JPH1141166A - Radio communication system and terminal equipment therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a radio communication system in which communication can be attained by synthesizing voice information with digital data by transmitting and receiving by radio both a voice communication signal and the other digital data between a radio communication terminal equipment and a communication controller. SOLUTION: This system is constituted of a communication controller 1 set in a work supporting center or the like and a radio communication terminal equipment 2 for communicating with this. The communication controller 1 is provided with a radio communication device 3 for transmitting and receiving by radio a voice communication signal and the other digital data. The radio communication terminal equipment 2 is made portable, and connected with a microphone earphone 5 mounted on a worker 4. Then, the voice of the worker 4 is transmitted by radio through the microphone to the communication controller 1 with the other digital data inputted by an inputting part 6 such as a keyboard, and a voice transmitted by radio from the communication controller 1 through the earphone can be listened to, and support information or the like displayed on a display part 7 can be viewed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio communication system and a radio communication terminal device, and more particularly to a radio communication system and a radio communication terminal device suitable for use in giving instruction to a worker or confirming a worker in various production factories. The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and a wireless communication terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of wireless communication system, for example, a wireless communication system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-21507, that is, a control input / output signal which wirelessly communicates and receives a control input / output signal. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a wireless communication system in which an output signal is displayed on a visual display device, or a received control input / output signal is converted into sound and notified by an acoustic notifying unit.

A wireless communication system of this kind has been used for transmitting and receiving data such as characters and images and digital data such as control signal codes for remote I / O devices.
If voice communication was required in connection with these wireless communications, another system had to be used, such as a voice transceiver, telephone or wireless microphone.

[0004]

The combined use of the two conventional systems, such as a radio communication system dedicated to transmitting and receiving digital data and a system for exchanging voice, requires individually preparing the equipment of each system. However, there is a problem in that it is not convenient in terms of space and installation cost, and that the synchronism between the exchange of digital data and the exchange of voice becomes poor, and the usability is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the conventional system, and has a worker's portable wireless terminal device and a communication control device of a work support center, or a worker's portable wireless terminal. It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-use wireless communication system capable of performing communication by integrating voice data with digital data when performing wireless communication between devices.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a wireless communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention converts an audio wave signal input / output to an electroacoustic transducer and an audio communication signal for communication. A wireless communication terminal device having a voice input / output interface for mutually converting, and a wireless communication unit for wirelessly transmitting and receiving the voice communication signal together with other digital data, and a wireless communication device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving the voice communication signal together with other digital data , And a communication control device having a voice processing controller.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, data such as characters and images, digital data such as a control signal code of a remote I / O device and voice are transmitted by a single wireless communication.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to the first aspect, both the wireless communication unit of the wireless communication terminal device and the wireless communication device of the communication control device are provided with a spread modulation means of a spread spectrum system and a reverse modulation means. Having spread modulation means,
The wireless communication is performed by the spread spectrum method.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the spread spectrum system is used, the transmission band is wide, suitable for transmitting a large amount of data obtained by integrating voice and other data, resistant to noise, and capable of transmitting voice. In the case of analog transmission, the voice transmission band can be widened, and in the case of digital transmission, the transmission speed can be increased, and clear and high-quality voice can be transmitted and received.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to the first or second aspect, the voice processing controller has voice recognition means, and receives the voice communication signal from the wireless communication terminal device in the communication control. The device recognizes
A predetermined process corresponding to this is performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the communication control device determines this based on the voice of the remote worker, and sends the corresponding instruction or support information to the transmitting worker or another worker. It outputs alarms for parts shortage, and outputs contact signals for switching operation of various devices in the factory.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication system according to the first or second aspect, a plurality of the wireless communication terminal devices are provided, and the plurality of wireless communication terminal devices wirelessly communicate with each other via the communication control device. It is characterized by doing.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, clear communication can be performed even between terminal devices that are far from each other and do not directly reach radio waves.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication terminal device, wherein an audio input / output interface for mutually converting an audio wave signal input / output to an electroacoustic transducer and an audio communication signal for communication, and inputting data and the like. An input unit for displaying, a display unit for displaying digital data such as a processing menu and input / output data,
A wireless communication unit for wirelessly transmitting and receiving the voice communication signal together with the digital data.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication terminal device according to the fifth aspect, the wireless communication section has a spread modulation means for a spread spectrum system and a despread modulation means,
The wireless communication is performed by the spread spectrum method.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a radio communication system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless communication system according to the present invention includes a communication control device 1 installed in a work support center or the like.
And a wireless communication terminal device 2 that can mutually wirelessly communicate with the communication control device 1. Although not shown in the figure, this wireless communication terminal device 2 has one communication control device 1
It is common to provide a plurality for the.

