KR20080056471A - Apparatus and method for controlling wireless lan module - Google Patents

Abstract

A wireless LAN(Local Area Network) module control device and a method thereof are provided to automatically control a mode that a wireless LAN module accesses an AP(Access Point) according to a power supply mode of a portable terminal mounted with the wireless LAN module, thereby saving battery power consumption of the terminal. A power decider(210) decides on a type of power supplied to a wireless LAN terminal to output the decided results. A controller(200) controls an access mode that a wireless LAN module(230), which includes a wireless LAN module controller(231) and a data transceiver(232) and is mounted on the terminal, accesses an AP according to a type of the power outputted from the power decider. The wireless LAN terminal is one of a computer where a wireless function is supported, a PDA(Personal Digital Assistant), and a mobile phone.

Description

Apparatus and Method for controlling wireless LAN module

1 is a view for explaining a general wireless LAN system

2 is a view for explaining the configuration of a wireless LAN module control apparatus according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for controlling a WLAN module according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a method for controlling a WLAN module according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment of a method for controlling a WLAN module according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

200: control unit 210: power discriminating unit

220: power supply unit 230: wireless LAN module

231: wireless LAN module controller 232: data transceiver

240: battery remaining detector

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a wireless LAN module, and more particularly, to a terminal equipped with a wireless LAN module by automatically controlling a mode in which a wireless LAN module accesses an AP according to a power supply mode of a portable terminal equipped with a wireless LAN module. It is to save battery power.

In general, a wireless LAN system provides a wireless data communication service having a 2 Mbps transmission rate in the 2.4 GHz frequency band according to a communication protocol provided by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11.

The wireless LAN system provides various modes of wireless data communication service according to the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 communication protocol. Accordingly, the AP 110 in the WLAN system is configured to support multiple modes for providing various data transmission rates according to wireless terminals and wireless environments of various specifications.

1 is a view for explaining a general wireless LAN system.

Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless LAN system includes a wired processing unit such as a wireless LAN such that a wireless LAN device 100 enables wireless data communication, and a wired LAN / WAN. It includes a processing unit. In addition, the wireless processing unit and the wired processing unit performs a wireless service through an access point (Access Point: AP) 110 that is a relay means.

The wireless LAN device 100 may be a personal computer such as a notebook computer 101, a personal digital assistant (PDA) 102, a mobile communication terminal, a personal mobile communication terminal (PCS), a smartphone, a mobile phone terminal, a wireless LAN terminal, or the like. It includes not only a terminal equipped with a wireless LAN module (or card) to enable wireless communication while carrying, but also an RF module for enabling the wireless function.

The wireless LAN device 100 is connected to a wired LAN (LAN) through the AP 110, and can be provided with a variety of data services by being connected to a predetermined server device 130 through a router 120.

In general, the WLAN module employed in the portable terminal including the notebook computer 101 is configured to support communication modes of various transmission speeds, and is connected to the WLAN system through a multi-mode AP providing data transmission modes of various speeds. In order to do so, a connection is attempted in a mode suitable for the communication environment.

Table 1 below shows a standard transmission mode by 802.11a / b / g is generally supported in a WLAN system.

Table 1

Standard Optimum Frequency Max Data Rate Allowed Data Rate (Mb / s) Modulation 802.11b 2.4 GHz 11 Mb / s 11 / 5.5 / 2/1 CCK 802.11a 5 GHz 54 Mb / s 54/48/36/24/18/12/9/6 OFDM 802.11g 2.4 GHz 54 Mb / s 54/48/36/24/18/12/9/6 OFDM

In the WLAN system, a multi-mode support structure is provided to support various standard transmission modes shown in Table 1 so that a WLAN terminal having various specifications can be accessed through an AP of the WLAN system. The WLAN module installed in the is also configured to support multiple modes.

If the wireless LAN module supporting the multi-mode is an 802.11b / g module, it supports single band / dual mode, and if the 802.11a / b / g module, dual band triple mode (dual band / tri- mode), so it can be operated in various modes depending on the environment used. Therefore, it is possible to connect to the AP at a suitable one of several transmission data rates allowed according to the strength of the radio signal between the wireless terminal and the AP.

