JP4136632B2 - Communication apparatus and communication method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present inventionThe present invention relates to a communication device and a communication method using a frequency hopping (SS-FH) communication method or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the spread spectrum frequency hopping (SS-FH) communication method, particularly in the Bluetooth method, the wireless frequency range stipulated by law is observed, and low consumption is assumed for mobile devices such as simple mobile phones and PDAs. The purpose is a wireless function with electric power.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the SS-FH communication system is theoretically limited in the number of simultaneously communicable, and mobile devices are often powered by batteries, and there are restrictions on power consumption.
[0004]
Therefore, it has been desired to reduce the power consumption by using the minimum transmission power necessary and sufficient for communication and further reduce the communicable range to increase the number of usable units outside the communicable range.
[0005]
  In view of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention provides an SS-FH communication method.efficientlyEnables effective use of frequency with reduced transmission powerMakeFor the purpose.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  To achieve the above objective,The present invention is a communication device that transmits processing data for each predetermined data unit using frequency hopping communication, wherein the transmission efficiency of a plurality of channels used for the frequency hopping is larger than a predetermined value and the transmission efficiency is poor. Determining means for determining a channel; receiving means for receiving from the communication partner the received electric field strength at the communication partner in the predetermined channel determined to have poor transmission efficiency by the determining means; and the predetermined channel received by the receiving means And changing means for stepwise changing transmission outputs of the plurality of channels used for the frequency hopping based on the received electric field strength at the communication partner.
  The present invention is also a communication method in a communication apparatus that transmits processing data for each predetermined data unit using frequency hopping communication, wherein transmission efficiency of a plurality of channels used for the frequency hopping is greater than a predetermined value. A determination step of determining a channel having a large transmission efficiency, a reception step of receiving from the communication partner the received electric field strength at the communication partner in the predetermined channel determined to have a poor transmission efficiency in the determination step; and A change step of changing transmission power of a plurality of channels used for the frequency hopping step by step based on the received electric field strength at the communication partner of the predetermined channel received.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0008]
[First Embodiment]
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0009]
This communication system adopts the Bluetooth method in particular in the SS-FH communication system, and has the same configuration including the wireless units 32 and 42 as well as the computers 11 and 21 having the same configuration including the wireless units 12 and 22, respectively. The printers 31 and 41 are configured. Antennas 13, 23, 33, and 43 are connected to the wireless units 12, 22, 32, and 42, respectively.
[0010]
Then, for example, when a printable printer is selected from the computer 11 and print-related data is wirelessly transmitted, the selected printer (for example, the printer 31) receives the print-related data and performs print processing. Yes. The transmitting side has a function of increasing or decreasing the transmission output step by step from a predetermined transmission level for each time slot, and the receiving side receives radio waves in the time slot transmitted by the communication partner side, and receives the received electric field. It has a function to judge the intensity step by step.
[0011]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of packet data used for wireless communication in the communication system shown in FIG.
[0012]
In the figure, DA is the address of the destination device, OA is the address of the source device, KOD is the data identification number, PN is the packet number, APN is the total number of packets, DF is the data area, PL is the packet data length, and RL is received Is a level.
[0013]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the definition of KOD in the packet data shown in FIG.
[0014]
As shown in the figure, KOD “0, 0, 0” is defined as “undefined” in the data area (DF), “1, 0, 0” is defined as “print data”, and “0, 1 , 0 ”is defined as“ printing related command ”,“ 1,1,0 ”is defined as“ reception confirmation ”,“ 0,0,1 ”is defined as“ printing error status ”,“ other ”is defined as It is defined as “undefined”.
[0015]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the definition of RL in the packet data shown in FIG.
[0016]
As shown in the figure, for example, RL “0, 0, 0, 0” is defined as a reception level 0 and is a reception level that cannot be received by the printer, and RL “1, 0, 1, 0” is It is defined as reception level 5 and is a stable reception level at which the printer side can reliably and stably receive. Also, RL "1, 1, 1, 1" is defined as reception level 15 and the maximum reception level is set on the printer side. means.
