JP5835565B2 - Wireless LAN terminal and wireless LAN terminal program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless LAN terminal wirelessly connected to a plurality of access point devices connected to each other via a LAN, and more particularly to a channel scan technique for wireless connection with an access point device.

  When constructing a wireless LAN, if the entire coverage area of the wireless LAN cannot be covered by a single access point device, a plurality of access point devices connected to each other by a wired LAN or a wireless LAN are used. In this case, each of the plurality of access point devices uses different channels for wireless communication with the wireless LAN terminal and performs communication so that interference does not occur.

  For example, in the wireless LAN of IEEE (The Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.11b standard, a frequency band of 2.5 GHz is used, and the access point device uses a total of 14 channels from 1 channel to 14 channels. Can be used. Each access point apparatus is set with a different one of the 14 channels.

  The wireless LAN terminal is connected to an access point device that is close to the location and has good communication quality, but prior to the wireless connection, the access point device that can be connected wirelessly is used. Perform a channel scan to search for channels.

  In a conventional wireless LAN terminal, this channel scan is performed by switching from the first channel to the 14th channel one by one in order, or all channels used by a plurality of access point devices. A method of registering with a wireless LAN terminal and preferentially scanning a registered channel is used. Then, when the wireless LAN terminal can detect the channel used by the access point device, the wireless LAN terminal ends the channel scan, wirelessly connects to the access point device, and becomes a state belonging to the access point device.

  By the way, the channel scan in this wireless LAN terminal is performed not only when the wireless LAN terminal is turned on and started, but also in an access with good communication quality as the wireless LAN terminal moves and changes its position. This is also performed during a handover operation for switching point devices. The wireless LAN terminal can continue communication by changing the access point device to which the wireless LAN terminal belongs by wireless connection.

  Since the wireless LAN terminal cannot perform data communication with the access point device during the channel scan operation, the time required for the channel scan is preferably as short as possible. However, when the channels 1 to 14 are sequentially searched, there is a problem that the scan time becomes relatively long.

  In view of this problem, various methods for reducing the channel scan time have been proposed. For example, in the background scan method disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-151433), the time required for one background scan is obtained by dividing all channels that can be used by the access point device into a plurality of groups. To shorten.

  Further, Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-325064) discloses that a channel used by an access point device in communication is a reference channel, a specific channel range before and after the reference channel is a scan channel target range, and a predetermined channel is set. A method of reducing the number of scan channels and reducing the scan time by performing channel scan in steps is disclosed.

JP 2005-151433 A JP 2007-325064 A

  However, since the background scanning method of Patent Document 1 scans all channels by performing background scanning a plurality of times, there is a problem that the time required until the end of all scanning is about the same as the conventional method.

  Further, in the case of the method of Patent Document 2, since the channel scan is performed in the same manner every time, if the used channel of the access point device is not found, it takes the same scan time as when all the channels are searched. There's a problem.

  In other words, neither of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 is the worst case because the communication range of the access point device constructed as a wireless LAN and the channel used are not known and used for channel scanning. In some cases, all channels must be scanned, and as a result, the contribution to shortening the channel scan time is reduced.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless LAN terminal that can shorten the channel scan time more reliably.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
In a wireless LAN terminal wirelessly connected to a plurality of access point devices connected to each other via a LAN,
It is assumed that the location of the access point device to which the terminal belongs and the location of the terminal when the handover is required from the access point device to which the terminal belongs or the handover is required. the communication range of the information of the access point device and a location of the terminal itself to be, the storage in association with the use channel has been used information between the access point device to which the own terminal has been assigned Storage means for storing in the unit;
Before performing channel scanning for wireless connection with the access point device, position detecting means for detecting the position of the own terminal,
Determining means for determining whether or not the information of the communication range of the access point device including the position of the terminal detected by the position detecting means is stored in the storage unit;
When the determination unit determines that the communication range information of the access point device including the position of the terminal detected by the position detection unit is stored in the storage unit, the storage Scanning means for starting the channel scan from the channel specified by the information of the used channel stored in the storage unit in association with the information of the communication range determined to be stored in the unit;
A wireless LAN terminal is provided.

  In the present invention configured as described above, the storage unit of the wireless LAN terminal is obtained based on the positional relationship between the access point device and the wireless LAN terminal when the wireless LAN terminal belongs to the access point device. Information on the communication range of the access point device is stored in association with information on the channel used by the access point device.

  Then, before the wireless LAN terminal performs channel scanning, the position of the wireless LAN terminal at that time is detected by the position detection means. When it is determined by the determining means that the communication range information including the position of the wireless LAN terminal is stored in the storage unit, the information is stored in the storage unit in association with the communication range information. From the channel, the wireless LAN terminal starts a channel scan.

  As described above, according to the present invention, from the communication range of the access point device constructed as a wireless LAN and the information on the channel used for the access point device stored in the storage unit and the information on the current location of the wireless LAN terminal, The starting channel for the scan is determined. That is, the channel scan at the current position of the wireless LAN terminal is executed with the use channel of the access point device having the position as the communication range as the start channel. For this reason, the channel scan time can be very short.

  According to the present invention, it becomes possible to execute channel scanning at the current position of the wireless LAN terminal with the use channel of the access point device having the position as the communication range as the start channel, and the channel scanning time is very short. It can be.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system to which a first embodiment of a wireless LAN terminal according to the present invention is applied. FIG. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the method of the channel scan in 1st Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the method of the channel scan in 1st Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the method of the channel scan in 1st Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the method of the channel scan in 1st Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the access point apparatus which comprises the system of the example of FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a portable telephone terminal as a first embodiment of a wireless LAN terminal according to the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating an example of the processing operation of the access point apparatus of the structural example of FIG. It is a figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating an example of the processing operation of the portable telephone terminal as 1st Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating an example of the processing operation of the portable telephone terminal as 1st Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating an example of the processing operation of the portable telephone terminal as 1st Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the method of the channel scan in 2nd Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the method of the channel scan in 2nd Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating an example of the processing operation of the portable telephone terminal as 2nd Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of the system by which 3rd Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention was applied. It is a figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating an example of the processing operation of the portable telephone terminal as 3rd Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating an example of the processing operation of the portable telephone terminal as 3rd Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating an example of the processing operation of the access point apparatus wirelessly connected with 3rd Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating an example of the processing operation of the communication range management server which comprises the system of the example of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the example of the system by which 4th Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention was applied. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the access point apparatus wirelessly connected with 4th Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the method of the channel scan in 4th Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the method of the channel scan in 4th Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating an example of the processing operation of the access point apparatus wirelessly connected with 4th Embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal by this invention.

  Embodiments of a wireless LAN terminal according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings together with a wireless LAN system to which the wireless LAN terminal is applied. An example of a wireless LAN system shown below uses a wireless LAN terminal as an embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal according to the present invention, and wireless communication between a main unit and a plurality of portable telephone terminals using a wireless LAN. This is a case where it is used in a business phone system that is connected through a road (wireless link).

  Needless to say, the wireless LAN system to which the embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal according to the present invention is applied is not limited to the telephone system as in this example.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration example of a business phone system using an embodiment of a wireless LAN terminal according to the present invention as a portable telephone terminal. The wireless LAN used in this example conforms to the IEEE 802.11 standard, and all information is transmitted and received as packets, in addition to voice information and information for call control.

  The business phone system of this example includes a main device unit 1, a plurality of portable telephone terminals 2, and a connection interface unit 3 for connecting the plurality of portable phone terminals 2 to the main device unit 1. .

  The main device unit 1 includes a server device 11 and a gateway 12. In the case of the business phone system of this example, the server device 11 also serves as a telephone communication relay switching device. Through the gateway 12, the server device 11 serves as an external network 13, in this example, a public switched telephone network (PSTN). Telephone Network). The external network 13 includes the Internet.

  In this example, the main unit 1 is capable of accommodating a plurality of lines for telephone communication, and the server apparatus 11 has identification information (for example, for each of the accommodated telephone communication lines). (Line number) is assigned and managed. In this example, the telephone communication lines to be accommodated can accommodate multiple types of lines such as analog lines, ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network) lines, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) lines (hereinafter referred to as IP lines). Corresponding to each line number, the line type of the line is also registered and stored and managed.

  The connection interface unit 3 is configured by connecting a plurality of wireless LAN access point devices (hereinafter referred to as AP devices) 31, 32, 33,... 3n (n is an integer of 2 or more) to each other by a wired LAN 4. . A server device 11 of the main device unit 1 is connected to the wired LAN 4, and a plurality of AP devices 31, 32, 33,... 3n are connected to the server device 11 of the main device unit 1 through the wired LAN 4. ing. In addition, the plurality of AP devices 31, 32, 33,... 3n are for configuring the wireless LAN 5, and are connected to the plurality of portable telephone terminals 2 through the wireless LAN 5.

  Since the plurality of AP devices 31, 32, 33,... 3n have exactly the same configuration, the plurality of AP devices 31, 32, 33,. When there is no need, it is described as AP device 30.

  The AP device 30 has an authentication processing function for wireless connection with the mobile phone terminal 2 and mainly relays packet transmission / reception between the server device 11 and the mobile phone terminal 2.

  On the other hand, each of the portable telephone terminals 2 includes a function unit and a telephone function unit of the wireless LAN terminal side station device. Then, the portable telephone terminal 2 is wirelessly connected to any of the plurality of AP devices 30 by the functional unit of the wireless LAN terminal side station device and belongs to the AP device 30. When belonging to the AP device 30, channel scanning is performed to search for a channel used by the AP device 30 to which it belongs. Then, the portable telephone terminal 2 that has detected the channel used by the AP device 30 performs registration processing and mutual authentication processing on the AP device 30 and, upon completion of the registration processing and authentication processing, Wireless communication becomes possible, and the portable telephone terminal 2 becomes a state belonging to the AP device 30.