The communication control device 1 includes a wireless communication device 3 for wirelessly transmitting and receiving a voice communication signal together with other digital data. The voice information and characters, images, etc. are transmitted between the antenna and the antenna of the communication control device 1. Data, remote I
Mutual transmission with digital data such as a control signal code of the / O device is performed.

The wireless communication terminal device 2 is portable,
The microphone 4 is connected to a microphone / earphone (electro-acoustic transducer) 5 worn by the worker 4, and the voice of the worker 4 is wirelessly transmitted to the communication control device 1 through the microphone together with other digital data input by the input unit 6 such as a keyboard. The user can listen to the sound transmitted and wirelessly transmitted from the communication control device 1 through the earphone, and can see support information and the like displayed on the display unit 7 such as an LCD.

The details of the communication control device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the entire communication control device 1. The communication control device 1 includes a control device main unit 11, a wireless communication device 3 connected to the control device main unit 11, A console 12, a contact signal output unit 13 connected to the control device main unit 11 and a system bus, and a remote I / O
And an O master unit 14.

The control device main unit 11 is provided with a serial controller 15. The control device main unit 11 is connected to the wireless communication device 3 via the serial controller 15, and performs wireless transmission and reception with the wireless communication device 3. The voice communication signal is exchanged with other digital data by serial data. Serial controller 1
5 is also connected to the setting console 12. This setting console 12 displays the received code,
Set response operation contents corresponding to character data, voice, etc.,
Keyboard and LC for monitoring the operation status
D is provided.

The control unit main unit 11 is provided with a voice processing controller 16, and the received voice communication signal is sent to the voice processing controller 16,
Here, processing such as voice recognition is performed, and the recognized voice is converted into a corresponding code signal.

The control device main unit 11 performs a predetermined process according to the type of the code signal. That is,
A response signal (code, data, voice, etc.) is sent to the wireless communication device 3, the contact signal output unit 13, and / or the remote I / O master unit 14. When the operator's voice requests assistance information or data, the response information is sent to the wireless communication device 3. When the center of the communication control device 1 is informed of the shortage of parts, the contact signal output unit 1 is used.
When information for alarm notification is given to 3 and switching of devices in the factory is instructed, processing such as sending switching contact information to the remote I / O master unit 14 is performed.

When the answer information is sent to the wireless communication device 3, the voice response code is synthesized into a voice communication signal by the voice synthesis means of the voice processing controller 16, and then this voice communication signal is converted into another digital signal or the like. Integrated with
It is transmitted from the wireless communication device 3 via the serial controller 15.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of the wireless communication device 3. The wireless communication device 3 includes an external serial interface 17, an MPU 18, a low-pass filter 19,
The external serial interface 17 includes a reception signal interface circuit 20 and an RF unit 21. The external serial interface 17 is connected to the serial controller 15 and the MPU 18 of the control device main unit 11, respectively. Transmit signals such as codes to each other. The MPU 18 sends a signal received from the control device main unit 11 to the low-pass filter 19, and sends a signal received from the reception signal interface circuit 20 to the control device main unit 11. Also, MPU1
Reference numeral 8 denotes a setting unit 22 for setting channel assignment, radio wave output, output level to the control device main unit 11, etc. of each wireless communication terminal device, a display unit 23 for displaying the setting status, etc., other EEPROM, RAM Are connected.

