JP4690873B2 - Wireless communication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, and more particularly to a wireless communication device capable of preventing communication disconnection due to an unintended communication failure.

  As personal computers (PCs) and peripheral devices have become smaller and lighter, notebook PCs and the like can be easily carried. On the other hand, since PCs and the like are precision machines, there is a high risk of damage due to carrying, and functions for preventing damage have been studied at the same time.

  For example, since a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like easily breaks the head portion even with a slight impact, an invention for protecting the HDD device has been made (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Also, in desktop PCs, there was no problem with connecting various peripheral devices with wired cables, but if you are going to carry a notebook PC, you can naturally leave the wired cables connected. Accordingly, wireless communication technologies such as wireless LAN and wireless USB that do not require cable connection have also advanced.
JP 2000-268479 A

  When a host device such as a PC is connected to an external storage device such as an HDD via a wired cable such as USB, the file system in the external storage device is destroyed if the cable is disconnected during a write operation to the external device. There is a possibility that. Regarding such troubles, it is possible to warn in advance so as not to disconnect the cable, and this is a contraindicated operation recognized by many users with the recent spread of PCs.

  On the other hand, in connection by wireless communication such as wireless USB, wireless communication is disconnected at a timing unintended by the user, and there is a possibility that a phenomenon that is substantially the same as a state of facing a wired cable may occur. However, in wireless communication, it is difficult for the user to recognize and avoid the possibility of disconnection in advance, and the user may not be able to immediately recognize the disconnection itself.

  In particular, in a mobile device having excellent portability, there is a high possibility that the spatial position of each device changes with time. For this reason, the quality of wireless communication between the devices changes each time, so that the above-mentioned danger is always exposed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication apparatus capable of preventing disconnection of wireless communication due to an unintended communication failure.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with an external device to transmit electronic data, a movement detection unit that detects movement by acceleration, and the quality of the wireless communication. A communication quality detection unit to detect; and a control unit to control transmission of the electronic data in the wireless communication, and the control unit issues a warning when the movement detection unit detects movement, and the electronic data The quality detected by the wireless communication detected by the communication quality detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined quality even when the movement detection unit detects movement and the first control mode that interrupts transmission In this case, a wireless communication apparatus is provided , which has a second control mode in which the warning in the first control mode is not performed and the transmission of the electronic data is continued .

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the control unit that does not perform the warning in the first control mode even when the movement detection unit detects movement, and the wireless The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third control mode in which transmission of communication is temporarily increased to continue transmission of the electronic data.

In order to achieve the above object , according to the present invention, the first control mode resumes transmission of the electronic data when the movement detector does not detect movement for a predetermined time after the interruption. A wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wireless communication apparatus capable of preventing disconnection of wireless communication due to an unintended communication failure.

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

(System configuration)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication system according to the present invention. The wireless communication system includes a wireless communication device 1 and a data storage device 2, which can transmit and receive data and the like by wireless communication.

  The wireless communication device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a notebook PC, and the data storage device 2 is, for example, a mobile hard disk drive (mobile HDD), but the present invention is not limited to these. In addition, the wireless communication system is not limited to the wireless communication device 1 and the data storage device 2, and any wireless communication system may be used as long as the system includes two or more wireless communication devices.

  For example, UWB (Ultra Wide Band) is used as a wireless communication method. However, the wireless communication used in the present invention is not limited to UWB, and any wireless communication method such as wireless USB, wireless LAN, or Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used.

  When information processing is performed using the wireless communication device 1 composed of a notebook PC, it is assumed that the data to be processed is stored not in the wireless communication device 1 but in the data storage device 2 composed of a mobile HDD that is an external terminal. At this time, even if both terminals are not connected by wire, if the wireless connection is performed by, for example, UWB communication, the wireless communication device 1 transmits necessary data from the data storage device 2 via wireless communication. Can be acquired.

(Internal configuration of wireless communication device and data storage device)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the wireless communication device 1 and the data storage device 2 constituting the wireless communication system according to the present invention.

  2A, the wireless communication device 1 includes a control unit 11, a display unit 12, an input unit 13, a data storage unit 14, an acceleration sensor unit 15, a communication quality detection unit 16, and a wireless communication unit. 17 and an antenna 18.

