WO2012020922A2

WO2012020922A2 - Method for providing wireless internet service for a wireless lan terminal in a vehicle, and wireless internet device for a vehicle providing the method

Info

Publication number: WO2012020922A2
Application number: PCT/KR2011/005124
Authority: WO
Inventors: 최현; 이호정; 유지광; 심규영
Original assignee: 에스케이네트웍스 주식회사
Priority date: 2010-08-10
Filing date: 2011-07-13
Publication date: 2012-02-16
Also published as: WO2012020922A3; KR100985653B1; CN102377818A

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for providing wireless internet service for a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle, and a wireless internet device for a vehicle providing the method. The method for providing the wireless internet service may comprise the steps of: transmitting/receiving data to/from a wireless LAN share unit in a wireless LAN terminal; converting data received from the wireless LAN terminal and a wireless broadband internet network to transmit the wireless broadband internet network and the wireless LAN terminal, respectively; receiving data transmitted from the wireless broadband internet network from a wireless broadband internet access unit and then transmitting the data transmitted from the wireless LAN terminal; and aggregating the amount of data transmitted/received to/from the wireless broadband internet access unit and then displaying the usage charge for the aggregated and calculated data. Accordingly, a customer can receive wireless internet service in a moving vehicle using the wireless LAN terminal and calculate and pay the data charge when the customer returns the vehicle or disembarks from the vehicle.

Description

Method for providing wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle and a wireless device for a vehicle providing the method

The present invention relates to a method for providing a wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle, and to a wireless Internet apparatus for a vehicle providing the same. More particularly, the present invention is used to access a wireless Internet network using a wireless LAN terminal in a moving vehicle. A method and apparatus for implementing the method.

Wireless internet networks can be classified into various types according to the type of service provided. First, Wi-Fi (WiFi), one of the wireless Internet services, is a communication method defined in IEEE802.11 for using a wireless Internet network that can be used within a certain distance around an access point (AP). This means that a user of a wireless LAN terminal in a certain range around an AP can access an internet network using a wireless LAN terminal using an AP through an Internet network provided by an Internet communication network operator (ISP) by a cable or an optical LAN.

The data transfer speed of Wi-Fi may be supported from 5Mbps (802.11b) to 23Mbps (802.11a or 802.11g) at a minimum depending on the communication protocol. Future Wi-Fi 802.11n standards support speeds up to 150Mbps. In case of Wi-Fi, data transmission speed is faster than other wireless internet services, but the shortcoming distance of radio waves from the wireless access device is short, and wireless LAN network cannot be used while moving.

On the other hand, Wibro uses a wirelessly connected modem, which can connect to the wireless Internet network while traveling at a speed of 100 km / h, and transmits and transmits radio waves farther than Wi-Fi. However, compared to Wi-Fi, the data transfer rate is as low as 4Mbps.

In addition, HSDPA network as a data service using the 3G network can also be used to provide wireless Internet services.

In general, in order to provide wireless Internet service to a plurality of wireless LAN terminals in a home or company, a plurality of wireless LAN terminals may be provided with wireless Internet services by installing a wireless router and allocating a virtual IP using the wireless router. have. However, in case of a general wireless LAN terminal with only a wireless LAN card, WiBro service cannot be used normally.

Therefore, in order to use the Internet service in a mobile vehicle that does not provide a wired Internet service, a terminal must be installed in a terminal to subscribe to a WiBro service that can use a wireless Internet network and to access the WiBro network. Therefore, a wireless LAN terminal without a WiBro modem cannot be provided with a wireless Internet service.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for providing a wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for providing a wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle.