[0017]
<Internal configuration of computer>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the computers 11 and 21 in FIG. Here, the computer 11 will be described as an example.
[0018]
For example, the computer 11 in FIG. 1 has a CPU 130, a memory 131, a display unit 132, a keyboard 133, a hard disk (HDD) 134, a wireless transmission power control unit 135, and a wireless interface 136 connected to each other via a bus 137. Yes.
[0019]
The CPU 130 executes a control program and controls the operation of the entire computer. The memory 131 functions as a work area for the CPU 130, and the hard disk (HDD) 134 stores a control program executed by the CPU 130. The display unit 132 composed of a liquid crystal display or the like is a means for displaying various information, and the keyboard 133 is a means for inputting various instruction information and the like.
[0020]
The wireless interface (I / F) 136 is a circuit that transmits and receives radio waves through the antenna 13. The wireless interface 136 in communication communicates while changing the frequency channel under the control of the CPU 130 for each time slot that is a predetermined time. In this control, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, frequency hopping is performed in which a plurality of channels CH1 to CH6 are switched in a predetermined order for each transmission or reception. The relationship among the channel, frequency, and channel switching control code is shown in FIG.
[0021]
The wireless transmission power control unit 135 connected to the wireless interface 136 is a circuit for controlling the transmission output under the control of the CPU 130. That is, when the computer 11 transmits print-related data, the wireless transmission power control unit 135 receives an instruction from the CPU 130 as described later so that the transmission output changes step by step from a predetermined transmission level for each time slot. (See the example of FIG. 8), power control is performed on the wireless interface 136.
[0022]
<Internal configuration of printer>
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printers 31 and 41 in FIG. Here, the printer 31 will be described as an example.
[0023]
For example, the printer 31 in FIG. 1 includes a control unit 140, a memory 141, a display unit 142, an operation unit 143, a print engine unit 144, a wireless transmission power control unit 145, and a wireless interface (I / F) via a bus 147. 146 are connected to each other.
[0024]
The control unit 140 executes a control program and controls the operation of the entire computer. The memory 141 functions as a work area of the control unit 140, and the print engine unit 144 executes printing in accordance with instructions from the control unit 140. The display unit 142 configured by a liquid crystal or the like is a means for displaying various information related to printing. The operation unit 143 is a means for inputting various instruction information and the like.
[0025]
The wireless interface (I / F) 146 is a circuit that transmits and receives radio waves through the antenna 33, and the wireless transmission power control unit 145 is a circuit that controls transmission output under the control of the control unit 140. The control unit 145 and the wireless interface (I / F) 146 have functions equivalent to the wireless transmission power control unit 135 and the wireless interface (I / F) 136 on the computer side, respectively.
[0026]
<Operation of First Embodiment>
FIG. 10 is a graph showing the reception sensitivity characteristic of the wireless I / F 136, 146, and FIG. 11 is a graph showing the VSWR characteristic of the wireless I / F 136, 146.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 10, in all channel bands FQ used for frequency hopping, the reception sensitivity of the wireless I / F 146 on the reception side that receives print-related data is substantially constant. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, the VSWR characteristics of the wireless I / F 136 on the transmission side that transmits print-related data are deteriorated at the upper and lower ends of the band FQ. That is, the larger the VSWR value, the worse the transmission efficiency, but the VSWR value is 1.25 at the upper end of the band FQ, and the VSWR value is 1.33 at the lower end of the band FQ. It can be seen that the efficiency has deteriorated.
[0028]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, control is performed so that the transmission level on the computer side is adjusted stepwise based on the reception level on the printer side in the channel CH5 near the upper end and the channel CH1 near the lower end of the band FQ. Hereinafter, a specific operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 12, 13, and 14.
[0029]
I. Operation on the computer side
12 and 13 are flowcharts showing the operation on the computer side according to the first embodiment. The following control method can be realized by storing and operating the program according to this flowchart in, for example, the HDD 134 in the computer.
[0030]
First, when power is turned on in step S801, initial setting is executed in step S802. In a succeeding step S803, it is determined whether application software such as document editing software is started by the operator. If the application software is activated, it is further determined whether or not the start of printing has been instructed (step S804). When an instruction to start printing is given, the process proceeds to step S805.