  Here, “belonging to the AP device 30” means that the portable telephone terminal 2 is within the communication range of the AP device 30 and can be wirelessly connected to the AP device 30. It is a state where it does not matter whether the communication path is actually connected and executing communication.

  Then, when the user moves with the portable phone terminal 2 and moves and cannot maintain the communication quality in the wireless communication with the AP device 30, the portable phone terminal 2 is disassociated from the AP device 30. Then, another AP device 30 that can perform handover and perform wireless communication with good call quality is searched for and belongs to the other AP device 30. The AP device 30 sends the identification information of the portable telephone terminal 2 belonging to the own device to the server 11 of the main device 1 through the wired LAN 4.

  The server device 11 associates with each of the portable telephone terminals 2 connected to the wireless LAN 5 based on information transmitted through each of the AP devices 31, 32, 33,... 3n. Address information on the wireless LAN 5 including the above information is managed. Then, the server device 11 manages a telephone communication path for the portable telephone terminal 2 through the wireless LAN 5. For example, for each of a plurality of communication lines connected to the external network 13, the server apparatus 11 communicates with another telephone terminal through the communication line, and the portable telephone terminal 2 through the AP device 30 and the wireless LAN 5. Communication control and management of calls between the two (external line calls).

  Further, the server device 11 uses the managed address information to make an extension call between the AP device 30 and the wireless LAN 5 between any one of the plurality of portable telephone terminals 2 and the other one. Communication control and management are also performed.

[Overview of high-speed channel scanning in the first embodiment]
The functional unit of the wireless LAN terminal side station device of the portable telephone terminal 2 of this embodiment includes means for performing a channel scan at the time of wireless connection with the AP device 30. That is, the mobile phone terminal 2 includes GPS (Global Positioning System) positioning means as an example of position detection means for detecting the current position of the mobile phone terminal 2 in order to perform channel scanning at high speed. , A determination means for determining whether or not the detected current position is within the communication range of any of the AP devices 30, and if there is a communication range including the current position as a result of the determination, an AP that covers the communication range Channel scanning means for starting channel scanning from the channel used by the apparatus.

  In the first embodiment, the portable telephone terminal 2 stores the used channel information of the AP device 30 to which the terminal belongs in the past and the communication range information in association with each other as AP device search information. An AP device search information storage unit is provided. In this case, the information on the current position detected by the GPS positioning means includes not only the latitude and longitude but also the height (elevation). For simplicity of explanation, in the following explanation, the AP device 30 Assuming that the installation position and the place where the plurality of portable telephone terminals 2 move are at the same height, the height information is not considered.

  In the first embodiment, the communication range of the AP device 30 is assumed to be a circular communication range centered on the position of the AP device 30. Therefore, the communication range information of the AP device 30 includes the position of the AP device 30 (the center position of the circle of the communication range), the radius of the circle, or position information of one point on the circumference in order to define the radius of this circle. It is said.

  From the above, in this embodiment, the AP device 30 needs to notify the mobile phone terminal 2 of the position information. For this reason, in this embodiment, the AP device 30 includes GPS positioning means, as will be described later, in order to detect the position information and transmit it to the portable telephone terminal 2.

  Next, an overview of processing operations for high-speed channel scanning in the portable telephone terminal 2 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 shows a state where the portable telephone terminal 2 is newly introduced into the system and belongs to the AP device 31. When the mobile phone terminal 2 belongs to the AP device 31, the mobile phone terminal 2 acquires the position information Pap1 from the AP device 31 and temporarily holds it. Further, the portable telephone terminal 2 temporarily stores information on the channel used by the AP device 31 (in this example, the first channel (center frequency is 2412 MHz)) in association with the position information Pap1. .

  Here, the information on the channel used may be the channel number itself or information for identifying the channel. In the latter case, the terminal includes means for specifying a channel number from information for identifying a channel.

  Then, since the mobile phone terminal 2 moves and the reception intensity of the received radio wave from the AP device 31 becomes a predetermined value or less, it is determined that the wireless communication quality with the AP device 31 cannot be maintained and communication is not possible. When the mobile phone terminal 2 reaches the location Ph1, the mobile phone terminal 2 recognizes the location Ph1 as a location that needs to be handed over, loses its belonging from the AP device 31, and performs a handover processing operation.

  When the mobile phone terminal 2 is not affiliated with the AP device 31, prior to the start of the handover processing operation, the mobile phone terminal 2 detects the current position Ph1 of the terminal itself by the GPS positioning means, and also stores the AP device search information storage described above. Refer to the section. Here, since the portable telephone terminal 2 is newly introduced into the system, there is no stored information in the AP device search information storage unit. For this reason, the portable telephone terminal 2 starts channel scanning in a predetermined order as in the conventional case.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the mobile phone terminal 2 detects that wireless connection is possible using the channel used by the AP device 32 by this channel scan, and performs handover from the AP device 31 to the AP device 32. Belonging to the AP device 32. In this embodiment, thereafter, the portable telephone terminal 2 associates the temporarily stored information on the used channel of the AP device 31 before the handover with the communication range information of the AP device 31 as shown in FIG. Is stored in the AP device search information storage unit.

  In the case of this example, the information of the communication range of the AP device 31 is calculated as the information of the position Pap1 of the AP device 31 and the distance from the position Pap1 to the position Ph1 of the own terminal where the handover is required. It is made up of information on the radius R1 of the communication range. As described above, the position Ph1 of the own terminal where the handover is necessary may be stored instead of the radius R1.

  When the mobile phone terminal 2 belongs to the AP device 32, the mobile phone terminal 2 acquires the position information Pap2 from the AP device 32 and temporarily holds the position information Pap2. Further, the portable telephone terminal 2 temporarily stores information on the channel used by the AP device 32 (in this example, the 11th channel (center frequency is 2462 MHz)).

  Then, as the mobile phone terminal 2 moves and the reception intensity of the received radio wave from the AP device 32 becomes a predetermined value or less as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the wireless communication quality with the AP device 32 is maintained. When the position Ph2 is determined to be incapable of communication, the portable telephone terminal 2 recognizes the position Ph2 as a position that requires handover, and is excluded from the AP device 32, and performs a handover processing operation. .

  When the mobile phone terminal 2 is not affiliated with the AP device 32, prior to the start of the handover processing operation, the mobile phone terminal 2 detects the current position Ph2 of the own terminal by the GPS positioning means, and sets the AP device search information storage unit. Referring to this, it is determined whether or not the detected current position Ph2 of the own terminal is within the communication range of any stored AP device 30.

  Here, in this AP device search information storage unit, as shown in FIG. 3, the used channel information of the AP device 31 and the communication range information are associated with each other and stored as AP device search information. Yes.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the current position Ph2 of the mobile phone terminal 2 is within the communication range of the AP device 31, the mobile phone terminal 2 determines that the current position Ph2 is the communication of the AP device 31. It is determined from the communication range information of the AP device 31 stored in the AP device search information storage unit that it is within the range. Then, the portable telephone terminal 2 recognizes the channel used by the AP device 31 stored in the AP device search information storage unit based on the determination result, and performs a channel scan from the channel used by the AP device 31. Start.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the mobile phone terminal 2 detects that wireless connection is possible using the channel used by the AP device 31 by this channel scan, and therefore performs handover from the AP device 32 to the AP device 31. . In this case, since the channel scan is started from the channel used by the AP device 31, the channel scan is completed in a short time and the handover is completed.

  Thereafter, the portable telephone terminal 2 temporarily stores the information on the channel used (11th channel) of the AP device 32 before the handover, the information on the position Pap2 of the AP device 32, and the communication range of the AP device 32. The information (the radius R2 or the information of the position Ph2 of the own terminal where the handover is required) is associated with the information as AP device search information in the AP device search information storage unit as shown in FIG. Additional memory.

  Thereafter, the portable telephone terminal 2 repeats the above-described operation. Therefore, when the mobile phone terminal 2 is used while moving in the wireless LAN 5, the AP device search information storage unit of the mobile phone terminal 2 stores all the AP devices 31 to 3n in the wireless LAN 5. Used channel information and communication range information are stored. In such a case, the mobile phone terminal 2 can always start the channel scan from the channel used by the AP device that is adjacent and capable of handover, so the channel scan is always finished in a short time. Thus, the handover can be performed in a short time.

  By the way, since the portable telephone terminal 2 is battery-powered, when not in use, the power is turned off to save power. When the power is turned on, the portable telephone terminal 2 performs channel scanning and belongs to the AP device 30 that brings the current position of the terminal 2 within the communication range. In this embodiment, not only at the time of handover described above, but also at the time of activation of such a portable telephone terminal 2, by referring to the stored contents of the AP device search information storage unit, by performing a channel scan, The startup time is shortened.

  Next, detailed configuration examples and operation examples of the AP device 30 and the portable telephone terminal 2 that constitute the system of the first embodiment described above will be described.

<Example of Hardware Configuration of AP Device 30>
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the AP device 30. The AP device 30 of this example is configured by using, for example, a microcomputer, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 for storing programs, etc., a work bus 100, a work, A RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 serving as an area is connected.

  In this example, the system bus 100 further includes a wired LAN interface 104, a packet processing unit 105, a connection information storage unit 106, a GPS positioning unit 107, an installation position information storage unit 108, and an I / O port 109. It is connected.

  The CPU 101 controls the overall operation of the AP device 30. The ROM 102 stores programs and MAC addresses for executing various control processes in the AP device 30. The CPU 101 uses the RAM 103 as a work area memory, and executes various control processes as described later according to the program of the ROM 102.