In the vehicle according to an aspect of the present invention for providing a wireless Internet service to the passenger's wireless LAN terminal in accordance with an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object of the present invention is a broadband wireless Internet connection for accessing a broadband wireless Internet network And a wireless LAN sharing unit which is a data transmission / reception unit for providing the wireless Internet service to the wireless LAN terminal, data transmitted and received with the broadband wireless internet network through the broadband wireless internet access unit, and the wireless LAN terminal through the wireless LAN sharing unit. Signal conversion unit for converting the transmitted and received data in a mutual manner, the network used to access the broadband wireless Internet network currently used by indicating the type of network used to access the broadband wireless Internet network Connection indicating whether network is added A network discrimination display unit, a rate calculation unit that calculates a rate using the wireless Internet service based on the amount of data transmitted and received by the vehicle wireless Internet device, and when returning the vehicle or based on the rate information transmitted from the rate calculation unit. It may include an output unit for displaying a charge using the wireless Internet service to be settled at the time of getting off. The in-vehicle wireless Internet device may be used as the in-vehicle wireless Internet device when the in-vehicle wireless Internet device is included in the navigation provided in the vehicle, when the navigation including the in-vehicle wireless Internet device is touched in a predetermined pattern. The apparatus may further include a sensor unit configured to detect the predetermined pattern so that the navigation used is switched back to the navigation function. When the amount of data that can be transmitted / received through the in-vehicle wireless Internet device has a limited value, when the amount of data transmitted or received through the in-vehicle wireless Internet device exceeds the restricted value, the broadband wireless The data transmission / reception function of the Internet connection may be stopped. The access network distinguishing display unit is used to access the broadband wireless internet network used by the vehicle wireless internet device through the output screen of the navigation when the vehicle wireless internet device is included in the navigation provided in the vehicle. If the type of network is displayed, and the vehicle wireless Internet device is not included in the navigation provided in the vehicle, the access network distinguishing display unit uses the LED lamp provided in the vehicle wireless Internet device to display the broadband wireless Internet network. It may indicate the type of network used to access the network. A vehicular wireless Internet device that provides a wireless Internet service to a passenger's WLAN terminal in a vehicle may use a WiBro network to access the broadband wireless Internet network. The signal conversion unit converts data transmitted and received through the WiBro network from the broadband wireless Internet access unit into a data format transmitted and received through the Wi-Fi network transmitted and received with the wireless LAN terminal through the wireless LAN sharing unit, and the wireless LAN terminal and the Wi-Fi network. The data transmitted / received through the broadband wireless Internet connection may be converted into a format of data transmitted / received through the WiBro network.

In addition, a broadband wireless Internet access unit capable of accessing a broadband wireless Internet network according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the second object of the present invention, a wireless LAN sharing unit for providing a wireless LAN service to a wireless LAN terminal in the vehicle; A method of providing a wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle using a vehicle wireless Internet device having an output unit for displaying a charge using the broadband wireless internet network is provided by the wireless LAN terminal in the vehicle. Transmitting and receiving, converting the data received from the wireless LAN terminal to the data for transmission to the broadband wireless Internet network through the wireless LAN sharing unit and for transmitting the data received from the broadband wireless Internet network to the wireless LAN terminal Converting data to phase Receiving data transmitted from the broadband wireless internet network through a broadband wireless internet access unit, transmitting data transmitted from the wireless LAN terminal through the broadband wireless internet access unit, and an amount of data transmitted and received through the broadband wireless internet access unit; And displaying the calculated data usage fee through the output unit. A vehicle wireless Internet apparatus including a broadband wireless internet access unit that can access the broadband wireless internet network, a wireless LAN sharing unit for providing a wireless LAN service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle, and an output unit that displays a charge using the broadband wireless internet network. The method for providing a wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle is provided when the amount of data transmitted / received by the vehicle wireless internet device is limited. The method may further include stopping the operation of transmitting and receiving the data in the vehicular wireless Internet device. The in-vehicle wireless Internet device may use a WiBro network to access the broadband wireless Internet network. Converting data received from the WLAN terminal through the WLAN sharing unit into data for transmission to the broadband wireless Internet network and converting data received from the broadband WLAN network to data for transmission to the WLAN terminal In the step, the broadband wireless Internet access unit converts data transmitted and received through the WiBro network into a data format transmitted and received through the Wi-Fi network transmitted and received with the WLAN terminal through the WLAN sharing unit, and then through the WLAN terminal and the Wi-Fi network. The transmitted and received data may be converted into a format of data transmitted and received through the WiBro network through the broadband wireless Internet access unit.

As described above, according to a method of providing a wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention and a vehicle wireless Internet device providing the method, a broadband wireless Internet service such as WiBro, which enables wireless Internet service on the go, A passenger of a vehicle not subscribed to may receive a wireless Internet service using a wireless LAN terminal while the vehicle is moving, and separately settle a wireless internet usage fee incurred while using a wireless data service in the vehicle.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a vehicle wireless Internet apparatus) for providing a wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicular wireless Internet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of receiving a wireless Internet service in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a vehicle wireless Internet apparatus provided in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and vehicle occupants receiving a wireless Internet service using a wireless LAN terminal.

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 referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but it may be understood that other components 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. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are used for the same components in the drawings, and duplicate descriptions of the same components are omitted.

