JP4128511B2 - Wireless terminal broadcast communication method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a portable information terminal that operates with a battery power source, can be carried around, and performs wireless data communication such as wireless LAN communication. A plurality of terminals such as these portable information terminals are connected to a broadcast network. The present invention relates to a wireless terminal broadcast communication method that configures a network (also simply referred to as “network”) and broadcasts data.

Conventionally, in communication between terminals, when one base station or a specific terminal controls communication, one base station or a specific terminal receives a reservation message of another terminal, and in the information in the message, The ID of the terminal and the ID of the receiving terminal are recognized. Further, the two terminals are set as one set, and a slot of a communication frame is assigned to the set, and the terminals belonging to the set communicate at the time of the assigned slot (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Special Table 2002-531002

  However, in the above-described conventional example, when each terminal broadcasts data, when a specific terminal performs communication control for broadcasting, the specific terminal needs to periodically receive a reservation message, In addition, it is necessary to perform an operation for slot allocation and transmit slot allocation information to a set of communicating terminals.

  Therefore, a specific terminal that performs communication control has a problem that power consumption for slot allocation and transmission processing increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when a plurality of terminals such as portable information terminals form a network and broadcast data, each communication reservation at a specific terminal as in the prior art is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a radio terminal broadcast communication method that does not require calculation of slot allocation, and that can reduce processing load for communication control and can greatly reduce power consumption.

A wireless terminal broadcast communication method according to the present invention is a wireless terminal broadcast communication method in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a network and each terminal broadcasts data to other terminals belonging to the network. When a terminal that is trying to construct a broadcast network for broadcasting detects whether wireless communication is being performed on the corresponding channel, and when detecting that wireless communication is being performed, a predetermined minimum When confirming that wireless communication is not performed, and a step of transitioning to the power-down state for a random time Tda1 between the power-down time Tpdmin1 and a predetermined maximum power-down time Tpdmax1 (Tpdmax1> Tpdmin1) Includes device information Broadcasting a broadcast network polling signal for requesting formation of a broadcast network, waiting for reception of a broadcast network entry signal from another terminal, transitioning to a broadcast network entry signal reception state, and broadcast network entry signal not received When the time Tent has elapsed, a transition to a power-down state for a random time Tda2 between a predetermined minimum power-down time Tpdmin2 and a predetermined maximum power-down time Tpdmax2 (Tpdmax2>Tpdmin2); If a broadcast network entry signal is received before the time Tent elapses, the received terminal information is registered, and the time T After nt has passed, including the information of the receiving terminal, and broadcasts the broadcast network construction declaration signal, characterized by a step of forming a broadcast network among terminals.
Thus, in the configuration of the broadcast network, the operation for communication control of the terminal that controls communication includes transmission of the broadcast network polling signal at the time of construction of the broadcast network, reception of the broadcast network entry signal, and the broadcast network construction declaration signal. For this reason, the control terminal does not need to perform slot allocation calculation for each communication reservation as in the conventional case, and the processing load can be reduced and the power consumption can be greatly reduced.

The wireless terminal broadcast communication method according to the present invention assigns, based on a reservation order, a terminal that wants to broadcast data in a broadcast slot during a reservation slot of a reservation time Tres after the broadcast network construction declaration signal is transmitted. Broadcasting a slot reservation signal including its own information and partner information at a predetermined time, and broadcasting data in the reserved broadcast slot after the reservation time Tres has elapsed. .
As a result, a terminal that wants to broadcast data can reserve a broadcast slot (data communication slot) with the reserved slot and broadcast the data.

Further, the wireless terminal broadcast communication method of the present invention includes a step of determining broadcast data of another terminal received by the own terminal based on information of a slot reservation signal of the other terminal in the reserved slot, and a slot time at which the own terminal broadcasts. And calculating a slot time for receiving broadcast data of another terminal, and powering down in a broadcast slot other than the slot.
As a result, the terminal shifts to a power-down mode that operates with the minimum power consumption except for the broadcast slot time related to data transmission / reception and the reserved slot time, and a significant reduction in power consumption can be realized.

The wireless terminal broadcast communication method of the present invention includes a step of including information on a slot length of a broadcast slot used by a terminal in a slot reservation signal transmitted by the terminal in the reserved slot; And a step of detecting the start and end of each slot in the broadcast slot based on the above information.
Thereby, each terminal can grasp the start / end time of each slot in the broadcast slot, and can grasp the start / end time of the slot related to the own terminal.

