WO2015151179A1

WO2015151179A1 - Wireless communication system, electronic device and wireless connection method

Info

Publication number: WO2015151179A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/059506
Authority: WO
Inventors: ツーカイリム
Original assignee: 株式会社東芝
Priority date: 2014-03-31
Filing date: 2014-03-31
Publication date: 2015-10-08

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the invention, a wireless communication system is configured such that data are transmitted and received between first and second devices by use of wireless communications of a first communication scheme. The first device comprises a sending means. The sending means divides a piece of first information, which enables the second device to make a request to the first device for a connection for wireless communications of the first communication scheme, into multiple pieces of information, then stores the multiple pieces of information into the respective ones of first packets defined for wireless communications of a second communication scheme different from the first communication scheme, and then periodically sends the first packets. The second device comprises an acquisition means and a connection processing means. The acquisition means receives the first packets in which the respective divided pieces of first information have been stored, and generates and thereby acquires the first information from the first packets. The connection processing means uses the first information, which has been acquired by the acquisition means, to make the request to the first device for the connection for wireless communications of the first communication scheme.

Description

Wireless communication system, electronic device, and wireless connection method

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a wireless connection technology for a wireless communication device.

In recent years, wireless communication that connects electronic devices in a cordless manner has been widely used. For example, when listening to sound played on a music player with headphones, if the audio signal is transferred between the music player and headphones via wireless communication, the troublesome code can be removed from the music player and headphones. Usability will be improved dramatically.

JP 2011-151746 A

For example, in the case of Bluetooth (registered trademark), when performing wireless communication between electronic devices such as the above-described music player and headphones, work related to wireless connection including settings called pairing is required.

However, work related to wireless connection including pairing is often difficult for users who are not familiar with the handling of wireless communication devices.

An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication system, an electronic device, and a wireless connection method that can simplify work related to wireless connection of a wireless communication device.

According to the embodiment, the wireless communication system transmits and receives data between the first device and the second device by wireless communication of the first communication method. The first device includes sending means. The sending means sends second information different from the first communication method to the first information that enables the second device to request the first device to establish a connection for wireless communication of the first communication method. A plurality of first packets defined for wireless communication of the system are divided and stored, and the plurality of first packets are periodically transmitted. The second device includes an acquisition unit and a connection processing unit. The acquisition means receives a plurality of first packets in which the first information is divided and stored, and acquires the first information from the plurality of first packets. The connection processing means requests the first device to establish a connection for wireless communication of the first communication method using the first information acquired by the acquisition means.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of each electronic device that configures the wireless communication system of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a confirmation screen related to wireless connection displayed by an electronic device constituting the wireless communication system of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence chart illustrating a wireless connection procedure in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of operations related to wireless connection of the electronic device to be searched in the wireless communication system of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation related to wireless connection of the searching electronic device in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication system according to the present embodiment. The wireless communication system can be configured, for example, by wirelessly connecting a personal computer (PC) 1 and a headphone 2 which are electronic devices each having a wireless communication function compliant with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. Here, the wireless communication functions of the PC 1 and the headphone 2 are low in BR (Basic rate) / EDR (Enhanced data rate), which is a standard wireless communication method (first communication method) of Bluetooth (registered trademark), respectively. It is assumed that both the power consumption version of the wireless communication method (second communication method) LE (low energy) is supported.

The PC 1 has a function of reproducing audio data stored in a storage medium such as an SSD (Solid state drive), a CD (Compact Disc), or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. Therefore, in the present wireless communication system, it is possible to listen to the sound reproduced by the PC 1 through the headphones 2 without cord connection between the PC 1 and the headphones 2, that is, cordless. And this radio | wireless communications system 1 is equipped with the structure which simplifies the operation | work regarding radio | wireless connection, such as this PC1 and headphones 2, etc., and this point is explained in full detail below.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration example of each of the electronic devices (PC1, headphones 2) constituting the wireless communication system.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device (PC) 1 includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a display unit 13, and a wireless communication device 14.

The control unit 11 is a module that controls the operation of each unit in the PC 1, and includes a wireless communication control unit 111 for providing a wireless communication function. The wireless communication control unit 111 includes a wireless connection processing unit 111A and a data transmission / reception processing unit 111B. The wireless communication control unit 111 will be described later.