In the following embodiments of the present invention, a WiBro or WiMax service is illustrated as an example of a broadband wireless Internet service that can be provided with a wireless Internet service while on the move for convenience of description, but the interior of the rental car is not released from the nature of the present invention. Other types of services (eg, packet wireless Internet services of third generation or fourth generation mobile communication networks) that can provide wireless Internet services to the network may also be possible. That is, it should be noted that the broadband wireless Internet service referred to as 'Wibro' in the following embodiment is only one example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the WiBro broadband wireless Internet service.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle is a commercial vehicle (eg, car rental, taxi, express bus, etc.) that provides a service for accessing wireless internet to a customer and bills the customer by calculating a wireless internet data fee used by the customer. Etc.).

Referring to FIG. 1, the vehicular wireless Internet apparatus 100 may distinguish a broadband wireless Internet access unit 110, a controller 115, a signal converter 117, a WLAN sharing unit 120, a storage unit 125, and an access network. The display unit 130 may include a charge calculator 135, an output unit 140, an input unit 145, and a sensor unit 150.

The vehicle wireless Internet apparatus 100 is a device for providing an Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal existing in a vehicle. The vehicle wireless Internet apparatus 100 is a device that receives a signal for receiving a wireless Internet service through a WiBro network and converts the received WiBro signal into a Wi-Fi signal and supplies the Wi-Fi signal in a vehicle to the Wi-Fi terminal. .

The vehicle wireless Internet apparatus 100 may serve only to receive a WiBro signal and change it into a Wi-Fi signal that can be received by the WLAN terminal, but the wireless Internet service using the WiBro signal in the vehicle wireless Internet device 100 itself. Can be used.

The vehicle wireless Internet apparatus 100 may exist in the form of an independent module or may be included in a navigation provided in a vehicle. When the vehicle wireless internet apparatus 100 is included in the navigation, the wireless internet service may be provided through a touch screen screen of the navigation.

That is, the in-vehicle wireless Internet apparatus 100 includes a broadband wireless Internet access unit 110 capable of accessing a broadband wireless Internet network, a wireless LAN sharing unit 120 for providing wireless LAN service in a vehicle, and an internet connection in-vehicle. Device.

The broadband wireless Internet access unit 110 receives a signal from a wireless Internet network (Wideband Wireless Internet Network, WAN) and transmits a signal generated from the wireless LAN terminal or the vehicle wireless Internet device 100 to the wireless Internet network from the controller 115. It is a wireless Internet access unit that serves to receive and transmit to the wireless Internet network.

Wi-Fi, WiBro, and HSDPA networks can be used to access broadband wireless Internet networks.

The signal received by the broadband wireless Internet access unit 110 selects various networks that can provide wireless Internet services such as WiBro network, Wi-Fi network, HSDPA network according to user's setting or algorithm for selecting wireless Internet service. Can send and receive

For example, as an algorithm for selecting a network for accessing a broadband wireless internet network at the broadband wireless internet access unit 110, when a rental car is moving, a wireless internet service is provided using a WiBro network, which enables continuous data service while moving. If the vehicle is able to provide wireless Internet service through the Wi-Fi network when the vehicle is stopped, the wireless LAN terminal directly accesses the Wi-Fi network through the Wi-Fi network that stops the wireless Internet service using the WiBro network and does not charge for the use of data. By using a method of accessing the wireless Internet service by using a vehicle, the passenger of the vehicle can be effectively provided with the wireless Internet service.

The broadband wireless Internet access unit 110 includes an antenna for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal to and from a WiBro base station, a duplexer for separating a transmission signal and a reception signal from a signal transmitted and received through the antenna, and for transmitting a received signal separated from the duplexer to a modem. A transmission unit for transmitting the transmission signal transmitted from the reception unit and the modem through the duplexer and a protocol processing unit for performing a portable Internet connection with the WiBro base station. In addition, a memory for buffering transmission and reception packets may be further included.

The control unit 115 generates a control signal for changing the Wi-Fi signal that can be recognized by the WLAN card included in the WLAN terminal when the signal provided from the broadband wireless Internet access unit 110 is a WiBro signal. ) Can be sent.

In addition, when determining the area where the occupant of the vehicle is located and receiving the wireless Internet service through the Wi-Fi network to provide the most effective wireless Internet service to the occupant of the vehicle, a signal for controlling transmission and reception of the WiBro signal may be generated. .

