TWI558255B - Wireless ethernet network controlling method and wireless ethernet network system - Google Patents

Description

Wireless Ethernet control method and wireless Ethernet system

The invention relates to an Ethernet control method, and in particular to a wireless Ethernet control method and a wireless Ethernet system.

A traditional docking station is connected to the client in a wired manner (eg, a universal serial bus, USB). The architecture of a conventional universal serial bus (USB) docking station connected to a mobile device is shown in FIG. The universal serial bus host (USB host) 13 of the mobile device 1 passes through the universal serial bus bar (USB cable) 4 and the universal serial bus of the docking station 2 - the Ethernet interface (USB to Ethernet interface) The 22 connection, the Ethernet PHY 21 of the docking station 2 is connected to the Ethernet 3. For the client, the client operates a human interface 11, such as an operating system or application. The human machine interface 11 uses the universal serial bus Ethernet driver 12 to send and receive data of the Ethernet 3. When the mobile device 1 of the user end needs to move, the docking station 2 needs to move together, and the moving range is limited by the wire length of the universal serial bus bar cable 4, usually not more than 3 meters, and the docking station 2 is additionally The perimeter of the link is often inconvenient to move (eg, a screen), so the docking station 2 typically does not move with the user.

In contrast, the purpose of using a wireless docking station is to replace the wired connection interface with a wireless network in order to remove the user from the limitation of the wire. The traditional wireless docking station uses the USB over IP method to allow the user to use the network. The way to access the perimeter of the docking station, but currently the USB over IP is effective, such as the Ethernet Access devices using USB over IP are limited by the disadvantages of USB over IP bandwidth and share bandwidth with other USB devices.

In addition, the Ethernet device in the traditional wireless share device can only share the resources of the Ethernet for other wireless devices, and the wireless client cannot separately use the Ethernet device, and cannot directly set the Ethernet related. Set to use as the local end of the Ethernet.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless Ethernet control method and a wireless Ethernet system, which are used to directly control and use a wireless Ethernet network by a user terminal of a mobile device, like using an Ethernet device on the local end. same.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless Ethernet control method for connecting a mobile device to an Ethernet network through a wireless docking station. The method includes the following steps: connecting an Ethernet physical layer of the wireless docking station to the B Too network; the first wireless network interface card of the wireless connection wireless docking station and the second wireless network interface card of the mobile device; the control servo unit of the wireless docking station receives the action through the first wireless network interface card The operating state setting signal generated by the virtual Ethernet card of the device, and the control servo unit transmits the operating state setting signal to the Ethernet physical layer to set the operating state of the Ethernet physical layer; and the wireless docking station The virtual local area network unit processes the data packet transmitted between the Ethernet physical layer and the first wireless network interface card.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless Ethernet system, including a mobile device and a wireless docking station. The mobile device includes a virtual Ethernet card and a second wireless network interface card. The virtual Ethernet card is used to generate an operational status setting signal. The wireless docking station includes an Ethernet physical layer, a first wireless network interface card, a control servo unit, and a virtual area network unit. The Ethernet physical layer is used to connect to the Ethernet. The first wireless network interface card is used to wirelessly connect to the second wireless network interface card of the mobile device. Controlling the servo unit to receive an operational status setting signal generated by the virtual Ethernet card from the mobile device through the first wireless network interface card, and transmitting the The status setting signal is transmitted to the Ethernet physical layer to set the operating state of the Ethernet physical layer. The virtual local area network unit is bridged with the Ethernet physical layer and connected to the first wireless network interface card, wherein the virtual local area network unit is configured to process between the Ethernet physical layer and the first wireless network interface card. The data packet transmitted.

In summary, the embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless Ethernet control method and a wireless Ethernet system, which can directly bridge an Ethernet device on a client end and a docking station, so that the Ethernet can be Use the bandwidth of the rest of the wireless network for high-speed transmission, and add the bridging method of Ethernet setting and control, so that the UE can further set and apply the Ethernet device (such as setting the data transmission speed), and the original The existing wireless network operates separately, while maintaining the use of the original wired docking station and the convenience of wireless transmission.