The operation unit 12 is, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, or the like, and is a module that serves as an input side of a user interface provided by the PC 1. The display unit 13 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid crystal display) or the like, and is a module that serves as an output side of the user interface provided by the PC 1.

The wireless communication device 14 is a communication module that executes the wireless communication conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard described above. The wireless communication device 14 has a BT mode that operates according to a procedure that conforms to the BR / EDR rules, and a BT-LE mode that operates according to a procedure that conforms to the LE rules. The wireless communication device 14 can simultaneously perform the operation in the BT mode and the operation in the BT-LE mode in a time division manner.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device (headphone) 2 includes a control unit 21, an operation unit 22, an audio output unit 23, a wireless communication device 24, a battery 25, and an EEPROM (Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) 26. Have.

The control unit 21 is a module that controls the operation of each unit in the headphone 2 and includes a wireless communication control unit 211 for providing a wireless communication function. The wireless communication control unit 211 includes a wireless connection processing unit 211A and a data transmission / reception processing unit 211B. The wireless communication control unit 211 will also be described later.

The operation unit 22 is, for example, an operation switch or the like, and is a module for receiving an instruction to turn on / off the power of the headphones 2, for example. The audio output unit 23 is, for example, a loud speaker or the like, and is a module for outputting audio corresponding to an audio signal transmitted from the PC 1, for example.

The wireless communication device 24 is a communication module that executes the wireless communication conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard described above. The wireless communication device 24 also has a BT mode that operates according to a procedure that complies with the BR / EDR rules, and a BT-LE mode that operates according to a procedure that conforms to the LE rules. Also, the wireless communication device 24 can simultaneously perform the operation in the BT mode and the operation in the BT-LE mode in a time division manner.

The battery 25 is a power supply module that stores electric power for operating each unit in the headphones 2. The EEPROM 26 is a storage medium for storing various information unique to the headphones 2 including connection information 300 for wireless connection such as a Bluetooth (registered trademark) address (BD_ADDR).

Next, the basic principle of wireless connection in the wireless communication system (PC 1 and headphones 2) having the above system configuration will be described.

Now, let us assume a case where a user plays music data (audio data) stored in a storage medium on the PC 1 and wants to listen to the played music on the headphones 2. At this time, transmission / reception of audio signals between the PC 1 and the headphones 2 is premised on wireless communication, that is, cordless. Further, it is assumed that the PC 1 is already in a power-on state.

In this case, the user first operates the operation unit 22 of the headphones 2 to turn on the headphones 2. When the power is turned on, the headphone 2 tries to connect with a wireless communication device (in this case, the PC 1) existing in the vicinity under the control of the control unit 21. More specifically, the wireless connection processing unit 211A of the wireless communication control unit 211 starts processing for wirelessly connecting the headphones 2 to the PC 1. Here, an example will be described in which the headphone 2 starts a wireless connection with the PC 1 when the headphone 2 is turned on. For example, an operation switch for turning on the headphone 2 and the headphone 2 are connected to the PC 1. Operation switches for wireless connection may be provided, and the power-on of the headphones 2 and the wireless connection of the headphones 2 to the PC 1 may be processed as independent events.

As described above, both the wireless communication device 14 of the PC 1 and the wireless communication device 24 of the headphones 2 operate in the BT mode that operates according to the procedure according to the BR / EDR rule and the procedure according to the LE rule. BT-LE mode. Since the payload size of the packet defined in the low power consumption version LE is very small, it is not realistic to transfer the audio signal between the PC 1 and the headphones 2 in the BT-LE mode. Therefore, the transfer of the audio signal between the PC 1 and the headphones 2 is executed in the BT mode. On the other hand, in LE, for example, a search transmitted / received between a searching side (PC1) and a searching side (headphone 2) in order to suppress power consumption of a battery-driven electronic device such as the headphone 2 in the wireless communication system. The packet transmission / reception procedure is reverse to that of BR / EDR. That is, in BR / EDR, the searching side transmits a search packet, and the searched side waits for reception of the packet, whereas in LE, the searched side transmits a search packet. The waiting side waits for reception of the packet. By eliminating the need to wait for reception of a search packet, the LE achieves low power consumption on the searching side. In addition, in the LE, it is possible to transmit arbitrary data of a small size from the searched side to the searching side by using this search packet without performing the connection process.