In addition, in a commercial vehicle such as a rental car, a highway bus, and a taxi, a flat rate plan in which a vehicle occupant charges wireless internet data to be used in the vehicle as a predetermined data amount unit may be used. In this case, when the occupant in the commercial vehicle has a data transmission amount equal to or greater than a predetermined data transmission amount, the function of transmitting and receiving data from the broadband wireless Internet access unit 110 may be stopped.

For example, in order to use a WiBro network through a wireless LAN terminal in which a car or a long-distance express bus passenger does not have a WiBro modem, the control unit 115 transmits a WiBro signal to the signal conversion unit 117 in the wireless LAN terminal. It can generate a control signal so that the WLAN card can be changed to a Wi-Fi signal that can transmit and receive data.

In addition, the controller 115 determines the current state of the communication network that can provide the wireless Internet service, if there is a Wi-Fi network, the broadband wireless Internet access unit 110 is wireless from the WiBro network so that the wireless LAN terminal can directly access the Wi-Fi network. The control signal for stopping the operation of receiving the Internet service may be generated.

When the signal received from the broadband wireless Internet access unit 110 is a WiBro signal, the signal converter 117 may convert the Wi-Fi signal into which the WLAN terminal can transmit and receive data. That is, the WLAN packet received from the WLAN terminal can be converted into a WiBro packet or processed in the reverse direction.

That is, the signal converter 117 is suitable for the communication protocol between the data transmitted and received with the wireless Internet network through the broadband wireless Internet access unit 110 and the data transmitted and received with the wireless LAN terminal through the wireless LAN sharing unit 120. In this manner, the wireless LAN terminal having the wireless LAN card can transmit and receive data using a Wi-Fi signal.

For example, when the broadband wireless Internet network is connected to the WiBro network through the signal conversion unit 117 and the wireless LAN terminal of the vehicle can transmit and receive data through the Wi-Fi network, the broadband Wi-Fi network is connected to the WiBro network. Converts the transmitted and received data into a Wi-Fi signal that can be recognized by the wireless LAN terminal through the wireless LAN sharing unit, and transmits and receives data, and the data transmitted and received by the wireless LAN terminal through the Wi-Fi network is transmitted and received through the WiBro network through the broadband wireless Internet connection. Can be converted to the format of the data being generated.

The WLAN sharing unit 120 is a data transceiver for providing a wireless Internet service to a WLAN terminal by a passenger of a vehicle, receiving a signal from the WLAN terminal or transmitting data transmitted from the broadband WLAN connection 110. WiFi sharing unit that serves to provide. The WLAN sharing unit 120 may allocate an IP address to a WLAN terminal and schedule data to be transmitted and received.

The wireless LAN sharing unit 120 includes a duplexer for transmitting RF signals transmitted and received from a wireless LAN terminal to a transmission signal and a reception signal, and a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving RF signals, and signals transmitted and received from the transmitter and the receiver, respectively. In accordance with the wireless LAN protocol such as IEEE 802.11a / 802.11b / 802.11g, which is a modem for modulating and demodulating and a signal transmitted through the modem, a protocol processing unit and memory for buffering transmission / reception packets are included. Can be.

The storage unit 125 may store information required for accessing a wireless Internet network, a connection with a WLAN terminal, data conversion according to each used network, and the like. In addition, the storage unit 125 may store an installation program, setting information, or diagnostic programs necessary for the WLAN terminal to access the car rental wireless Internet apparatus 100 and provide the same to the WLAN terminal.

The access network distinguishing display unit 130 may classify and display the currently connected network so that the occupant of the vehicle may know the type of the currently connected network. For example, by displaying the network currently connected in the form of a text or an image on the output unit 140 provided in the vehicular wireless Internet apparatus 100 or by using an LED lamp provided in the vehicular wireless internet apparatus 100. The occupant of the vehicle using the vehicle wireless internet apparatus 100 may determine a type of a network currently used to access a wireless internet service connected to the vehicle wireless internet apparatus 100.

The fee calculator 135 may calculate a fee for using the wireless Internet service based on the amount of data transmitted and received by the user of the rental car to and from the wireless Internet network through the rental car wireless Internet apparatus 100.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle of the present invention may be a commercial vehicle, such as a car, a highway bus, a taxi, or other public transportation. Therefore, the occupant of the vehicle uses only a certain period of time or a certain amount of data service, and therefore, it is necessary to settle only the fee for the data used by the vehicle.

For example, due to the nature of the car, it may be necessary to settle only the wireless data rate used during the use of the car because the car is returned after a certain car rental period. Accordingly, the data rate calculation unit 135 may calculate the data rate used by the car rental user while renting the vehicle and settle the return fee when returning the car.