  The control unit 11 controls the wireless communication device 1, and specifically, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like is used.

  The display unit 12 displays information acquired through wireless communication or the like, or displays a warning about the possibility of disconnection of wireless communication described later, and specifically corresponds to a monitor unit of a notebook PC.

  The input unit 13 is used by the user to give various instructions to the wireless communication apparatus 1, and specifically corresponds to a keyboard or a touch pad of a notebook PC.

  The data storage unit 14 receives program data executed by the control unit 11 to drive the wireless communication device 1, parameters required by the control unit 11 when driving the wireless communication device 1, and via wireless communication Various data and the like are stored. Specifically, it consists of ROM, RAM, HDD and the like. The program data and other non-erasable data are stored in the ROM, various data that can be written and erased but need to be stored are stored in the HDD, and parameters that are used only temporarily are stored in the RAM.

  The acceleration sensor unit 15 detects a physical quantity associated with the movement of the wireless communication device 1 and detects the moving direction and the acceleration at that time.

  The communication quality detection unit 16 manages the quality of wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 17 described later, and detects the presence or absence of communication quality degradation. Detection of the presence or absence of communication quality deterioration is performed based on, for example, radio wave intensity or transmission rate in wireless communication. When the radio wave intensity is high or the transmission rate is high, the communication quality is good. When the radio wave intensity is weak or the transmission rate is low, it is detected that the communication quality is deteriorated. In particular, in UWB communication, such communication quality is called link quality.

  The wireless communication unit 17 transmits / receives data to / from an external terminal such as the data storage device 2 via an antenna 18 described later. Specifically, it corresponds to a UWB communication module.

  The antenna 18 receives a radio signal from an external terminal such as the data storage device 2 and transmits the radio signal toward an external terminal such as the data storage device 2.

  2B, the data storage device 2 includes a data control unit 21, a warning unit 22, a data storage unit 23, an acceleration sensor unit 24, a communication quality detection unit 25, and a wireless communication unit 26. And antenna 27.

  The data control unit 21 controls the data storage device 1, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like is used similarly to the control unit 11 described above.

  The warning unit 22 warns the possibility of disconnection of wireless communication. Specifically, the warning unit 22 gives the user a possibility of disconnection of wireless communication by flashing a warning light or generating a warning sound from a speaker or the like. Warning.

  The data storage unit 23, the acceleration sensor unit 24, and the communication quality detection unit 25 are the same as the data storage unit 14, the acceleration sensor unit 15, and the communication quality detection unit 16 of the wireless communication device 1 described above, respectively.

  The wireless communication unit 26 and the antenna 27 also have the same purpose as the wireless communication unit 17 and the antenna 18 described above.

  For example, when data stored in the wireless communication device 1 is to be transferred to the data storage device 2, when the user inputs an instruction from the input unit 13, the control unit 11 reads the corresponding data from the data storage unit 14, The data is transmitted to the data storage device 2 via the wireless communication unit 17.

  On the other hand, in the data storage device 2, when the wireless communication unit 26 receives the data, the data control unit 21 stores the data in the data storage unit 23.

  On the contrary, when the data stored in the data storage device 2 is to be transferred to the wireless communication device 1, the data control unit 21 reads the data to be transferred from the data storage unit 24 and passes through the wireless communication unit 26. To the wireless communication device 1.

  Further, when the wireless communication device 1 moves during wireless communication, the acceleration sensor unit 15 detects the acceleration accompanying the movement and notifies the control unit 11 of the detected acceleration. The control unit 11 warns the user via the display unit 12 and interrupts the wireless communication unit 17 from transmitting data.

(Preventive action when the wireless communication device 1 moves)
Next, a method for preventing wireless communication disconnection in the wireless communication system according to the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  First, when the wireless communication device 1 moves during data transmission, the operation for preventing the file system from being destroyed due to communication disconnection during data writing by temporarily interrupting the data transfer. explain.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for temporarily interrupting data transmission to the data storage device 2 when the wireless communication device 1 moves.

  The operations described below are performed by the control unit 11 built in the wireless communication device 1 unless otherwise specified.

