KR20100125792A - Wireless communication terminal and method for controlling access point connection thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A wireless communication terminal and a method for controlling access point connection thereof are provided to protect privacy of a user by not transmitting the location information of a user to a remote place. CONSTITUTION: A mobile device obtains the location data of a sensor(S41), and a control unit calculates a location variation amount(S42). If the location variation is larger than a threshold value, the controller stops the operation of a WiFi unit(S44). If the location variation is equal to or smaller than the threshold value, the controller detects a beacon signal by activating the WiFi unit(S45). The WiFi unit sets the connection with an AP(Access Point)(S47).

Description

Wireless communication terminal and access point access control method thereof {WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS POINT CONNECTION THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal and an access point access control method thereof, and more particularly, to a wireless communication terminal and an access point access control method thereof, which can reduce energy consumption and protect user privacy. .

A wireless LAN refers to a wireless LAN that transmits and receives data between a computer and a computer or between a computer and other communication devices by using radio frequency (RF) or light. For the WLAN service, the WLAN terminal must be connected to a separate access device called a WLAN Access Point (AP) in compliance with the WLAN protocol in order to be connected to a network.

When accessing the Internet using a wireless LAN as described above, a user's terminal (wireless LAN terminal) is generally connected to a wired network (for example, a hub or a router) via a WLAN AP. It is connected to the network operator's server through the Internet. After that, the user terminal (wireless LAN terminal) receives various Internet services from the server of the network operator.

When a terminal equipped with a wireless LAN module (wireless LAN terminal) for accessing such a wireless LAN wants to receive data service through a wireless LAN AP, the terminal must be connected to the AP. As shown in FIG. 6, a connection operation is performed periodically. As such, when performing the connection operation periodically, unnecessary energy consumption may occur.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling access to a wireless communication terminal and an access point which can reduce the energy consumption of the wireless communication terminal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling access to a wireless communication terminal and an access point that can protect the privacy of a user of the wireless communication terminal and can reduce energy consumption.

A wireless communication terminal according to an aspect of the present invention is connected to an access point to receive a wireless data communication service. The wireless communication terminal includes a wireless communication unit for attempting to connect to the access point; And a controller configured to determine whether the wireless communication terminal is located in an area where an access point is easily accessible, and to control the access point access cycle based on the determination result.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the wireless communication terminal is located in an area where the access point is not easy to access, the controller may control the access point connection period to be larger.

The wireless communication terminal may further include a sensor configured to sense a position of the wireless communication terminal in real time, and the controller may be connected to an access point by the wireless communication terminal based on a value sensed by the sensor. You can determine whether you are in an area.

The controller may be configured to access the access point easily by referring to the sensed value and the connection history data including the location of the wireless communication terminal when the wireless communication terminal is successfully connected to the access point. You can determine if you are in a region.

The wireless communication terminal may further include a memory for storing the access history data.

The controller may refer to the access history data from an external server that stores the access history data.

The controller may store the position of the wireless communication terminal as the connection history data in the memory whenever the wireless communication terminal succeeds in accessing the access point.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an access point access control method of a wireless communication terminal connected to an access point and receiving a wireless data communication service. The access point access control method of the wireless communication terminal may include determining whether a current position of the wireless communication terminal is a location where an access point is easily accessed; And controlling the access point access cycle based on the determined result.

On the other hand, the step of controlling, if the wireless communication terminal is located in an area where the access point is not easy access, the access point connection period, more than when the wireless communication terminal is in an area where the access point easy access, I can make it big.

In addition, the access point access control method of the wireless communication terminal, the step of sensing the location of the wireless communication terminal in real time; And referring, by the wireless communication terminal, access history data including the location of the wireless communication terminal when the access point is successfully connected to the access point, wherein the controlling comprises: the sensed value and the access history data. The wireless communication terminal may determine whether the wireless communication terminal is located in an area where the access point is easily accessed.

Meanwhile, the access history data may be stored in a memory built in the wireless communication terminal.

In addition, the access history data may be stored in an external server provided separately from the wireless communication terminal.

Meanwhile, the access point access control method of the wireless communication terminal may further include storing the location of the wireless communication terminal as the access history data every time the wireless communication terminal succeeds in access point access.

According to such a wireless communication terminal and its access point access control method, it is determined whether the wireless communication terminal is in motion and / or whether the current location of the wireless communication terminal is an easy access point connection area, and according to the determination result. An unnecessary connection attempt with the access point can be blocked to reduce energy consumption of the wireless communication terminal. Furthermore, since the location information of the user may not be transmitted to a remote location, privacy may be protected.

