KR20090087737A - Method of searching wireless lan access point in multimode terminal, multimode terminal and access point information server using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for searching a wireless LAN access point of a multimode terminal, the multimode terminal using the same and an access point information server are provided to reduce the current consumption of the multimode terminal by grasping a searchable access point and available channel information of the access point in advance through the current location of the multimode terminal. A point in which a multimode terminal is currently located is grasped(S210). A multimode terminal transmits information including the grasped point to an access point information server through a communication mode, not a wireless LAN(S220). The multimode terminal receives access point information including available channel information of the access point and access points around the grasped point from the access point information server(S230), and then performs the access point searching for a searchable access point(S240).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF SEARCHING WIRELESS LAN ACCESS POINT IN MULTIMODE TERMINAL, MULTIMODE TERMINAL AND ACCESS POINT INFORMATION SERVER USING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a method of operating a multi-mode terminal and a multi-mode terminal using the same. More particularly, in a multi-mode terminal supporting a wireless LAN, a WLAN access point that can be accessed at a current location is identified in advance. The present invention relates to a wireless LAN access point searching method for a multimode terminal and a multimode terminal using the same.

Wireless LAN technology is a wireless access technology that operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, and has been approved as an IEEE 802.11 standard. In case of IEEE 802.11 technology, IEEE802.11, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication, which specifies 11Mbps in 2.4GHz band after IEEE802.11, which defines 2Mbps in 2.4GHz band. The technology has been developed into the IEEE802.11a technology that defines the transmission rate of 6-54Mbps in the 5GHz band. In addition, standards such as IEEE802.11e, f, g, x, i, etc., which absorb various development directions, have appeared continuously, and standardization work is ongoing.

In the above-described wireless LAN technology, each terminal equipped with a wireless LAN module uses a method of performing wireless communication by connecting to an access point (AP) arranged at a predetermined point. At this time, the problem is that each wireless LAN terminal must search the access point accessible from the location where it is currently located, and must also search for channels that the access point can provide. That is, terminals supporting the WLAN must go through a process of searching whether there is an access point accessible for all channels available at the current location.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an access point search process of a wireless LAN terminal according to the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 1, the WLAN terminal 110 performs a scanning process on all channels to search for an adjacent access point. That is, when the channel transmits (broadcasts) a PROBE REQUEST message, the candidate access points 120-1 to 120-N receiving the PROBE REQUEST message transmit the PROBE RESPONSE message corresponding thereto. After this process is sequentially performed for all channels, the WLAN terminal 110 can know the access points present in all channels and the received signal strength of each access point. If the terminal 110 receives one or more PROBE RESPONSEs, the terminal 110 selects an optimal access point by comparing the signal strengths. The delay time required for this process is called probe delay.

After the access point is found and the optimal access point (eg, 120-1) is selected, the access point is authenticated (130) and associated with the access point (140). The access point 120-1 and the terminal 110 may communicate.

As such, the process of searching for an access point at a location where the WLAN terminal is currently inevitably has a significant current consumption and delay time, and a mobile device having a limited battery capacity rapidly reduces the usage time per charge. It becomes an element to make. One of the solutions proposed to solve this problem is to identify the current location of the terminal using a GPS receiver, and each wireless LAN terminal has a location map of the access point provided by the operator in advance and uses the target to search for an access point using the target. It is a limiting method.

However, the access point of the wireless LAN technology has a limitation that the coverage of one access point has a limited area, and it is difficult for the map to accurately accommodate the location information of all access points due to the frequent installation and dismantling. have. In other words, access points that are not registered in the map may not be able to be connected, and in fact, wireless access point is installed in the individual or the office more often than the case of the operator, so the map provided by the operator It is not enough alone. In addition, the limitation of maintaining access point scanning for all possible channels is still maintained because it remains only to provide the location information of the access point.

Another solution is to install a GPS or mobile communication module on the access point so that the access point itself registers its current location on the map from time to time. However, it is difficult to mount a mobile communication module for each access point, and even in this case, there is a problem that it is difficult to enforce even for an access point arbitrarily installed in an individual or an office.

An object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a wireless LAN access point search method of the multi-mode terminal to more efficiently perform the access point search of the wireless LAN in a multi-mode terminal supporting a wireless LAN. It is.

Another object of the present invention for solving the above problems is a multi-mode terminal including a wireless LAN module and a communication module using a wired / wireless connection technology other than the wireless LAN, which can perform the access point search of the wireless LAN more efficiently. It is to provide a multi-mode terminal.