The detailed description of the present invention and the accompanying drawings are to be understood by the claims The scope is subject to any restrictions.

1, 51‧‧‧ mobile devices

11, 511‧‧‧ human machine interface

12‧‧‧Common Serial Bus Ethernet Driver

13‧‧‧Common serial bus

2‧‧‧Expansion base

21, 521‧‧‧ Ethernet physical layer

22‧‧‧Common Serial Bus-Ethernet Interface

3, 53‧‧‧ Ethernet

4‧‧‧Common serial busbar cable

52‧‧‧Wireless docking station

512‧‧‧Virtual Ethernet card

513‧‧‧Second wireless network interface card

522‧‧‧Control SERVOPACK

523‧‧‧Virtual Area Network Unit

524‧‧‧First wireless network interface card

S110, S120, S130, S140, S210, S220, S230, S240, S250, S260, S271, S272, S280, S290, S310, S320, S331, S332, S333, S334, S335, S336, S337, S340‧‧ Step flow

1 is an architectural diagram of the architecture of a conventional universal serial bus (USB) docking station connected to a mobile device.

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a wireless Ethernet system provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a wireless Ethernet network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a wireless docking station startup and setup setting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of establishing a connection and setting between a mobile device and a wireless docking station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Wireless Ethernet Control Method and Embodiment of Wireless Ethernet System]

Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wireless Ethernet system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Architecture diagram. The wireless Ethernet system includes a mobile device 51 and a wireless docking station 52. The mobile device 51 includes a human machine interface 511 (for example, software including an operating system or an application), a virtual Ethernet card 512, and a second wireless network interface card 513. The wireless docking station 52 includes an Ethernet physical layer (Ethernet PHY) 521, a first wireless network interface card 524, a control servo unit 522, and a virtual area network (VLAN) unit 523. The wireless docking station 52 of the present embodiment serves as a server (server) and the mobile device 51 serves as a client. In actual application, the wireless docking station 52 as a server can be designed to be controlled by a Linux system, but The invention is not limited thereby.

The mobile device 51 can be, for example, a notebook computer or a tablet computer, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The virtual Ethernet card 512 of the mobile device 51 is used to generate an operational status setting signal. The client controls the virtual Ethernet card 512 by operating the human interface 511. When the client (the mobile device 51) connects the second wireless network interface card 513 with the first wireless network interface card 524 of the wireless docking station 52, the virtual Ethernet card 512 corresponding to the control server unit 522. Can be established. The dotted line connection between the virtual Ethernet card 512 and the control servo unit 522 shown in FIG. 2 represents that the virtual Ethernet card 512 and the control servo unit 522 communicate with each other, and does not represent the path of signal transmission. . The virtual Ethernet card 512 of the mobile device 51 is a Media Access Control Layer (MAC) built in the Data Link Layer.

The Ethernet entity layer 521 is used to connect to the Ethernet 53. From a software perspective, the Ethernet physical layer 521 is considered an Ethernet device in the system. The first wireless network interface card 524 is used to wirelessly connect to the second wireless network interface card 513 of the mobile device 51. In practical applications, the first wireless network interface card 524 and the second wireless network interface card 513 may be a wireless fidelity (WiFi) network interface card, but the invention does not limit the type and specifications of the wireless network.

The control server unit 522 receives the operation status setting signal generated by the virtual Ethernet card 512 from the mobile device 51 through the first wireless network interface card 524, and transmits the operation status setting signal to the Ethernet physical layer 521. To set up Ethernet The operational status of the physical layer 521. The virtual local area network unit 523 is bridged with the Ethernet physical layer 521 and connected to the first wireless network interface card 524, wherein the virtual local area network unit 523 is configured to process the Ethernet physical layer 521 and the first A data packet transmitted between the wireless network interface cards 524.