In general, when a wireless LAN module (802.11a / b / g or 802.11 / b / g) included in a notebook computer accesses an AP of a wireless LAN system supporting multimode, a high-speed transmission mode according to 802.11a or 802.11g is first used. If the connection is attempted in high speed transmission mode, scans sequentially from the high data rate supported by the connection mode to the low data rate according to the strength of the wireless signal, and transmits with the proper level. Attempt to connect in mode.

If it is not connected to the high-speed transmission mode of 802.11a or 802.11g, it attempts to find the appropriate data rate again by changing to the low speed transmission mode of 802.11b. As described above, the transmission mode (802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g) supported by the AP to which the WLAN terminal is connected and the transmission mode to be connected are determined according to the strength of the radio signal between the WLAN terminal and the AP. According to the connected transmission mode, the WLAN terminal performs data communication.

On the other hand, in the case of a portable wireless LAN terminal such as a notebook system uses a battery power is generally limited during use during the movement, it is necessary to minimize the power consumed by the wireless LAN module in order to be able to use a long time with a single battery have.

However, in the conventional WLAN module operating as described above, the connection method between the WLAN module and the multi-mode AP is determined according to the mode that the AP can support and the strength of the wireless signal, thereby allowing the portable WLAN terminal to operate in the battery power supply mode. Even when the battery power needs to be saved, there is a problem in that the battery power cannot be saved because the AP maintains the connection at the maximum transmission speed that the AP can support when the strength of the wireless signal is good.

According to the present invention, when a wireless LAN terminal including a notebook computer equipped with a wireless LAN module is connected to an access point (AP) of a wireless LAN system that supports multiple modes, the wireless LAN module may access the wireless LAN module according to a power supply mode of the wireless LAN terminal. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a WLAN module to automatically change a connection method with a point (AP) to a state suitable for minimizing power consumption of battery power of a WLAN terminal.

In addition, the present invention is suitable to minimize the power consumption of the battery power of the wireless LAN terminal to determine whether to automatically change the connection method between the wireless LAN module and the access point (AP) according to the user's power option settings. Another object is to provide a wireless LAN module control apparatus and method.

Wireless LAN module control apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the power determining unit for determining the type of power supplied to the wireless LAN terminal and outputs the result, and the type of power output from the power discriminating unit Accordingly, the wireless LAN module mounted on the terminal is characterized in that it comprises a control unit for controlling the connection mode for accessing the access point (AP).

The power discriminator may determine whether the type of power supplied to the WLAN terminal is a battery power or an AC adapter power.

The controller may be configured to control the wireless LAN module to be connected to an access point (AP) in a transmission mode that maintains the lowest data transmission rate when the type of power determined by the power determination unit is battery power.

The controller may change the data transmission rate setting value of the WLAN module to a minimum transmission rate when the type of power determined by the power discrimination unit is battery power.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a WLAN module, the method including detecting a type of power currently supplied to a terminal, and when the type of power is a battery power, the WLAN module has a minimum transmission speed. And controlling to connect with the AP in a connected mode.

On the other hand, the WLAN module control method according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the step of detecting the type of power currently supplied to the terminal, if the type of the power source is a battery power WLAN module Determining whether it is set to operate in a transmission mode; And if the wireless LAN module is not set to operate in the maximum transmission mode, controlling the WLAN module to access the AP in a connection mode having a minimum transmission speed.

In addition, the WLAN module control method according to another embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the step of detecting the type of power currently supplied to the terminal, and if the type of the power source is battery power Determining whether it is smaller than a reference value; And controlling the wireless LAN module to connect with the AP in a connection mode having a minimum transmission speed when the battery level is smaller than a predetermined reference value.

The controlling of the WLAN module to access the AP in a connection mode having a minimum transmission rate may include changing a data transmission rate setting value of the WLAN module to a minimum value.

According to the WLAN module control apparatus and method according to the present invention configured as described above, when a portable terminal such as a notebook computer is driven by the battery power, the transmission speed of the WLAN module is kept to a minimum consumption of battery power The power is minimized, allowing the battery to be used longer for a long time.