Another object of the present invention for solving the above problems is an access point information server for providing access point information to a multi-mode terminal including a wireless LAN module and a communication module using a wired / wireless connection technology different from the wireless LAN module. As an example, the present invention provides an access point information server capable of performing an access point search of a wireless LAN more efficiently.

An aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems, in a method of searching for a WLAN access point of a multi-mode terminal supporting at least two or more communication modes including a wireless LAN, to identify the current location of the multi-mode terminal A current location transmission step of transmitting a current location information including a point where the multimode terminal is currently located to an access point information server through a communication mode other than a wireless LAN; An access point information receiving step of receiving access point information including an access point around a located point and available channel information of the access point, and determining whether to perform an access point search using the access point information through the wireless LAN and The present invention provides an access point search method for a WLAN access point of a multimode terminal, comprising: performing an access point search for performing an access point search for the searchable channel with respect to an access point around a current location.

Here, the wireless LAN may be based on a wireless access technology of the IEEE 801.11 series.

Here, in the current location determining step, when the multi-mode supported by the multi-mode terminal includes a mobile communication network mode, the current location of the multi-mode terminal is determined by using cell positioning technology of the mobile communication network. It can be configured to.

Here, the current location determining step, when the multi-mode terminal includes a GPS receiver, it may be configured to determine the current location of the multi-mode terminal using the GPS receiver.

The performing of the access point search may include: determining whether there is an accessible access point around the current location of the multi-mode terminal by using the received access point information; In the case where there is no access point around the current location of the mode terminal, when the wireless LAN module of the multimode terminal is turned off; and when there is an access point around the current location of the multimode terminal The access point may be configured to include an access point search step of applying power of a wireless LAN module of the multi-mode terminal and performing an access point search for the searchable channel with respect to an access point around a current location.

 Here, the method for searching a wireless LAN access point of the multimode terminal searches for an access point at a point where the multimode terminal is currently located at a predetermined period, and uses the currently located point, the searched access point, and the searched access point of the multimode terminal. An access point information collection and transmitting step of transmitting access point information including possible channel information to the access point information server, and the access point information server receives the access point information and the currently located point of the multi-mode terminal and the searched access point And an access point information storing step of associating the available channel information of the retrieved access point in the access point database.

Another aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is a multi-mode terminal including a wireless LAN module and a communication module using a wired or wireless connection technology other than the wireless LAN, GPS receiver that can determine the current location, the communication module An access point information request and reception unit for transmitting the current location to an access point information server, and receiving access points corresponding to the current location and available channel information of the access points from the access point information server, and the access unit Provided is a multi-mode terminal including an access point search control unit for searching for an access point through the WLAN module using available channel information of points and access points.

Another aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is, access point information for providing access point information to a multi-mode terminal including a wireless LAN module and a communication module using a wired / wireless connection technology different from the wireless LAN module. A server, comprising: a communication module connectable to the multimode terminal, an access point information database storing location information of access points and available channel information of an access point, and current location information of the multimode terminal from the multimode terminal; Search for access points accessible from the access point information database at the current location of the multi-mode terminal and available channel information of the access point using the current location information, and search the multi-mode through the communication module. It provides an access point server information including access point information request processing unit for transmitting to the device.

In case of using the method for searching a wireless LAN access point of a multimode terminal according to the present invention, the access point can be efficiently identified by using the current position of the multimode terminal and the available channel information of the access point is identified in advance. Searching may reduce the current consumption of the multimode terminal and reduce the delay time required for searching.

In addition, when using the wireless LAN access point search method of the multi-mode terminal according to the present invention, each access point and the available channel information to the access point information server at the point where the multi-mode terminal is currently located at a predetermined period from time to time By updating the access point information of the individual and the office to be added, there is an effect that it is possible to maintain the latest access point location information.

As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. In describing the drawings, similar reference numerals are used for similar elements.

Terms such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component. The term and / or includes a combination of a plurality of related items or any item of a plurality of related items.

When a component is said to be “connected” or “connected” to another component, it may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but it may be understood that another component may exist in the middle. Should be. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in between.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more other features. It is to be understood that the present invention does not exclude the possibility of the presence or the addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, components, or a combination thereof.

