KR20080045014A - Rf communication system and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An RF communication system and a control method thereof are provided to designate a communication terminal, which will transmit or receive information necessary for binding, by using an IR signal having a narrow communication range of a signal in a binding process, thereby connecting each communication terminal to a desired communication network without installing expensive dedicated equipment and without disassembling and reassembling each communication terminal. A Zigbee communication system comprises first to third communication terminals(10,20,30). The first to third communication terminals comprise receivers(12,22,32) of an IR(Infrared) remote controller, Zigbee communication modems(13,23,33) for communication with the other communication terminals, controllers(11,21,31) for controlling the Zigbee communication modems through a signal transmitted from the IR remote controller receivers, and memories(15,25,35) for storing information necessary to enable the controllers to perform control operations. The Zigbee communication system comprises an IR remote controller transmitter(42), a controller(41), an input unit(44) and an IR remote controller(40). The IR remote controller transmitter transmits an IR signal for requesting output or reception of biding information necessary for binding. The Zigbee communication system further comprises a communication terminal for control(50). The communication terminal for control stores binding information outputted from each communication terminal according to a request of the IR remote controller, and performs a binding work by using the stored binding information. The communication terminal for control comprises a Zigbee communication modem(53), a controller(51), an input unit(54) and a display unit(56).

Description

RF communication system and control method

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an RF communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an RF communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a binding process according to the first method of the RF communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a binding process according to a second method of the RF communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

5A and 5B are block diagrams showing an application example in which an RF communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention is applied to an air conditioner.

* Description of symbols on the main parts of the drawings *

10, 20, 30: 1, 2, 3 communication terminal 12, 22, 32: IR remote control receiver

40: IR remote control 50: control communication terminal

The present invention relates to an RF communication system and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a binding setting method for connecting each communication terminal to a desired communication network in order to connect an application function between a plurality of communication terminals communicating using RF wireless communication. The invention relates to.

In recent years, for convenience of users, electronic devices commonly used in homes are connected to one communication network, and a control signal is input to one device near a user to control the operation of a relatively remote device. This was developed.

In the early stages of development, such a communication network applied a wired communication method. However, as the number of devices to be controlled increases, the process of installing a communication wiring becomes inconvenient, and there is a problem that a communication error occurs due to a wrong wiring of the communication wiring. A communication network using short range wireless communication using radio frequency has been developed.

Recently, as an example of a short-range communication method used for the RF wireless communication, it has become common to use a zigbee wireless communication method with low power consumption and low installation cost.

In the case of applying the RF wireless communication, a binding operation for logically connecting communication terminals forming a communication network to the communication network is required. Conventionally, a method of binding using a dedicated PC, between communication terminals according to a predetermined rule A method of automatically binding through communication or a method of manually binding a physical device installed in each communication terminal is used.

However, the method using a dedicated PC is difficult to use at home due to the high installation cost, and the automatic binding method has a poor directivity since the RF signal used as the transmission / reception signal of the communication modem has a different communication network nearby. There is a problem in that it is bound to an undesired network, and in the case of the manual binding method, there is a problem that a physical device must be manipulated by disassembling each communication terminal.

The present invention is to solve the above problems of the prior art, the object of the present invention is to install each communication terminal to the desired communication network without the inconvenience of disassembling and reassembling each communication terminal without installing expensive dedicated equipment An object of the present invention is to provide an RF communication system capable of performing a binding operation and a control method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of communication devices for communicating with the RF signal, a connection for connecting the plurality of communication devices in one communication network, for transmitting a radio signal having a narrower communication range than the RF signal A signal transmitter, a signal receiver configured to receive radio signals transmitted from the signal transmitter, and a signal receiver configured to control transmission and reception of the signal transmitter / receiver, respectively, to designate a communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving binding information necessary for connection to a network; And an RF communication system including a control unit for controlling a communication device and a connection unit to transmit and receive binding information to connect the communication network.

In addition, the signal transmission unit and the connection unit is characterized in that the portable portable.

The signal transmitter may include an input unit having a selection key for transmitting a radio signal, and the controller controls the signal transmitter to transmit a radio signal when the selection key is selected.

In addition, the signal transmission unit is characterized in that it is included in the connection.

In addition, the radio signal is an IR (infrared) signal including an encryption for requesting the output of the binding information, the binding information is characterized in that the RF signal.

The plurality of communication devices may be a plurality of indoor units for air conditioners.

In addition, the RF communication is characterized in that the Zigbee (zigbee) wireless communication.