  The wired LAN interface 104 is connected to the server device 11 through the wired LAN 4, and has a function of transferring a received IP packet received from the server device 11 through the wired LAN 4 to the packet processing unit 105, and a transmission packet from the packet processing unit 105. And a function of sending to the server device 11 through the wired LAN 4.

  The packet processing unit 105 has a function of decomposing a received IP packet and converting and generating information to be transmitted into a transmission packet.

  The connection information storage unit 106 is wireless LAN connection information (authentication information) for wireless connection with a terminal having a wireless LAN function. In this example, an ESSID (Extended Service Set Identifier) as a network identifier and encryption A WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) key for storing data is stored.

  The GPS positioning unit 107 measures the current position of the own AP device 30 under the control of the CPU 101, and stores information on the measured current position in the installation position information storage unit 108. In this example, the GPS positioning unit 107 is activated when, for example, the AP device 30 is turned on, performs positioning of the current position, and stores information on the current position thus measured in the installation position information storage unit 108. To do. Assuming that the AP device 30 is moved while the power is on, the GPS positioning unit 107 is activated every predetermined time, such as every several hours, and the current position of the installation position information storage unit 108 The information may be updated.

  When the AP device 30 is installed at a fixed position, for example, the position of each AP device 30 is detected using the GPS positioning device possessed by the installer, and the detected position information is installed. May be stored in the installation position information storage unit 108 of each AP device 30. In that case, it is not necessary to provide the GPS positioning unit 107 in the AP device 30.

  A wireless LAN transmission / reception circuit 110 is connected to the I / O port 109. The wireless LAN transmission / reception circuit 110 includes a transmission processing circuit 111, a reception processing circuit 112, a transmission amplifier 113, a reception amplifier 114, an antenna distribution circuit 115, a transmission antenna 116, and a reception antenna 117. Is done.

  The transmission antenna 116 and the reception antenna 117 are used to transmit and receive packets through the wireless LAN. In the AP device 30, a transmission packet obtained through the wired LAN interface 104 is transmitted from the I / O port 109 via the transmission processing circuit 111 and the transmission amplifier 113 and the antenna distribution circuit 115 according to the control of the CPU 101. The signal is supplied to the antenna 116 and wirelessly transmitted to the mobile phone terminal 2 that is wirelessly connected.

  A packet from the portable telephone terminal 2 received through the reception antenna 117 is supplied to the reception processing circuit 112 through the antenna distribution circuit 115 and the reception amplifier 114. A packet from the reception processing circuit 112 is sent to the system bus 100 through the I / O port 109.

  The packet processing unit 105 may be configured as a software function unit in which the CPU 101 executes processing according to a program stored in the ROM 102 using the RAM 103 as a work area instead of a hardware configuration.

<Example of hardware configuration of portable phone terminal 2>
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the portable telephone terminal 2 as an example of the wireless LAN terminal used in the first embodiment. The portable telephone terminal 2 in this example is configured by using, for example, a microcomputer, and a CPU 201, a ROM 202 for storing programs and the like, and a RAM 203 serving as a work area are connected to a system bus 200. .

  In this example, the system bus 200 further includes a packet processing unit 204, a voice interface 205, a display interface 206, an operation unit interface 207, a memory 208, a wireless LAN I / O port 209, a GPS positioning unit 210, A channel scan execution unit 211 is connected.

  The CPU 201 controls the overall operation of the portable telephone terminal 2. The ROM 202 stores programs and MAC addresses for executing various control processes in the portable telephone terminal 2. The CPU 201 uses the RAM 203 as a work area memory and executes various control processes according to the program of the ROM 202.

  The packet processing unit 204 has a function of decomposing a packet received through the wireless LAN I / O port 209 and generating a packet to be transmitted through the wireless LAN I / O port 209. The packet processing unit 204 also has a function of analyzing the packet header and packet data, and also has a function of notifying the CPU 201 of the analysis result.

  The voice interface 205 converts a received voice signal for telephone communication into an analog signal, and supplies the analog signal to the speaker 213 through the amplifier 212 so that the received voice is emitted. The audio interface 205 has a function of receiving the transmission audio signal collected by the microphone 215 through the amplifier 214, converting it into a digital audio signal, and transferring the digital audio signal to the packet processing unit 204.

  The display interface 206 is connected to a display 216 made of, for example, an LCD. The display interface 206 displays image display information according to the control of the CPU 201 on the display screen of the display 216.

  An operation unit 217 including a power on / off key and a numeric keypad is connected to the operation unit interface 207. The operation unit interface 207 sends operation input information from the operation unit 217 to the CPU 201 through the system bus 200. The CPU 201 recognizes the operation input information, determines what operation input has been made, and performs control processing according to the determination result.

  The memory 208 stores telephone directory data for telephone communication, URL data for Web access, and wireless LAN connection information. In this embodiment, the memory 208 further includes the AP device search information storage unit 208M described above.

  A wireless LAN transmission / reception circuit 220 is connected to the I / O port 209. The wireless LAN transmission / reception circuit 220 includes a transmission processing circuit 221, a reception processing circuit 222, a transmission amplifier 223, a reception amplifier 224, an antenna distribution circuit 225, a transmission antenna 226, and a reception antenna 227. Is done.

  The transmission antenna 226 and the reception antenna 227 are used for transmitting and receiving packets through the wireless LAN. Under the control of the CPU 201, a transmission packet from the I / O port 209 is supplied to the transmission antenna 226 via the transmission processing circuit 221 and the transmission amplifier 223 and the antenna distribution circuit 225, and is wirelessly connected. Wirelessly transmitted to the AP.

  A packet from the AP received through the reception antenna 227 is supplied to the reception processing circuit 222 through the antenna distribution circuit 225 and the reception amplifier 224. Then, the packet from the reception processing circuit 222 is sent to the system bus 200 through the I / O port 209.

  The GPS positioning unit 210 is activated in accordance with the control of the CPU 201, measures and acquires the current position of the mobile phone terminal 2, and supplies the acquired current position information to the channel scan execution unit 211.

  The channel scan execution unit 211 is activated according to the control of the CPU 201, and from the current position acquired from the GPS positioning unit 210 and the AP device search information stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M of the memory 208, As described above, the scan selection means for selecting whether to perform the conventional sequential scan or the high-speed channel scan of this embodiment is included.

  As described above, the scan selection unit includes a determination unit that determines whether the communication range including the current position acquired from the GPS positioning unit 210 is stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, and the determination Means for determining whether to execute a conventional sequential scan or a high-speed channel scan of this embodiment according to the result of determination by the means.

  When the scan selection means further determines to execute the high-speed channel scan of this embodiment, the scan selection means refers to the storage information of the AP device search information storage unit 208M and starts the channel scan as described above. A means for determining.

  The functional unit of the wireless LAN terminal station device described above is realized by the CPU 201 as a software processing function while using the storage information in the memory 208, the channel scan execution unit 211, the wireless LAN transmission / reception circuit 220, and the like.

  The packet processing unit 204 and the channel scan execution unit 211 are not configured in hardware, but are configured as a software function unit in which the CPU 201 executes processing according to the program in the ROM 202 using the RAM 203 as a work area. You can also.

  Next, processing operations related to the channel scan method of the wireless LAN terminal in the AP device 30 and the portable telephone terminal 2 of the first embodiment described above will be described.

[Processing operation example of AP device 30]
The AP device 30 operates as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 as a processing operation related to the channel scan method of the wireless LAN terminal.

  That is, the CPU 101 of the AP device 30 determines whether or not the portable telephone terminal 2 is newly connected to the AP device 30 by wireless connection (step S101). If it is determined in step S101 that the portable telephone terminal 2 is not newly assigned due to a wireless connection, the CPU 101 executes other processing (step S102). Return.

  If it is determined in step S101 that the mobile phone terminal 2 is newly connected to the own AP device 30 by wireless connection, the CPU 101 installs the own AP device 30 stored in the installation position information storage unit 108. The position information is transmitted to the newly assigned portable telephone terminal 2 (step S103). Then, the CPU 101 returns the process to step S101.

  In the example of FIG. 8, the AP device 30 notifies the mobile phone terminal 2 of the location information of the mobile device 2 when detecting that the mobile phone terminal 2 is wirelessly connected and attached. However, the location information of the own AP device may be notified to the portable telephone terminal 2 after a predetermined time from when the attribution is detected.

  In addition, when the AP device 30 measures and detects the position of its own device by the GPS positioning unit 210 every predetermined time, the mobile phone terminal 2 You may make it notify the positional information on an own apparatus.

[Example of processing operation of portable phone terminal 2]
The portable telephone terminal 2 operates as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 to 11 as processing operations related to the channel scanning method of the wireless LAN terminal. 9 to 11 includes the packet processing unit 204 and the channel scan execution unit 211. The CPU 201 uses the RAM 203 as a work area as a software function unit according to the program in the ROM 202. This is the case.

  9 to 11 are started when the mobile phone terminal 2 is turned on and started, and are ended when the power is turned off.

  When the CPU 201 monitors the operation input information of the operation unit 217 through the operation unit interface 207 and determines that the power of the mobile phone terminal 2 is turned on, the CPU 201 starts the processing of the flowcharts of FIGS. First, the GPS positioning unit 210 is activated to measure the position of its own terminal (step S201). Next, the CPU 201 refers to the AP device search information stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M (step S202), and the communication range including the current position of the own terminal detected in step S201 is AP. It is determined whether or not the information is stored in the device search information storage unit 208M (step S203).

  When it is determined in step S203 that the communication range including the current position of the terminal itself is not stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the CPU 201 performs channel scanning (in a predetermined order as in the conventional case). AP device scanning) is started (step S204).