In the wireless terminal broadcast communication method of the present invention, a terminal attempting to construct a broadcast network first performs carrier sense (detection) on whether or not wireless communication is being performed on the corresponding channel, and wireless communication is being performed. Transits to the power down state for a random time Tda1. When wireless communication is not performed, a broadcast network polling signal for requesting the construction of a broadcast network is broadcast, and then a broadcast network entry signal from another terminal is received. When the broadcast network entry signal from another terminal is not received and the time Tent elapses, the state transits to the power down state only for a random time Tda2. When a broadcast network entry signal from another terminal is received before the time Tent elapses, a broadcast network construction declaration signal including terminal information entered in the network is broadcast to form a network.
Thus, in the configuration of the broadcast network, the operation for communication control of the terminal that controls communication includes transmission of the broadcast network polling signal at the time of construction of the broadcast network, reception of the broadcast network entry signal, and the broadcast network construction declaration signal. For this reason, the control terminal does not need to perform slot allocation calculation for each communication reservation as in the conventional case, and the processing load can be reduced and the power consumption can be greatly reduced.

Also, in the wireless terminal broadcast communication method of the present invention, a terminal that wants to broadcast data in a broadcast slot (data communication slot) receives its information at a predetermined time assigned based on the reservation order in the reservation slot. Broadcast a slot reservation signal including information on the other party, and then broadcast data in the reserved broadcast slot.
Thus, a terminal that wants to broadcast data can reserve the broadcast slot with the reserved slot and broadcast the data.

Further, in the wireless terminal broadcast communication method of the present invention, the slot time at which the terminal broadcasts data and the slot time at which the broadcast data of other terminals are received are calculated, and the power is down in broadcast slots other than the slot.
As a result, the terminal shifts to a power-down mode that operates with the minimum power consumption except for the broadcast slot time related to data transmission / reception and the reserved slot time, and a significant reduction in power consumption can be realized.

In the wireless terminal broadcast communication method of the present invention, the slot reservation signal transmitted by the terminal includes the slot length information of the broadcast slot used by the terminal.
Thereby, each terminal can grasp the start / end time of each slot in the broadcast slot, and can grasp the start / end time of the slot related to the own terminal.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a timing chart for explaining the processing operation in the wireless terminal broadcast communication method of the present invention.
In the timing chart shown in FIG. 1, a network is constructed among four terminals, terminal 1, terminal 2, terminal 3, and terminal 4, as shown in FIG. 9 showing a configuration example of the wireless data communication system according to the present invention. An example of broadcasting data is shown. That is, an example in which terminal 1, terminal 2, terminal 3, and terminal 4 participate (entry) in a broadcast network (also simply referred to as “network”) 100 so that each terminal can broadcast data in network 100. It is shown.

  In FIG. 1, the terminal 1 is a terminal that constructs a network, and the terminal 2, the terminal 3, and the terminal 4 are terminals that participate (entry) in the network. Note that the terminal that constructs (configures) the network may be any terminal, or a specific terminal may be determined in advance. Further, the number of terminals participating in the network is not limited to four, and any number of terminals may be used. The terminal 1, the terminal 2, the terminal 3, and the terminal 4 are portable information terminals (mobile wireless communication terminals such as mobile phones).

  In FIG. 1, “broadcast slot” is a slot for data communication for broadcasting data, and “reserved slot” is a slot for each terminal to reserve a broadcast slot (slot for data communication). The “unit” is a combination of “reserved slot” and “broadcast slot” (“unit” = “reserved slot” + “broadcast slot”).

  Hereinafter, the processing flow will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. The terminal 1 first performs wireless communication in a channel (radio frequency band) that is to form a broadcast network (also simply referred to as “network”) in a state in which the terminal 1 does not form a network with other terminals. Is detected by carrier sense during time Tcs (reception of a radio signal indicated by a1). When wireless communication is being performed on a channel that is to form a network by carrier sense, a power down state is entered (power down will be described later in the description of FIG. 2).

  When it is confirmed by carrier sense that wireless communication is not being performed on a channel that is to form a network, together with the terminal information of the terminal 1 itself, a “broadcast network polling signal (simply“ (Also referred to as “network polling signal”) (a2).

  The terminal 1 receives the “broadcast network entry signal (also simply referred to as“ network entry signal ”)” indicating that it participates in the network from another terminal for a predetermined time after broadcasting the network polling signal a2. Wait for Tent (broadcast network entry signal reception time). In the example shown in FIG. 1, a network entry signal is transmitted from each of terminal 2, terminal 3, and terminal 4 to terminal 1 (signals a3, a4, and a5).