Hereinafter, a WLAN module control apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a view for explaining the configuration of a wireless LAN module control apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the WLAN module control apparatus according to the present invention applied to a portable WLAN terminal includes a power discrimination unit that determines a type of power supplied to the portable terminal through the power supply unit 220 and outputs the result. Control unit 200 for controlling the connection mode between the wireless LAN module 230 mounted on the portable terminal and the access point (AP) according to the type of the power output from the power determination unit 210 (210) It includes.

More specifically, the portable WLAN terminal may be any one of a computer, a PDA, or a mobile phone that supports a wireless function.

The power supply unit 220 selectively supplies the power of the AC adapter power or the battery power to each component of the portable terminal for the operation of the portable terminal. The battery power source preferably includes a battery remaining amount detector 240 that detects a current battery remaining amount in accordance with power supply for operation of the portable terminal. The battery remaining amount detection unit 240 detects battery remaining amount information of the corresponding battery and outputs the result to the controller 200 so that the remaining amount of battery information can be displayed to the user.

The power determining unit 210 determines whether the type of power supplied to the portable terminal is battery power or AC adapter power, and outputs the corresponding information to the control unit 200.

The control unit 200 controls the wireless LAN module 230 to connect to the access point AP in a connection mode having the lowest data transmission rate when the type of power determined by the power determination unit 210 is battery power. do. To this end, when the power mode of the portable terminal is battery power, the controller 200 minimizes power consumed by the WLAN module 230 to increase the battery usage time. When attempting to apply a control signal to the WLAN module 230 to be able to access in a connection mode having a minimum data rate supported by the AP.

Meanwhile, the user input unit 201 allows a user to input a predetermined command to determine whether to execute the operation of the WLAN module control apparatus according to the present invention.

In addition, the storage unit 202 may be configured by using a commonly used memory or using a memory provided separately, and executing an operation of the WLAN module control apparatus according to the present invention input through the user input unit 201. Stores information about whether or not.

The WLAN module 230 uses the WLAN module controller 231 and the data transceiver 232 to perform a series of communication operations such as channel setting and data transmission / reception with one or more APs within a predetermined area. It is configured to include.

Although not shown in the drawings, the WLAN module controller 231 may control the controller 200 through an interface block for interfacing with a data bus connected to the controller 200 of the wireless terminal and the interface block. And a MAC (Machine Access Controller) controller for processing data required for transmission and reception with another computer system through a predetermined protocol while performing a bus communication with the bus.

Although not shown in the drawing, the data transmission / reception unit 232 is a reception block for processing data received from another computer system under the control of a Mac controller, and is transmitted to an AP under the control of a Mac controller. It may include a transmission block for processing data, an amplifier for amplifying the output of the transmission data processed in the transmission block, and an RF switch unit for selectively switching the RF signal input from the amplifier or antenna. .

Hereinafter, the operation of the WLAN module control apparatus and the WLAN module control method according to the present invention configured as described above will be described in more detail.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a WLAN module control method according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a WLAN module control method according to the present invention, and FIG. A flowchart for explaining another embodiment of a method for controlling a WLAN module according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the WLAN module control apparatus according to the present invention controls the data transmission mode of the WLAN module to control the power consumption of the WLAN terminal. The WLAN module is controlled by the power supply unit 220. As the power is applied, the WLAN terminal starts driving (S310).

As the WLAN terminal is driven, the power determination unit 210 of the WLAN terminal detects the type of power supplied to the WLAN terminal through the power supply unit 220 and outputs the detected information to the controller 200 ( S320).

The control unit 200 receives information on the type of power output from the power determining unit 210 and determines whether the type of power is battery power (S330).

Thereafter, the controller 200 controls the WLAN module 230 so that the WLAN module 230 connects to the AP in a transmission mode having a maximum data rate at the minimum according to the determined power type (S340).

More specifically, when the power source type is battery power (S330), the controller 200 may access the AP in a transmission mode having a minimum data rate provided by the WLAN module 230 and the AP. The WLAN module 230 is controlled to be in operation S341.

That is, the controller 200 applies a control signal to the WLAN module controller 231 to allow the WLAN module 230 to access the AP in a transmission mode having a minimum data rate.