In addition, if the occupant of the vehicle is a flat rate that allows the data usage fee settlement method to transmit and receive a certain amount of data, the control unit 115 may stop the wireless data transmission and reception by checking whether a certain amount of data has been transmitted or received. To generate a control signal.

The output unit 140 may be implemented as a display such as an LCD screen on the in-vehicle wireless Internet device 100. The vehicular wireless internet device 100 may be implemented as a single independent module or included in a device such as a navigation device to operate. When the vehicular wireless internet device 100 is included in the navigation, the output unit of the navigation may be utilized, and when the vehicular wireless internet device 100 has an independent module form not included in the navigation, the terminal may be connected to the wireless internet network by itself. The output unit 140 may be configured as a touch screen screen, a general LCD screen, or an LED screen to perform a function.

The output unit 140 may also calculate and display the data transmission amount used by the user and the data rate according thereto, so that the rate to be settled when the vehicle occupant gets off or returns the vehicle may be displayed.

For example, the data rate used by the rental car occupant may be additionally settled based on the data rate of the output unit.

If the vehicular wireless Internet apparatus 100 has a configuration that is not used as an independent Internet service apparatus, the output unit 140 may be simply configured in the form of a screen showing only the data transmission amount and the corresponding billed amount.

When the vehicle wireless Internet device 100 is included in the navigation, the navigation screen may serve as the output unit 140.

The input unit 145 may receive input necessary for the in-vehicle wireless Internet apparatus 100 to be used as a terminal for using wireless Internet service by itself, or receive input for providing wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal. Can be used for The input unit 145 may be provided in the form of a touch screen on the output unit 140 or implemented in the form of an independent button or keypad.

The sensor unit 150 may recognize a touch or an amount of light transmitted to the in-vehicle wireless Internet device 100.

When the vehicle includes the wireless Internet apparatus 100 in the navigation, and is directly provided with the wireless Internet service by using the navigation, when the occupant of the vehicle uses the wireless Internet service and the road is unknown, it is necessary to quickly return to the path finding function again. . At this time, the occupant of the vehicle may return by pressing a specific button for returning to the navigation function provided in the navigation, but the navigation may be performed by using a predetermined touch pattern (for example, short touching of the vehicle wireless Internet device twice). You can quickly get back to finding your way back.

In addition, since the vehicle wireless Internet device 100 is mostly used outdoors, it is necessary to adjust the amount of light on the screen according to the amount of light, so that a sensor for adjusting the brightness of the screen using the amount of light transmitted from the outside is provided by a sensor unit ( 150).

2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicular wireless Internet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The wireless LAN sharing unit 200 and the broadband wireless internet access unit 210 may receive a wireless Internet service through a WiBro network through the operation of transmitting and receiving mutual signal packets.

Referring to FIG. 2, the WLAN sharing unit 200 separates an antenna 200-1 for transmitting / receiving an RF signal to and from a terminal and a signal transmitted and received by the antenna 200-1 into a transmission signal and a reception signal. The duplexer 200-2, the transmitter 200-3 and the receiver 200-4 for transmitting and receiving RF signals, and the signals transmitted and received by the transmitter 200-3 and the receiver 200-4. Modem 200-5 for modulation and demodulation processing according to a predetermined wireless communication standard, and a protocol processing unit 200-6 for processing a protocol for wireless LAN connection through the modem (200-5). . The protocol processor 200-6 controls the input / output of the WLAN packet according to a wireless MAC protocol such as IEEE 802.11a / b / g, which is a WLAN standard. The WLAN packet processed by the protocol processor 200-6 is then transmitted to the packet processor 200-7 to process the WiBro packet.

The broadband wireless Internet access unit 210 also includes an antenna 210-1 for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal to and from a WiBro base station, and a duplexer 210 for separating a transmission signal and a reception signal from signals transmitted and received through the antenna 210-1. 2), the receiver 210-4 for transmitting the received signal separated from the duplexer 210-2 to the modem 210-6 and the duplexer 210-2 for the transmitted signal transmitted from the modem 210-6. Transmitter 210-3 for transmitting through the protocol, the protocol processing unit 210-5 for performing a portable Internet connection with the WiBro base station, and a memory for buffering the transmission and reception packets.

