TWI442805B - Method for controlling network connection of wireless network device and associated wireless network device - Google Patents

Description

Method for controlling wireless network device to perform network connection and related wireless network device

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a wireless network device to perform network connection, and more particularly to a method for controlling a wireless network device to quickly perform network connection after waking up from a sleep mode and an associated wireless network. Device.

When the notebook or other mobile communication device enters the sleep mode, the network connection is interrupted to save power, and then the network connection is not resumed until the notebook wakes up from the sleep mode. In the process of re-connecting the network, the notebook computer needs to scan all the nearby access points and compare the scanned base stations to select a base station to connect. However, these steps It takes about 1 to 8 seconds, so the user has to wait a long time to use the network function.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and related wireless network device that can control a wireless network device to wake up quickly after waking up from a sleep mode to solve the above problems.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling a wireless network device to perform network connection includes: after the wireless network device wakes up from a sleep mode: loading a wireless network driver; The road driver determines whether a predetermined base station meets a predetermined condition without performing base station scanning; and when the predetermined base station meets the predetermined condition, the wireless network driver does not perform base station scanning The network connection of the predetermined base station is directly used by using a pre-stored network connection information.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a wireless network device includes a storage unit and a network element. The storage unit stores an operating system and a wireless network driver, wherein after the wireless network device is woken up from a sleep mode, the operating system resumes operation and loads the wireless network driver; the wireless network driver The program determines whether a predetermined base station meets a predetermined condition without performing base station scanning; and when the predetermined base station meets the predetermined condition, the wireless network driver does not perform base station scanning. The pre-stored network connection information is used to directly connect to the predetermined base station.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling a wireless network device to perform network connection includes: after the wireless network device wakes up from a sleep mode: loading a wireless network driver; the wireless network The road driver performs base station scanning to obtain a plurality of base station information; the wireless network driver compares the plurality of base station information with a base station list; and receives a request from a operating system for base station scanning. And when the base station information of the at least one part of the plurality of base station information is in the base station list, the wireless network driver only returns the at least part of the base station information to the operating system; and the operating system Selecting a base station from the at least one portion of the base station information for the wireless network driver to perform network connection.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a wireless network device includes a storage unit and a network element. The storage unit stores an operating system and a wireless network driver, wherein after the wireless network device wakes up from a sleep mode, the operating system loads a wireless network driver; the wireless network driver performs a base station Scanning to obtain a plurality of base station information; the wireless network driver compares the plurality of base station information with a base station list; and receives a command from a working system for performing base station scanning, and the plurality of When at least a part of the base station information in the base station information is in the base station list, the wireless network driver only transmits back at least a part of the base station information to the operating system; and the operating system is from at least a part of the base station Select a base station for the wireless network driver to connect to the network.

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless network device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the wireless network device 100 includes a processor 110 , a storage unit 120 , and a network component 130 . The storage unit 120 includes an operating system 122 and a wireless network driver 124 . In addition, in this embodiment, the wireless network device 100 can be a notebook computer or a tablet computer, and any other mobile communication device having a wireless network function.

Next, please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 simultaneously. FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the method before the wireless network device 100 enters the sleep mode in the method for controlling the wireless network device 100 to perform network connection according to an embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that the sleep mode in this specification includes a mode for saving power consumption, such as a standby mode. In the sleep mode, part of the operation of the wireless network device 100 is suspended, and the wireless network is also interrupted. In addition, the flow shown in FIG. 2 is merely an example. If there are substantially the same results, the flow of the present invention is not limited to the sequence of steps shown in FIG. 2, and the flow is described as follows:

First, in step S200, the wireless network device 100 is ready to enter the sleep mode. Next, in step S202, the wireless network driver 124 checks whether the current network connection has a security setting, that is, whether the base station currently connected to the wireless network device 100 needs to input a password to connect. If the current network connection has a security setting, the process proceeds to step S204 to set a label as "inactive" to indicate that the currently connected base station has a security setting; if the current network connection is not With the security setting, the flow advances to step S206. In step S206, the wireless network device 100 stores the current network connection information, such as a Service Set Identifier (SSID), channel information, and the like, to a storage unit (for example, a basic input input system (Basic Input). /Output System, in BIOS). Next, in step S208, the wireless network driver 124 sets the tag to "active" to indicate that the currently connected base station does not have a security setting. Finally, the flow proceeds to step S210 to end the above-described network connection check flow, and the wireless network device 100 enters the sleep mode.