Accordingly, the WLAN module controller 231 changes the transmission rate setting value of the WLAN module 230 to a minimum value supported by the WLAN module 230 so as to access the data transmission mode corresponding to the setting value. The WLAN module 230 may transmit and receive data with the AP in a transmission mode having a minimum transmission speed.

In addition, the controller 200 outputs information to the WLAN module controller 231 of the WLAN module 230 that the main power supply mode corresponds to the battery power mode, and accordingly, the WLAN module controller 231 establishes a connection with the AP. When attempting, the AP may be assigned a connection mode with the minimum transmission rate by transmitting a request signal to allocate the access mode with the minimum transmission rate to the AP. To this end, the WLAN module controller 231 inserts the power mode information into a specific field of a transmission frame to be transmitted to the AP, and transmits the transmission frame containing the power mode information to the AP, so that the AP has a battery power. In case of, it can be connected to the transmission mode set at the minimum transmission speed. In this case, the power mode information may be inserted into a specific field of a request to send (RTS) and a clear to send (CTS) signal of a transmission frame.

As a specific example of controlling the access to the transmission mode having the lowest data rate according to the above method, when the WLAN module 230 is an 802.11b / g module and the AP provides a multiple transmission mode, the WLAN module controller ( 231, first, the WLAN module 230 tries to access the AP in the access mode according to 802.11b.

As a result of the attempt, when connected in a low-speed transmission mode according to 802.11b, despite the strength of the radio signal, it has the lowest data rate allowed by the AP by sequentially scanning from the lowest data rate supported by the corresponding access mode Attempt to connect in transfer mode.

On the other hand, when the determination result (S330) power type is AC power, not battery power, the control unit 200 is connected to the AP in a transmission mode having a maximum data transmission rate provided by the wireless LAN module and the AP is the wireless LAN module 230 to control (S342).

In this case, the controller 200 allows the WLAN module 230 to attempt connection in a transmission mode having the maximum transmission speed provided by the AP as in the general case according to the prior art. That is, if the wireless LAN module 230 is an 802.11b / g module, first attempts to connect in a high-speed transmission mode according to 802.11g, and when connected to the 802.11g mode, the corresponding 802.11g according to the strength of the wireless signal It scans sequentially from the high data rate supported by the mode to the low data rate, and connects to the AP to access the transmission mode with the maximum data rate.

As described above, when the power type is battery power, the WLAN module operates in a transmission mode with a minimum transmission speed, thereby controlling the connection with the AP, thereby minimizing the power consumed by the WLAN module. It can be extended.

In the above description, a method of increasing the battery usage time by minimizing the transmission speed of the WLAN module in the case of battery power, considering only the power mode supplied to the WLAN terminal with respect to the WLAN module control apparatus and control method according to the present invention as an example. It explained.

On the other hand, a user connecting to a wireless LAN using a wireless LAN terminal generally prefers a high-speed communication mode, so when the remaining amount of battery power installed in the wireless LAN terminal is sufficient, the maximum allowed by the WLAN module and the AP. It may be desirable to operate in a transmission mode. On the other hand, it is preferable to allow the user to select whether or not to execute the WLAN control method according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the above case will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In describing other embodiments, a description of a portion overlapping with the above-described portion will be omitted.

The method for controlling the power consumption of the WLAN terminal by controlling the data transmission mode of the WLAN module according to the remaining battery information, as shown in Figure 4, as the main power is supplied to the WLAN terminal by the battery power (S330), The battery remaining amount detector 240 provided in the battery power source detects the current battery remaining amount and outputs the detected battery remaining amount information to the controller 200.

The controller 200 compares the current battery remaining value output from the battery remaining amount detection unit 240 with a predetermined reference value, and determines whether the current battery remaining value is smaller than the reference value (S400).

As a result of the determination (S400), when the current battery remaining value is smaller than the reference value, the controller 200 transmits the WLAN module 230 to the AP to the minimum in order to minimize the power consumed by the WLAN module 230. Control to connect in the transmission mode having a speed (S341). Meanwhile, when the current battery level is not smaller than the reference value, the controller 200 controls the WLAN module to access the AP in a high speed transmission mode having the maximum data rate provided by the WLAN module and the AP. It is made (S342).