[0031]
In step S805, print-related data (all data related to printing such as print data and print commands) is prepared.
[0032]
In subsequent step S806, a printer within a communication range that can be printed is searched using the wireless I / F 136, and in step S807, the printer (for example, printers 31 and 41) is displayed on the display unit 132. In step S808, it is determined whether the printer to be printed is selected by the operator. If it is selected (in this example, for example, the printer 31 is selected), the process proceeds to step S809 to transmit the transmission level. Is set to “F” (maximum power) (see FIG. 8), and the current frequency hopping (FH) channel is set to CH1.
[0033]
In subsequent step S810, one packet of all print related data is transmitted, and in the next step S811, the FH channel is updated in the order shown in FIG. In step S812, it is determined whether a reception confirmation packet from the printer 31 has been received. If it has been received, the process proceeds to step S813, and it is determined whether the most recently transmitted FH channel is CH1 or CH5. If it is not CH1 or CH5, the process proceeds to step S815, and if it is CH1 or CH5, the process proceeds to step S814.
[0034]
In step S814, the reception level of the printer 31 in communication is determined. That is, it is determined whether or not the reception level PRL of the printer 31 is higher than the stable reception level SRL shown in FIG. 4 (PRL> SRL). If the reception level PRL is higher (reception levels 6 to 15), the process proceeds to step S817 and is small ( If the reception level is 0 to 4), the process proceeds to step S818, and if equal (reception level 5), the process proceeds to step S815.
[0035]
In step S817, the transmission level setting is lowered by one step. In step S818, the transmission level setting is increased by one step, and the process proceeds to step S815. In step S815, the FH channel is updated.
[0036]
In a succeeding step S816, it is determined whether or not all the print-related data has been transmitted to the printer. If all the print-related data has not been transmitted yet, the process proceeds to a step S819, and if all have been transmitted, the process returns to the step S803. In step S819, the print-related data is updated to data to be transmitted next, and the process proceeds to step S810.
[0037]
II. Operation on the printer side
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation on the printer side according to the first embodiment. The following control method can be realized by storing and operating a program according to this flowchart in, for example, the memory 141 in the printer.
[0038]
First, in step S901, for example, when the printer 11 is powered on, initial setting is executed in step S902, and the FH channel is set to CH1. In the next step S903, it is determined whether or not “packet data of print-related data (all data related to printing such as print data and print-related commands)” or “search inquiry information to a printable printer” is received. If it is received and it is “printing related data”, the process proceeds to step S904, and if it is the inquiry information, the process proceeds to step S912 to return that the printer is printable, and the process returns to step S903.
[0039]
In step S904, the FH channel is updated in the order shown in FIG. 6, and in step S905, it is determined whether the most recently received FH channel is CH1 or CH5. If it is CH1 or CH5, the process proceeds to step S906, and if not, step S906 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S907. In step S906, the reception level is set in the RL of the reception confirmation packet data according to the definition shown in FIG. 4, and the process proceeds to step S907.
[0040]
In step S907, a reception confirmation packet for the print-related data is transmitted. In the next step S908, the FH channel is updated. In step S909, the received data is printed. In subsequent step S910, it is determined whether or not the currently processed data includes a paper discharge command. If the paper discharge command is included, the process proceeds to step S911. In step S911, the FH channel is set to CH1, and the process returns to step S903.
[0041]
III. Overall system behavior
Next, the operation of the entire system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 12, 13, and 14.
[0042]
First, in step S801 and step S901, when power is supplied to the system, initial setting of the system is executed in subsequent steps S802 and S902.
[0043]
On the computer side, after application software such as document editing software is started by the operator (step S803), when an instruction to start printing is received (step S804), print-related data is prepared (step S805). Further, “printable printer search inquiry information” is transmitted using the wireless I / F 136 to search for a printable printer with a wireless I / F (step S806).
[0044]
On the printer side, when “search inquiry information for a printable printer” is received, it is returned to the computer side that it is a printable printer (step S912).