  Thereafter, the terminal 1 broadcasts a broadcast network construction declaration signal (signal a6) after the broadcast network entry signal reception time (Tent) elapses after broadcasting the network polling signal a2.

  A terminal that wants to broadcast data in a broadcast slot (data communication slot) during a reservation time Tres (reservation slot) after broadcasting this broadcast network construction declaration signal (signal a6) is assigned to the reservation order assigned to each terminal. The broadcast reservation signal is broadcast at a predetermined time based on the above. Note that the broadcast reservation signal includes terminal information (such as ID information of the own terminal, ID information of the terminal serving as a communication partner), reservation declaration, broadcast content information, broadcast slot time, and time information.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the terminal 1 reserves the slot 1 in the broadcast slot (signal a7), the terminal 2 reserves the slot 2 (signal a8), in the order and time assigned in the reserved slot, and the terminal 4 is an example in which slot 4 is reserved (terminal 3 does not make a reservation).

  Then, after the elapse of the reservation time Tres (after the end of the reservation slot), each terminal broadcasts data in the slot reserved by itself in the broadcast slot (slot for data communication). That is, in the example shown in FIG. 1, terminal 1 broadcasts data in slot 1 and terminals 2 and 3 receive it. In addition, the terminal 2 broadcasts data in the slot 2, and the terminal 1, the terminal 3, and the terminal 4 receive it. In slot 4, terminal 4 broadcasts data, and terminal 2 and terminal 3 receive data.

  Since the terminal 3 does not transmit / receive data in the slot 1 in the broadcast slot, the terminal 3 is in a power-down state in which power is supplied only to the minimum necessary functional units in the terminal 3. Further, since the terminal 1 does not transmit / receive data in the slot 4, the terminal 1 enters a power-down state.

  FIG. 2 is a state transition diagram up to the construction of the broadcast network in the terminal that constructs the broadcast network. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 2, a procedure for constructing a broadcast network will be described.

  First, in a state where the terminal 1 (the terminal that is to construct the network is referred to as the terminal 1) does not form a network that is connected to other terminals, the terminal 1 is configured to use a channel (radio frequency band) that is to configure the network. Whether or not wireless communication is being performed is detected by carrier sense (state 0).

  When the terminal 1 detects by carrier sense that wireless communication is being performed on a channel (radio frequency band) that is to form a network, it is determined in advance from a predetermined minimum power down time Tpdmin1. For a random time Tda1 between the maximum power-down time Tpdmax1 (Tpdmax1> Tpdmin1), a transition is made to a power-down state in which power is supplied only to the minimum necessary functional units in the terminal (state 5).

  As for the transition to the power-down state, when the terminal 1 detects that wireless communication is being performed on a channel (radio frequency band) that is to form a network by carrier sense, the communication ends. Even if the power is turned on until the power is on, power consumption is wasted, and the power-down state is entered. In this case, the minimum power down time Tpdmin1 is set as the minimum predicted time until the current communication is completed, and the maximum power down time Tpdmax1 is determined in advance, and a random time within the range is determined. The power down time is Tda1 (Tpdmin1 <Tda1 <Tpdmax1).

  When the terminal 1 confirms that wireless communication is not performed on the channel to be configured by the carrier sense in the state 0, the terminal 1 includes the terminal ID information of the terminal 1 itself and the broadcast network Broadcast a “broadcast network polling signal (see signal a2 in FIG. 1)” requesting formation (state 1).

  In the terminal 1, after broadcasting the “broadcast network polling signal”, the reception of the network entry signal is waited for a predetermined time Tent for the reception of the broadcast network entry signal (the signal indicating the intention to join the network) from another terminal. Transition to a state (state 2).

  When the network entry signal from another terminal is not received and the time Tent has elapsed, a random time between a predetermined minimum power down time Tpdmin2 and a predetermined maximum power down time Tpdmax2 (Tpdmax2> Tpdmin2) Transition to the power-down state by Tda2 (state 6).

  In the network entry signal reception state (state 2), when the terminal 1 receives a network entry signal from another terminal before the time Tent elapses, the terminal information of the received other terminal (s) is received. After the time Tent has elapsed (state 3), a broadcast network construction declaration signal (see signal a6 in FIG. 1) including the ID information of the terminal that transmitted the network entry signal to the terminal 1 is broadcast (state 4). ).

  Thereby, a broadcast network is constructed, and the period of the broadcast network reservation slot is started (start of reservation time Tres).

  FIG. 3 is a state transition diagram of reservation and broadcast, and shows reservation of a broadcast slot (data communication slot) and broadcast of data after a broadcast network is constructed. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG.