This wireless communication system simplifies work related to wireless connection between the PC 1 and the headphone 2 by paying attention to the search packet transmission / reception procedure in the LE in which the searched side transmits the search packet. The wireless connection processing unit 211A of the headphone 2 to be searched operates the wireless communication device 24 in the BT-LE mode, stores the connection information 300 stored in the EEPROM 26 in a search packet, and directs it toward the PC 1. Send it out. This search packet is, for example, an Advertising packet for notifying that the device itself is in a detectable state and a connectable state. For example, the wireless connection processing unit 211A repeatedly transmits the search packet (in which the connection information 300 is stored) until a response is returned from the PC 1 side. That is, when the user operates the operation unit 22 of the headphones 2, transmission of the search packet (in which the connection information 300 is stored) by the headphones 2 is started.

As described above, since the payload size of the packet defined by LE is very small, the wireless connection processing unit 211A divides and stores the connection information 300 into a plurality of packets, and cyclically transmits them. For example, when the packet is divided into N packets, the wireless connection processing unit 211A sequentially transmits packet [1], packet [2],..., Packet [N]. After the period elapses, the transmission of the packet is resumed from the packet [1] again. The transmission of the packet from the packet [1] may be resumed promptly without providing an interval between the transmission of the packet [N] and the transmission of the packet [1].

When the search packet is received by the wireless communication device 14 of the PC 1, the wireless connection processing unit 111 A of the wireless communication control unit 111 performs payload data of N packets transmitted from the wireless communication device 24 of the headphone 2. Is used to generate the connection information 300 of the headphones 2. Collection of N packets in which the connection information 300 is divided and stored is, for example, when a packet [3] is received first, and after receiving this packet [3] to packet [N], The remaining packet [1] and packet [2] may be received. Packets [3] to [N] are discarded, and the first packet [1] to packet [N] are received again. You may make it do. Further, it is possible to manage which packet among the packets [1] to [N] has been received and receive the shortage appropriately. Upon receiving all of the packets [1] to [N], the wireless connection processing unit 111A returns a response to the search packet to the headphones 2 via the wireless communication device 14. As a result, transmission of the search packet by the headphones 2 ends. Even when a response is not returned after a predetermined period, sending of the search packet by the headphones 2 may be terminated. Further, transmission of the search packet by the headphones 2 may be ended in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 22. Even if the response to the search packet is not returned and the search packet is continuously sent out by the headphones 2, as described above, LE is a low-power consumption wireless communication system, The consumption of the battery 25 due to the transmission of the search packet is limited.

Note that the search packet transmission is not limited to the packet [1] to packet [N], as described above. For example, first, only the first packet [1] is repeatedly transmitted at regular intervals, and when a response to this packet [1] is returned, packets [2] to [N] are transmitted. Also good. Alternatively, the response may be sent sequentially (next packet) while receiving a response reply for each packet.

When the transfer of the connection information 300 from the headphones 2 to the PC 1 is completed, the connection processing with the headphones 2 by the PC 1 can be executed. Therefore, the wireless connection processing unit 211A, based on the connection information 300, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a confirmation screen 400 for confirming whether or not to connect to the headphones 2 specified by the connection information 300. Is displayed on the display unit 13. In response to the presentation of the confirmation screen 400, when the user operates the operation unit 12 to answer that the connection is to be made, the wireless connection processing unit 111A causes the wireless communication device 14 to operate in the BT mode, and the connection information 300 is displayed. The connection process with the headphone 2 based on the Handover protocol using is performed. More specifically, a BR / EDR connection request is transmitted to the headphones 2. At this time, if wireless connection is first established between the PC 1 and the headphones 2, pairing is also performed. Note that the connection process with the headphones 2 may be automatically executed without inquiring whether the headphones 2 can be connected.

