KR100662607B1 - Wireless terminal device for setting WLAN standard automatically and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a wireless terminal apparatus for performing communication with a predetermined counter node. The wireless terminal apparatus establishes a communication link with a predetermined partner node under one of an ad-hoc mode and an infrastructure mode, and performs a communication, and when the operation mode of the wireless communication module is changed, And a central processing unit for controlling the wireless communication module to establish a communication link according to the second wireless communication standard after changing the first wireless communication standard used in the operation mode before the change to a predetermined second wireless communication standard. As a result, interference with neighboring networks can be prevented.

Infrastructure, Ad Hoc, Wireless Communication Standard, Communication Link

Description

Wireless terminal device and method that supports automatic setting of wireless communication standard {Wireless terminal device for setting WLAN standard automatically and method

1A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a wireless network system that communicates using an ad hoc method;

1B is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a wireless network system that communicates in an infrastructure manner;

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a wireless terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a user interface window for setting a communication profile in the present wireless terminal device;

4 is a flowchart for explaining a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawing

110: key input receiver 120: central processing unit

130: wireless communication module 140: memory

150: output unit

The present invention relates to a wireless terminal device having a wireless network communication function and a method thereof, and more particularly, to support a plurality of wireless network standards, and when the operation mode is changed, the wireless communication standard used in the existing operation mode and The present invention relates to a wireless terminal device and a method for changing to a different wireless communication standard.

High-speed wireless networks that use a radio or light to build a network environment without wires are becoming more common in everyday life. The wireless network is easy to install the network because it does not require cable wiring work, and has the characteristics of ultra-high speed data communication of 11Mbps to 54Mbps by using broadband radio waves (2.4㎓, 5㎓). The method of building a wireless network is based on an Ad-Hoc method used to transfer data between laptops using only a wireless LAN card and an infrastructure using an access point (AP) serving as a bridge between the existing wired network. Two examples are the structure method.

Fig. 1 (a) is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a wireless network system which communicates in an ad hoc manner. According to FIG. 1A, each wireless node such as a PC 11, a notebook PC 12, a multifunction device 13, and the like communicate directly with each other without going through a separate central management device.

1B is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a wireless network system that communicates in an infrastructure manner. According to FIG. 1B, a wired infrastructure in which various nodes 21, 22, and 23, such as a PC and a server are wired, further includes an access point (AP). Access Point (AP) connects wired infrastructure with various wireless nodes such as notebooks, PCs, and multifunction devices. Accordingly, each of the wireless nodes 30 and 40 communicates indirectly through the AP.

On the other hand, in the case of the ad hoc method, communication is performed according to the radio network standard between each radio node, and in the case of the infrastructure method, between the AP and each radio node. In the wireless network standard, the standard is roughly divided into three categories: the IEEE 802.11 standard in the US, the hyper LAN standard in Europe, and the MMAC-PC standard in Japan. Among them, the IEEE 802.11 standard mainly used in the United States and Asia is divided into standards such as 802.11, 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, and IEEE 802.11g.

A user of the terminal device supporting the wireless network function may set a predetermined communication profile to perform communication according to a predetermined communication standard. The communication profile includes a service set identification (SSID), an operation mode, a channel type, and security maintenance information. Accordingly, communication is performed by selecting one of the above-described communication network standards according to the set profile.

On the other hand, in the case of a wireless terminal device that supports both the ad hok method and the infrastructure method, the user can selectively use the operation mode. In the conventional wireless terminal device, even if the operation mode is changed, the wireless communication standard maintains the existing standard. In this case, if an AP supporting different types of wireless communication standards coexists or if one AP is a network environment supporting various types of wireless communication standards, frequency interference between wireless communication standards may occur. Can be. Accordingly, there is a problem in that various noises may occur, resulting in poor communication, and inefficient use of radio frequency resources.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to change the wireless communication standard in consideration of the surrounding network environment when changing the communication mode, the wireless terminal device to prevent interference with other wireless terminal devices And it provides a method.