[0045]
In response to this reply, the computer side displays a printable printer on the display unit 132 (step S807). When the printer to be printed is selected by the operator (step S808), the transmission level is set to “F” (maximum power), and the current frequency hopping (FH) channel is set to CH1 (step S809). After transmitting one packet of all print related data (step S810), the FH channel is updated (step S811).
[0046]
On the other hand, when the printer side receives the packet data of the print-related data (step S903), it updates the FH channel (step S904), and then determines whether the most recently received FH channel is CH1 or CH5 (step S904). S905). If it is CH1 or CH5, the reception level is set in the RL of the reception confirmation packet data according to the definition shown in FIG. 4 (step S906), and the reception confirmation packet for the print related data is transmitted (step S907). If it is not CH1 or CH5, step S906 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S907.
[0047]
When the reception confirmation packet from the printer is received on the computer side (step S812), it is determined whether the most recently transmitted FH channel is CH1 or CH5 (step S813). If it is CH1 or CH5, the reception level of the printer in communication is determined (step S814). If the reception level of the printer is 6 to 15 (PRL> SRL), the transmission level setting is lowered by one step (step S817), and if the reception level is 0 to 4 (PRL <SRL), the transmission level is increased by one step. (Step S818), and then the FH channel is updated (Step S815). If the reception level is 5, the FH channel is updated as it is (step S815).
[0048]
Then, it is determined whether all print-related data has been transmitted to the printer (step S816). If not all have been transmitted, the print-related data is updated to the next transmission data (step S819), and if all have been transmitted, the process returns to step S803.
[0049]
On the other hand, after transmitting the reception confirmation packet on the printer side (step S907), the FH channel is updated (step S908), and the received data is printed (step S909). If the data processed this time includes a paper discharge command (step S910), the FH channel is set to CH1 (step S911).
[0050]
According to the first embodiment, on the computer side, the reception level of the printer is received by a channel (CH1 or CH5) with poor transmission efficiency in the frequency band to be used, and the transmission output setting is changed based on the received reception level. Therefore, the wireless I / F 136 on the computer side can be suppressed to a necessary and sufficient transmission power.
[0051]
[Second Embodiment]
According to the VSWR characteristics shown in FIG. 11, the deterioration is caused at the upper end and the lower end of the band FQ, but the lower end is particularly deteriorated (the VSWR value is largest in the band FQ). In view of this point, in the present embodiment, control is performed so that the transmission level on the computer side is adjusted stepwise based on the reception level on the printer side only in the channel (CH1) near the lower end of the band FQ.
[0052]
Therefore, in the communication system of the present embodiment, the printer-side reception level is determined in advance only by CH1 which is the channel at the lower end of the band FQ (see step S850 in FIG. 15 and step S950 in FIG. 16).
[0053]
Here, FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation on the computer side in the communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. 12 instead of FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation on the printer side in the communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the flowcharts of FIGS. 15 and 16, elements common to those in FIGS. 13 and 14 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. That is, as described above, in the communication system of this embodiment, only step S850 in FIG. 15 and step S950 in FIG. 16 are different from those in the first embodiment, and other steps perform the same processing as in the first embodiment.
[0054]
Specifically, in step S850 of FIG. 15 which is processing on the computer side, it is determined whether the most recently transmitted FH channel is CH1, and if it is not CH1, the process proceeds to step S815, and if it is CH1, the process proceeds to step S814. The process proceeds to determine the reception level of the printer 31 in communication. Other processes are the same as those described in FIGS. 12 and 13 of the first embodiment.
[0055]
Further, in step S950 of FIG. 16, which is processing on the printer side, it is determined whether the most recently received FH channel is CH1. If it is CH1, the process proceeds to step S906, and if not, step S906 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S907. In step S906, the reception level is set in the RL of the reception confirmation packet data according to the definition shown in FIG. 4, and in step S907, the reception confirmation packet for the print-related data is transmitted. Other processes are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 14 of the first embodiment.
[0056]
According to the present embodiment, since the computer side can know the reception level of the printer using “CH1 with poor transmission efficiency” set in advance, the wireless I / F 136 on the computer side is necessary and sufficient. It becomes possible to suppress to transmission power.