The RF unit 21 includes the control device main unit 1
1, a transmission processing unit 24 for converting a digital signal or a voice communication signal transmitted from 1 into a carrier wave and converting it into a transmission radio wave, and removing a carrier wave from a reception radio wave received from an antenna,
Reception processing unit 25 that converts data, codes, etc. into reception signals
The transmission processing unit 24 includes an information modulation unit 26 that modulates information such as a digital signal and a voice communication signal,
Further, a modulator (spread modulator) 27 that spreads and modulates the output modulated signal wave of the information modulator 26 in a spread spectrum system.
The spread-spectrum modulation signal wave output from the spread modulation means 27 is transmitted from the antenna to the wireless communication terminal device 2. The reception processing unit 25 includes a despread modulation unit 28 that despreads a received modulation signal wave of the spread spectrum system received from the antenna, and further outputs an output signal wave of the despread modulation unit 28 to a digital signal or voice communication. An information demodulation unit 29 for demodulating information such as a signal is provided.

In this embodiment, the wireless communication device 3 is provided externally, but may be incorporated in the control device main unit 11. In this case, serial transmission becomes unnecessary.

The radio wave transmitted from the antenna of the radio communication device 3 is received by the radio communication terminal device 2 of the worker, and the radio wave transmitted from the radio communication terminal device 2 is
Received by the wireless communication device 3.

The details of the wireless communication terminal device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the entirety of the wireless communication terminal device 2. The wireless communication terminal device 2 includes an audio input / output interface 30 and an MPU connected to each other via an internal bus.
31, a wireless communication unit 32, a storage device such as a RAM and a ROM, and the input unit 6 and the display unit 7 connected to the internal bus via respective controllers.

The voice input / output interface 30
An earphone 34 sent from the microphone 33
An analog audio wave signal and an audio communication signal to be sent to each other are mutually converted. In this embodiment, since a digital signal is used as a voice communication signal, ADPCM or A / D
A converter and a D / A converter are included in the audio input / output interface 30. When an analog signal is used as a voice communication signal, the voice input / output interface 30 includes a filter for noise removal, an amplifier for level adjustment, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the details of the radio communication unit 32. The radio communication unit 32 is the same as the RF communication unit shown in FIG.
It has the same configuration and operation as the part 21.

That is, the radio communication section 32 has an information modulation section 35, a spread modulation section 36, a despread modulation section 37, and an information demodulation section 38. , Voice input / output interface 3
The information communication unit 35 allocates and modulates the voice communication signal transmitted from 0 to each channel band of the carrier wave, and further modulates it to a spread spectrum modulation signal wave by a spread modulation means 36, and this spread spectrum modulation signal wave Is transmitted from the antenna to the communication control device 1. Further, the spread spectrum modulated signal wave transmitted from the communication control device 1 is received by the antenna of the wireless communication unit 32, despread by the despread modulation unit 37, and further processed by the information demodulation unit 38 for digital signal and voice communication. The signal is demodulated into information such as a signal.

An operation example of the present invention configured as described above will be described below.

[When the Worker Obtains the Work Support Information on the Wireless Communication Terminal] When the worker 4 of FIG. 1 hits the “procedure key” on the input unit (keyboard, touch panel, etc.) 6, the wireless communication terminal 2, the code of the “procedure type inquiry command” is modulated and transmitted to the spread spectrum signal wave, and the communication control device 1 receives the code, recognizes the code as a preset reception code, and responds. The text information "list of procedure types", which is the response content, is modulated into a spread spectrum signal wave and transmitted. Since the transmission channel is transmitted in accordance with the wireless communication terminal device 2 of the worker 4, the wireless communication terminal device 2 can receive the text information,
The “procedure type list” is displayed on the display unit 7. When the operator 4 selects a desired “work type X” from the list, the code of the “work type X” is transmitted in the same manner as the previous communication, received by the communication control device 1, and the procedure of the “work type X” is performed. , And transmits the screen display data and the voice information to the wireless communication terminal device 2 together. As a result, the wireless communication terminal device 2 displays the screen display data of “work type X” on the display unit 7, and outputs voice information to the earphone worn by the worker 4 via the voice input / output interface 30. send.