The wireless terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the radio by establishing a communication link with a predetermined partner node in one of the operation mode of the ad hoc mode and infrastructure mode, to perform a communication When the operation mode of the communication module and the wireless communication module is changed, the first wireless communication standard used in the operation mode before the change is changed to a predetermined second wireless communication standard, and then according to the second wireless communication standard. And a central processing unit for controlling the wireless communication module to establish a communication link.

Preferably, the central processing unit may search for a standard using a frequency range different from the first wireless communication standard among a plurality of wireless communication standards, and adopt the searched standard as the second wireless communication standard.

More preferably, the apparatus may further include a key input receiving unit providing a function of inputting a mode selection signal for selecting one of the ad hoc mode and the infrastructure mode.

In addition, preferably, an output unit for displaying a user interface window for inputting the communication profile information for the plurality of wireless communication standards, and a memory for storing the communication profile information input through the user interface window further It may include.

On the other hand, when the predetermined operation mode is selected by the mode selection signal, the central processing unit checks the wireless communication standard used in the network within the communication range of the wireless communication module, and then different from the confirmed wireless communication standard A kind of standard may be adopted as the second wireless communication standard.

On the other hand, the wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) determining whether the operation mode of the wireless terminal device is changed, (b) if it is determined that the operation mode has been changed, it is used under the operation mode before change Confirming the first wireless communication standard, and (c) adopting a second wireless communication standard different from the first wireless communication standard, establishing a communication link according to the second wireless communication standard, and then performing communication. Performing the steps.

Preferably, the step (c) includes: searching for a standard using a frequency band different from a frequency band used in the first wireless communication standard among a plurality of wireless communication standards; It may include the step of adopting a wireless communication standard.

More preferably, the method further includes displaying a user interface window for inputting communication profile information for each of the plurality of wireless communication standards, and storing the communication profile information input through the user interface window. can do.

Also preferably, the step (c) may include reading out communication profile information about the adopted second wireless communication standard, and using the read communication profile information, to the second wireless communication standard. The method may further include establishing a communication link.

Also preferably, receiving a mode selection signal for selecting the operation mode as one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode, and confirming a wireless communication standard used in a network within a communication range of the wireless terminal device. And it may further comprise the step of adopting a standard of a different type from the identified wireless communication standard as the second wireless communication standard.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail with respect to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a wireless terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 2, the wireless terminal device includes a key input receiver 110, a central processing unit 120, a wireless communication module 130, a memory 140, and an output unit 150.

The wireless communication module 130 performs communication with an external relative node in accordance with a predetermined communication standard. To this end, a wireless network card (not shown) is provided. In this case, the wireless communication module 130 performs communication in the ad hoc mode or the infrastructure mode according to the user's setting. In the infrastructure mode, a communication link is established with an adjacent access point to perform communication. In this case, in a network environment in which a plurality of access points supporting various types of communication standards are established, two or more access points may communicate with each other to communicate with the wireless communication module 130.

The key input receiver 110 serves to receive various selection signals input by the user. The user may input a mode selection signal for selecting one of the ad-hoc mode and the infrastructure mode by using various button keys such as numeric keys, direction keys, and confirmation keys provided in the main body of the wireless terminal device. When the mode selection signal is input, the key input receiver 110 recognizes it and transmits it to the central processing unit 120.

Meanwhile, when an operation mode is selected through the key input receiver 110, the wireless communication module 130 may perform communication using various types of communication standards under the selected operation mode. Of these, the most commonly used standards are IEEE 802.11b, g, a and the like. IEEE 802.11b is a 2.4 GHz wireless communication standard that provides a maximum transmission rate of 11 Mbps. IEEE 802.11g improves IEEE 802.11b to provide a 2.4 GHz wireless communication standard that delivers a maximum transmission rate of 54 Mbps. to be. On the other hand, IEEE 802.11a is an extension of the existing wireless communication standard is a standard that uses a high frequency band of 5GHz band and wireless communication of 54Mbps or more. Looking at the characteristics of each standard, the IEEE 802.11b and g is used because the frequency band is the same as 2.4GHz, it has compatibility. Accordingly, when the wireless communication module 130 currently communicates according to the IEEE 802.11b standard, when the neighboring network communicates according to the IEEE 802.11g standard, interference may occur with each other.