  First, wireless communication is performed with an external terminal such as the data storage device 2 (step S101). Next, it is determined whether or not the movement of the wireless communication device 1 is detected by the acceleration sensor unit 15 (step S102). When the movement of the wireless communication device 1 is not detected in the acceleration sensor unit 15 (S102: No), the process proceeds to step S109 described later.

  On the other hand, when the movement of the wireless communication device 1 is detected in the acceleration sensor unit 15 (S102: Yes), it is determined whether there is a possibility of disconnection of the wireless communication, and it is determined whether data transmission is being performed to the data storage device 2. Is performed (step S103). If it is determined that no data is currently transmitted to the data storage device 2 (S103: No), the process proceeds to step S106.

  Note that the data transmitted in the “data transmission” here includes both a command for the communication destination terminal and content data stored in the data storage units 14 and 23. This applies to all “data transmission”.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that data is currently being transmitted to the data storage device 2 via the wireless communication unit 17 (S103: Yes), a warning is given to the user via the display unit 12 or the like (step S104). Subsequently, the data transmission to the data storage device 2 is forcibly terminated, and the data transmission is temporarily interrupted (step S105).

  Then, data transmission to the data storage device 2 is temporarily stopped (step S106), and it is determined again whether or not the movement of the wireless communication device 1 is detected by the acceleration sensor unit 15 (step S107). If it is determined that the movement of the wireless communication device 1 has been detected by the acceleration sensor unit 15 (S107: Yes), the process returns to step S106 described above, assuming that there is still a possibility of disconnection of the wireless communication.

On the other hand, if the movement of the wireless communication device 1 is not detected for a certain period of time by the acceleration sensor unit 15 (S107: No), it is determined that there is no risk of disconnection of the wireless communication and data transmission to the data storage device 2 is performed. It resumes (step S108).
If the wireless communication connection between the wireless communication device 1 and the data storage device 2 is disconnected while the data transmission is stopped (S106), the data transmission is resumed after the wireless communication connection between the two is resumed. It resumes (S108).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the wireless communication with the data storage device 2 has ended (step S109). When the wireless communication with the data storage device 2 is still continuing (S109: No), the process returns to the above-described step S101, and when the wireless communication with the data storage device 2 is completed. (S109: Yes), the movement detection process is terminated.

  By performing the processing as described above, when the wireless communication is likely to be disconnected due to the movement of the wireless communication device 1, the acceleration sensor unit 15 detects the movement of the wireless communication device 1 and notifies the user of the actual wireless communication. Data writing can be temporarily interrupted regardless of whether or not communication is disconnected, and adverse effects such as destruction of the file system due to communication disconnection during data writing can be prevented.

  In particular, even when wireless communication is disconnected during transmission of data that requires reliability, data transmission can be interrupted in advance, so that such data can be protected. .

The above processing is processing in the case of data transmission from the wireless communication device 1 to the data storage device 2, but the same processing is performed even in the case of data transmission from the data storage device 2 to the wireless communication device 1. Made.
In the above example, the data transmission is always stopped after issuing a warning to the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only the warning to the user may be stopped and the data transmission may not be stopped (the following). The same applies to the preventive operation when the data storage device 2 moves). In this case, whether or not to stop the data transmission is selected by the user. For example, it is possible to flexibly cope with a case where it is not necessary to stop the data transmission with a slight movement, and the data transmission is not noticed. When the user tries to move the wireless communication device 1, it is possible to take measures such as stopping this movement.

(Preventive action when the data storage device 2 moves)
Next, an operation for preventing the file system from being destroyed due to communication disconnection during data writing by temporarily interrupting data transmission when the data storage device moves when receiving data will be described. .

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of temporarily interrupting data transmission to the data storage device 2 when the data storage device 2 moves.

  Unless otherwise specified, the operations described below are performed by the built-in control unit 11 for operations related to the wireless communication device 1 and the built-in data control unit 21 for operations related to the data storage device 2, respectively. To do.