The virtual Ethernet card 512 is an Ethernet physical layer 521 for controlling the wireless docking station 52 through the control servo unit 522 when the UE wants to set the state of the Ethernet to be used. In detail, the user can use the human interface 511 (operating system or application) to set the operation status setting signal of the virtual Ethernet card 512, and the virtual Ethernet card 512 wirelessly through the second wireless network interface card 513. The operational status setting signal is transmitted to the first wireless network interface 524. In the case of the signal transmission path, the operation state setting signal generated by the virtual Ethernet card 512 is first transmitted to the second wireless network interface card 513, and then transmitted to the first wireless network interface card 524 through wireless transmission. The first wireless network interface card 524 then transmits the operational status setting signal to the control servo unit 522, and the control servo unit 522 sets the operational status of the Ethernet physical layer 521. On the other hand, through the same path, the control servo unit 522 can transmit the status signal corresponding to the Ethernet entity layer 521 to the virtual Ethernet card 512 of the mobile device 51 in the reverse direction. Thereby, the UE can know the setting status of the Ethernet. The operational status of the Ethernet entity layer 521 can be determined according to the specifications of the actual Ethernet entity layer 521. The operating state of the Ethernet physical layer 521 includes, for example, data transmission speed, duplex, media status, automatic communication support, and power saving characteristics, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In actual application, the operating state of the Ethernet entity layer 521 is reflected in the virtual Ethernet card 512, and the parameter in the operational state is the virtual Ethernet card displayed in the operating system used by the client. 512 driver settings.

On the other hand, the data transmitted and received between the mobile device 51 and the Ethernet 53 is usually implemented in the form of a packet. In this embodiment, the data from the mobile device 51 is transmitted to the virtual local area network unit 523 through the second wireless network interface card 513 and the first wireless network interface card 524, and the data from the mobile device 51. The data is transmitted to the Ethernet entity layer 521 through the virtual area network unit 523, whereby the data from the mobile device 51 can be transmitted to the Ethernet 53. In contrast, the data from the Ethernet 53 is transmitted to the virtual local area network unit 523 through the Ethernet physical layer 521, and then transmitted to the first wireless network interface card 524 through the virtual local area network unit 523. The data from the Ethernet 53 can be transmitted to the (second wireless network interface card 513) of the first mobile device 51. In detail, when the wireless docking station 52 of the mobile device 51 transmits the data packet from the Ethernet physical layer 521 to the mobile device 51, the virtual local area network unit 523 adds the data packet to the virtual local area network tag (VLAN tag). Then, it is transmitted to the second wireless network interface card 513 of the mobile device 51 through the first wireless network interface card 524. When the mobile device 51 transmits the data packet to the wireless docking station 52 of the mobile device 51, the virtual area network unit 523 encapsulates the data with the virtual area network tag (VLAN tag) and untags it. The data packet is transmitted to the Ethernet entity layer 521.

According to the above, the second wireless network interface card 513 and the first wireless network interface card 524 are responsible for wirelessly transmitting the operating state setting signal (to the control servo unit 522), the status signal (from the control servo unit 522), and are responsible for the wireless transmission action. The data transmitted and received between the device 51 and the Ethernet 53.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 simultaneously, based on the foregoing wireless Ethernet system, in terms of a control method, the embodiment provides a wireless Ethernet control method, including the following steps. First, in step S110, the Ethernet physical layer 521 of the wireless docking station 52 is connected to the Ethernet. Then, in step S120, the first wireless network interface card 524 of the wireless extension base 52 and the second wireless network interface card 513 of the mobile device 51 are wirelessly connected. Next, in step S130, the control servo unit 522 of the wireless docking station 52 receives the operation state setting signal generated by the virtual Ethernet card 512 from the mobile device 51 through the first wireless network interface card 524, and controls the servo. The unit 522 transmits the operating state setting signal to the Ethernet entity layer 521 to set the operating state of the Ethernet entity layer 521. Then, in step S140. Then, in step S140, the virtual local area network unit 523 processes the Ethernet. The data packet transmitted between the physical layer 521 and the first wireless network interface card 524.