In order to prevent such interference, when the mode selection signal for changing the operation mode is received through the key input receiver 110, the central processing unit 120 may provide a frequency band different from that of the first wireless communication standard being used in the peripheral network. Search for specifications. Accordingly, when a predetermined second wireless communication standard is found, a communication profile for the found second wireless communication standard is read from the memory 140. The wireless communication module 130 establishes a communication link with a predetermined partner node according to the second wireless communication standard using the read communication profile. The partner node may be a wireless terminal device such as a notebook PC, a PC, a PDA, a network printer in the case of the ad hoc mode, or an access point in the infrastructure mode.

On the other hand, the communication profile information for a plurality of wireless communication standards that can be used in the wireless communication module 130 is input in advance by the user and stored in the memory 140. The communication profile information may include at least one of SSID (Service Set IDentification), communication standard (WLAN Standard) information, operation mode information, authentication information, and encryption information. . The output unit 150 displays a user interface window for inputting communication profile information on the screen.

3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a user interface window for setting a communication profile. In FIG. 3, the SSID is an ID assigned to identify the present wireless terminal device with the counterpart node. Authentication information and encryption information is information that is set for security maintenance in communication with the other node.

On the other hand, the operation mode information is for setting one of the infrastructure mode and the ad hoc mode. In the infrastructure mode, a type of WLAN standard is set according to a wireless communication standard supported by an access point to be connected. On the other hand, even in the ad hoc mode, the type of wireless communication standard can be set.

In this case, the wireless communication standard in the current operation mode may be automatically set by referring to the wireless communication standard under another operation mode. That is, as shown in Figure 3, when selecting the "Auto Setup" menu in setting the wireless communication standard in the ad hoc mode, the wireless communication standard under the infrastructure mode or the surrounding network environment to search for the optimal wireless communication standard automatically Will be set. In this case, the "exclude infrastructure" menu for excluding the wireless communication standard used in the infrastructure mode or the "exclude peripheral network" menu for excluding the wireless communication standard used in the surrounding network environment may be selected.

When the "Exclude infrastructure" menu is selected as shown in FIG. 3, when the communication mode is changed to the ad hoc mode while performing communication according to the 802.11a standard under the infrastructure mode, the wireless communication standard except for the 802.11a standard is searched for. Used in ad hoc mode. In this case, it is preferable to use a standard with a different frequency band. That is, it is possible to select the 802.11g or 802.11b standard using a frequency band of 2.4GHz band different from the frequency band 5GHz used in the 802.11a standard.

If "exclude peripheral network" is selected, the wireless communication standard having a different frequency band is selected in consideration of the wireless communication standard used in the network environment located within the communication range. As in the above-described example, when communicating with the first access point according to the 802.11a standard in the infrastructure mode, when the ad-hoc mode is changed, the 802.11b or 802.11g standard is selected.

As such, in addition to the case where a plurality of access points exist, when there are neighboring terminal devices communicating in an ad hoc manner, the wireless communication standard used by the neighboring terminal device is considered, and a different wireless communication standard is selected. Done.

On the other hand, even when the ad-hoc mode is changed to the infrastructure mode, the wireless communication standard can be set automatically. That is, if the "Auto Setup" menu is selected for the wireless communication standard in the infrastructure mode, refer to the wireless communication standard used between the wireless devices nearby when changing the operation mode or the wireless communication standard supported by another access point. The specification will be selected automatically.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 4, a user inputs communication profile information for a plurality of wireless communication standards through a user interface window (S410). The input communication profile information is stored in the memory 140.

In this state, if it is determined that the operation mode is changed (S420), it is determined whether the "auto setting" function for automatically setting the wireless communication standard is set (S430). If the "auto setting" function is set, after confirming the type of the first wireless communication standard used in the operation mode before the change, the second wireless communication standard of different types is searched (S440). In this case, the second wireless communication standard is searched among a plurality of wireless communication standards in which communication profile information is input through the user interface window. Preferably, a standard using a frequency band different from the first wireless communication standard may be selected as the second wireless communication standard.