  A terminal that intends to reserve a broadcast slot (slot for data communication) within the reservation time (Tres) of the reservation slot broadcasts a reservation signal of the broadcast slot in the order and time assigned to the terminal within the reservation slot. (State 1).

  Next, when the reserved slot time Tres ends (state 2), the terminal shifts to the broadcast slot, and the terminal that broadcasts data broadcasts the data in the reserved slot in the broadcast slot (state 3). Then, when all the slots in the broadcast slot are completed (state 4), the process proceeds to the reserved slot (state 1) again.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of each terminal in the reserved slot, and the procedure will be described below with reference to FIG.
When the reserved slot is started (step S101), each terminal starts a reservation timer that measures the time Tres of the reserved slot (step S102).

  Then, each terminal determines whether or not the time assigned to the terminal (time when slot reservation can be performed) has arrived with the passage of time in the reservation slot (step S103). If it is not the reservation time allocated to the own terminal, the reservation signal of the other terminal is received (step S104).

  Each terminal determines whether or not to make a broadcast reservation for data when it is determined that it is a reserved time allocated to itself in the reserved slot (step S105). If there is data to be broadcast, the broadcast slot Is reserved (step S106).

Thereafter, when the time of the reservation timer is finished (step S107), the time of the slot in the broadcast slot is calculated (step S108).
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of each terminal in the broadcast slot. The processing procedure will be described below with reference to FIG.

  When a broadcast slot (slot for data communication) is started, each terminal starts a broadcast timer that measures the time of the broadcast slot (step S201), and then each slot K is started in order from slot 1. The process proceeds (step S202). Each terminal determines, for each slot, whether the slot is a corresponding slot reserved by the terminal itself (step S203).

  If the slot is reserved by the terminal itself, the data is broadcast (step S204). If the terminal is not a reserved slot, it is determined whether to receive data broadcast in this slot (step S205), and if it is determined to be received, data broadcast from another terminal is received in that slot. (Step S206). On the other hand, if it is determined not to be received, the power-down state is entered (step S207).

  The above processing is performed for each slot in the broadcast slot until all slots in the broadcast slot are completed (steps S208, S209, and S210). When all the slots are finished and the time measurement of the broadcast timer is finished (step S211), the broadcast slot is finished and the process proceeds to a new reserved slot.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a broadcast slot, and the slot reservation state in each terminal is as follows.
For terminal 1, there is a broadcast slot reservation, and its slot time (slot length) is TB1.
For terminal 2, there is a broadcast slot reservation, and its slot time (slot length) is TB2.
For terminal 3, there is no broadcast slot reservation.
For terminal 4, there is a broadcast slot reservation, and its slot time (slot length) is TB4.

  According to the reservation status of each terminal as described above, as shown in FIG. 6, the broadcast slot includes slot 1 reserved by terminal 1 (slot time TB1) and slot 2 reserved by terminal 2 (slot time TB2). ) And the slot 4 reserved by the terminal 4 (slot time TB4). This example is an example in which the time length (slot length) of each slot is different.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of a broadcast network polling signal and a broadcast reservation signal.
“Broadcast network polling signal (see signal a2 in FIG. 1)” shown in FIG. 7A includes “signal type (polling signal)”, “network configuration terminal information”, “reservation start time / reservation order information”, “ It consists of “time information”.

  Also, “broadcast reservation signals (see signals a7, a8, a9 in FIG. 1)” shown in FIG. 7B are “signal type (reservation signal)”, “terminal information (ID etc.)”, “broadcast order information”. "," Broadcast content information (sound, video, etc.) "," broadcast time information ", etc.

  If desired, the broadcast reservation signal can include information on the slot length of the broadcast slot used by the terminal. With this slot length information, each terminal can grasp the start and end times of each slot in the broadcast slot, and can grasp the start and end times of the slot to which the terminal is related.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a terminal used in the wireless terminal broadcast communication method of the present invention, which is an example of a portable information terminal (a portable wireless communication terminal such as a mobile phone). In FIG. 8, the terminal 10 includes a wireless unit 11, a wireless signal processing unit 12, a central processing unit 13, a display unit 14, a voice input / output unit 15, an operation unit 16, and a storage unit 17. ing.

  The radio unit 11 receives radio waves from other terminals, converts them into received radio signals, and outputs them to the radio signal processing unit 12. Further, the transmission radio signal input from the radio signal processing unit 12 is converted into a radio wave and transmitted to another terminal. In addition, when a power-down signal instructing power-down is input from the radio signal processing unit 12, the radio unit 11 stops transmission / reception of radio waves and reduces power consumption of the radio unit 11.