  Further, when it is determined in step S203 that the communication range including the current position of the terminal itself is stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the CPU 201 corresponds to the communication range including the current position of the terminal itself. The used channel that is attached and stored is detected from the stored information in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, and a channel scan is started from the detected used channel (step S205).

  Then, after step S204 or step S205, the CPU 201 determines whether or not as a result of the channel scan, it is wirelessly connected to the new AP device 30 and becomes in the belonging state (step S211 in FIG. 10). When it is determined that it does not belong to the device 30, the channel scan is repeated until an AP device capable of wireless connection is detected.

  When it is determined in step S211, the CPU 201 acquires the position information from the new AP device 30 in the belonging state, and uses the channel of the AP device 30. Are temporarily stored in the buffer memory in association with the information (step S212).

  Next, the CPU 201 monitors whether or not it has reached a position where a handover is necessary (step S213). If it is determined in step S213 that the position is not required for handover, the CPU 201 executes other processing (step S214).

  Then, after the process of step S214 is completed, the CPU 201 monitors operation input information of the operation unit 217 via the operation unit interface 207, and determines whether or not the mobile phone terminal 2 is turned off (step S215). When the CPU 201 determines in step S215 that the power is not turned off, the process returns to step S213, and when it is determined that the power is turned off, the processing routine is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S213 that the position where handover is necessary is reached, the CPU 201 causes the GPS positioning unit 210 to measure the current position of the terminal itself (step S216). Next, the CPU 201 refers to the AP device search information stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M (step S217), and the communication range including the current position of the terminal detected in step S216 is AP. It is determined whether or not the information is stored in the device search information storage unit 208M (step S218).

  If it is determined in step S218 that the communication range including the current location of the terminal itself is not stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the CPU 201 performs channel scanning in a predetermined order as in the conventional case. Start (step S219).

  If it is determined in step S218 that the communication range including the current position of the terminal itself is stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the CPU 201 corresponds to the communication range including the current position of the terminal itself. The use channel attached and stored is detected from the stored information in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, and a channel scan is started from the detected use channel (step S220).

  Next, as a result of the channel scan, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the wireless device is wirelessly connected to the new AP device 30 (step S231 in FIG. 11) and determines that it does not belong to the new AP device 30. If so, the channel scan is repeated until an AP device that can be wirelessly connected is detected.

  When it is determined in step S231 that the state of belonging to the new AP device 30 is reached, the CPU 201 uses the AP device search channel belonging to before the handover and the communication range information for AP device search. It is determined whether the information storage unit 208M has already been stored (step S232).

  If it is determined in step S232 that the information has not been stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the CPU 201 temporarily stores the channel used by the AP device before handover temporarily stored in step S212 and the channel used in step S212. The stored location information of the AP device 30 and the communication range information generated from the location information at the time of handover are stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M in association with each other (step S233).

  If it is determined in step S232 that the information has been stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, in this example, the CPU 201, in this example, the AP device belonging to before the handover temporarily stored in step S212. The communication range information stored corresponding to the used channel is updated with the temporarily stored location information of the AP device 30 and the location information of the own terminal that needs to be handed over ( Step S234). In other words, the location information of the AP device 30 in the communication range information is updated, and the radius stored in correspondence with the location of the AP device 30 is determined according to the location of the self-terminal that needs temporarily stored handover. Corresponding to the location of the update or AP device 30, the location of the own terminal where the temporarily stored handover is required is updated.

  After step S233 or step S234, the CPU 201 returns the process to step S212 and repeats the processes after step S212.

  In the above-described example, when it is determined in step S232 that the information about the used channel and communication range of the AP device that belonged before the handover is already stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, In S234, the stored communication range is updated with the location information of the own terminal at the time of handover temporarily stored in step S212. This is because the position of the AP device 30 is taken into consideration, and the handover position is considered that the latest information is more likely to be the communication range information.

  However, if it is assumed that the AP device 30 does not move once installed, and the communication range of the AP device that belonged before the handover is considered to hardly change, the AP device search information When it is determined that the data has been stored in the storage unit 208M, the stored communication range may be left as it is and not updated.

[Effect of the embodiment]
As described above, according to the invention of the above-described embodiment, when the portable telephone terminal is handed over, the position of the own terminal at the time of the handover and the position of the AP device that belonged before the handover. Based on the above, the communication range of the AP device that belonged before the handover is estimated, and the information on the estimated communication range is associated with the channel used by the AP device that belonged before the handover. The information is stored and accumulated in the search information storage unit 208M.

  Therefore, the communication ranges of a plurality of AP devices constituting the wireless LAN are stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M. Therefore, the information stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M is referred to at the time of handover. By detecting the communication range of the AP device in which the current position of the mobile phone terminal is included in the communication range of the AP device, and starting a channel scan from the used channel of the detected communication range, In addition, wireless connection with the AP device is possible.

  In this embodiment, after the portable telephone terminal 2 moves within the wireless LAN 5 and belongs to all of the plurality of AP devices, the AP device search information storage unit 208M includes Since the communication range information of all the AP devices constituting the wireless LAN 5 is stored, a good communication state can be maintained by a smooth handover in a short time.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mobile phone terminal 2 performs a channel scan with reference to the stored AP device search information even when the mobile phone terminal 2 is turned on, in a short time. Wireless connection with the AP device is possible, which is convenient.

[Modification of First Embodiment]
In the description of the first embodiment described above, the AP device search information storage unit 208M assumes that the communication range of the AP device 30 is circular, and the communication range information is the AP to which the portable telephone terminal belongs. The radius of the communication range determined by the position of the device 30 and the position where the portable telephone terminal 2 needed the handover process, or the position where the handover process was needed and the position of the AP device. That is, in the above example, the mobile phone terminal 2 detects the position where the handover process is actually required, and the circular communication range of the AP apparatus is determined from the detected position and the position of the AP apparatus 30. It is trying to regulate.

  However, the method for obtaining the circular communication range of the AP device 30 is not limited to the method using the position where the portable telephone terminal 2 actually needs the handover process, and the handover is performed as follows. A method of estimating the position of the wireless LAN terminal assumed to be necessary can also be used.

<First Modification>
A first example of another method for obtaining the radius of the communication range of the AP device 30 is that the portable telephone terminal 2 obtains the position of the AP device 30 to which the own terminal 2 belongs and the signal from the AP device 30. Based on the signal level (received electric field strength) at the time of reception and the position of the own terminal 2 at the time of receiving the signal, the position of the portable telephone terminal 2 that is assumed to require handover is estimated, and AP This is a method for estimating the circular communication range of the device 30. This process can be executed by software processing by the CPU 201 of the portable telephone terminal 2 in addition to the case where the portable telephone terminal 2 is provided with dedicated hardware.

  In this example, the portable telephone terminal 2 receives a signal from the AP device 30 at an arbitrary position belonging to the AP device 30. This signal may be a beacon signal from the AP device 30. The signal from the AP device 30 may include information on the position of the AP device 30.

  In this example, the mobile phone terminal 2 detects the signal level (received electric field strength) of the signal received from the AP device 30. Then, the portable phone terminal 2 detects the position where the signal is received from the AP device 30 by the GPS positioning unit 210. Further, the mobile phone terminal 2 receives the position information of the AP device 30 separately from or simultaneously with the signal, and detects the position of the AP device 30.

  Next, the portable telephone terminal 2 obtains a distance Da from the AP device 30 to the reception position of the own terminal 2 from the detected position of the AP device 30 and the position of the own terminal 2 that has received the signal. Then, the mobile phone terminal 2 estimates the transmission power of the AP device 30 from the signal level (received electric field strength) detected at a position away from the AP device 30 by the distance Da. Then, the mobile phone terminal 2 estimates the distance from the AP device 30 that is assumed to require a handover in which the received signal level is less than or equal to a predetermined value from the estimated transmission power value of the AP device 30, The distance is estimated as the radius of the communication range of the AP device 30.

  The portable telephone terminal 2 stores the radius value thus obtained and the position of the AP device 30 as communication range information in association with the channel used by the AP device in the AP device search information storage unit 208M. Like that.

  When the mobile phone terminal 2 belongs to the AP device 30, the mobile phone terminal 2 performs the process of estimating the radius at a plurality of positions, and obtains the average value of the obtained plurality of radii as the position of the AP device 30. At the same time, the communication range information may be stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M in association with the channel used by the AP device.

  Further, when the communication range information has been reassigned to the AP device 30 already stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the portable telephone terminal 2 updates the communication range information of the AP device 30. It may be the same as in the above-described embodiment.

<Second Modification>
A second example of another method for obtaining the radius of the communication range of the AP device 30 is that the position of the AP device 30 and the value of the transmission power level with respect to the portable telephone terminal 2 to which the AP device 30 belongs. And the portable telephone terminal 2 estimates the circular communication range of the AP device 30 from the information. Similar to the first example, this process can be performed by the CPU 201 of the portable phone terminal 2 by software processing, in addition to the case where the portable phone terminal 2 is provided with dedicated hardware.

  That is, for example, the AP device 30 transmits information including the position of the AP device 30 and the value of the transmission power level to the mobile phone terminal 2 to which it belongs. This information may be included in the beacon signal from the AP device 30. Further, the position of the AP device 30 and the value of the transmission power level may be transmitted at the same time or may be transmitted separately.

  The CPU 201 of the portable telephone terminal 2 estimates the distance from the AP device 30 that is assumed that the received signal level in the terminal 2 is lower than a predetermined value and a handover is required from the value of the received transmission power level. This distance is estimated as the radius of the communication range of the AP device 30.

  The portable telephone terminal 2 stores the radius value thus obtained and the position of the AP device 30 as communication range information in association with the channel used by the AP device in the AP device search information storage unit 208M. Like that.