[0057]
If the system is controlled in the same way on both the computer side and the printer side to reduce transmission power, the transmission power of the wireless I / F of all the devices in the system can be suppressed to the necessary and sufficient minimum transmission power. In addition, not only is it effective for power saving, but it is also possible to operate more similar systems without interference in nearby areas where the radio does not reach.
[0058]
In the first and second embodiments, the receiving side has means for determining the received electric field strength in stages, the transmitting side has means for changing the transmission output in stages, and The change in the transmission power is determined based on the received field strength judgment result notified from the receiving side in the channel with poor transmission efficiency in the frequency band to be used. The reception field strength determination result is received from the side, and the determined channel and reception level are stored in order on the transmission side, and only one set is stored on the transmission side. You may comprise so that it may communicate.
[0059]
In other words, transmission power changes that are gradually reduced shall be changed for the next transmission every time transmission ends on all hopping frequency channels currently used in communication. The received electric field strength is sequentially compared, the data with the lower reception level is stored, and when it matches the predetermined reception level, the data reception confirmation reply signal and the content that the reception level matches the level within the predetermined range Is received by the reception confirmation packet, and the partner station of the communication that has received this reply maintains the current transmission power setting until there is a reply whose reception level is insufficient.
[0060]
In addition, after returning the content that the reception level matches the level within the predetermined range, the reception electric field strength is judged in a stepwise manner at the time of subsequent reception, and the confirmation response signal is received when the reception level falls below the predetermined reception level. At the same time, a content indicating that the reception level is lower than a predetermined level may be returned.
[0061]
Furthermore, the transmission side may be configured to increase the transmission power level by one step when transmitting the content reply signal indicating that it is below or when the confirmation reply signal is not received, Alternatively, the transmission power level setting may be increased to the maximum, and the subsequent transmission power settings may be adjusted stepwise.
[0062]
The present invention is not limited to the apparatus of the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program codes stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, it will be completed by doing.
[0063]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM is used. Can do. In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the processing, is also included.
[0064]
Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is expanded based on the instruction of the next program code. It goes without saying that the functions of the embodiment described above are realized by performing some or all of the actual processing by the CPU or the like provided on the expansion board or expansion unit.
[0065]
[Embodiment]
Examples of embodiments of the present invention are listed below.
[0066]
<Embodiment 1>
In a communication system in which a first communication device and a second communication device perform wireless communication using a spread spectrum frequency hopping communication method, the first communication device receives a received electric field of processing data transmitted from the second communication device. A determination unit that determines the intensity stepwise; and a notification unit that notifies the second communication device of the received electric field strength determined by the determination unit. Means for transmitting each data unit, and transmission output setting means for stepwise setting and changing the transmission output of the processing data transmitted for each predetermined data unit based on the received electric field strength notified from the notification means The communication system characterized by having.
[0067]
<Embodiment 2>
The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission output setting means sets the transmission output of the processing data based on a received electric field strength determined in a predetermined channel within a frequency band to be used.
[0068]
<Embodiment 3>
The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined channel is a channel whose transmission efficiency is lower than a predetermined value.
[0069]
<Embodiment 4>
In a control method of a communication system that performs wireless communication using a spread spectrum frequency hopping communication method, after the transmitting side transmits processing data to the receiving side for each predetermined data unit, the receiving side receives the received electric field intensity of the transmitted processing data. Step by step, and notifies the transmission side of the determined received electric field strength, and the transmission side transmits processing data to be transmitted for each predetermined data unit based on the notified received electric field strength. A control method of a communication system, characterized in that setting of transmission output is changed stepwise.
[0070]
<Embodiment 5>
The communication system control method according to claim 4, wherein a transmission output of the processing data is set based on a received electric field strength determined in a predetermined channel within a frequency band to be used.
[0071]
<Embodiment 6>
6. The communication system control method according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined channel is a channel with low transmission efficiency.