The main controller 220 controls the operation of the vehicle wireless Internet device through the signals transmitted through the wireless LAN sharing unit 200 and the broadband wireless Internet device 210 and calculates the amount of data packets transmitted and received by the occupant of the vehicle. You can calculate the data usage fee to be paid.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a wireless Internet service in a wireless LAN terminal of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the in-vehicle WLAN terminal may transmit / receive data through the WLAN sharing unit (S 310).

The signal generated from the wireless LAN terminal is a Wi-Fi signal conforming to a communication standard such as IEEE 802.11a / 802.11b / 802.11g and is generated through a receiver included in a wireless LAN sharing unit of a rental car wireless Internet device capable of receiving such a signal packet. The received signal packet can be received.

Converting the data received from the WLAN terminal through the WLAN sharing unit into data for transmission to the broadband wireless Internet network and converting data received from the broadband WLAN network into data for transmission to the WLAN terminal; ).

Since the WiBro network is used as a network for providing a wireless Internet service in a moving vehicle, a step of converting a Wi-Fi signal transmitted from a WLAN terminal into a signal suitable for the WiBro network is necessary.

The signal received from the wireless LAN terminal to the receiving unit of the wireless LAN sharing unit is modulated and demodulated according to the wireless communication standard through a modem. Can be converted to a packet.

That is, the Wi-Fi signal transmitted from the wireless LAN terminal can be converted into a WiBro signal for transmitting to the broadband wireless Internet network, and the WiBro signal transmitted from the broadband wireless Internet network can be converted into a Wi-Fi signal that can be used by the wireless LAN terminal.

The data transmitted from the broadband wireless internet network may be received through the broadband wireless internet access unit, and the data transmitted from the wireless LAN terminal may be transmitted through the broadband wireless internet access unit (S330).

After converting the signal provided from the wireless LAN terminal into a WiBro packet, the converted signal may be transmitted to the WiBro base station through a transmitter included in the broadband wireless Internet access unit after performing protocol processing for transferring the WiBro base station.

In addition, it is possible to receive a signal transmitted from a broadband wireless Internet network through a broadband wireless Internet connection to provide a wireless LAN terminal.

The signal transmitted and received through the broadband wireless Internet access unit may calculate the data usage fee through the charge calculation unit by counting the transmitted and received amounts, and output the charge using the broadband wireless Internet network through the output unit (S 340).

The vehicle in the embodiment of the present invention may be a vehicle that is required to settle only the data rate used by the vehicle, such as a rental car, a high-speed bus, a taxi, or a public transportation, as a commercial vehicle. Therefore, the data fee needs to be calculated separately when the vehicle is unloaded or returned.

The amount of transmitted / received signal may be measured through the amount of packets transmitted through the transceiver end of the broadband wireless Internet access unit or the amount of packets transmitted through the transceiver end of the WLAN sharing unit. Since the billing style may vary depending on the type of data packet, the fee may be calculated using a predetermined formula or program that is charged according to the type of packet and then displayed through an output unit provided in the in-vehicle wireless Internet device. .

If the occupant of the vehicle has previously determined an amount of data that can be transmitted and received, such as a flat rate, the step of stopping the operation of transmitting and receiving data in the vehicular wireless Internet device may be performed.

By cutting off the power supplied to the wireless LAN sharing unit or the broadband wireless Internet access unit or cutting off the power supplied to the vehicle wireless Internet device, it is possible to prevent the occupant of the vehicle paying the flat rate of use from transmitting and receiving excess data. Can be. At this time, if the occupant of the vehicle pays an additional fee and wishes to receive the wireless Internet service, it is also possible to provide additional wireless Internet service.

An embodiment of a rental car in which a passenger of a vehicle receives a wireless Internet service through a wireless Internet device for a vehicle will be described below.

When a rental car user rents a car and wants to provide a wireless Internet service in a rental car, the rental car service provider may provide a rental car wireless Internet device having an independent module type or a navigation device including a rental car wireless internet device.

The broadband wireless Internet connection of the vehicle wireless Internet device provides information on the network providing the wireless Internet service that can be used in the rental car, and the rental car user selects the network most suitable for using the wireless Internet service and provides the rental car user. Can be. For example, in determining the network for accessing the currently available wireless Internet service, if you use an algorithm based on billing, you are in an area where you can access the wireless Internet service using the free Wi-Fi network and the vehicle does not move. In this case, even when the WiBro network is available, the WiBro network can be stopped and the wireless Internet service can be provided using the Wi-Fi network directly from the WLAN terminal.