  Also in the case of the second example, when the portable telephone terminal 2 reassigns to the AP device 30 in which the communication range information has already been stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the mobile phone terminal 2 The communication range information may be updated.

[Other variations]
In the first embodiment described above, after the handover, the used channel of the AP device that belonged before the handover and the communication range information are stored in the AP device search information storage unit. However, the channel used by the AP device and the information on the communication range thereof may be stored in the AP device search information storage unit before the handover. However, when priority is given to shortening the time until the end of the handover, the AP device search information storage unit should be stored after the handover.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment is also a modification of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment described above, the communication range of the AP device 30 is regarded as a circle, and the position of the AP device 30 (the center position of the communication range) and the position of one point on the radius or circumference of the communication range are defined as the communication range. It was memorized as information. However, the actual communication range of the AP device 30 is often different from a circle due to the influence of an obstacle or the like. In view of this point, in the second embodiment, the communication range of the AP device 30 to be stored can be approximated to the actual shape as much as possible.

  The hardware configuration of the second embodiment is the same as the first hardware configuration described above. In the second embodiment, the communication range information of the AP device 30 stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M is different from that in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 shows an example of AP device search information stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M in the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, when the portable telephone terminal 2 is in a position belonging to a predetermined AP device 30 and reaches a position where handover is required (hereinafter referred to as a handover position), the GPS positioning unit The position is detected using 210, and the detected position information is stored in the AP apparatus search information storage unit 208M in association with the channel used by the AP apparatus 30 and the position information of the AP apparatus 30. To.

  In this case, since the position detection accuracy in the GPS positioning unit 210 is about several meters to 10 meters, in this second embodiment, the handover position stored corresponding to the channel used by the AP device 30 is stored. May be about 5 meters, for example.

  The communication range of the AP device 30 can be basically assumed to be a circular communication range. In addition, when the number of handover positions stored as the communication range information of the AP device 30 is small, the communication range is corrected with the stored handover position information on the basis of the assumed circular communication range. Better.

  When the number of handover positions stored as information on the communication range of the AP device 30 is sufficient to define the communication range of the AP device 30, ignore the assumed circular communication range. The communication range of the AP device 30 can be defined only by the handover position information stored as the communication range information of the AP device 30.

  An example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. As shown in FIG. 12, it is assumed that the mobile phone terminal 2 belonging to the AP device 31 has moved to the handover position Ph10. At this time, if the AP device search information storage unit 208M of the mobile phone terminal 2 does not store the communication range information for the first channel (1ch) that is the channel used by the AP device 31, After the over, the channel used by the AP apparatus 31 that belonged before the handover and the handover position Ph10 are stored, and the distance between the position Pap1 of the AP apparatus 31 and the handover position Ph10 is determined by the AP apparatus 31. Is stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M (see FIG. 13).

  After that, every time the portable telephone terminal 2 re-assigns to the AP device 31 and becomes the handover position Ph11, Ph12, Ph13, Ph14, Ph15, Ph16, Ph17, and the handover is executed, FIG. As shown, information of the handover positions Ph11, Ph12, Ph13, Ph14, Ph15, Ph16, and Ph17 is additionally stored in association with the channel used (1ch) of the AP device 31.

  The value of the radius R1 may be updated with newly stored handover position information, or may be an average value of radii calculated based on the stored handover position information. In this example, the value of the radius R <b> 1 is a value determined based on the position Ph <b> 10 where a handover is required for the first time from the state in which the portable telephone terminal 2 belongs to the AP device 31.

  In the second embodiment, when the number of handover positions stored as information on the communication range of the AP device 31 is small, a circular communication range determined by the position Pap1 and the radius R1 of the AP device 31. Alternatively, the communication start range for the high-speed channel scan is determined with the communication range corrected by the positions where a plurality of handovers storing the circular communication range are necessary as the communication range of the AP device 31. Use when.

  Then, the number of handover positions stored as information on the communication range of the AP device 31 increases in the AP device search information storage unit 208M. For example, as shown in FIG. When the over position is obtained, for example, an area range obtained by connecting the adjacent ones of the handover positions with a straight line is set as the communication range of the AP device 31. In this case, as the information for specifying the communication range, the information on the position of the AP device 31 and the information on the radius R1 are not necessary.

  The processing operation of the mobile phone terminal 2 in the second embodiment is the same as that shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 among the processing operations of the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 to 11 shown for the mobile phone terminal 2 of the first embodiment described above. The portion shown in FIG. 10 is almost the same. However, as described above, the communication range of the AP device 30 used when determining the scan start channel in the high-speed channel scan in steps S202 and S203 and in steps S217 and S218 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Is different.

  In the second embodiment, the processing flow of the first embodiment at the portion shown in FIG. 11 is changed to a processing flow as shown in FIG. However, in the flowchart of FIG. 14, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same step portions as in FIG.

  In other words, in the second embodiment, in step S231 following step S220 in FIG. 10, the CPU 201 determines whether or not as a result of the channel scan, it is wirelessly connected to the new AP device 30 and becomes in the belonging state. . When it is determined in this step S231 that the new AP device 30 is not wirelessly connected, the CPU 201 repeats the channel scan until an AP device that can be wirelessly connected is detected.

  In step S231, when it is determined that the wireless device is wirelessly connected to the new AP device 30 and is in the belonging state, the CPU 201 determines that the used channel of the AP device that belonged before the handover and the communication range information are AP It is determined whether or not the device search information storage unit 208M has already been stored (step S232).

  If it is determined in step S232 that the information has not been stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the CPU 201 temporarily stores the channel used in the AP device before handover and the position of the AP device 30 stored in step S212. , Information on the position where the handover is required, and radius information calculated from the position of the AP device 30 and the position where the handover is required are stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M. (Step S235). After step S235, the CPU 201 returns the process to step S212 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Further, when it is determined in step S232 that the AP device search information storage unit 208M has already stored the information, the CPU 201 determines the position of the own terminal where the handover is necessary at the time of the stored previous handover. It is determined whether the position is a predetermined distance, for example, 5 meters or more (step S236).

  If it is determined in this step S236 that the stored location is more than a predetermined distance from the previous handover position, the CPU 201 uses the communication range information of the channel used by the AP device that belonged before the handover as the information. Information on the position at the time of the current handover is additionally stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M (step S237). After step S237, the CPU 201 returns the process to step S212 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  If it is determined in step S236 that the stored position is not more than the predetermined distance from the past handover position, the CPU 201 bypasses step S237 and performs the process in step S212 of the flowchart shown in FIG. Return to.

  According to the second embodiment described above, the shape of the communication range of the AP device can be made close to the actual shape, not circular, and more practical high-speed channel scanning is possible.

  In the description of the second embodiment described above, the position of the portable telephone terminal 2 that is actually required to be handed over is stored as information for determining the communication range of the AP device. The first modification of the first embodiment described above may be applied to store the position where handover is assumed to be necessary as information for determining the communication range of the AP device.

  That is, in the same manner as in the first modified example, the portable telephone terminal 2 receives the position of the AP device 30 to which the terminal 2 belongs and the signal level when the signal from the AP device 30 is received. The transmission power of the AP device 30 to which the own terminal 2 belongs is estimated from (the received electric field strength) and the position of the own terminal 2 when the signal is received. Then, the portable telephone terminal 2 estimates the distance from the AP device 30 that is assumed to require a handover at which the received signal level is equal to or lower than a predetermined value from the estimated transmission power value of the AP device 30.

  Next, in the case of the second embodiment, the portable telephone terminal 2 is located on an extension of a straight line connecting the position of the AP device 30 and the position of the terminal that has received the signal from the AP device 30. Then, a position that is the estimated distance is calculated, and the position is stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M as a position that is assumed to require handover.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments described above, the AP device search information is generated by each portable telephone terminal 2 that is a wireless LAN terminal and stored in each AP device search information storage unit. did. For this reason, even if the portable telephone terminal 2 as a wireless LAN terminal is an AP device belonging to the wireless LAN, the information about the channel used and the communication range of the AP device is AP until it belongs to the AP device. The information cannot be stored in the device search information storage unit.

  The third embodiment is a case where the problem can be solved. The wireless LAN terminal according to the third embodiment acquires AP device search information from the server device.

  That is, the wireless LAN terminal according to the third embodiment provides information necessary for generating AP device search information to the server device. The server device generates AP device search information from the provided information, and stores it in the storage unit of the own device. Then, the wireless LAN terminal according to the third embodiment requests the server device to acquire AP device search information and acquires the AP device search information from the server device. Each wireless LAN terminal stores the AP device search information acquired from the server device in the AP device search information storage unit of its own terminal.

  In the wireless LAN terminal of the third embodiment as well, as in the first and second embodiments described above, when performing a channel scan, the position of the own terminal is detected and AP device search information storage is performed. When the used channel of the AP device including the position of the terminal as a communication range can be searched with reference to the stored information of the unit, the channel scan is started from the used channel.

  Hereinafter, as in the first and second embodiments described above, an example in which the third embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal of the present invention is used as a portable telephone terminal in a business phone system will be described.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a business phone system using the wireless LAN terminal according to the third embodiment as a portable telephone terminal. In FIG. 15, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  That is, the business phone system of this example is similar to the first and second embodiments, in which the main apparatus unit 1, a plurality of portable telephone terminals 20 that are wireless LAN terminals of the third embodiment, A connection interface unit 3 for connecting the individual portable telephone terminals 20 and the main device unit 1 is provided, and a communication range management server 6 is provided.

  As in the above-described embodiment, the connection interface unit 3 is configured by connecting a plurality of AP devices 31 to 3n to each other via a wired LAN 4. The wired LAN 4 is connected to the server device 11 of the main device unit 1 and to the communication range management server 6. Similarly to the above-described embodiment, the plurality of portable telephone terminals 20 are wirelessly connected to the plurality of AP devices 31 to 3n through the wireless LAN 5.