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

1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless network device includes a wireless communication terminal (hereinafter referred to as a mobile device) 10 and an access point 20 (hereinafter also referred to as an “AP”).

The access point 20 is a device connected to a network service network to provide a communication service, and the mobile devices 10 try to associate with the mobile device 10 in response to searching for the access point 20. If connected, proceed with network service.

The mobile device 10 performs a connection with the access point 20, for example, searches for the access point 20 to detect a beacon signal from the access point 20, and communicates with the access point 20. The connection operation of the Wi-Fi unit 12 may be performed based on whether the wireless communication unit (hereinafter, Wi-Fi unit) 12 and the mobile device 10 are moving and / or the current location of the mobile device 10. It includes a control unit 13 for controlling.

The mobile device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be used to determine whether the mobile device 10 is moving (hereinafter referred to as “movement”) and / or a current location of the mobile device 10. It further comprises a sensor 11 for acquiring data.

Here, "reference data" means "position data of the mobile device 10" (hereinafter referred to as "position data") or "motion data indicating whether the mobile device 10 moves" (hereinafter "motion data" Is used in the sense of the term "

The sensor 11 may be a GPS sensor for obtaining a current position of the mobile device 10 in real time or an acceleration sensor for obtaining motion data indicating whether the mobile device 10 is moving in real time. The value sensed by the sensor 11 is provided to the controller 13. Meanwhile, in the present specification, the GPS sensor and the acceleration sensor are referred to as the sensor 11 when there is no need to distinguish in particular, and the GPS sensor 11 or the acceleration sensor 11 when it is necessary to distinguish them. Shall be.

The control unit 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention controls the AP connection operation, specifically, the AP connection period of the Wi-Fi unit 12, and for this purpose, determines whether or not the mobile device 10 moves, Alternatively, it is determined where the current position of the mobile device 10 is, and controls the AP connection period of the Wi-Fi unit 12 according to the determination result.

The control unit 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform at least one of the following operations.

i) Based on the position data, it is determined whether the mobile device 10 is moving. For example, the controller 13 may calculate a position change amount of the position data acquired through the GPS sensor 11, and determine that the mobile device 10 moves when the calculated position change amount is larger than a preset threshold. Can be.

ii) Based on the location data, it is determined whether the mobile device 10 is currently in a location where an AP connection is easy. For example, the controller 13 determines whether the mobile device 10 is at a position where the AP can be easily accessed by referring to the position data acquired through the GPS sensor 11 and the connection history data described later. can do.

iii) Based on the motion data, determine whether the mobile device 10 is moving. For example, the controller 13 may determine whether the mobile device 10 moves based on the motion data acquired through the acceleration sensor 11.

As described above, the control unit 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention controls the AP access cycle differently depending on whether the mobile device 10 is moving. For example, the controller 13 controls the Wi-Fi unit 12 not to access the AP when the mobile device 10 is moving, and the Wi-Fi unit 12 to connect to the AP only when the mobile device 10 is stopped. ) Can be controlled.

The control unit 13 according to another embodiment of the present invention, based on the location data and the connection history data, determines whether the mobile device 10 is in a position where the AP is easily accessible, and according to the determination result The AP access cycle can be controlled.

To this end, the device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may store the location information of the wireless communication terminal in the memory 14 each time the connection to the access point is successful.

"Connection history data" as used herein is "history data that the mobile device 10 has successfully connected to an AP", and includes, for example, a location that has successfully connected to an AP.

For example, as shown in Table 1, the connection history data includes the date and time for which the mobile device 10 is connected, the connected location (R1, R2, R3, R8, ...), and the connected AP. Information (AP1, AP2, AP3, AP8 ....).

 Connection date and time  Location information  AP Information  January 3, 2007  R1  AP 1  February 4, 2007  R3  AP 3  February 5, 2007  R2  AP 2  Feb. 7, 2007  R8  AP 8 .
.
. .
.
. .
.
.

Another example of the "connection history data" is shown in <Table 2>. For example, as shown in Table 2, the connection history data may be a date and time when the mobile device 10 is connected and connected location information (R1, R2, R3, R8, ...).

 Connection date and time  Location information  January 3, 2007  R1  February 4, 2007  R3  February 5, 2007  R2  Feb. 7, 2007  R8 .
.
. .
.
.

Here, for example, the connected location information (R1, R2, R3, R8, ....) may be GPS values that the mobile device 10 has successfully connected to the AP. In the present embodiment, the control unit 13 compares the GPS value sensed by the GPS sensor 11 and the location information as shown in Table 2 and determines whether the same or approximate value exists. If the determined result does not have the same or approximate GPS value, the AP access cycle is increased to support the discovery of a new AP while reducing energy consumption.