On the other hand, when the wireless communication device 24 receives the BR / EDR connection request from the PC 1, the headphone 2 causes the wireless connection processing unit 211A to operate the wireless communication device 24 in the BT mode and perform connection processing with the PC 1 based on the Handover protocol. Execute.

When the connection processing by the wireless connection processing unit 111A on the PC 1 side and the wireless connection processing unit 211A on the headphone 2 side is completed, the data transmitted by the data transmission / reception processing unit 111B on the PC 1 side and the data transmission / reception processing unit 111B on the headphone 2 side are continued. Transmission / reception processing is started. More specifically, transfer of an audio signal from the PC 1 to the headphones 2 is started. Thereby, the user can listen to the music reproduced on the PC 1 with the headphones 2.

As described above, in this wireless communication system, the wireless connection process including pairing can be completed only by operating the operation unit 22 of the headphones 2. That is, this wireless communication system realizes simplification of work related to wireless connection of wireless communication devices.

Note that this wireless communication system does not use two different standards but uses two communication systems (BR / EDR, LE) of one standard (Bluetooth (registered trademark)). .

FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing a wireless connection procedure in the wireless communication system (PC 1 and headphones 2).

When the headphone 2 detects the operation of the operation unit 22 (a1 in FIG. 4), in the BT-LE mode, the headphone 2 divides and stores connection information 300 including, for example, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) address (BD_ADDR) and the like. Transmission of a packet for use (Advertising packet) is started (a2 in FIG. 4).

On the other hand, when the PC 1 detects reception of the search packet (a3 in FIG. 4), the PC 1 receives a plurality of search packets (stores the connection information 300 in a divided manner), and determines the connection information 300 of the headphones 2 Obtain (a4 in FIG. 4). When the PC 1 receives all of the plurality of search packets, that is, when the connection information 300 can be acquired, the PC 1 returns a response to the search packet to the headphones 2 (a5 in FIG. 4). When receiving the response reply, the headphone 2 ends the transmission of the search packet (a6 in FIG. 4).

The PC 1 that has acquired the connection information 300 inquires whether or not it can be connected to the headphones 2 via the display unit 13 (a7 in FIG. 4). When instructed to connect to the headphones 2 via the operation unit 12, the PC 1 executes a connection process with the headphones 2 based on the Handover protocol in the BT mode (a8 in FIG. 4). More specifically, a BR / EDR connection request is transmitted to the headphones 2. On the other hand, in response to the BR / EDR connection request, the headphones 2 also execute connection processing with the PC 1 based on the Handover protocol in the BT mode (a8 ′ in FIG. 4).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations related to the wireless connection of the headphones 2 constituting the wireless communication system.

When the headphones 2 detect the operation of the operation unit 22 (YES in block A1), in the BT-LE mode, the search packet (Advertising) that stores the connection information 300 including, for example, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) address (BD_ADDR) and the like Packet) is transmitted (block A2). The headphone 2 repeatedly transmits the search packet for a predetermined period until a response to the search packet is received (NO in block A3, NO in block A4, block A2).

When a response to the search packet is received (YES in block A3) and a BR / EDR connection request is received (YES in block A5), the headphone 2 is connected to the PC 1 based on the Handover protocol in the BT mode. A connection process is executed (block A6).

Further, when a predetermined period has elapsed without receiving a response to the search packet (YES in block A4), the headphone 2 ends transmission of the search packet.

On the other hand, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations related to the wireless connection of the PC 1 constituting the wireless communication system.

When the PC 1 detects the reception of the search packet (YES in block B1), the PC 1 acquires the connection information 300 of the headphones 2 from the search packet (block B2). When the connection information 300 of the headphones 2 is acquired, the PC 1 returns a response to the search packet to the headphones 2 (block B3).

The PC 1 that has acquired the connection information 300 of the headphones 2 inquires of the user whether the connection with the headphones 2 is possible (block B4). If the connection with the headphones 2 is answered in response to this inquiry (YES in block B5), the PC 1 transmits a BR / EDR connection request to the headphones 2 in the BT mode (block B6), and is based on the Handover protocol. A connection process with the headphones 2 is executed (block B7).