Next, referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the flow of establishing a connection and setting operation state between the mobile device 51 and the wireless docking station 52 will be further described. In FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the wireless network is implemented using Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), but the processes of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are only for help, and are not intended to limit the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a wireless docking station startup and setup setting according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, when the system is started, step S210 is performed to temporarily (close) the Ethernet entity layer 521 for subsequent setting. Next, in step S220, a virtual area network device (VLAN device) is added from the wireless fidelity network interface card (WiFi NIC), that is, the first wireless network interface card 524 (wireless fidelity network) is established. Referring to FIG. 2, the virtual area network unit 523 of the interface card WiFi NIC). The virtual area network unit 523 is a virtual area network device (VLAN device) presented for use in tagging and untagging data packets. Next, proceeding to step S230, bridging the Ethernet and the virtual area network device (VLAN device), that is, using the virtual local area network unit 523 to bridge the Ethernet physical layer 521 in the wireless expansion base 52 (in software In perspective, the Ethernet device and the first wireless network interface card 524 enable the data packet to be transmitted or received via the Ethernet device. Then, in step S240, the control servo unit is started, that is, the control servo unit 522 of FIG. 2 is started. Used to receive and reply to the status and settings of the UE for the Ethernet entity layer 521 (Ethernet device). The status section includes: data transmission speed, duplex, media status, automatic communication support (Auto-negotiation support), power saving features, and the like. The setting section includes: data transmission speed, duplex, deactivate/enable media, auto-negotiation, power saving features, etc., and directly to the Ethernet entity when receiving the settings. The layer 521 (Ethernet device) performs setting, or retrieves the state of the Ethernet entity layer 521 (Ethernet device) and transmits it back to the UE.

Then, step S250 is performed to receive the control request and the data packet. Next, in step S260, it is determined by the control servo unit 522 whether or not the status request (from the mobile device 51) is obtained. If not, proceed to step S271 to control the servo unit 522. The state of the Ethernet entity layer 521 is set; if so, then step S272 is performed to control the servo unit 522 to obtain the state of the Ethernet entity layer 521. Then, after step S271 and step S272 are finished, step S280 is performed to reply the result packet to reply the state of the Ethernet entity layer 521 (or the result of setting the state) to the mobile device 51. Next, proceeding to step S290, it is determined whether or not the setting is to be terminated. If so, the setting procedure of the servo terminal is left; if not, step S250 is performed again. Thereby, the mobile device can directly connect to the external Ethernet or device through the Ethernet physical layer 521 of the wireless docking station 52.

Please refer to FIG. 5 , which is a flowchart of establishing a connection and setting between a mobile device and a wireless docking station according to an embodiment of the present invention. For the mobile device 51 as the client, after (wirelessly) connecting to the wireless docking station 52, first, in step S310, the virtual Ethernet card 512 is established in the mobile device 51 by the driver. In other words, the virtual Ethernet card 512 of the Media Access Control Layer (MAC) built in the Data Link Layer by the driver, in terms of software, the virtual Ethernet card 512 is considered a wireless Ethernet device. Then, in step S320, the driver determines the type of control request for the virtual Ethernet card 512. The types of control requirements can be broadly classified into the first category: setting the interface and confirming the status; and the second type: transmitting the data packet or receiving the data packet.

When the control request is the setting interface, steps S331 and S332 are performed. In step S331, the driver of the virtual Ethernet card 512 transmits at least one SET request packet to the control servo unit 522, wherein the control request at this time is an operation state setting signal. Next, in step S332, the virtual Ethernet card 512 confirms the setting result of the control servo unit 522. That is to say, the driver uses the driver to enable the wireless virtual Ethernet card 512 and the control servo unit to transmit and receive the settings and status of the Ethernet device (the Ethernet physical layer 521), for example, when the user sets the wireless. When the speed of the virtual Ethernet card 512 is reached, the setting is transmitted to the control servo unit. In actual application, when the virtual Ethernet card 512 communicates with the control server unit 522, a specific format of the packet and the agreement is required to confirm the data integrity and security. Fullness.

When the control request is the confirmation state, step S333 and step S334 are performed. In step S333, the driver of the virtual Ethernet card 512 transmits at least one GET request packet to the control servo unit 522. Next, in step S334, the operational state of the interface (the Ethernet physical layer 521) is obtained by controlling the operational state of the servo unit 522.