Meanwhile, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the user can select whether to execute the WLAN control method according to the present invention. To this end, the controller 200 provides a menu for allowing a user to select whether to execute the WLAN module power consumption saving mode of the WLAN terminal according to a predetermined key input by the user.

Therefore, when the user wants the WLAN terminal to operate in the maximum data transmission mode, the user may set whether to execute the WLAN module power saving mode by popping up a corresponding menu through the user input unit 201. It is preferable to add a menu regarding whether to execute the WLAN power saving mode to a power option menu. That is, in order to exclude the user from executing the WLAN power saving mode according to the present invention, the WLAN module 230 pops up a power option menu and sets the communication state of the WLAN module to the high speed communication mode even when the battery is powered. It can be configured to connect to the AP in a high speed data transmission mode.

As described above, a setting value regarding whether to execute the WLAN power saving mode set by the user using the user input unit 201 may be stored in the storage unit 202 through the control unit 200.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the user sets whether to execute the WLAN power saving mode through the power option menu as described above, when the main power is supplied to the WLAN terminal by the battery power (S330), the controller 200. ) Checks the setting value of whether to execute the power saving mode stored in the storage unit 202 to determine whether the communication state of the WLAN module is set to the high speed communication mode (S500).

As a result of the determination (S500), when the communication state of the wireless LAN module is set to the high speed communication mode, the control unit 200 may access the AP in a transmission mode having a maximum data transmission rate provided by the wireless LAN module and the AP. The WLAN module 230 is controlled (S342). On the other hand, when the communication state of the WLAN module is not set to the high-speed communication mode, the controller 200 transmits the WLAN module 230 to the AP to minimize the power consumed by the WLAN module 230. The WLAN module 230 is controlled to access the transmission mode having the speed (S341).

The WLAN module control apparatus and control method according to the present invention has been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many variations are possible by those skilled in the art within the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, changes and modifications are included in the present invention without departing from the spirit of the invention, such facts will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

According to the present invention, when the power of the WLAN terminal equipped with the WLAN module is a battery power, the WLAN module is controlled so that the WLAN module is connected to the access mode such that the data transmission rate between the WLAN module and the AP is minimized. Minimizing the power reduces the battery power consumption of the notebook computer, which has the effect of long battery life.

In addition, by allowing the user to select whether or not the operation of the wireless LAN module control unit through the user input unit, a user who wants to communicate at a high transmission rate to stop the performance of the function by allowing the WLAN terminal to communicate at a high transmission rate To make it possible.

Claims (8)

A power discriminating unit for determining a type of power supplied to the WLAN terminal and outputting the result; And a controller configured to control a connection mode in which a wireless LAN module mounted on a terminal connects to an access point according to the type of power output from the power discriminator. 2. The method of claim 1, The wireless LAN terminal is a wireless LAN module control device, characterized in that any one of a computer, PDA, or mobile phone that supports the wireless function. The method of claim 1, wherein the power discriminating unit, A wireless LAN module control device, characterized in that it is determined whether the type of power supplied to the wireless LAN terminal is battery power or AC adapter power. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit, And controlling the wireless LAN module to be connected to an access point in a transmission mode that maintains the lowest data transmission rate when the type of power determined by the power discriminator is battery power. Detecting a type of power currently supplied to the terminal; And controlling the wireless LAN module to connect with the AP in a connection mode having a minimum transmission speed when the type of the power is battery power. Detecting a type of power currently supplied to the terminal; Determining whether the WLAN module is set to operate in a maximum transmission mode when the type of power is battery power; And If the wireless transmission module is not set to operate in the maximum transmission mode, controlling the wireless LAN module to connect to the AP in a connection mode having a minimum transmission rate; WLAN module control method comprising a. Detecting a type of power currently supplied to the terminal; Determining whether the battery level is smaller than a predetermined reference value when the type of power is battery power; And And controlling the wireless LAN module to connect with the AP in a connection mode having a minimum transmission speed when the battery level is smaller than a predetermined reference value. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, The controlling of the WLAN module to access the AP in a connection mode having a minimum transmission rate, the WLAN module control method, characterized in that for changing the data transmission rate setting value of the WLAN module to a minimum value.

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