As described above, according to the present wireless communication system, for example, the wireless communication device can wirelessly connect (including pairing) the headphones 2 and the PC 1 only by operating the operation switch of the headphones 2. This simplifies the work related to the wireless connection.

Since all the operation procedures of this embodiment can be realized by software, the same effects as those of this embodiment can be easily realized by introducing this software into a normal computer through a computer-readable storage medium. it can.

The various modules of the system described herein can be implemented as software applications, hardware and / or software modules, or components on one or more computers, such as a server. Although the various modules are shown separately, they can share some or all of the same underlying logic or code.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

A wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving data between a first device and a second device by wireless communication of a first communication method,
The first device has a second information different from the first communication method to allow the second device to request the first device to establish a connection for wireless communication of the first communication method. It is divided into a plurality of first packets defined for wireless communication of a communication method and stored, and has transmission means for periodically transmitting the plurality of first packets,
The second device is:
Receiving means for receiving a plurality of first packets in which the first information is divided and stored, and generating the first information from the plurality of first packets;
Connection processing means for requesting a connection for wireless communication of the first communication method to the first device using the first information acquired by the acquisition means;
Comprising
Wireless communication system.
The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the sending means of the first device sends the plurality of first packets cyclically.
The sending means of the first device cyclically sends out a first packet storing a head portion of the first information in the plurality of first packets, and sends a response indicating that the packet has been received. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein after receiving, the remaining first packets in the plurality of first packets are transmitted in the storage order of the first information.
The first device is:
It has an operation part,
The sending means starts sending the first packet in response to an operation of the operation unit.
The wireless communication system according to claim 1.
The sending means of the first device starts the sending of the first packet, and when the second period elapses without executing connection processing for wireless communication of the first communication method, the first device The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein transmission of the packet is terminated.
The second device is:
A display unit;
An operation unit;
When the first information is acquired by the acquisition means, interface means for confirming whether or not the first device can be connected via the display unit and the operation unit;
The wireless communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:
The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit of the second device returns a response to the first device when reception of all of the plurality of first packets is completed.
The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit of the second device returns a response to the first device every time the plurality of first packets are received.
The first communication method is Bluetooth (registered trademark) BR (Basic rate) / EDR (Enhanced data rate),
The second communication method is Bluetooth (registered trademark) LE (low energy).
The wireless communication system according to claim 1.
A plurality of pieces of information defined for wireless communication of a second communication method different from the first communication method, wherein the first information that allows an external device to request a connection for wireless communication of the first communication method to the own device An electronic apparatus comprising a sending unit that divides and stores the first packet and sends the plurality of first packets periodically.
11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sending unit sends the plurality of first packets in a cyclic manner.
The sending means cyclically sends a first packet in which a head portion of the first information in the plurality of first packets is stored, and after receiving a response indicating that the packet has been received, The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the remaining first packets among the plurality of first packets are transmitted in the order in which the first information is stored.
It has an operation part,
The sending means starts sending the first packet in response to an operation of the operation unit.
The electronic device according to claim 10.
The transmission means ends the transmission of the first packet when the second period elapses without starting connection processing for wireless communication of the first communication method after starting transmission of the first packet. The electronic device according to claim 10.
A wireless connection method for an electronic device,
A plurality of pieces of information defined for wireless communication of a second communication method different from the first communication method, wherein the first information that allows an external device to request a connection for wireless communication of the first communication method to the own device A wireless connection method comprising: dividing and storing the first packets and periodically transmitting the plurality of first packets.
The wireless connection method according to claim 15, wherein sending the first information includes sending the plurality of first packets cyclically.
The sending of the first information is to cyclically send a first packet in which the first part of the first information in the plurality of first packets is stored, and to send a response indicating that this packet has been received. The wireless connection method according to claim 15, further comprising: transmitting the remaining first packets of the plurality of first packets in the order in which the first information is stored after the reception.
The wireless connection method according to claim 15, wherein sending the first information includes starting sending the first packet in response to an operation of an operation unit.
The first information is transmitted when the second period elapses after connection processing for wireless communication of the first communication method is not performed after starting transmission of the first packet. The wireless connection method according to claim 15, comprising terminating transmission of a packet.