When the data packet is to be transmitted, step S335 is performed, and the tagged data packet is generated by using the virtual Ethernet card 512, and then the wireless fidelity network interface card (WiFi NIC) is used (ie, the second wireless network interface card 513). Transmitting the tagged data packet, for example, adding a virtual area network tag (VLAN tag) to the data packet and transmitting it through the second wireless network interface card 513. On the other hand, when the data packet is to be received, step S336 and step S337 are performed. In step S336, it is determined whether the data packet has passed the label. If yes, step S337 is performed, the data packet is de-labeled, and the data packet is transmitted to the action. The operating system of the device 51; if not, proceed directly to step S340. That is, when the second wireless network interface card 513 receives the tagged data packet (for example, a packet with a VLAN tag), it forwards it to the virtual Ethernet card 512 for untagging. And receive.

After the above steps S332, S334, S335 or S337 are completed, step S340 is performed to determine whether or not the base is disconnected, and if so, the driver is removed; if not, step S320 is performed again. Briefly speaking, according to the embodiment, the driver of the wireless Ethernet card used by the user end is combined with the virtual area network (VLAN) to establish a virtual Ethernet network card, and the data is transmitted through the wireless network, and The setting and status communication is directly performed with the control servo unit 522 (control server) of the wireless docking station 52. The server uses the virtual area network and the bridge to establish a channel for processing the Ethernet data stream, and the control SERVOPACK can be used to handle the setting and status of the Ethernet.

[Possible effects of the examples]

In summary, the wireless Ethernet control method provided by the embodiment of the present invention is And the wireless Ethernet system, which can directly bridge the Ethernet device on the client and the docking station, so that the Ethernet can utilize the bandwidth of the remaining wireless networks for high-speed transmission, and join the Ethernet network. The bridging method of road setting and control allows the user to further set and use the Ethernet device (such as setting the running speed), and operate separately from the original wireless network, while maintaining the original wired docking station. , with the convenience of wireless transmission. Therefore, the wireless docking station provided by the embodiment of the present invention can provide a complete Ethernet function, and improve the problem of insufficient performance of the Ethernet on the past wireless docking station, and let the user experience the completeness. The function of the Ethernet device.

The above description is only an embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

S110, S120, S130, S140‧‧‧ step procedure

Claims (13)