  The radio signal processing unit 12 performs processing on the radio signal and converts a data signal input / output by the central processing unit 13 into a radio data signal input / output by the radio unit 11. In addition, a wireless control signal (connection request signal or the like) is generated and interpreted, and wireless communication control (wireless communication state transition determination or the like) is performed. Furthermore, a power down signal is generated according to the state of wireless communication, and the wireless unit 11 is powered down.

The central processing unit 13 implements various functions as a mobile terminal. In addition, the wireless signal processing unit 12 is notified of the presence or absence of data to be communicated. Further, when the wireless signal processing unit 12 is in a data communication state, the data signal is input to and output from the wireless signal processing unit 12.
The display unit 14 has a function of displaying image information. The voice input / output unit 15 has a voice information input / output function. The operation unit 16 is a numeric keypad or a direction key, and has a function for operating the terminal 10. The storage unit 17 stores programs and data necessary for realizing the functions of the terminal 10.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the wireless terminal broadcast communication method of the present invention and the terminals used in the wireless terminal broadcast communication method of the present invention are not limited to the above illustrated examples. Of course, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As described above, the present invention can reduce the processing load for communication control and can greatly reduce power consumption when data communication is performed by constructing a broadcast network between terminals. is there.
Therefore, the present invention is useful for a wireless terminal broadcast communication method or the like when a portable information terminal that performs wireless data communication such as wireless LAN communication configures a broadcast network to perform wireless data communication.

Timing chart for explaining the processing operation in the wireless terminal broadcast communication method of the present invention State transition diagram for building a broadcast network State transition diagram of reservation and broadcast Flow chart showing the processing procedure of each terminal in the reserved slot Flowchart showing the processing procedure of each terminal in the broadcast slot The figure which shows the structural example of the broadcast slot The figure which shows the example of a broadcast network polling signal and a broadcast reservation signal Diagram showing an example of terminal configuration A diagram showing a configuration example of a broadcast network

Explanation of symbols

a1 Carrier sense state a2 Broadcast network polling signal a3, a4, a5 Broadcast network entry signal a6 Broadcast network construction declaration signal a7, a8, a9 Broadcast reservation signal (slot reservation signal)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Terminal 11 Radio | wireless part 12 Wireless signal processing part 13 Central processing part 14 Display part 15 Voice input / output part 16 Operation part 17 Memory | storage part 100 Broadcast network

Claims (4)

A wireless terminal broadcast communication method in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a network and each terminal broadcasts data to other terminals belonging to the network,
Detecting whether a terminal trying to construct a broadcast network for broadcasting data performs wireless communication on a corresponding channel;
When it is detected that wireless communication is being performed, the power-down state is set for a random time Tda1 between a predetermined minimum power-down time Tpdmin1 and a predetermined maximum power-down time Tpdmax1 (Tpdmax1> Tpdmin1). A transition to
When confirming that wireless communication is not performed, broadcasting a broadcast network polling signal that includes terminal information and requests formation of a broadcast network;
Waiting for reception of a broadcast network entry signal from another terminal, transitioning to a broadcast network entry signal reception state;
When the broadcast network entry signal is not received and the time Tent has elapsed, power is generated for a random time Tda2 between a predetermined minimum power-down time Tpdmin2 and a predetermined maximum power-down time Tpdmax2 (Tpdmax2> Tpdmin2). A transition to a down state;
When the broadcast network entry signal is received before the time Tent elapses, the received terminal information is registered, and after the time Tent elapses, the broadcast network construction declaration signal including the received terminal information is broadcasted, Forming a broadcast network between the terminals. A wireless terminal broadcast communication method comprising: During the reservation slot of the reservation time Tres after the broadcast network construction declaration signal is transmitted,
A terminal that wants to broadcast data in a broadcast slot, broadcasts a slot reservation signal including its own information and partner information at a predetermined time allocated based on the reservation order; and
The wireless terminal broadcast communication method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of broadcasting data in the reserved broadcast slot after the reservation time Tres has elapsed. Determining broadcast data of other terminals received by the own terminal based on information of slot reservation signals of other terminals in the reserved slots;
The wireless terminal according to claim 2, further comprising: calculating a slot time at which the terminal broadcasts and a slot time at which broadcast data of another terminal is received, and powering down at a broadcast slot other than the slot. Broadcast communication method. Including in the slot reservation signal transmitted by the terminal in the reserved slot, information on the slot length of the broadcast slot used by the terminal;
4. The wireless terminal broadcast communication method according to claim 2, further comprising: detecting a start and an end of each slot in the broadcast slot based on the slot length information. 5.

Images