[0072]
<Embodiment 7>
A medium for providing a computer-readable control program for executing a control method of a communication system that performs wireless communication using a spread spectrum frequency hopping communication method, wherein the control program stores the processing data in a predetermined data unit. Step by step transmission to each reception side, and stepwise setting of transmission output of processing data to be transmitted for each predetermined data unit based on the received electric field strength notified from the reception side after transmission of the processing data And a medium for providing a control program.
[0073]
<Embodiment 8>
A computer-readable control program for executing a control method for a communication system that performs wireless communication using a spread spectrum frequency hopping communication method, the processing data being transmitted to a receiving side for each predetermined data unit; And stepwise setting and changing the transmission output of the processing data transmitted for each predetermined data unit based on the received electric field strength notified from the receiving side after transmitting the processing data. Control program.
[0074]
【The invention's effect】
  As explained in detail above, according to the above explanation,Since the transmission output of the plurality of channels used for frequency hopping is changed in stages based on the received electric field strength at the communication partner in the channel with poor transmission efficiency, the transmission power of the plurality of channels used in the SS-FH communication system Reduction and efficient use of frequency can be performed efficiently.Further, it is possible to operate more similar systems without interference even in a nearby area where the radio signal does not reach.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a diagram showing a structure of packet data used for wireless communication in the communication system shown in FIG.
3 is a diagram showing the definition of KOD in the packet data shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
4 is a diagram showing the definition of RL in the packet data shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of computers 11 and 21 in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between time and channel.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among channels, frequencies, and channel switching control codes.
FIG. 8 is a graph showing an example of a change in transmission power setting on the computer side.
9 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of printers 31 and 41 in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a graph showing reception sensitivity characteristics of the wireless I / Fs 136 and 146;
FIG. 11 is a graph showing VSWR characteristics of the wireless I / Fs 136 and 146;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation on the computer side according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation on the printer side according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation on the computer side in the communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation on the printer side in the communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11, 21 computer
31, 41 Printer
12, 22, 32, 42 Wireless unit
130 CPU
135 Wireless transmission power control unit
136 wireless interface
140 Control unit
145 Wireless transmission power control unit
146 Wireless I / F

Claims (8)

A communication device that transmits processing data for each predetermined data unit using frequency hopping communication,
Determining means for determining a channel having a transmission efficiency larger than a predetermined value and having a poor transmission efficiency among a plurality of channels used for the frequency hopping;
Receiving means for receiving from the communication partner the received electric field strength at the communication partner in the predetermined channel determined by the determining means to have poor transmission efficiency;
And changing means for stepwise changing transmission outputs of the plurality of channels used for the frequency hopping based on the received electric field strength at the communication partner of the predetermined channel received by the receiving means. Communication device. The changing means lowers the transmission output when the received electric field strength at the communication partner of the predetermined channel is higher than a predetermined level, and when the received electric field strength at the communication partner of the predetermined channel is lower than a predetermined level. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission output is increased . The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the changing unit does not change the transmission output when the received electric field strength at the communication partner of the predetermined channel is equal to a predetermined level . The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines a channel having the worst transmission efficiency . A communication method in a communication device that transmits processing data for each predetermined data unit using frequency hopping communication,
A determination step of determining a channel having a transmission efficiency larger than a predetermined value and having a poor transmission efficiency among a plurality of channels used for the frequency hopping;
  A reception step of receiving from the communication partner the received electric field strength at the communication partner in the predetermined channel determined to have poor transmission efficiency in the determination step;
  A changing step for stepwise changing transmission outputs of a plurality of channels used for the frequency hopping based on the received electric field strength at the communication partner of the predetermined channel received in the receiving step;
A communication method characterized by comprising: In the changing step, when the received electric field strength at the communication partner of the predetermined channel is higher than a predetermined level, the transmission output is lowered, and when the received electric field strength at the communication partner of the predetermined channel is lower than a predetermined level. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein the transmission output is increased . The communication method according to claim 6, wherein, in the changing step, the transmission output is not changed when the received electric field strength at the communication partner of the predetermined channel is equal to a predetermined level. The communication method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein, in the determination step, a channel having the worst transmission efficiency is determined.

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