In addition, the present invention is provided with a plurality of communication devices for communicating with the RF signal and the connection unit for connecting the plurality of communication devices in one communication network, the communication range is necessary for connecting to the communication network using a radio signal narrower than the RF signal And a second step of designating a communication device to transmit and receive binding information, and a second step of connecting and transmitting the communication information between the communication device and the connection unit designated in the first step. do.

The designation of the communication device in the first step is characterized in that the signal transmission unit for transmitting the radio signal and the signal reception unit provided in each communication device transmit and receive to receive the radio signal transmitted from the signal transmission unit. .

In addition, the radio signal is an IR (infrared) signal including an encryption for requesting the output of the binding information, the binding information is characterized in that the RF signal.

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

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an RF communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and a case of using a Zigbee standard among known RF communication methods will be described as an example.

The Zigbee communication system of FIG. 1 is a Zigbee communication modem 13, 23, 33 for communicating with the receivers 12, 22, 32 of the IR remote controller, and other communication terminals 10, 20, 30. Control unit (11, 21, 31) and the control unit (11, 21, 31) for controlling the Zigbee communication modem (13, 23, 33) by the signal received from the IR remote control receiver (12, 22, 32) First to third communication terminals (10,20,30) each having a memory (15, 25, 35) for storing the information necessary to perform the control, the communication terminal (10, 20) 30 are electronic devices to be controlled through a communication network.

In addition, the Zigbee communication system of Figure 1 and IR remote control transmitter 42 for transmitting an IR signal for requesting the output or reception of the binding information that is information necessary for binding to each communication terminal (10, 20, 30) and control it IR remote control 40 comprising a control unit 41 for controlling, an input unit 44 provided with a selection key for transmitting the IR signal, and a memory 45 for storing information necessary for the control unit 41 to perform control. It is provided.

In addition, the Zigbee communication system of FIG. 1 stores a binding information output by each communication terminal (10, 20, 30) in response to a request of the IR remote controller 40 and a control communication terminal for performing a binding operation using the same 50 is further provided.

The control communication terminal 50 includes a Zigbee communication modem 53 for communicating with each communication terminal 10, 20, 30, a control unit 51 for controlling the same, an input unit 54 for inputting a control signal, and a control unit. A memory 51 for storing information necessary for performing the control by the 51, and a display unit 56 for displaying the control operation to the user.

The IR remote controller 40 and the control communication terminal 50 are portable and driven by a battery, and the IR remote controller 40 is used only when the installer performs the binding operation and corresponds to each communication terminal 10, 20, 30 after the binding operation. Control of the electronic devices is performed using the control communication terminal 50.

The Zigbee communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention has the advantage that the influence of the neighboring network can be eliminated in performing the binding process because the output request of the binding information uses an IR signal having excellent directivity instead of the RF signal. .

In this case, the directivity of the signal means a property in which the signal can be transmitted by being limited to the communication terminal to which the signal is to be transmitted. As described above, since the prior art uses an RF signal having low directivity, There was a problem that the signal is transmitted.

For example, when the binding information output request signal consisting of the RF signal is transmitted to the A communication terminal, the signal is transmitted to the A communication terminal as well as the B communication terminal that should not be connected to the communication network because the RF signal has a wide communication range. As a result, there was a problem that the B communication terminal is connected to the communication network by outputting binding information.

However, since the binding information output request signal according to the present embodiment has a relatively high directivity, that is, an IR signal having a narrow communication range, the signal can be transmitted only to the A communication terminal. Therefore, only the A communication terminal is bound. It can be connected to the communication network by outputting information.

In addition, although the IR remote controller is applied in the present embodiment, it is a matter of course that a remote controller using another signal having excellent directivity may be applied.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a Zigbee communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and a case of using a Zigbee standard among known RF communication methods will be described as an example.

The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG. 1, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The Zigbee communication system according to the second embodiment is characterized in that the IR remote controller 40 in the first embodiment is embedded in the control communication terminal 50.

That is, the control communication terminal 60 communicates with the IR remote control transmitter 62 and each communication terminal 10, 20, 30 for requesting output or reception of binding information to each communication terminal 10, 20, 30. Zigbee communication modem 63 for controlling, IR control unit 61 and the control unit 61 for controlling the Zigbee communication modem, the input unit 64 for inputting a control signal, the control unit 61 for storing information necessary for performing the control Memory 65 and a display portion 66 for displaying control operations to the user.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a binding process according to the first method of the Zigbee communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the binding process according to the first embodiment is also the same, and thus, the second embodiment will be described with reference to the second embodiment.