Next, please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 simultaneously. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the wireless network device 100 waking up from the sleep mode in the method for controlling the wireless network device 100 to perform network connection according to an embodiment of the invention. . Referring to Figure 3, the process is described as follows:

First, in step S300, the operating system 122 in the wireless network device 100 resumes operation. Next, in step S302, the operating system 122 loads the wireless network driver 124. In step S304, the wireless network device 100 performs network connection. Next, in step S306, the wireless network device 100 performs a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) operation to obtain an IP address. Finally, the flow proceeds to step 308 to complete the network connection and settings.

Next, please refer to FIG. 4, which is a flow chart of the details of step S304. Referring to Figure 4, the process is described as follows:

First, in step S400, the flow starts. Next, in step S402, the wireless network driver 124 checks the label set in step S204 or step S208. If the label is indicated as "invalid" (that is, the base station of the previous connection has security settings), then The flow proceeds to step S410; and if the tag is indicated as "valid" (that is, the base station of the previous connection has no security setting), the flow advances to step S404. Then, in step S404 and step S406, the wireless network driver 124 directly obtains the network connection information stored in step S206, and directly uses the network connection information without performing base station scanning. A predetermined base station is connected, wherein the predetermined base station is the base station of the last network connection before the wireless network device 100 enters the sleep mode. Next, in step S408, it is checked whether the connection status is correct. If the connection status is correct, the flow proceeds to step S412 to end the flow; if the connection fails, the flow proceeds to step S410. In step S410, the wireless network driver 124 performs a base station scan to obtain at least one base station information, and transmits the at least one base station information to the operating system 122 to select a base station for the wireless network driver 124. Network connection. Thereafter, the flow proceeds to step S412 to end the flow.

As described in the flow of FIG. 4, when the currently connected base station has no security setting, the wireless network driver 124 directly uses the pre-stored network connection information without performing base station scanning. The connection, and the entire process takes only about 0.4 seconds to complete, so the present invention can accelerate the self-sleep mode of the wireless network device 100 compared to the prior art requiring about 1 to 8 seconds of connection time. Network connection speed after wake-up.

In addition, since there is no security setting for the currently connected base station, the wireless network driver 124 directly uses the pre-stored network connection information to connect, and therefore, the subsequent operation system 122 transmits a request for the base. When the station scans the command to the wireless network driver 124, the wireless network driver 124 only returns the predetermined base station information (that is, the information of the already connected base station) to the operating system 122 for comparison and judgment; Then, when the operating system 122 transmits a command for the network connection to the wireless network driver 124, the wireless network driver directly returns a completed message to the operating system 122. Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a timing diagram of the operating system 122, the wireless network driver 124, and the network component 130 when performing the above steps.

Please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a wireless network device 600 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the wireless network device 600 includes a processor 610, a storage unit 620, and a network component 630. The storage unit 620 includes an operating system 622, a wireless network driver 624, and a base station. A list 626, wherein the base station list 626 is a plurality of previous connection records of the wireless network device 600, that is, a plurality of base stations to which the wireless network device 600 was previously connected. In addition, in this embodiment, the wireless network device 600 can be a notebook computer or a tablet computer, and any other mobile communication device having a wireless network function.

Next, please refer to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 simultaneously. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for controlling the wireless network device 600 to perform network connection according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 7, the process is described as follows:

First, in step S700, the wireless network device 600 is woken up from the sleep mode, and the operating system 622 resumes operation. Next, in step S702, the operating system 622 loads the wireless network driver 624. In step S704, the wireless network device 600 performs network connection. Next, in step S706, the wireless network device 600 performs Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to obtain an IP address. Finally, the flow proceeds to step 708 to complete the network connection and settings.

Next, please refer to FIG. 8, which is a flowchart of the details of step S704. In addition, it should be noted that the flow shown in FIG. 8 is merely an example. If there are substantially the same results, the flow of the present invention is not limited to the sequence of steps shown in FIG.