In the judgment of the network based on the speed as another criterion, if both the Wi-Fi network and the WiBro network are currently available, when the data transmission speed of the Wi-Fi network falls below a certain threshold, the Wi-Fi network is switched to use the wireless Internet service. In this way, the rental car user who wants to receive the wireless Internet service in the rental car can stably receive the wireless Internet service.

The signal received from the wireless Internet network is converted into a form of a signal packet that follows a communication protocol that can be used by the wireless LAN terminal of the rental car, and the wireless LAN terminal may receive a wireless Internet service using the received signal packet.

For example, if a current wireless Internet service is provided using a WiBro network, a WLAN terminal equipped with a modem capable of receiving only a Wi-Fi signal in a vehicle cannot directly use a signal received from the WiBro network. Therefore, it is necessary to convert a signal packet received through the WiBro network into a Wi-Fi signal packet so that the WLAN terminal can be used in a vehicle and transmit the Wi-Fi signal to the WLAN terminal.

The amount of data transmitted and received through the wireless LAN terminal or the usage time of the wireless Internet service may be counted and displayed on the rental car wireless Internet device. Wireless internet usage fee that a car rental user should pay when returning a car by using the circuit charging (time charging) method that charges using the time connected through the wireless LAN terminal or the packet charging (data amount charging) method that charges based on the data amount. Can be calculated.

4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a vehicle wireless Internet apparatus provided in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention and vehicle occupants receiving wireless Internet service through a wireless LAN terminal.

Referring to FIG. 4, the vehicular wireless Internet device 420 may be included in a device such as a navigation device or may have mobility as an independent device that is not included in the navigation device.

In the following embodiment of the present invention, for convenience of description, it is assumed that the vehicular wireless Internet device 420 is not included in the navigation.

The vehicular wireless internet device 420 may be connected to a wide area network (WAN) 410 to receive a wireless internet service. The communication network that may be used to connect the vehicle wireless Internet apparatus 420 to the WAN 410 and receive a wireless Internet service may be selected from among those currently available in the vehicle.

In the following embodiment of the present invention, for convenience of description, it is assumed that a WiBro network is a communication network for receiving a wireless Internet service in order to receive a wireless Internet service in a moving vehicle.

The vehicle wireless Internet apparatus 420 connected to the wireless Internet network using the WiBro network converts the WiBro signal into a Wi-Fi signal so that the wireless LAN terminal can use the received WiBro signal and uses the wireless LAN terminal 430-1. 430-2 to allow the wireless LAN terminals 430-1 and 430-2 in the vehicle to receive the wireless Internet service, thereby forming a WLAN in the vehicle.

The on-vehicle wireless Internet device 420 calculates the amount of data used by the wireless LAN terminals 430-1 and 430-2 by using a data transfer amount calculation unit that can calculate a data transmission amount included in the on-vehicle wireless Internet device 420. The amount of data used and the amount of billing according to the amount of data used in the display unit of the vehicular wireless Internet device 420 may be displayed.

Using the billing amount, the rental car operator may charge the data fee used by the rental car user when returning the rental car or charge the data usage fee when the passenger of the express bus uses the data through the vehicle wireless Internet device.

When the rental car user promises and uses a certain amount of transmission / reception data such as a flat rate, the vehicle wireless internet device 420 may suspend connection with the network providing the wireless Internet service when a predetermined data transmission amount is exceeded.

The wireless LAN terminals 430-1 and 430-2 may use the Wi-Fi signal generated by the vehicular wireless Internet device 420, but other than the Wi-Fi signal generated by the vehicular wireless Internet device 420. If there is a Wi-Fi signal, it can be used to receive wireless Internet service.

The vehicle according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a vehicle that is a commercial vehicle such as a rental car, a high-speed bus, and a taxi, and a passenger must transmit and receive data using a vehicle wireless Internet device for a predetermined time and settle a data charge used.

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.