Preferably, the access history data is stored in the mobile device 10, so that the location information of the user of the mobile device 10 is not transmitted to another place and privacy can be protected. On the other hand, if privacy protection is not a problem, the connection history data may be stored in the mobile device 10 or may be stored in a connection history data providing server (not shown) separately constructed. When the connection history data of the mobile device 10 is stored in the connection history data providing server (not shown) without being stored in the mobile device 10, the control unit 13 is connected to the connection history data providing server (not shown). With reference to the provided access history data, it may be determined whether the current location of the mobile device 10 is in a location where the AP can be easily accessed.

When the controller 13 determines that the current location of the mobile device 10 is easy to access the AP, the controller 13 sets the AP access cycle differently from the normal AP access cycle. For example, if it is determined that the current location of the mobile device 10 is not easy to access the AP, the AP access period may be made larger.

The Wi-Fi unit 12 performs a connection to the access point 20 based on a wireless LAN (WLAN), thereby providing a wireless access communication service to the user. Here, Wi-Fi is a technology used in computer wireless networks for a small area, and is the 11th Working Group of the IEEE's Local Area Network (LAN) / MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) standard committee (IEEE 802). Means the standard technology developed in

The Wi-Fi unit 12 periodically detects a beacon signal transmitted by the access point 20, searches for an accessible access point 20, and attempts to connect to the found access point 20. On the other hand, "AP connection period" used in the present specification is used to mean a period in which the Wi-Fi unit 12 detects a beacon signal.

The controller 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention may determine using a predetermined threshold value in determining whether the mobile device 10 moves. That is, the position change amount of the mobile device 10 may be calculated based on the position data sensed by the sensor 11, and the calculated position change amount may be compared with the threshold value. Thereafter, the controller 13 may determine that the user of the mobile device 10 is moving when the amount of change of the position is greater than the threshold value, and control the Wi-Fi unit 12 not to perform the operation of detecting the beacon signal.

As such, when the user is moving, since the Wi-Fi unit 12 attempts to access the access point 20, the probability of inefficiency is high. The energy efficiency of the device 10 can be improved. Thereafter, the controller 13 turns on the Wi-Fi unit 12 when the amount of change of the position is less than or equal to the threshold value, and the Wi-Fi unit 12 which is turned on is periodically transmitted from the access point 20. Detect beacon signals. When the beacon signal is detected, the Wi-Fi unit 12 establishes a connection with the access point 20.

2A, 2B, and 2C are diagrams illustrating an AP access cycle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2A, when the mobile device 10 is not moving, the Wi-Fi unit 12 detects a beacon signal with a period T1, and indicates that the AP is not connected when the mobile device is moving.

2B, when it is determined that the current location of the mobile device 10 is not easy to access the AP, the AP access cycle of the Wi-Fi unit 12 is exemplarily illustrated. That is, when it is determined that the current location of the mobile device 10 is not easy to access the AP, the controller 13 may set the AP access period longer as the period T2.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the AP access cycle when the mobile device 10 is currently fixed (that is, whether there is a change in position) and the access history data is exemplarily displayed. If the AP is not moving, the AP connection is not performed. If the mobile device 10 is in a location where the AP connection is not easy, the AP connection period is set longer than usual.

3 illustrates a location of a Wi-Fi zone and a mobile device. Although the RF environment is constantly illustrated in FIG. 3, this is simply presented for convenience of description of the present invention, and the actual RF environment may be different from that shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, an area connectable to the access point 20 around the access point 20 is defined as the Wi-Fi zone 30. In FIG. 3, one Wi-Fi zone 30 is illustrated, but a plurality of Wi-Fi zones may overlap each other.

If the mobile device 10 attempting to connect to the access point 20 is located at the first point A (x1, y1) in the Wi-Fi zone 30, the connection with the access point 20 is successful. When the second point B (x2, y2) outside the Wi-Fi zone 30 is located, the connection with the access point 20 becomes impossible.

Therefore, the controller 13 determines whether the mobile device 10 is located at a point where the AP is easily accessible, thereby increasing the period of detecting the beacon signal of the Wi-Fi unit 12, or stopping the connection operation of the Wi-Fi unit 12. Can be.