  The hardware configuration of the AP devices 31 to 3n is exactly the same as that shown in FIG. The processing operation is also the same as that of the above-described embodiment except for the operation of relaying the exchange of information between the mobile phone terminal 20 and the communication range management server 6.

  The hardware configuration of the portable telephone terminal 20 is exactly the same as that of the portable telephone terminal 2 of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 7, but the software processing operation of the CPU 201 is different as will be described later. .

  The communication range management server 6 can be configured by, for example, a personal computer, although not shown. Then, as described later, the communication range management server 6 receives the update information of the AP device search information from the mobile phone terminal 20 through the AP devices 31 to 3n, and a plurality of AP devices 31 configuring the wireless LAN 5. A function unit that generates information on communication ranges of 3 to 3n, and AP device search information storage that stores the generated communication range information of the AP devices 31 to 3n in association with the channels used by the AP devices 31 to 3n. A part.

  Then, the communication range management server 6 responds to the acquisition request from the mobile phone terminal 20 and stores the channels used by the AP devices 31 to 3n stored in the AP device search information storage unit and the respective communication ranges. A function unit for transmitting AP device search information, which is information corresponding to the information, to the mobile phone terminal 20 is also provided.

  Note that the functional unit that generates the communication range information of the AP devices 31 to 3n generates the communication range information described in the first embodiment, the first and second modifications thereof, and the second embodiment. Any method can be used, but in the example described below, the method is generated by the method described in the first embodiment.

[Example of processing operation of portable phone terminal 20]
In the third embodiment, the portable telephone terminal 20 operates as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 16 and 17 as processing operations related to the channel scan method of the wireless LAN terminal. 16 and 17 includes the packet processing unit 204 and the channel scan execution unit 211. The CPU 201 uses the RAM 203 as a work area as a software function unit according to the program in the ROM 202. This is the case.

  The processing of FIGS. 16 and 17 is started when the portable telephone terminal 20 is turned on and activated, and is terminated when the power is turned off.

  When the CPU 201 determines that the power of the portable telephone terminal 2 is turned on, the CPU 201 starts the processing of the flowcharts of FIGS. 16 and 17 and first activates the GPS positioning unit 210 to measure the position of its own terminal. (Step S241). Next, the CPU 201 refers to the AP device search information stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M (step S242), and the communication range including the current position of the own terminal detected in step S241 is AP. It is determined whether or not the information is stored in the device search information storage unit 208M (step S243).

  When it is determined in step S243 that the communication range including the current position of the terminal itself is not stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the CPU 201 performs channel scanning in a predetermined order as in the conventional case. Start (step S244).

  If it is determined in step S243 that the communication range including the current position of the terminal itself is stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the CPU 201 corresponds to the communication range including the current position of the terminal itself. The used channel that is attached and stored is detected from the stored information in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, and a channel scan is started from the detected used channel (step S245).

  Then, after step S244 or step S245, the CPU 201 determines whether or not as a result of the channel scan, it is wirelessly connected to the new AP device 30 and becomes in the belonging state (step S246). When it is determined that the wireless connection is not established, the channel scan is repeated until an AP device capable of wireless connection is detected.

  When it is determined in step S246 that the affiliated state to the new AP apparatus 30 has been reached, the CPU 201 acquires the position information from the new AP apparatus 30 that has become the affiliated state, and uses the channel of the AP apparatus 30. Are temporarily stored in the buffer memory in association with the information (step S247).

  Next, the CPU 201 sends an AP device search information acquisition request addressed to the communication range management server 6 to the access point device 30 to which it belongs (step S248). Then, the AP device search information sent from the communication range management server 6 is received via the access point device 30 to which it belongs (step S249).

  Next, the CPU 201 monitors whether or not a position where handover is necessary is performed (step S251 in FIG. 17). If it is determined in step S251 that the position is not required for the handover, the CPU 201 executes other processing (step S252).

  Then, after the process of step S252 is completed, the CPU 201 monitors operation input information of the operation unit 217 via the operation unit interface 207, and determines whether or not the mobile phone terminal 2 is turned off (step S253). When the CPU 201 determines in step S253 that the power is not turned off, the process returns to step S251, and when it is determined that the power is turned off, the processing routine is terminated.

  Further, when it is determined in step S251 that the position where handover is necessary is reached, the CPU 201 causes the GPS positioning unit 210 to measure the current position of the terminal itself (step S254). Next, the CPU 201 refers to the AP device search information stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M (step S255), and the communication range including the current position of the terminal detected in step S254 is AP. It is determined whether or not the information is stored in the device search information storage unit 208M (step S256).

  If it is determined in step S256 that the communication range including the current position of the terminal itself is not stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the CPU 201 performs channel scanning in a predetermined order as in the conventional case. Start (step S257).

  If it is determined in step S256 that the communication range including the current position of the terminal itself is stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the CPU 201 corresponds to the communication range including the current position of the terminal itself. The used channel that is attached and stored is detected from the stored information in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, and a channel scan is started from the detected used channel (step S258).

  Next, as a result of the channel scan, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the wireless device is wirelessly connected to the new AP device 30 (step S259), and when determining that it does not belong to the new AP device 30, The channel scan is repeated until an AP device that can be wirelessly connected is detected.

  When it is determined in step S259 that the state of belonging to the new AP device 30 has been established, the CPU 201 stores the channel used by the AP device before the handover temporarily stored in step S247, the location information of the AP device 30, Information for updating the AP device search information including the location information of the own terminal at the time of handover is transmitted to the communication range management server 6 via the belonging AP device 30 (step S260). Thereafter, the process returns to step S247, and the processes after step S247 are repeated.

[Processing operation example of AP device 30]
In the third embodiment, the AP device 30 operates as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 18 as a processing operation related to the channel scan method of the wireless LAN terminal.

  That is, the CPU 101 of the AP device 30 determines whether or not the mobile phone terminal 20 is newly connected to the AP device 30 by wireless connection (step S301). When it is determined in step S301 that the portable telephone terminal 20 is not newly assigned, the CPU 101 executes other processing (step S302), and returns to step S301 after the processing is completed.

  Further, when it is determined in step S301 that the portable telephone terminal 20 is newly attributed to the own AP device 30, the CPU 101 obtains information on the installation position of the own AP device 30 stored in the installation position information storage unit 108. Then, it is transmitted to the newly assigned portable telephone terminal 20 (step S303).

  Next, the CPU 101 sends the channel used by the AP device, the location information of the AP device, and the location information of the portable phone terminal at the time of handover to the communication range management server 6 from the newly assigned portable phone terminal 20. It is determined whether or not the AP device search information update information (including new information; hereinafter the same) is received (step S304).

  If it is determined in step S304 that the AP device search information update information addressed to the communication range management server 6 has been received, the CPU 101 communicates the received AP device search information update information via the wired LAN 4. Transfer to the range management server 6 (step S305).

  Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not an acquisition request for AP device search information addressed to the communication range management server 6 has been received from the newly assigned portable telephone terminal 20 (step S306). Even when it is determined in step S304 that the AP device search information update information addressed to the communication range management server 6 has not been received, the CPU 101 bypasses step S305 and proceeds to step S306. It is determined whether or not an acquisition request for AP device search information addressed to the communication range management server 6 has been received from the newly assigned portable telephone terminal 20.

  In step S306, when it is determined that the acquisition request for the AP device search information addressed to the communication range management server 6 has not been received from the newly assigned portable telephone terminal 20, the CPU 101 performs processing. It returns to S304 and repeats the process after this step S304.

  If it is determined in step S306 that an acquisition request for AP device search information addressed to the communication range management server 6 has been received from the newly assigned portable telephone terminal 20, the CPU 101 determines that the communication range management server 6 Then, an AP device search information acquisition request is transferred through the wired LAN 4 (step S307).

  Next, the CPU 101 transfers the AP device search information sent from the communication range management server 6 to the portable telephone terminal 20 that has requested acquisition (step S308). And CPU101 returns a process to step S301, and repeats the process after this step S301.

[Processing operation of communication range management server 6]
In the third embodiment, the communication range management server 6 operates as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19 as a processing operation related to the channel scan method of the wireless LAN terminal.

  That is, the communication range management server 6 determines whether or not the information from the AP device 30 has been received (step S401). If it is determined that the information from the AP device 30 has not been received, the process goes to step S401. return.

  When it is determined in step S401 that information from the AP device 30 has been received, the communication range management server 6 determines whether the received information is information for updating AP device search information (step S402). .

  When it is determined in step S402 that the received information is information for updating the AP device search information, the communication range management server 6 stores the information in the AP device search information storage unit using the update information. The AP device search information being updated is updated (step S403).

  In step S403, the communication range management server 6 first determines whether or not AP device search information for the channel used by the AP device included in the update information is stored. When it is determined that the information is not stored, in this example, the communication range of the AP device 30 is determined from the location information of the AP device 30 included in the received update information and the location information of the portable telephone terminal 20 at the time of handover. Calculate the radius of. Then, the communication range information including the calculated radius and the position information of the AP device 30 is stored in the AP device search information storage unit in association with the channel used by the AP device included in the received update information. .

  Further, when the communication range management server 6 determines that the AP device search information for the channel used by the AP device included in the update information is stored, the position of the AP device 30 included in the received update information The radius of the communication range of the AP device 30 is calculated from the information and the position information of the portable telephone terminal 20 at the time of handover. Then, the communication range management server 6 is associated with the used channel of the AP device included in the received update information by the calculated radius value and the position information of the AP device included in the received update information. The position information and radius value of the AP device in the communication range stored in the above are updated.