Therefore, the operator 4 can understand the procedure of the "work type X" with the screen display data and the voice, and can understand the procedure much more easily than in the case of only the screen display data.

When the worker 4 speaks "procedure OK" into the microphone, the voice is converted into a voice communication signal via the voice input / output interface 30, and further converted to a spread spectrum signal wave by the wireless communication unit 32. The data is modulated and sent to the communication control device 1. The communication control device 1 recognizes this voice as a preset received voice pattern, and responds to the content (in this case, the process ends without a response).
Process.

Referring to FIG. 6, a case in which the worker notifies the center of the shortage of parts will be described.

FIG. 6 shows that, in the wireless communication system shown in FIG. 1, the communication control device 1 of the center issues an alarm based on a command from the wireless communication terminal device 2 and outputs the alarm via the remote I / O slave station. This is for explaining the operation of displaying that effect on the display device near the work station corresponding to the command, and the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 41 denotes a remote I / O slave station, 42 denotes a display device, and 51 denotes a rotating lamp.
Is connected to the remote I / O master unit 14 by an optical cable, and communicates with the remote I / O master unit 14. The display device 42 is connected to the remote I / O slave station 41, and displays a message or the like sent from the remote I / O slave station 41 by lightning. The rotating light 51 is connected to a terminal of the contact signal output unit 13 and is operated by the contact signal.

When the worker 4 speaks "Y process, Z component shortage" to the microphone, the voice is sent to the communication control device 1 in the same manner as in the case of obtaining the work support information described above. The communication control device 1 recognizes this voice as a preset received voice pattern, recognizes the address of the transmitting wireless communication terminal device, and responds to the response content (operation of the rotary light 51, LCD of the console 12). Display on the display unit and display on the display device near the Y process work station).

As the processing of the response content, the data of the address of the transmitting wireless communication terminal device, the name of the operator, and "Y process, Z component shortage" are sent to the console 12.
An operation signal is sent to the rotating light 51 via the contact signal output unit 13, and data of “Y process, shortage of Z parts” is sent to the remote I / O slave station 41 near the work station via the remote I / O master unit 14. Is sent.

The operation monitor of the center looks at the lighting alarm of the rotary light 51, confirms the display on the console 12, finds out from the display that the Z parts are insufficient in the Y process, and arranges for the Z parts to be prepared by the parts preparation staff. To instruct. The part preparation clerk checks the display on the display device 42 in the factory and transports the Z part to the work station in the Y process.

In this way, the instruction is transmitted to the distant center only by the utterance of the worker 4, and the Z part can be quickly and surely replenished before the Z part runs out.

The contact signal output unit 13 and the remote I / O master unit 14 can send other contact signals, for example, an ON / OFF signal of a valve. Further, the operator may input necessary data and commands from the input unit 6 instead of the voice.

[Conversation between wireless communication terminal devices]
In the wireless communication system according to the present invention, not only communication between the wireless communication terminal device and the communication control device but also communication between the wireless communication terminal devices can be performed.

FIG. 7 shows a state where the worker 4A and the worker 4B communicate with each other. In this case, the wireless communication terminal 2A (or 2B) inputs the address of the wireless communication terminal to be communicated with the terminal-to-terminal communication code from the input unit 6A (or 6B). And characters input from the input unit. Upon receiving this, the communication control device 1 determines the communication code between the terminals and receives the received voice and characters as they are, without any change, in the wireless communication terminal device 2B (or 2) of the wireless communication terminal device address.
A) The transmission is made on the carrier channel for A), and the wireless communication terminal 2
This can be received at B (or 2A). In addition,
The voice exchange between the worker 4A and the worker 4B is performed through the microphones / earphones 5A and 5B.

As described above, according to this wireless communication system, clear communication can be performed via the communication control device even when the wireless communication terminal devices are not in a position where radio waves do not directly reach, and communication and communication can be performed.

When the radio communication terminals directly receive radio waves, they can communicate directly without passing through the communication control device. In this case, the wireless communication terminal device 2A (or 2
When a communication partner is specified in B), a transmission channel corresponding to the communication partner is selected, and the other party's wireless communication terminal device 2B (or 2).
In A), only a voice or a character input from the input unit is transmitted.