First, in step S800, the flow starts. Next, in step S802, the wireless network driver 624 directly performs base station scanning to obtain a plurality of base station information. Next, in step S804, the wireless network driver 624 compares the plurality of base station information with the base station list 626 to determine whether at least a portion of the base station information and the base station list 626 are included in the plurality of base station information. The base station information in the match is matched, and if yes, the flow proceeds to step S806; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S808. In step S806, when the wireless network driver 624 receives a command from one of the operating systems 622 requesting a base station scan, the wireless network driver 624 only passes back at least a portion of the base station information to the operating system 622. For example, if it is found that 10 base station information is searched, but only two of the base station information are in the base station list 626, the wireless network driver 624 only transmits the two base station information back to the operating system. 622, without returning the other 8 base station information. On the other hand, in step S808, when the wireless network driver 624 receives a command from one of the operating systems 622 requesting a base station scan, the wireless network driver 624 returns all of the plurality of base station information to Operating system 622. Next, in step S810, the operating system 624 selects a base station from the base station information returned by the wireless network driver 624 for the wireless network driver 624 to perform network connection. Finally, the flow advances to step S812 to end the flow.

As described in the flow of FIG. 8, when at least a portion of the base stations scanned by the wireless network driver 624 match the base station information in the base station list 626, the wireless network driver 624 will only return the at least one. Part of the base station information, without returning all of the searched base station information, therefore, the operating system 622 only needs less time when performing base station selection and comparison (step 810), overall, The time required for the entire network connection process is less than one second. Therefore, the present invention can accelerate the wake of the wireless network device 600 from the sleep mode after about 1 to 8 seconds of connection time in the prior art. Network connection speed.

Figure 9 is a timing diagram of the operating system 622, the wireless network driver 624, and the network element 630 in performing the steps shown in Figure 8.

In addition, in another embodiment of the present invention, the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 8 may be combined, that is, steps S802 to S810 of FIG. 8 are connected to step S410 of FIG. 4. Since those having ordinary knowledge in the field of the present invention should have easily understood how to combine the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 8 after reading the contents of the above embodiments, the details are not described herein.

Briefly summarized, the present invention, in a method for controlling a wireless network device to perform network connection and related wireless network devices, the wireless network driver can directly perform the previous time without performing base station scanning. The base station information when connecting is connected, or the wireless network driver only returns a part of the base station information to the operating system after the base station scan to reduce the workload, so that the wireless network device After waking up from sleep mode, the network connection can be quickly performed, and the user can start using the network function without waiting too long.

The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.

100, 600. . . Wireless network device

110, 610. . . processor

120, 620. . . Storage unit

122, 622. . . working system

124, 624. . . Wireless network driver

130, 630. . . Network component

626. . . Base station list

S200~S210, S300~S308, S400~S412, S700~S708, S800~S812. . . step

1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless network device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the method for controlling a wireless network device to perform network connection in the method of controlling a wireless network device to enter a sleep mode according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the wireless network device waking up from the sleep mode in a method for controlling a wireless network device to perform network connection according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the details of step S304 shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a timing diagram of the operating system, wireless network driver, and network components when performing the steps shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a wireless network device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method for controlling a wireless network device to perform network connection according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a flow chart showing the details of step S704 shown in Fig. 7.

Figure 9 is a timing diagram of the operating system, wireless network driver, and network components when performing the steps shown in Figure 8.

S400~S412. . . step

Claims (16)