  In the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, the AP device 30 is installed at a fixed position, and the radius of the communication range can be assumed to be unchanged. When it is determined that the AP device search information for the channel used by the AP device included in the update information is stored, the update using the received update information may be omitted.

  After step S403, the CPU 101 returns the process to step S401, and repeats the processes after step S401.

  When it is determined in step S402 that the received information is not information for updating the AP device search information, the communication range management server 6 determines whether the received information is acquisition information for the AP device search information. It discriminate | determines (step S404). When it is determined in this step S404 that the received information is the acquisition information of the AP device search information, the communication range management server 6 stores all the AP device search information stored in the AP device search information storage unit. Is transmitted via the AP device 30 to the portable telephone terminal 20 that has requested acquisition (step S405). Thereafter, the communication range management server 6 returns the process to step S401, and repeats the processes after step S401.

  If it is determined in step S404 that the received information is not the AP device search information acquisition information, the communication range management server 6 executes other processing according to the received information (step S406). After the process is completed, the process returns to step S401, and the processes after step S401 are repeated.

  In the third embodiment, as described above, the communication range management server 6 searches for the AP device from all of the portable telephone terminals 20 belonging to any of the plurality of AP devices 31 to 3n configuring the wireless LAN 5. Get information update information (including new information). Then, using the obtained update information (including new information) of the AP device search information, the AP device search information including the information on the channels used by the AP devices 31 to 3n and the communication range information. Information is generated and stored in the AP device search information storage unit.

  Therefore, each of the portable telephone terminals 20 of the third embodiment uses the channel and communication of the AP device that could not be obtained unless the own terminal belonged in the case of the first embodiment or the second embodiment. The range information can also be taken into the AP device search information storage unit 208 </ b> M of the terminal itself simply by making an acquisition request to the communication range management server 6.

  Then, when any one of the portable telephone terminals 20 belongs to one of the AP devices 31 to 3n constituting the wireless LAN 5, the communication range management server 6 updates the AP device search information (new information). In this case, there are many opportunities to acquire AP device search information of the AP devices 31 to 3n. For this reason, the AP device search information storage unit of the communication range management server 6 includes the AP device including information on all the used channels of the plurality of AP devices 31 to 3n constituting the wireless LAN 5 and the communication range information. The search information is stored in a relatively short period of time, and all the portable telephone terminals 20 can use it early.

  Therefore, in the case of the third embodiment, the portable telephone terminal 20 to be introduced later to the wireless LAN 5 is used from the beginning to information on the channels used by all the AP devices 31 to 3n constituting the wireless LAN 5. The communication range information can be stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M of the terminal itself, and there is also an advantage that the handover can be performed smoothly.

  As described above, the communication range management server 6 according to the third embodiment is a method for generating the communication range information of the AP device 30 to specify the position of the AP device 30 and the radius of the communication range. The method is not limited to the case where the same method as that of the first embodiment using information is applied, but the method of the first modification, the second modification, and the second embodiment of the first embodiment is applied. It is also possible.

  In the third embodiment, the timing for sending the AP device search information update information (including new information) from the mobile phone terminal 20 to the communication range management server 6 through the AP device 30 and the mobile phone terminal The timing at which an acquisition request for AP device search information is sent from the communication range management server 6 to the communication range management server 6 is when the mobile phone terminal 20 is detected as belonging to the AP device 30. However, the timing is not limited to this, and any timing may be used as long as the portable telephone terminal 20 belongs to the AP device 30.

  In the above-described embodiment, the communication range management server 6 is connected to the wired LAN 4, and the portable telephone terminal 20 accesses the communication range management server through the AP devices 31 to 3n. However, the communication range management server 6 is connected to the Internet included in the external network 13, and the portable telephone terminal 20 accesses the communication range management server 6 through the AP devices 31 to 3n and through the Internet. Anyway.

  Further, in addition to the wireless LAN connection function, the mobile phone terminal 20 is additionally provided with a communication function for directly accessing the communication range management server through the Internet, so that the communication range management server 6 connected to the Internet can be provided. You may make it access directly.

  In the above description of the third embodiment, the mobile phone terminal 20 transmits information for generating a communication range to the communication range management server 6 as information for updating the AP device search information. I did it. However, the mobile phone terminal 20 calculates, for example, a radius as information for specifying the communication range, includes the value of the radius in the update information of the AP device search information, and includes the communication range management server 6. You may make it transmit to.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the third embodiment described above, the wireless LAN terminal acquires the AP device search information from the server device. In the fourth embodiment, the wireless LAN terminal acquires AP device search information from each of the AP devices 31 to 3n, not the server device.

  That is, when the wireless LAN terminal of the fourth embodiment is handed over to the AP device, the information necessary for generating AP device search information for the AP device that belonged before the handover. To the assigned AP device. The AP device to which the wireless LAN terminal belonged before the handover is an AP device adjacent to the AP device after the belonging.

  Therefore, the AP device to which the wireless LAN terminal belongs generates search information (adjacent AP device search information) for the AP device adjacent to the AP device from the provided information, and stores it in the storage unit. Then, the wireless LAN terminal according to the fourth embodiment requests the AP device to which the wireless LAN terminal belongs to obtain information for searching for adjacent AP devices, and acquires the information for searching for adjacent AP devices from the AP device. Each wireless LAN terminal stores the adjacent AP device search information acquired from the server device in the AP device search information storage unit of its own terminal.

  In the wireless LAN terminal according to the fourth embodiment, as in the first to third embodiments described above, the position of the own terminal is detected and the AP device search information storage is performed when performing the channel scan. When the used channel of the AP device including the position of the own terminal as a communication range can be searched with reference to the adjacent AP device search information, the channel scan is started from the used channel.

  Hereinafter, as in the first to third embodiments described above, an example in which the fourth embodiment of the wireless LAN terminal of the present invention is used as a mobile phone terminal in a business phone system will be described.

  An overall configuration example of a business phone system using the wireless LAN terminal embodiment of the fourth embodiment as a portable telephone terminal is the same as the system configuration example shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. The plurality of AP devices 301 to 30n in the fourth embodiment are connected to the wired LAN 4 and the wireless LAN of the fourth embodiment is connected to the plurality of AP devices 301 to 30n through the wireless LAN 5. The point that the portable telephone terminal 21 as a terminal is wirelessly connected is different from the configuration example of FIG.

  As in the above-described embodiment, the plurality of AP devices 301, 302, 303,... 30n have exactly the same configuration, and therefore, in the following description, the plurality of AP devices 301 to 30n. When there is no need to distinguish between them, the AP device 300 is described.

  Similar to the third embodiment, the hardware configuration of the portable telephone terminal 21 is exactly the same as that of the portable telephone terminal 2 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The processing operation is the same as the processing operation shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 of the third embodiment described above. However, in the portable telephone terminal 21 of the fourth embodiment, the processes in step S247 and step S260 are different from those of the third embodiment.

  That is, in the fourth embodiment, in step S260, when belonging to the AP apparatus 300 after the handover, information on the position of the AP apparatus 300 that belonged before the handover, and information on the channel used thereof, In the fourth embodiment, information on the position of the own terminal that needs to be handed over is transmitted to the AP device 300 to which the handover belongs in the fourth embodiment, instead of the communication range management server 6.

  In the fourth embodiment, in step S247, the portable telephone terminal 21 obtains the neighboring AP device search information by making an acquisition request to the belonging AP device 300, not the communication range management server 6. To do.

  Next, FIG. 21 shows a block diagram of a hardware configuration example of the AP apparatus 300 in the case of the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 21, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the hardware configuration example of the AP device 30 in FIG. 6, and the description thereof is omitted.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 21, the AP apparatus 300 in the case of the fourth embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment except that the AP apparatus 300 includes an adjacent AP apparatus search information storage unit 120. Have

  FIG. 22 shows an example of storage contents of the adjacent AP device search information storage unit 120 of an arbitrary AP device 30i (1 ≦ i ≦ n). FIG. 23 is a diagram used for explaining the stored contents of FIG. 22, and is a diagram showing a relationship between communication ranges of adjacent AP devices 300.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 23, AP devices 301, 302, and 303 exist adjacent to the communication range of the AP device 30i. When the portable telephone terminal 21 is handed over from the state belonging to the AP device 301 to the state belonging to the AP device 30i, the mobile phone terminal 21 changes the position Pap1 of the AP device 301 that belonged before the handover. The information, the information on the channel used (1ch), and the information on the location of the own terminal that needs to be handed over are transmitted to the AP device 30i.

  The AP device 30i calculates the radius R1 of the communication range of the AP device 301 from the received information on the location Pap1 of the AP device 301 and the location information of the portable telephone terminal 21 that needs to be handed over. Then, the AP device 30i associates the calculated radius R1 and the position Pap1 of the AP device 301 with the information on the channel used by the AP device 301 as information on the communication range of the adjacent AP device 301, and the adjacent AP device. The information is stored in the search information storage unit 120.

  As for the neighboring AP device search information of other AP devices 302 and 303 adjacent to the AP device 30i, the above-described AP is used when the portable telephone terminal 21 performs a handover from the AP device 302 or 303 to the AP device 30i. The AP device 30 i generates neighboring AP device search information and stores it in the neighboring AP device search information storage unit 120 in the same manner as during handover from the device 301.

  And in this 4th Embodiment, if the portable telephone terminal 21 will be in the state which belongs to AP apparatus 30i, it will transmit the acquisition request of the adjacent AP apparatus search information to the AP apparatus 30i to which it belongs. . In response to this acquisition request, the AP device 30i transmits the adjacent AP device search information stored in the adjacent AP device search information storage unit 120 to the mobile phone terminal 21 that has made the acquisition request.