The binding process according to the first method represents a binding process when the control communication terminal plays a role of a coordinator of the Zigbee communication network.

The coordinator refers to a communication terminal for controlling a communication signal of the entire communication network in the Zigbee communication system, the coordinator stores the information on each communication terminal during the binding process to control the control signal for each communication terminal input to the wireless communication It performs the function of delivering to the communication terminal.

When performing the binding process for forming the communication network, the installer first switches the Zigbee communication modem 63 of the control communication terminal 60 to the binding information reception standby state (S10).

In this case, in addition to the control mode for controlling the communication terminals 10, 20, and 30 connected to the communication network, the control communication terminal 60 transmits and receives binding information for connecting each communication terminal 10, 20, and 30 to the communication network. A binding mode is provided.

When the step S10 is completed, the installer selects the binding information output request key provided in the input unit 64 of the control communication terminal 60 in close proximity to the first communication terminal 10 to be connected to the communication network (S20).

In this case, in the case of the first embodiment, the step is performed through the input unit 44 of the IR remote controller 40.

When the binding information output request key is selected, the control unit 61 transmits a control signal for outputting the binding information output request signal to the IR remote control transmitter 62, and the IR remote control transmitter 62 according to the received control signal. It will output IR signal.

The binding information output request signal also includes information on the control communication terminal 60, which is a coordinator, through which the communication terminals 10, 20, and 30 can recognize the address of the coordinator in the control mode.

When the step S20 is completed, the control unit 11 of the first communication terminal 10 transmits a control signal for outputting the binding information according to the binding information output request signal input to the IR remote control receiver 12, the Zigbee communication modem 13 The Zigbee communication modem 13 accordingly outputs the binding information of the RF signal (S30).

In operation S30, the binding information output from the first communication terminal 10 is transmitted to the Zigbee communication modem 63 of the control communication terminal 60 in the waiting state for receiving the binding information, and the control unit 61 of the control communication terminal 60. ) Stores it in the memory 65 and connects the first communication terminal 10 to the communication network (S40).

At this time, the binding information is a signal according to the Zigbee standard, and holds information on the communication terminal that outputs it, and using this information, the control communication terminal 60 which is the coordinator in the control mode can recognize the address of the communication terminal. Will be.

In addition, since the binding information output in step S30 is an RF signal, it may be transmitted to other communication terminals, but because the communication information other than the control communication terminal 60 which is switched to the binding information reception standby state is ignored, the influence of the neighboring communication network. Will not receive.

The binding process is equally applied to the second communication terminal 20 and the third communication terminal 30.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a binding process according to the second method of the Zigbee communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Since the binding process according to the first embodiment is also the same, a description will be given based on the second embodiment.

The binding process according to the second method represents a binding process when the second communication terminal plays a role of a coordinator of the Zigbee communication network.

When performing a binding process for forming a communication network, the installer first switches the Zigbee communication modem 63 of the control communication terminal 60 to the binding information reception standby state (S110).

When the step S110 is completed, the installer selects the binding information output request key provided in the input unit 64 of the control communication terminal 60 in close proximity to the first communication terminal 10 to be connected to the communication network (S120).

In this case, in the case of the first embodiment, the step is performed through the input unit 44 of the IR remote controller 40.

When the binding information output request key is selected, the control unit 61 transmits a control signal for outputting the binding information output request signal to the IR remote control transmitter 62, and the IR remote control transmitter 62 according to the received control signal. It will output IR signal.

The binding information output request signal also includes information on the 20th communication terminal 20, which is a coordinator, through which the communication terminals 10 and 30 can recognize the address of the coordinator 20 in the control mode. .

When the step S120 is completed, the control unit 11 of the first communication terminal 10 transmits a control signal for outputting the binding information according to the binding information output request signal input to the IR remote control receiver 12, the Zigbee communication modem 13 The Zigbee communication modem 13 accordingly outputs the binding information of the RF signal (S130).

In operation S130, the binding information output from the first communication terminal 10 is transmitted to the Zigbee communication modem 63 of the control communication terminal 60 in a waiting state for receiving the binding information, and the control unit 61 of the control communication terminal 60. ) Stores it in the memory 65 (S140).

At this time, the binding information is a signal according to the Zigbee standard and has information about the communication terminal that outputs it, and using this information to generate a control signal for the communication terminal that the control communication terminal 60 is controlled in the control mode. And the coordinator received this can recognize the address of the communication terminal and deliver it.