To this end, the mobile device 10 stores data in real time in the memory 14 indicating whether the connection of the Wi-Fi unit 12 is successful according to the GSP value and the GPS value sensed by the GPS sensor 11 of the mobile device 10. Can be stored as Thereafter, the controller 13 may control the Wi-Fi unit 12 to detect the beacon signal only when a GPS value close to the GPS values stored in the memory 14 is received. Alternatively, the controller 13 may stop the operation of the Wi-Fi unit 12 or increase the beacon signal detection period of the Wi-Fi unit 12 when a GPS value close to the GPS values stored in the memory 14 is not received. have. Therefore, the energy consumption of the Wi-Fi unit 12 can be reduced.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the mobile device 10 obtains position data through the sensor 11 (S41). The obtained value is transmitted to the control unit 13, and the control unit 13 calculates the position change amount based on the position data (S42). The controller 13 compares the calculated position change amount with a preset threshold value (S43). As a result of the comparison, if the position change amount is greater than the threshold value, the controller 13 stops the operation of the Wi-Fi unit 12 (S44). On the other hand, if the amount of change in position is less than or equal to the threshold value, the Wi-Fi unit 12 is activated to detect the beacon signal at a predetermined reference period (S45).

When the beacon signal is detected as a result of the detection (S46), the Wi-Fi unit 12 establishes a connection with the access point (S47). In this case, the controller 13 controls the Wi-Fi unit 12 to detect the beacon signal at a reference period. However, if the beacon signal is not detected (S46), the control unit 13 increases the beacon signal detection period of the Wi-Fi unit 12 than the reference period (S48). Therefore, the energy consumption of the Wi-Fi unit 12 can be reduced.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a mobile device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the mobile device 10 obtains position data through the sensor 11 (S51). The obtained value is transmitted to the control unit 13, and the control unit 13 refers to the connection history data stored in the memory built in the mobile device 10 or the connection history data stored in a server provided externally (S52). It is determined whether or not this is an easy position (S52). If it is determined that the connection is not easy, the controller 13 increases the access period (S55), and if it is determined that the connection is easy, the controller 13 may maintain the existing access period (S55).

As described above, according to the present invention, since the location information of the user is not transmitted to a remote place, a privacy problem does not occur. This is because the connection determination based on the user's location information is made inside the wireless communication terminal, and if necessary, data can be received from an external server separately from the wireless communication terminal and used to determine whether the connection is made. It becomes a wireless communication terminal.

Although described with reference to the embodiments above, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be variously modified and changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Could be.

1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A, 2B, and 2C are diagrams illustrating an AP access cycle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

3 illustrates a location of a Wi-Fi zone and a mobile device.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a mobile device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a diagram illustrating an AP access cycle in a conventional wireless communication terminal.

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

10: wireless communication terminal 20: access point

11 sensor 12 Wi-Fi section

13: control unit 14: memory

30: wifi zone

Claims (13)

The wireless communication terminal connected to the access point and supported by the wireless data communication service, A wireless communication unit attempting to connect to the access point; And And a controller configured to determine whether the wireless communication terminal is located in an area where an access point is easily accessible, and to control the access point connection period based on the determination result. The wireless communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the access point connection period to be larger when the wireless communication terminal determines that the wireless communication terminal is located in an area where the access point is not easily accessed. The method of claim 1, A sensor for sensing the position of the wireless communication terminal in real time; And the control unit determines whether the wireless communication terminal is located in an area where an access point is easily accessed based on the value sensed by the sensor. The method of claim 3, The control unit, Determining whether the wireless communication terminal is located in an area where the access point is easily accessed by referring to the sensed value and the connection history data including the location of the wireless communication terminal when the wireless communication terminal is successfully connected to the access point. Wireless communication terminal, characterized in that. The method of claim 4, wherein And a memory for storing the access history data. The method of claim 4, wherein The control unit, And referencing the access history data from an external server storing the access history data. The method of claim 5, The control unit, Each time the wireless communication terminal succeeds in accessing the access point, the wireless communication terminal stores the position of the wireless communication terminal as the connection history data in the memory. An access point access control method of a wireless communication terminal connected to an access point and receiving a wireless data communication service, the method comprising: Determining whether a current location of the wireless communication terminal is a location where an access point can be easily accessed; And And controlling the access point access cycle based on the determined result. The method of claim 8, The controlling may include: when the wireless communication terminal is in an area where access point access is not easy, making the access point connection period larger than when the wireless communication terminal is in an area where access point access is easy. Access point access control method of a wireless communication terminal, characterized in that. The method of claim 8, Sensing the location of the wireless communication terminal in real time; And And referring, by the wireless communication terminal, connection history data including the location of the wireless communication terminal when the connection to the access point is successful. The controlling may include determining whether the wireless communication terminal is located in an area where the access point is easily accessed, based on the sensed value and the access history data. . The method of claim 10, And the access history data is stored in a memory built in the wireless communication terminal. The method of claim 10, And the access history data is stored in an external server provided separately from the wireless communication terminal. The method of claim 8, And storing the location of the wireless communication terminal as the connection history data each time the wireless communication terminal succeeds in accessing the access point.

Images