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

The multi-mode terminal referred to in the embodiment according to the present invention refers to a terminal supporting two or more communication methods including a wireless LAN. For example, the wireless LAN may mean an IEEE 802.11 series wireless access interface technology, and the multi-mode terminal may refer to a terminal supporting another communication method other than the wireless LAN and the wireless LAN. For example, another communication method other than the wireless LAN may include technologies such as WiMax communication (WiBro communication), CDMA, GSM, WCDMA, 2nd generation, 3rd generation, and 3rd generation mobile communication networks defined in IEEE 802.16. have. While wireless LAN can be provided at a relatively low cost, there are disadvantages in terms of coverage of an access point, and other communication methods are relatively expensive, but have advantages of wide coverage. Accordingly, the present invention proposes a method for compensating current consumption or search delay generated in a narrow coverage of a wireless LAN by using a communication method having a wider coverage area than a wireless LAN, so as to complementarily operate between multiple modes. Done.

In this case, the multi-mode terminal may be a notebook or laptop computer equipped with a wireless LAN module and a communication module other than the wireless LAN, or a portable small digital communication terminal (PDA: Portable). And various portable devices such as Media Player).

2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for searching for a wireless LAN access point of a multimode terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a method of searching for a wireless LAN access point of a multimode terminal according to the present invention includes determining a current location (S110), transmitting a current location (S120), receiving an access point information (S130), and performing an access point search. It may be configured to include a step (S140).

First, the current location determining step (S110) is a step of identifying a location where the multimode terminal is currently located.

In this case, as an example of a method for determining the current location of the multi-mode terminal, if the multi-mode supported by the multi-mode terminal includes a mobile communication network method, cell positioning technology of the mobile communication network is used. It may include a method for determining the current location of the multi-mode terminal.

That is, if the multi-mode terminal includes a mobile communication network (eg, CDMA, GSM, WCDMA, etc.) module, the mobile communication network module will be constantly connected to the neighboring base station, through which the cell currently located ( cell) location can be confirmed.

In addition, as another example of a method for determining the current location of the multi-mode terminal, if the multi-mode terminal includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, using the GPS receiver to determine the current position of the multi-mode terminal It will be possible to figure out.

Here, the term 'GPS' is merely used as a representative name of a positioning system using satellites located on a geostationary track, and it should be noted that the term 'GPS' is not limited to a conventional GPS operated by the United States. . That is, satellite positioning systems promoted by the Galileo project of the European Union may also be included in this category.

Next, the current location transmission step (S120) is a step of transmitting the information including the current location of the multi-mode terminal to the access point information server through a communication mode rather than a wireless LAN.

First, the current location point of the multi-mode terminal identified in the current location step (S110) is transmitted to the access point information server in the current location transmission step (S120). At this time, the access point information server is a server that maintains an access point information database including geographic information (eg, a map) and information of all access points accessible by the multimode terminal. In this case, the term 'server' is a term given to the terminal that is subject to information request and provides information to the terminal. In the case of a communication method other than a wireless LAN, since the general coverage has a wider range than that of the wireless LAN, the terminal and the access point information server may be connected to each other regardless of the location where the terminal is located. The included information can be transmitted to the access point information server.

Access point information receiving step (S130), the access point information server, which has received the point where the terminal is located from the terminal, the access point information including the access point and the available channel information of the access point which can be searched at the point where the terminal is currently located. It is sent to the side, and the terminal receives it.

The access point information received here includes an access point that can be searched in consideration of the coverage of a corresponding wireless LAN method at a location where a terminal is currently located, and channel information that can be searched for the access point.

Finally, the access point search performing step (S140) determines whether to perform an access point search using the received access point information on the basis of whether there is an access point searchable from the current terminal location, and around the current location And performing an access point search for the searchable channel with respect to the access point of.

Therefore, the access point search performing step (S140) is a step (S241) of determining whether there is an access point searchable at the currently located point, and searching for the access point when there is an access point searchable at the current location according to the determination result. It may be configured to include an access point search step (S242).

3 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a method for searching for a wireless LAN access point of a multimode terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment for enabling power saving by a method of searching for a wireless LAN access point of a multimode terminal according to the present invention is illustrated. In FIG. 3, each step having the same reference numeral as that of FIG. 2 is the same step as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, and thus descriptions thereof are omitted.

Similar to the access point search performing step S240 illustrated in FIG. 2, the access point search performing step S340 illustrated in FIG. 3 determines whether there is an access point accessible at the current location of the terminal (S341). According to the result, the power of the WLAN module is managed.

That is, in the case of determining whether there is an accessible access point, in step S341, if it is not determined that there is an accessible access point, the power supply to the WLAN module is unnecessarily cut off through the WLAN module power cut-off step S342. It is composed. Here, when the power is cut off, it should be understood as a concept including stopping the entire power supply and managing power such as reducing the supplied voltage and reducing the current. In addition, when the power is cut off, the concept includes not only switching to the cutoff state when the power is being applied, but also maintaining the state where the power is cut off.