When the step S140 is completed, the installer selects the binding information reception wait request key provided in the input unit 64 of the control communication terminal 60 in close proximity to the second communication terminal 20 set as the coordinator (S150).

In this case, in the case of the first embodiment, the step is performed through the input unit 44 of the IR remote controller 40.

When the binding information reception wait request key is selected, the control unit 61 transmits a control signal for outputting the binding information reception waiting request signal to the IR remote control transmitter 62, and the IR remote control transmitter 62 receives the received control. IR signal is output according to the signal.

When the step S150 is completed, the control unit 21 of the second communication terminal 20 receives a control signal for receiving the binding information according to the binding information reception wait request signal input to the IR remote control receiver 22, and then the Zigbee communication modem 23. ), The Zigbee communication modem 23 is switched to the binding information reception standby state according to (S160).

When the step S160 is completed, the control communication terminal 60 is the Zigbee communication of the second communication terminal 20 in the binding information receiving standby state binding information of the first communication terminal 10 stored in the memory 65 in step S140 Transferring to the modem 63 (S170), the control unit 21 of the second communication terminal 20 stores it in the memory 25 and connects the first communication terminal 10 to the communication network (S180).

The binding process is equally applied to the third communication terminal 30.

5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an application example in which a Zigbee communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention is applied to an air conditioner, and a plurality of indoor units 100, 200, and 300 connected to a conventional communication line are connected by a Zigbee communication system. This is the case and the first room 100 functions as a coordinator.

5A illustrates a case in which a communication network is connected in series, for example, a control signal for controlling the operation of the second indoor unit 200 is input through an input unit 64 of a control communication terminal 60, and the input signal is used for control. When delivered to the third indoor room 300 closest to the communication terminal 60, the third indoor room 300 transmits it to the first indoor room 100, which is a coordinator, through the second indoor room 200.

Since the control signal includes information on the second indoor unit 200 to be controlled, the first indoor unit 100 determines this and transmits the information to the second indoor unit 200.

5B is an example of a case where a communication network is designed differently, and when the number of communication terminals is large, the communication network may be designed differently according to the installation environment of the communication system.

As described in detail above, the RF communication system and its control method according to the present invention by designating a communication terminal for transmitting or receiving information necessary for binding by using an IR signal having a narrow communication range of the signal in the binding process, Each communication terminal can be connected to the desired communication network without the inconvenience of disassembling and reassembling each communication terminal without installing dedicated equipment.

Claims (10)

A plurality of communication devices for communicating with the RF signal; A connection unit for connecting the plurality of communication devices to one communication network; A signal transmitter for transmitting a radio signal having a narrower communication range than the RF signal; A signal receiver provided in each of the plurality of communication devices to receive a radio signal transmitted from the signal transmitter; And And a control unit for controlling transmission and reception of the signal transmission and reception unit to designate a communication device to transmit and receive binding information necessary for communication network connection, and to control the communication network to be connected by transmitting and receiving binding information to a specified communication device. The method of claim 1, The signal transmitting unit and the connecting unit is a portable RF communication system. The method of claim 2, The signal transmitter includes an input unit provided with a selection key for transmitting a radio signal. And the controller controls the signal transmitter to transmit a radio signal when a selection key is selected. The method according to claim 2 or 3, The signal transmission unit RF communication system is included in the connection. The method of claim 4, wherein The radio wave signal is an IR (infrared) signal including an encryption for requesting the output of the binding information, the binding information is an RF signal RF communication system. The method of claim 1, And said plurality of communication devices are indoor units for a plurality of air conditioners. The method of claim 6, The RF communication is a Zigbee (zigbee) wireless communication RF communication system. It is provided with a plurality of communication devices for communicating with the RF signal and a connection for connecting the plurality of communication devices in one communication network, A first step of designating a communication device to transmit / receive binding information necessary for communication network connection by using a radio signal whose communication range is narrower than that of the RF signal; and And a second step of transmitting and receiving binding information between the communication device and the connection unit designated in the first step and connecting the communication network. The method of claim 8, In the first step, the designation of the communication apparatus is a control method of an RF communication system in which a signal transmitter for transmitting the radio signal and a signal receiver provided in each communication apparatus are transmitted and received to receive the radio signal transmitted from the signal transmitter. . The method according to claim 8 or 9, The radio signal is an IR (infrared) signal including an encryption for requesting the output of the binding information, the binding information is an RF signal control method of the RF communication system.

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