors 210-1 to 210-3 are mounted on interface units 300-1 to 300-3. Therefore, the interface units 300-1 to 200-3
And the wireless LAN units 200-1 to 200-3 are connected by a serial port.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an interface unit of an embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention. The interface units 300-1 to 300-3 are the connectors 2 of the wireless LAN units 200-1 to 200-3.
Connector 310-1 connected to 10-1 to 210-3
Interface circuit 320 that is connected to connectors 310-1 to 310-3 and that corresponds to the interface of personal computers 2-1 to 2-3 to which wireless LAN devices 100-1 to 100-3 are to be connected.
-1 to 320-3, personal computer 2-1 to 2
-3 to 330-3.

The connectors 310-1 to 310-3 are formed of connectors that can be connected to the connectors 210-1 to 210-3 mounted on the wireless LAN units 200-1 to 200-3. Interface circuit 300-1
300-3 is connected between connectors 310-1 to 310-3 and connectors 330-1 to 330-3, and wireless L
Interfaces between the AN units 200-1 to 200-3 and the personal computers 2-1 to 2-3. For example, the interface circuit 320-1 mounted on the interface unit 300-1 plugged into the wireless LAN device 100-1 is connected to the wireless LAN unit 20-1.
Since the interface 0-1 is a serial port and the interface of the personal computer 2-1 to which the wireless LAN device 100-1 is connected is a serial port, no special conversion is performed.

The interface circuit 320-2 mounted on the interface unit 300-2 plugged into the wireless LAN device 100-2 is a wireless LAN device.
Since the interface of the unit 200-2 is a serial port and the interface of the personal computer 2-2 to which the wireless LAN device 100-2 is connected is a parallel port, serial-parallel conversion is performed.

Further, the interface circuit 320-3 mounted on the interface unit 300-3 plugged into the wireless LAN device 100-3 includes a wireless LA.
Since the interface of the N unit 200-3 is a serial port, and the interface of the personal computer 2-3 to which the wireless LAN device 100-3 is connected is Ethernet, conversion between serial and Ethernet is performed.

As the connectors 330-1 to 330-3, connectors corresponding to the interfaces of the personal computers 2-1 to 2-3 are employed. For example, the connector 33 mounted on the interface unit 300-1
In the case of 0-1, the connected personal computer 2-
Since the first interface is a serial port, a connector to which the serial cable 500-1 can be connected is mounted.

The interface unit 300-2
, The interface of the personal computer 2-2 to be connected is a parallel port, so that a connector to which the parallel cable 500-2 can be connected is mounted. Further, the connector 330-3 mounted on the interface unit 300-3
In this case, since the interface of the personal computer 2-3 to be connected is for Ethernet, a connector to which the Ethernet cable 500-3 can be connected is mounted.

In this embodiment, the wireless LAN device 100-1
Units 100-1 to 300-3 which are common to the wireless LAN units 200-1 to 200-3 for connecting the wireless LAN devices 100-1 to 100-3 to the wireless communication path 500, and which are plugged into the wireless LAN devices 100-1 to 100-3 -3 is exchanged according to the interface of the personal computers 2-1 to 2-3 on which the wireless LAN devices 100-1 to 100-3 are mounted, so that the wireless LAN device can be connected regardless of the interface of the personal computer. . Further, in the wireless LAN device of the present embodiment, various interfaces can be supported only by replacing the interface unit, so that the system can be configured at low cost.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a modification of the embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those of FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The wireless LAN devices 100-1 to 100-3 of the present embodiment are connected to personal computers 2-1 to 2-3,
An AN system and a wireless LAN device 10
0-4 allows connection to another wired LAN system such as Ethernet via a bridge.

The wireless LAN device 100-4 is a wireless LAN device.
In the same configuration as the devices 100-1 to 100-3, an interface for Ethernet is connected to the interface unit 300-4. Wireless LAN device 10
0-4 interface unit 300-4 has L
A bridge 600 for relaying between ANs is connected. The bridge 600 includes personal computers 2-4 to 2-
m is connected in the transmission line 800 constituting the Ethernet 700 connected by the transceivers 710-1 to 710-n. The bridge 600 relays the wireless LAN and the Ethernet 700. Note that a terminator 720 is connected to the end of the transmission line 800.

As described above, the wireless LAN devices 100-1 to 100-1
100-4 interface units 300-1 to 300-3
By setting 00-4 as an interface corresponding to the bridge 600, another LA such as the Ethernet 700 can be used.
N can be easily connected. The interface units 300-1 to 300-4 are not limited to conversion to an interface such as a serial port, a parallel port, and Ethernet. For example, PCMC
IA (PERSONAL COMPUTER MEMORY CARD International
Association) standardized interface,
It may be configured to convert to another interface such as a USB interface. That is, any interface can be used as long as the interface of the wireless LAN units 200-1 to 200-4 can be converted into the interface of the device to be connected to the wireless LAN.

The LAN connected to the wireless LAN device 100-4 is not limited to the Ethernet 700, but may be another wired LAN or a wireless LAN. That is, in the present embodiment, it is possible to connect to any interface device by plugging in an interface unit that performs conversion according to the interface to be connected.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the data processing for sharing the wireless unit and connecting the interface unit to the first interface for connecting the wireless unit and the wireless communication path is performed. By configuring to exchange data with the second interface according to the type of the interface of the device, the interface corresponding to the data processing device can be exchanged with the wireless unit having the common configuration by simply exchanging the interface unit. This makes it possible to connect to a desired wireless communication path, so that it can easily cope with a data processing device having a different interface, and has the features of being able to improve versatility.

According to the second aspect, the interface unit is configured to be attachable / detachable to / from the wireless unit, so that the interface unit attached to the wireless unit is exchanged to provide a data processing apparatus having various types of interfaces. This makes it possible to improve the versatility. According to the third aspect, by connecting the interface unit to the connection means for connecting to another communication path, it is possible to connect not only to the wireless communication path connected by the wireless unit but also to another communication path. It has features such as the ability to be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an interface unit of the wireless communication apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a modification of the embodiment of the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a conventional wireless communication apparatus.

FIG. 5 shows a data configuration diagram of information transmitted between wireless LAN devices.

[Explanation of symbols]

100-1 to 100-4 Wireless LAN device 2-1 to 2-m Personal computer 200-1 to 200-4 Wireless LAN unit 210-1 to 210-3, 310-1 to 310-3, 3
30-1 to 330-3 Connector 300-1 to 300-4 Interface Unit 320-1 to 320-3 Interface Circuit 400-1 to 400-4 Antenna 500-1 to 500-3 Cable 600 Bridge 700 Ethernet 710-1 710-n Transceiver 720 Terminator 800 Transmission line

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A wireless communication device connected to a data processing device and connecting the data processing device to a desired wireless communication path, wherein a wireless unit that connects to the wireless communication path is different from the wireless unit. And a wireless communication unit connected to the wireless unit by a first interface, connected to the data processing device by a second interface, and mutually converting data between the first interface and the second interface. A wireless communication device comprising: 2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface unit is configured to be detachable from the wireless unit. 3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein connection means for connecting to another communication path is connected to the interface unit.