On the contrary, if it is determined in step S341 that there is an accessible access point, power is supplied to the wireless LAN module of the multi-mode terminal, and the access point around the current location is located. An access point search step (S343) for performing an access point search for the searchable channel is performed.

Accordingly, in the case of applying the embodiment according to the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3, the wireless LAN module is used only when there is an accessible access point, and the current consumed by the WLAN module when there is no accessible access point. The effect of saving money can be obtained.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for collecting access point information that may be included in a method for searching for a wireless LAN access point of a multimode terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, an access point information collection method that may be included in embodiments according to the present invention may include an access point information collection transmission step S410 and an access point information storage step S420.

In the collecting and transmitting access point information step (S410), the access point is searched at a point where the multimode terminal is currently located at a predetermined predetermined period, and the available channel information of the currently located point, the searched access point, and the searched access point of the multimode terminal. And transmitting access point information including the access point information server to the access point information server.

In the storing of the access point information (S420), the access point information server receives the access point information and associates the current location of the multimode terminal with the searched access point and available channel information of the searched access point. It is a step of storing in the access point database.

As mentioned in the prior art, the access points of the wireless LAN are characterized in that each individual or company is more often installed on their own than when installed by the operator. Accordingly, in another embodiment according to the present invention, each multimode terminal plays the role of an agent collecting the access point of the current location and the available channel information of the access point. Through this, the access point information server can always collect the latest access point information and maintain it.

Meanwhile, the access point information collecting step S410 and the access point information storing step S420 are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 regardless of the step-by-step execution order presented in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The steps may be additionally included in the embodiment and executed. That is, the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 are generally operations when a user of a multi-mode terminal attempts to connect through a wireless LAN, but each of the steps illustrated in FIG. 4 is performed in FIGS. 2 and 3. In addition to the illustrated embodiment, there is a difference in that the multimode terminal collects and transmits information on the access point of the current location according to a predetermined period.

5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a multi-mode terminal using a method for searching for a wireless LAN access point according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment 500 of a multi-mode terminal according to the present invention includes a GPS receiver 510, an access point information request and receiver 520, and an access point search controller 530. It is configured to include a wireless LAN module 540, which is an essential component as other multi-mode terminals, and a communication module 550 using other methods except the wireless LAN.

An embodiment 500 of the multimode terminal according to the present invention may be a multimode terminal including a wireless LAN module and a communication module using a wired / wireless connection technology other than the wireless LAN.

First, the GPS receiver 510 is a component that grasps the current position of the terminal using GPS, which is a positioning system using a satellite located on a stationary orbit. Of course, it should be noted that the term 'GPS' herein is not a term referring to a conventional GPS operated by the United States as described above. That is, satellite positioning systems promoted by the Galileo project of the European Union may also be included in this category.

In addition, when the multi-mode supported by the multi-mode terminal includes a mobile communication network, the GPS receiver 510 when the current position of the multi-mode terminal can be determined using a cell positioning technology of the mobile communication network. It may also be possible that the configuration is omitted.

Next, the access point information requesting and receiving unit 520 transmits the current location to an access point information server, and receives access points corresponding to the current location and available channel information of the access points from the access point information server. It is a component. The access point information request and reception unit 520 may perform the above operation by using a communication module () using a wired / wireless connection technology other than the wireless LAN included in the multimode terminal 500.

Finally, the access point search control unit 530 is configured to search for an access point through the wireless LAN module using the access points and the available channel information of the access points obtained from the access point information request and reception unit 520. Element.

6 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an access point information server using a WLAN access point search method according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, an embodiment 600 of an access point information server according to the present invention is an access point information server for providing access point information to a multimode terminal according to the present invention illustrated in FIG. 5. The module 610, the access point information database 620, and the access point information request processor 630 may be configured.

The access point information database 620 is an access point information database that stores location information of the access points and available channel information of the access point. The access point information database 620 includes geographic information (eg, a map) for information related to an access point to which a multimode terminal is accessible. The component you are storing with.

The access points in which the information is stored in the access point information database 620 may be information provided by wireless LAN operators. As described above with reference to FIG. 4, the multi-mode terminals according to the present invention may access the access point information. In the case of acting as a collector, the information may be collected and managed from the multi-mode terminals according to the present invention.