Accordingly, a communication link is established with a predetermined counter node according to the found second wireless communication standard (S450).

On the other hand, if the operation mode is not changed (S420), even if the automatic change of the wireless communication standard is not set (S430), the existing wireless communication standard can be used as it is.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a process in the case where communication is performed under a certain operation mode and the operation mode is changed to another operation mode, or a wireless communication standard designated under another operation mode even when the wireless terminal apparatus attempts initial communication. Can set the wireless communication standard.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method according to another embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 5, in a state in which communication profile information for a plurality of wireless communication standards is set (S510), when a predetermined operation mode is selected (S520), it is checked whether a “automatic setting” menu is selected (S530).

If the "Auto Setup" menu is selected, check the wireless communication standard used in the surrounding network environment existing within the communication range (S540). Accordingly, after searching for a wireless communication standard different from the identified standard (S550), a communication link is established according to the found wireless communication standard (S560).

On the other hand, if the "auto setting" menu is not selected, the communication link is established in accordance with the wireless communication standard set as the default (S570).

5 may be applied as is even when the operation mode is changed. That is, when the operation mode is changed, it is possible to determine the wireless communication standard under the changed operation mode in consideration of the surrounding network environment.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent interference with the surrounding network environment by changing the wireless communication standard used in the pre-change mode to a different standard when the operation mode is changed. In particular, when changing from the infrastructure mode to the ad hoc mode, the interference is prevented by performing a communication using a wireless communication standard using a frequency band different from the wireless communication standard supported by the access point communicating in the previous mode. Resources can be used efficiently. The wireless terminal device according to the present invention may be a notebook PC, a PC, a PDA, a printer, a multifunction device, or the like having a wireless network function.

In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A wireless communication module that establishes a communication link with a predetermined counter node under one of an ad hoc mode and an infrastructure mode, and performs communication; And If the operation mode of the wireless communication module is changed, change the first wireless communication standard used in the operation mode before the change to a predetermined second wireless communication standard, and then establish the communication link according to the second wireless communication standard. A central processing unit controlling the wireless communication module; And an output unit configured to display a user interface window for inputting communication profile information for the plurality of wireless communication standards. The method of claim 1, The central processing unit, And searching for a standard using a frequency range different from the first wireless communication standard among a plurality of wireless communication standards, and adopting the searched standard as the second wireless communication standard. The method of claim 2, And a key input receiving unit providing a function of inputting a mode selection signal for selecting one of the ad-hoc mode and the infrastructure mode. The method of claim 3, And a memory for storing the communication profile information input through the user interface window. The method of claim 3, The central processing unit, When a predetermined operation mode is selected by the mode selection signal, after confirming a wireless communication standard used in a network existing within a communication range of the wireless communication module, a second type of standard different from the checked wireless communication standard is determined. Wireless terminal device, characterized in that adopted as a wireless communication standard. In a wireless communication method of a wireless terminal device for performing communication with a predetermined partner node in a predetermined operation mode, (a) determining whether the operation mode has been changed; (b) if it is determined that the operation mode has been changed, confirming a first wireless communication standard used under the operation mode before the change; And (c) adopting a second wireless communication standard different from the first wireless communication standard, establishing a communication link according to the second wireless communication standard, and then performing communication; Way. The method of claim 6, Step (c) is, Searching for a standard using a frequency band different from a frequency band used in the first wireless communication standard among a plurality of wireless communication standards; And And adopting the searched standard as the second wireless communication standard. The method of claim 7, wherein Displaying a user interface window for inputting communication profile information for each of the plurality of wireless communication standards; And And storing the communication profile information input through the user interface window. The method of claim 8, Step (c) is, Reading communication profile information on the adopted second wireless communication standard; And, And using the read communication profile information, establishing a communication link according to the second wireless communication standard. The method of claim 6, Receiving a mode selection signal for selecting the operation mode as one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode; Confirming a wireless communication standard used in a network existing within a communication range of the wireless terminal device; And And adopting a different kind of standard from the identified wireless communication standard as the second wireless communication standard.

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