  First, wireless communication is performed between the wireless communication device 1 and the data storage device 2 (steps S111 and S211). Next, it is determined whether or not movement of the data storage device 2 is detected by the acceleration sensor unit 24 (step S212). If it is determined that the movement of the data storage device 2 has not been detected by the acceleration sensor unit 24 (S212: No), this process is terminated as it is.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the movement of the data storage device 2 has been detected in the acceleration sensor unit 24 (S212: Yes), data is being transmitted from the wireless communication device 1 to the data storage device 2 because there is a risk of disconnection of the wireless communication. It is determined whether or not (step S213). If it is determined that data transmission from the wireless communication apparatus 1 has not been received at this time (S213: No), the process proceeds to step S216.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that data is being transmitted from the wireless communication device 1 via the wireless communication unit 26 (S213: Yes), a warning is given to the user via the warning unit 22 (step S214). A notification signal indicating that there is a risk of disconnection of wireless communication is transmitted to the communication device 1 (step S215).

  Also in the wireless communication device 1 that has received the notification signal that there is a risk of disconnection of the wireless communication, a warning is given to the user by the display unit 12 (step S112), and then data transmission to the data storage device 2 is performed. The process is forcibly terminated and data transmission is temporarily interrupted (step S113).

  Then, data transmission from the wireless communication device 1 to the data storage device 2 is suspended (steps S114 and S216), and it is determined again whether or not the movement of the data storage device 2 is detected by the acceleration sensor unit 24. (Step S217). When it is determined that the movement of the data storage device 2 has been detected by the acceleration sensor unit 24 (S217: Yes), the process returns to the above-described step S216, assuming that there is still a possibility of disconnection of wireless communication.

On the other hand, if it is determined by the acceleration sensor unit 24 that the movement of the data storage device 2 has not been detected for a certain period of time (S217: No), it is determined that the risk of disconnection of the wireless communication has been reduced. Notification of data transmission resumption is made (step S218), and data transmission from the wireless communication device 1 to the data storage device 2 is resumed (steps S115 and S219). Then, this process is terminated.
If the wireless communication connection between the wireless communication device 1 and the data storage device 2 is disconnected while data transmission from the wireless communication device 1 to the data storage device 2 is stopped (S216), the wireless communication between the two is performed. After the connection is resumed, the data storage device 2 notifies the wireless communication device 1 that the data transmission is resumed (S218).

  By performing the processing as described above, when the wireless communication is likely to be disconnected due to the movement of the data storage device 2, the acceleration sensor unit 24 detects the movement of the data storage device 2, warns the user, and Since data writing can be temporarily interrupted regardless of whether or not communication is disconnected, it is possible to prevent adverse effects such as destruction of the file system due to communication disconnection during data writing.

  In particular, even when wireless communication is interrupted during data transfer requiring reliability, data transmission can be interrupted in advance, so that such data can be protected. .

  The above processing is processing in the case of data transmission from the wireless communication device 1 to the data storage device 2, but the same processing is performed even in the case of data transmission from the data storage device 2 to the wireless communication device 1. Made.

(Warning function switching operation according to communication quality)
Next, an operation for switching whether or not the warning function is activated according to the communication quality will be described.

  As described above, it is possible to prevent the file system from being destroyed in advance by issuing a warning to the user and interrupting the writing with the movement of each terminal during communication. However, depending on the situation, the user may feel annoyed by receiving a warning each time the device is moved a little.

  Therefore, when it is unlikely that communication will be disconnected by some operation, the warning function may not be operated. At this time, the possibility of communication disconnection is determined based on the superiority or inferiority of communication quality.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example in the wireless communication device 1 when the presence / absence of notification (warning) of the possibility of disconnection of communication to the user is switched according to the superiority or inferiority of the wireless communication quality.

  First, wireless communication is performed with an external terminal such as the data storage device 2 (step S121). Next, communication quality information is acquired by the communication quality detection unit 16 (step S122). The communication quality detection unit 16 acquires a communication signal from the wireless communication unit 17 and acquires information related to the link quality of the communication.

  Next, based on the acquired link quality information, the level of communication disconnection risk is determined (step S123), and it is determined whether or not the radio quality is a certain value or more (step S124).