In the above-described embodiment, a system is used in which communication is performed by changing the channel for each wireless communication terminal device. However, in the case of performing wireless communication by a spread spectrum system, a spread code is used instead of a channel for each wireless communication terminal device. It may be changed to. Alternatively, a large number of wireless communication terminal devices can be targeted by combining channels and spreading codes. If the wireless communication terminal devices directly communicate with each other without changing the communication control device when changing the spreading code, if a communication partner is specified by the wireless communication terminal device, spread modulation and despread modulation are performed with the corresponding spreading code. Keep it.

The setting unit 22 of the wireless communication device 3 may be set directly in the wireless communication device 3 by a rotary switch or the like, or may be set by a setting console or the like of the control device main unit 11.

[0054]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the radio communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention, digital data such as characters and images, digital data such as control signal codes and voice are integrated. Can be transmitted and received simultaneously by a single wireless communication, simplifying the equipment, operability is good, communication with voice is good, so information exchange and communication are smooth and good communication is performed. Can be.

According to the radio communication system according to the second aspect of the present invention, by employing a spread spectrum system having a wide transmission band, stable communication can be performed even when used in a factory or the like with a lot of noise. In the case of transmission, the voice transmission band can be widened, and in the case of digital transmission, the transmission speed can be increased, and clear and high-quality voice communication can be performed.

According to the wireless communication system according to the third aspect of the present invention, various responses are sent to the transmitting wireless communication terminal in response to the voice from the wireless communication terminal, or the communication control device that receives the voice receives the voice. By issuing an alarm or controlling the operation of various devices, automation with good operability is promoted.

According to the wireless communication system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, transmission and reception can be performed between wireless communication terminal devices that cannot be directly communicated with each other, and communication and communication between workers can be performed by voice or the like, thereby contributing to an improvement in efficiency. .

The wireless communication terminal device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention can transmit and receive data such as characters and images, digital data such as control signal codes, and voice in an integrated manner. It is effective to provide.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a wireless communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a communication control device of the wireless communication system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of the communication control device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a wireless communication terminal device of the wireless communication system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a wireless communication unit of the wireless communication terminal device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the wireless communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the wireless communication system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 communication control device 2 wireless communication terminal device 3 wireless communication device 5 microphone / earphone (electroacoustic transducer) 16 audio processing controller 27 spread modulation means 28 despread modulation means 30 voice input / output interface 32 wireless communication unit 36 spread modulation means 37 Despread modulation means

Claims (6)

[Claims] An audio input / output interface for mutually converting an audio wave signal input / output to / from an electroacoustic transducer and an audio communication signal for communication, and wirelessly transmitting / receiving the audio communication signal together with other digital data. A wireless communication system comprising: a wireless communication terminal device having a wireless communication unit; a wireless communication device wirelessly transmitting and receiving a voice communication signal together with other digital data; and a communication control device having a voice processing controller. 2. The radio communication section of the radio communication terminal device and the radio communication device of the communication control device both have spread spectrum modulation means and despread modulation means, and perform radio communication by the spread spectrum method. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The voice processing controller has voice recognition means, and the communication control device recognizes a received voice communication signal from the wireless communication terminal device and performs a predetermined process corresponding to the voice communication signal. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein
A wireless communication system as described. 4. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of said wireless communication terminal devices, wherein said plurality of wireless communication terminal devices perform wireless communication with each other via said communication control device. 5. An audio input / output interface for mutually converting an audio wave signal input / output to / from an electroacoustic transducer and a voice communication signal for communication, an input unit for inputting data and the like, a processing menu, and an input / output A wireless communication terminal device comprising: a display unit that displays digital data such as data; and a wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits and receives the voice communication signal together with the digital data. 6. The wireless communication unit according to claim 5, further comprising a spread-spectrum modulation unit and a despread-modulation unit in the wireless communication unit, and performing wireless communication by the spread-spectrum system.
The wireless communication terminal device according to claim 1.