Claims

In a vehicle wireless Internet device that provides a wireless Internet service to the passenger's wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle,

A broadband wireless internet connection for accessing a broadband wireless internet network;

A wireless LAN sharing unit which is a data transmission / reception unit for providing the wireless Internet service to the wireless LAN terminal;

Converting data transmitted and received with the broadband wireless internet network through the broadband wireless internet access unit into a format of data transmitted and received with the wireless LAN terminal through the wireless LAN sharing unit and converting the data transmitted and received with the wireless wireless LAN terminal with the broadband wireless internet network. A signal converter for converting the data into a format of data transmitted and received;

An access network discrimination display unit for displaying a type of a network used to access the broadband wireless internet network and indicating whether the network used for accessing the broadband wireless internet network is a network to which a data usage fee is added;

A rate calculator for calculating a fee for using the wireless Internet service based on the amount of data transmitted and received by the in-vehicle wireless Internet device; And

And an output unit for displaying a fee using the wireless internet service that is to be settled upon returning the vehicle or getting off the vehicle based on the fee information transmitted from the fee calculation unit.
The wireless internet device of claim 1, wherein

When the vehicular wireless internet device is included in the navigation provided in the vehicle, when the navigation including the vehicular wireless internet device is touched in a predetermined pattern, the navigation used as the vehicular wireless internet device is again used. And a sensor unit for sensing the predetermined pattern for switching to a navigation function.
According to claim 1, The vehicle wireless Internet device,

If the amount of data that can be transmitted and received through the vehicular wireless Internet device has a limited value, the data transmission / reception function of the broadband wireless Internet access unit when the amount of data that is transmitted and received through the vehicular wireless Internet device exceeds the limited value. The vehicle wireless Internet device, characterized in that to stop.
The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection network distinguishing display unit

When the vehicle wireless Internet device is included in the navigation provided in the vehicle, the type of the network used to access the broadband wireless Internet network used by the vehicle wireless Internet device is displayed on the output screen of the navigation. And when the vehicular wireless internet device is not included in the navigation provided in the vehicle, the access network distinguishing display unit is used to access the broadband wireless internet network by using an LED lamp provided in the vehicular wireless internet device. A vehicular wireless Internet device, characterized by displaying the type of network.
The method of claim 1, wherein the signal conversion unit,

The broadband wireless Internet access unit converts the data transmitted and received through the WiBro network into a data format transmitted and received through the Wi-Fi network transmitted and received with the wireless LAN terminal through the wireless LAN sharing unit and transmitted and received through the Wi-Fi network with the wireless LAN terminal. And converting data into a format of data transmitted and received through the WiBro network through the broadband wireless Internet connection unit.
According to claim 1, The vehicle wireless Internet device for providing a wireless Internet service to the passenger's wireless LAN terminal in the vehicle,

And a wibro network for accessing the broadband wireless internet network.
An on-vehicle wireless Internet device comprising a broadband wireless Internet access unit capable of accessing a broadband wireless internet network, a wireless LAN sharing unit for providing a wireless LAN service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle, and an output unit displaying a charge using the broadband wireless internet network. In the method of providing a wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle,

Transmitting and receiving data by the wireless LAN terminal in the vehicle through the wireless LAN sharing unit;

Converting data received from the WLAN terminal through the WLAN sharing unit into data for transmission to the broadband wireless Internet network and converting data received from the broadband WLAN network to data for transmission to the WLAN terminal step;

Receiving data transmitted from the broadband wireless internet network through the broadband wireless internet access unit and transmitting data transmitted from the wireless LAN terminal through the broadband wireless internet access unit; And

And displaying the calculated data usage fee through the output unit by aggregating an amount of data transmitted and received through the broadband wireless internet access unit.
According to claim 7, Broadband wireless Internet connection that can be connected to the broadband wireless Internet network, Wireless LAN sharing unit for providing a wireless LAN service to the wireless LAN terminal in the vehicle and an output unit for displaying the charges using the broadband wireless Internet network A method of providing a wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle using an on-vehicle wireless Internet device,

If the amount of data that can be transmitted and received by the vehicle wireless Internet device is limited, if the amount of data transmitted and received by the vehicle wireless Internet device exceeds the limited amount, stopping the operation of transmitting and receiving the data by the vehicle wireless Internet device. The method of providing a wireless Internet service to a WLAN terminal in a vehicle further comprising.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data received from the wireless LAN terminal through the wireless LAN sharing unit is converted into data for transmission to the broadband wireless Internet network and the data received from the broadband wireless Internet network to the wireless LAN terminal To convert the data to

The broadband wireless Internet access unit converts the data transmitted and received through the WiBro network into a data format transmitted and received through the Wi-Fi network transmitted and received with the wireless LAN terminal through the wireless LAN sharing unit and transmitted and received through the Wi-Fi network with the wireless LAN terminal. And converting data into a format of data transmitted and received through the WiBro network through the broadband wireless Internet connection unit.
The vehicle wireless internet device of claim 7,

And providing a wireless Internet service to a wireless LAN terminal in a vehicle, wherein the WiBro network is used to access the broadband wireless Internet network.