A method for controlling a wireless network device to perform network connection includes: after the wireless network device wakes up from a sleep mode: restoring operation of an operating system of the wireless network device; loading a wireless network a driver; determining whether a predetermined base station meets a predetermined condition in a case where the wireless network driver does not perform base station scanning; and when the predetermined base station meets the predetermined condition, the wireless network driver is not In the case of performing base station scanning, the pre-stored network connection information is used to directly connect the predetermined base station to obtain an internet protocol address (IP address). The method of claim 1, further comprising: when the predetermined base station does not meet the predetermined condition, the wireless network driver performs a base station scan to obtain at least one base station information, and the at least one A base station information is transmitted to the operating system to select a base station for the wireless network driver to connect to the network. The method of claim 1, further comprising: before the wireless network device enters the sleep mode: storing information about a current network connection of the wireless network device as the network connection. Information; wherein the current network connection is before the wireless network device enters the sleep mode The last network connection of the scheduled base station. The method of claim 3, further comprising: before the wireless network device enters the sleep mode: setting a according to the wireless network driver and the current network connection of the predetermined base station a tag, wherein the tag is used to indicate whether the predetermined base station has a security setting; wherein the predetermined condition is that the predetermined base station does not have the security setting. The method of claim 1, further comprising: after the wireless network device wakes up from a sleep mode: receiving a command from the operating system for performing a base station scan; and when the predetermined base station is compliant After the predetermined condition, and the wireless network driver directly uses the pre-stored network connection information to network the predetermined base station, the wireless network driver only returns the predetermined base station information to The operating system. A wireless network device includes: a storage unit for storing an operating system and a wireless network driver; and a network component; wherein the wireless network device wakes up after a sleep mode The system resumes operation and loads the wireless network driver; the wireless network driver does not In the case of the base station scanning, determining whether a predetermined base station meets a predetermined condition; and when the predetermined base station meets the predetermined condition, the wireless network driver directly uses the pre-storage without performing base station scanning. An internet connection information is used to network the predetermined base station through the network component to obtain an internet protocol address (IP address). The wireless network device of claim 6, wherein when the predetermined base station does not meet the predetermined condition, the wireless network driver performs a base station scan to obtain at least one base station information, and the at least one A base station information is transmitted to an operating system to select a base station for the wireless network driver to connect to the network. The wireless network device of claim 6, wherein the wireless network driver stores a current network connection information as the network connection before the wireless network device enters the sleep mode. Information, wherein the current network connection is the last network connection of the wireless network device to the predetermined base station before entering the sleep mode. The wireless network device of claim 8, wherein the wireless network driver is configured to connect to the current network connection of the predetermined base station before the wireless network device enters the sleep mode. A tag, wherein the tag is used to indicate whether the predetermined base station has a security setting, and wherein the predetermined condition is that the predetermined base station does not have the security setting. The wireless network device of claim 6, wherein the wireless network driver receives a command from the operating system to perform a base station scan after the wireless network device wakes up from a sleep mode; After the predetermined base station meets the predetermined condition, and the wireless network driver directly uses the pre-stored network connection information to network the predetermined base station, the wireless network driver only returns The predetermined base station information is sent to the operating system. A method for controlling a wireless network device to perform network connection includes: after the wireless network device wakes up from a sleep mode: loading a wireless network driver; the wireless network driver performs base station scanning Obtaining a plurality of base station information; the wireless network driver compares the plurality of base station information with a base station list; and receives a command from an operating system for performing base station scanning, and the plurality of bases When at least a portion of the base station information in the station information is in the base station list, the wireless network driver only transmits back at least a portion of the base station information to the operating system; and the operating system is from the at least a portion of the base station Select a base station in the information for the wireless network driver to connect to the network. For example, the method described in claim 11 includes: When the plurality of base station information are not in the base station list, the wireless network driver returns all of the plurality of base station information to the operating system. The method of claim 11, further comprising: establishing the base station list according to the plurality of connection records of the wireless network device before the wireless network device enters the sleep mode. A wireless network device includes: a storage unit for storing an operating system and a wireless network driver; and a network component; wherein the wireless network device wakes up from a sleep mode, the operating system Loading a wireless network driver; the wireless network driver performs base station scanning to obtain a plurality of base station information; the wireless network driver compares the plurality of base station information with a base station list; when receiving When a command from a operating system for performing a base station scan is required, and at least a part of the base station information of the plurality of base station information is in the base station list, the wireless network driver only includes at least a part of the base station The information is transmitted back to the operating system; and the operating system selects a base station from the at least one portion of the base station information for the wireless network driver to connect to the network through the network component. The wireless network device of claim 14, wherein when the plurality of base station information are not in the base station list, the wireless network driver A plurality of base station information are all transmitted back to the operating system. The wireless network device of claim 14, wherein the wireless network driver establishes the base according to a plurality of connection records of the wireless network device before the wireless network device enters the sleep mode. List of stations.