On the other hand, the term database is defined here as a component that provides easy storage and retrieval of information, and it is a strict form (relational-relational, object-oriented, etc.) inferred from the term database. Note that this does not necessarily mean a database of). That is, a case of maintaining and managing information based on a simple file may be included in a category of a database.

Next, the access point information request processing unit 630 receives the current location information of the multimode terminal from the multimode terminal 500 and uses the current location information in the access point information database 620. The multi-mode terminal is a component that searches for accessible access points and available channel information of the access point at the current location and transmits the access information to the multi-mode terminal through the communication module 610.

Here, the communication module 610 is a component corresponding to the communication module 550 of the multi-mode terminal 500 described above with reference to FIG. 5. That is, it corresponds to the communication module 550 of the multi-mode terminal 500, and is a component that can receive the access point information request from the multi-mode terminal in a wired or wireless manner excluding the wireless LAN, and transmit the retrieved access point information.

Although described above with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will be variously modified and changed within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below I can understand that you can.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an access point search process of a wireless LAN terminal according to the prior art.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for searching for a wireless LAN access point of a multimode terminal according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a method for searching for a wireless LAN access point of a multimode terminal according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for collecting access point information that may be included in a method for searching for a wireless LAN access point of a multimode terminal according to the present invention.

5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a multi-mode terminal using a method for searching for a wireless LAN access point according to the present invention.

6 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an access point information server using a method for searching for a wireless LAN access point according to the present invention.

Claims (8)

A method of searching for a WLAN access point of a multimode terminal supporting at least two communication modes including a WLAN, A current location determining step of identifying a location where the multi-mode terminal is currently located; A current location transmitting step of transmitting information including a point where the multimode terminal is currently located to an access point information server through a communication mode other than a wireless LAN; Receiving access point information from the access point information server, the access point information including an access point around the current location of the multimode terminal and available channel information of the access point; And Determining whether to perform an access point search using the access point information through the wireless LAN, and performing an access point search performing an access point search for the searchable channel with respect to an access point around a current location Wireless access point search method of a multi-mode terminal comprising. The method of claim 1, The wireless LAN is a wireless LAN access point search method of the multi-mode terminal, characterized in that based on the wireless access technology of the IEEE 801.11 series. The method of claim 1, Determining the current location of the multi-mode terminal, When the multi-mode supported by the multi-mode terminal includes a mobile communication network mode, the current location of the multi-mode terminal is determined by using cell positioning technology of the mobile communication network. How to search for LAN access point. The method of claim 1, Determining the current location of the multi-mode terminal, If the multi-mode terminal includes a GPS receiver, using the GPS receiver to determine the current location of the multi-mode terminal wireless LAN access point search method. The method of claim 1, The access point search performing step, A step of determining whether there is an accessible access point around the current location of the multi-mode terminal by using the received access point information; Shutting down the power of the wireless LAN module of the multi-mode terminal when there is no accessible access point around the current location of the multi-mode terminal; And If there is an accessible access point around the current location of the multimode terminal, the wireless LAN module of the multimode terminal is powered on, and the access point is searched for the searchable channel with respect to the access point around the current location. And access point searching step for performing wireless LAN access point searching. The method of claim 1, Search for an access point at a point at which the multimode terminal is currently located at predetermined intervals, and transmit access point information to the access point information server including the currently located point of the multimode terminal, the retrieved access point, and available channel information of the retrieved access point; Transmitting and collecting access point information; And Storing the access point information in the access point database by receiving the access point information and associating the currently located point of the multi-mode terminal with available channel information of the found access point and the found access point in an access point database; Wireless access point search method of a multi-mode terminal, characterized in that it further comprises. A multimode terminal including a wireless LAN module and a communication module using a wired / wireless connection technology other than the wireless LAN. A GPS receiver capable of determining a current location; An access point information requesting and receiving unit for transmitting the current location to an access point information server through the communication module, and receiving access points corresponding to the current location and available channel information of the access points from the access point information server; And And an access point search controller for searching for an access point through the WLAN module using the access points and available channel information of the access points. An access point information server for providing access point information to a multimode terminal including a wireless LAN module and a communication module using a wired / wireless connection technology different from the wireless LAN module. A communication module connectable with the multimode terminal; An access point information database storing location information of the access points and available channel information of the access point; And Receiving current location information of the multimode terminal from the multimode terminal and using the current location information, available access points and access points accessible at the current location of the multimode terminal in the access point information database. And an access point information request processing unit for retrieving channel information and transmitting the same to the multi-mode terminal through the communication module.

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