A wireless Ethernet control method for connecting a mobile device to an Ethernet network through a wireless docking station, the method comprising the steps of: connecting an Ethernet physical layer of the wireless docking station to the Ethernet; wirelessly connecting one of the first wireless network interface card of the wireless docking station and the second wireless network interface card of the mobile device; one of the wireless docking stations controls the servo unit to pass the first The wireless network interface card receives an operational status setting signal generated by the virtual Ethernet card of the mobile device, and the control servo unit transmits the operational status setting signal to the Ethernet physical layer to set the The operating state of the Ethernet physical layer; and the virtual local area network unit of the wireless expansion base handles the data packet transmitted between the Ethernet physical layer and the first wireless network interface card; The step of connecting an Ethernet physical layer of the wireless expansion base to the Ethernet network further includes the steps of: establishing the virtual local area network unit corresponding to the first wireless network interface card The control servo unit determines whether a state request is obtained; when the control servo unit obtains the state request, the control servo unit obtains the state of the Ethernet physical layer; and when the control servo unit does not obtain the state request, The control servo unit sets the state of the Ethernet physical layer. The wireless Ethernet control method of claim 1, wherein the step of wirelessly connecting the first wireless network interface card of the wireless docking station to the second wireless network interface card of the mobile device The method further includes: establishing, by the driver, the virtual Ethernet card in the mobile device, wherein the virtual Ethernet card and the control server unit pass the second wireless network interface card and the first wireless Network interface cards are connected to each other. The wireless Ethernet control method of claim 1, wherein the control servo unit using the wireless docking station receives the first wireless network interface card In the step of the operation state setting signal generated by the virtual Ethernet card of the mobile device, the operating state setting signal of the virtual Ethernet card is set by using a human machine interface, the virtual Ethernet card The operating state setting signal is wirelessly transmitted to the first wireless network interface card through the second wireless network interface card. The wireless Ethernet control method of claim 2, wherein after the step of establishing the virtual Ethernet card in the mobile device by using the driver, the method further comprises: the driver determining that the virtual Ethernet is The type of control required for a network card. The wireless Ethernet control method of claim 4, wherein after the step of determining, by the driver, the type of the control request for the virtual Ethernet card, the method further comprises: when the control request is to set the virtual In the state of the Ethernet card, the driver of the virtual Ethernet card transmits at least one setting request packet to the control server unit, wherein the control request is the operation state setting signal; and the virtual Ethernet network The card confirms the setting result of the control servo unit. The wireless Ethernet control method of claim 4, wherein after the step of determining, by the driver, the type of the control request for the virtual Ethernet card, the method further comprises: when the control request is to confirm the virtual In the state of the Ethernet card, the driver of the virtual Ethernet card transmits at least one request packet to the control servo unit; and the control servo unit obtains the operating state of the Ethernet entity layer. The wireless Ethernet control method of claim 4, wherein in the step of the driver determining the type of the control request for the virtual Ethernet card, when the control request is to transmit or receive a data packet And performing the step of processing, by the virtual area network unit of the wireless extension base, the data packet transmitted between the Ethernet physical layer and the first wireless network interface card. According to the wireless Ethernet control method of claim 1, wherein the virtual area is in the virtual area The step of processing, by the domain network unit, the data packet transmitted between the Ethernet physical layer and the first wireless network interface card, when the wireless expansion base of the mobile device transmits the physical layer from the Ethernet When the data packet is encapsulated into the mobile device, the virtual local area network unit adds the data packet to a virtual local area network tag, and transmits the data packet to the second wireless network interface card of the mobile device through the first wireless network interface card. When the mobile device transmits the data packet to the wireless docking station of the mobile device, the virtual area network unit encapsulates the data packet with the virtual area network label, and transmits the de-labeled data packet to the data packet. Ethernet physical layer. A wireless Ethernet system includes: a mobile device including a virtual Ethernet card and a second wireless network interface card, the virtual Ethernet card being connected to the second wireless network interface card, The virtual Ethernet card is used to generate a working state setting signal; and a wireless docking station includes: an Ethernet physical layer for connecting to an Ethernet network; and a first wireless network interface card. The second wireless network interface card is wirelessly connected to the mobile device; a control servo unit is connected to the Ethernet physical layer and the first wireless network interface card, and the control servo unit transmits the first Receiving, by the wireless network interface card, the operating state setting signal generated by the virtual Ethernet card from the mobile device, and transmitting the operating state setting signal to the Ethernet physical layer to set the Ethernet network An operating state of the physical layer; and a virtual local area network unit that is bridged with the Ethernet physical layer and connected to the first wireless network interface card, wherein the virtual local area network unit is configured to process the Ethernet network a data packet transmitted between the body layer and the first wireless network interface card; wherein the control servo unit determines whether a state request is obtained, and when the control servo unit obtains the state request, the control servo unit obtains the Ethernet network road The state of the physical layer; when the control servo unit does not obtain the status request, the control servo unit sets the state of the Ethernet physical layer. The wireless Ethernet system of claim 9 wherein the virtual Ethernet card is established in the mobile device via a driver. The wireless Ethernet system of claim 10, wherein the driver determines a type of control request for the virtual Ethernet card; when the control request is to set the state of the virtual Ethernet card The driver of the virtual Ethernet card transmits at least one setting request packet to the control server unit, wherein the control request is the operation status setting signal; and when the control request is to confirm the virtual Ethernet card In the state, the driver of the virtual Ethernet card transmits at least one request packet to the control servo unit. According to the wireless Ethernet system of claim 9, wherein the operating state setting signal of the virtual Ethernet card is set through a human machine interface. The wireless Ethernet system of claim 9, wherein the virtual local area network unit transmits data when the wireless expansion base of the mobile device transmits the data packet from the physical layer of the Ethernet to the mobile device After the packet is added to the virtual area network label, the first wireless network interface card is transmitted to the second wireless network interface card of the mobile device; wherein, when the mobile device transmits the data packet to the wireless extension of the mobile device In the pedestal, the virtual local area network unit encapsulates the data packet with the virtual local area network label, and transmits the de-labeled data packet to the Ethernet physical layer.