  If it is determined that the wireless quality is equal to or higher than a certain value (S124: Yes), it is determined that the communication disconnection risk level is low (step S125), and the warning function for communication disconnection risk is set to OFF. (Step S126).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the wireless quality is less than a certain value (S124: No), it is determined that the communication disconnection risk level is high (step S127), and the warning function for communication disconnection risk is turned on. (Step S128).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the movement of the wireless communication device 1 is detected by the acceleration sensor unit 15 (step S129). If it is determined that the movement of the wireless communication device 1 has not been detected by the acceleration sensor unit 15 (S129: No), this process is terminated as it is.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the movement of the wireless communication device 1 is detected in the acceleration sensor unit 15 (S129: Yes), it is determined whether there is a possibility of disconnection of the wireless communication and whether or not the warning function is on. (Step S130). If it is determined that the warning function is off (S130: No), the process is terminated as it is. If it is determined that the warning function is on (s130: Yes), the display unit 12 or the like is used. The user is notified that the communication may be disconnected (step S131). Then, this process is terminated.

  By performing the above processing, when the quality of wireless communication is high, the warning function can be disabled. The troublesomeness that can be emitted can be eliminated.

(Operation to avoid communication disconnection by adjusting communication output)
Next, an operation for avoiding disconnection of communication by temporarily increasing communication output when wireless communication is likely to be disconnected will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the communication output is temporarily increased when the wireless communication apparatus 1 is moved to continue communication.

  First, wireless communication is performed with an external terminal such as the data storage device 2 (step S141). Next, it is determined whether or not the motion of the wireless communication device 1 is detected by the acceleration sensor unit 15 (step S142).

  When it is determined that the movement of the wireless communication device 1 has been detected by the acceleration sensor unit 15 (S142: Yes), it is determined whether the transmission power can be increased because there is a risk of disconnection of the wireless communication. (Step S143).

  If it is determined that the current transmission power is smaller than the maximum transmission power and the transmission power can be increased (S143: Yes), the transmission power is temporarily increased by changing the setting (step S144).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the movement of the wireless communication device 1 is not detected in the acceleration sensor unit 15 (S142: No), it is determined that the transmission power at the present time is already the maximum transmission power and it is difficult to increase the transmission power. If it is (S143: No), the normal transmission power is maintained in any case (step S145). Then, this process is terminated.

  By performing the processing as described above, the communication output can be temporarily increased when there is a possibility of disconnection of the communication with the movement of the wireless communication device 1, so that the disconnection of the communication is less likely to occur. be able to.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration using the acceleration sensor unit has been described as one that detects the acceleration accompanying the movement of the wireless communication device 1. However, for example, this acceleration sensor includes a magnetic head and a magnetic disk in an HDD. In order to prevent contact due to an impact, an element that is provided for the purpose of detecting an abnormal movement and retracting the magnetic head may be used. The acceleration sensor is not limited to an acceleration sensor mounted on an HDD, and may be an acceleration sensor mounted on a circuit board or the like.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus and data storage apparatus which comprise the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which interrupts data transmission to a data storage apparatus temporarily, when a radio | wireless communication apparatus moves. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which interrupts data transmission to a data storage apparatus temporarily, when a data storage apparatus moves. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example when the presence or absence of notification of the possibility of communication disconnection to a user is switched in the wireless communication device according to superiority or inferiority of wireless communication quality. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of aiming at the continuation of communication by increasing transmission output temporarily, when a radio | wireless communication apparatus moves.

Explanation of symbols

1, wireless communication device 2, data storage device 11, control unit 12, display unit 13, input units 14, 23, data storage units 15, 24, acceleration sensor units 16, 25, communication quality detection units 17, 26, wireless communication Part 18, 27, antenna

Claims (3)

A wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with an external device to transmit electronic data;
A movement detector for detecting movement by acceleration;
A communication quality detection unit for detecting the quality of the wireless communication;
A control unit for controlling transmission of the electronic data in the wireless communication;
The controller is
A first control mode for providing a warning and interrupting transmission of the electronic data when the movement detection unit detects movement;
Even when the movement detection unit detects movement, if the quality detected by the wireless communication detected by the communication quality detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined quality, the first control mode A second control mode in which no warning is given and the transmission of the electronic data is continued;
A wireless communication apparatus comprising:   Even if the movement detection unit detects movement, the control unit does not perform the warning in the first control mode, and temporarily increases the transmission power of the wireless communication to increase the electronic data. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication apparatus has a third control mode for continuing the transmission of.   3. The first control mode according to claim 1, wherein after the interruption, when the movement detection unit does not detect movement for a predetermined time, transmission of the electronic data is resumed. The wireless communication device described.

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