  The portable telephone terminal 21 stores the received adjacent AP device search information in the AP device search information storage unit 208M of the own terminal. In this case, the AP device search information storage unit 208M of the mobile phone terminal 21 may store all adjacent AP device search information for the plurality of AP devices 301 to 30n constituting the wireless LAN 5. In this fourth embodiment, the portable telephone terminal 21 stores only the neighboring AP device search information acquired from the belonging AP device 300 in the AP device search information storage unit 208M of the own terminal. Like that.

  That is, in the fourth embodiment, when the mobile phone terminal 21 acquires the adjacent AP device search information from the AP device 300 to which it belongs, the mobile phone terminal 21 searches for the AP device of its own terminal based on the acquired adjacent AP device search information. The contents stored in the information storage unit 208M are overwritten and updated. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the storage capacity of the AP device search information storage unit 208M of the mobile phone terminal 21 may be a capacity that can store the adjacent AP device search information for one AP device 300. The AP device search information storage unit 208M has an advantage that it can be configured by a storage unit having a smaller capacity than in the case of the above-described embodiment.

  In the fourth embodiment, the portable telephone terminal 21 detects the position of the own terminal when performing a channel scan at the time of handover, and also stores the adjacent location stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M. When the AP device search information is referred to and the used channel of the AP device including the position of the terminal as a communication range can be searched, the channel scan is started from the used channel.

  In the fourth embodiment, only the adjacent AP device search information is stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M during the channel scan at the start-up when the mobile phone terminal 21 is turned on. For this reason, the channel used by the AP apparatus 300 including the position of the terminal itself in the communication range cannot be detected, and the conventional sequential channel scan is executed, and it may take time to belong to the AP apparatus 300. . However, in the fourth embodiment, when the mobile phone terminal 21 belongs to any of the AP devices 300, the AP device search information is acquired from the AP device 300 by acquiring adjacent AP device search information. Since the data can be stored in the storage unit 208M, the high-speed channel scan can be performed thereafter.

  FIG. 24 shows a flowchart of an example of processing operations related to the channel scan method of the wireless LAN terminal of the AP apparatus 300 in the case of the fourth embodiment.

  That is, the CPU 101 of the AP apparatus 300 determines whether or not the portable telephone terminal 21 is newly connected to the AP apparatus 300 by wireless connection (step S311). If it is determined in step S311 that the portable telephone terminal 21 is not newly assigned, the CPU 101 executes other processing (step S312), and returns to step S311 after the processing is completed.

  If it is determined in step S311 that the portable telephone terminal 21 has newly belonged to the own AP device 300, the CPU 101 obtains information on the installation position of the own AP device 300 stored in the installation position information storage unit 108. Then, it is transmitted to the newly assigned portable telephone terminal 21 (step S313).

  Next, the CPU 101 starts from the newly assigned portable telephone terminal 21 and uses the adjacent AP apparatus's used channel, the position information of the AP apparatus, and the position information of the portable telephone terminal at the time of handover. It is determined whether or not search information update information (including new information; the same applies hereinafter) has been received (step S314).

  If it is determined in step S314 that the update information for the adjacent AP device search information has been received, the CPU 101 stores the update information for the adjacent AP device search information in the adjacent AP device search information storage unit 120. The stored adjacent AP device search information is updated (step S315).

  Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not an adjacent AP device search information acquisition request has been received from the newly assigned portable telephone terminal 21 (step S316). Even when it is determined in step S314 that the adjacent AP device search information update information has not been received, the CPU 101 bypasses step S315 and proceeds to this step S316, in which the newly assigned portable type It is determined whether or not an acquisition request for neighboring AP device search information has been received from the telephone terminal 21.

  If it is determined in step S316 that the acquisition request for the adjacent AP device search information has not been received from the newly assigned portable telephone terminal 21, the CPU 101 returns the process to step S314, and this step S314. The subsequent processing is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S316 that an acquisition request for adjacent AP device search information has been received from the newly assigned portable telephone terminal 21, the CPU 101 uses the adjacent AP device search information as the adjacent AP device search information. The information is read from the information storage unit 120 and transmitted to the portable telephone terminal 21 that has requested the acquisition (step S317). And CPU101 returns a process to step S311 and repeats the process after this step S311.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, the mobile phone terminal 21 acquires, from the AP device 300 to which it belongs, information for searching for an adjacent AP device for performing a high-speed channel scan at the time of handover. Since the information is stored in the AP device search information storage unit 208M, the probability that the high-speed channel scan of the present invention can be performed at the time of handover increases.

  Then, the neighboring AP device search information can be generated based on information acquired from all of the portable telephone terminals 21 belonging to the AP device 300. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, as in the third embodiment, when compared with the first embodiment, each of the AP devices 300 is required for all the necessary adjacent AP devices 300 at an early stage. There is an effect that adjacent AP search information including information on the used channel and communication range can be generated and stored in the adjacent AP device search information storage unit 120.

  In the description of the above-described fourth embodiment, as the method for generating the communication range information of the AP device 300, the above-described first method using information for specifying the position of the AP device 300 and the radius of the communication range is used. A method similar to that of the embodiment is applied. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the methods of the first modification, the second modification, and the second embodiment of the first embodiment can be applied as in the third embodiment.

  In the fourth embodiment, the mobile phone terminal 21 sends information for updating adjacent AP device search information (including new information) to the AP device 300, and the mobile phone terminal 21 sends the AP device 300 to the AP device 300. The timing for making an acquisition request for information for searching for an adjacent AP device is when it is detected that the portable telephone terminal 21 belongs to the AP device 300. However, the timing is not limited to this, and any timing may be used as long as the portable telephone terminal 21 belongs to the AP device 300.

  In the description of the fourth embodiment, the mobile phone terminal 21 transmits information for generating a communication range to the AP device 300 as information for updating the AP device search information. did. However, the mobile phone terminal 21 calculates, for example, a radius as information for specifying the communication range, includes the radius value in the update information of the AP device search information, and transmits it to the AP device 300. You may make it do.

[Other Embodiments and Modifications]
Although the portable telephone terminal as an embodiment of the above-described wireless LAN terminal is a handset dedicated to the telephone system, it has a function of performing mobile phone communication through a mobile phone network when not wirelessly connected to the AP device. It may be a thing.

  In the description of the above-described embodiment, the height of the position information obtained by GPS positioning is ignored for the sake of simplification. However, when a wireless LAN is constructed across multiple floors of a building, AP Needless to say, the position information of the apparatus and the position information of the wireless LAN terminal include the height.

  In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of access point devices are connected by the wired LAN. However, the plurality of access point devices may be connected by another wireless LAN.

  Moreover, although the above-mentioned embodiment demonstrated the case where the system to which this invention was applied was an IP telephone communication system as an example, the system to which this invention is applied with respect to several AP apparatus has one or more Any communication system may be used as long as the system includes a wireless LAN to which a wireless LAN terminal is wirelessly connected.

  2, 20, 21... Portable telephone terminals as examples of wireless LAN terminals, 31 to 3n, 301 to 30n, access point devices, 4 to wired LAN, 5 to wireless LAN, 6 to communication range management server, 107 and 210 ... GPS positioning unit, 120 ... information storage unit for searching for adjacent AP device, 208M ... Information storage unit for searching for AP device

Claims (7)

In a wireless LAN terminal wirelessly connected to a plurality of access point devices connected to each other via a LAN,
It is assumed that the location of the access point device to which the terminal belongs and the location of the terminal when the handover is required from the access point device to which the terminal belongs or the handover is required. the communication range of the information of the access point device and a location of the terminal itself to be, the storage in association with the use channel has been used information between the access point device to which the own terminal has been assigned Storage means for storing in the unit;
Before performing channel scanning for wireless connection with the access point device, position detecting means for detecting the position of the own terminal,
Determining means for determining whether or not the information of the communication range of the access point device including the position of the terminal detected by the position detecting means is stored in the storage unit;
When the determination unit determines that the communication range information of the access point device including the position of the terminal detected by the position detection unit is stored in the storage unit, the storage Scanning means for starting the channel scan from the channel specified by the information of the used channel stored in the storage unit in association with the information of the communication range determined to be stored in the unit;
A wireless LAN terminal comprising: The wireless LAN terminal according to claim 1, wherein when the handover from the access point device to another access point device becomes necessary, the position detecting unit, the determining unit, and the scanning unit are operated. . The wireless LAN according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the wireless communication function with the access point device of the terminal itself is activated, the position detecting means, the determining means, and the scanning means are operated. Terminal. The communication range information stored in association with one channel used includes a plurality of positions of the wireless LAN terminals that require a handover from the access point apparatus to another access point apparatus, or The wireless LAN terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a plurality of pieces of information related to a position of the wireless LAN terminal that is assumed to require the handover. Information on the channel used by the first access point apparatus that belonged before the handover and the location of the own terminal when the handover is required from the affiliated access point apparatus or the handover Means for transmitting information on the position of the own terminal, which is assumed to be necessary, to the second access point apparatus belonging after the handover;
Wherein each access point device, first the use of channel information of the access point device that was previously assigned the handover received, when the assignment to the handover from the access point apparatus has is needed location of the terminal itself, or, determine the communication range of another access point device to the adjacent communication area with own access point device based on said information of the position of the terminal that the handover is assumed to be required, seek and the information of the channel of another access point device to the adjacent own access point device and the communication range, and in association with the information of the communication range of the other access point device,
When belonging to the second access point device, the second access point device uses the second access point device and the communication range information of the other access point device adjacent to the second access point device. Adjacent access point device information acquisition means to acquire from the access point device of,
The storage unit stores information on a channel used by the other access point device acquired by the adjacent access point device information acquisition unit and information on the communication range in the storage unit. Item 5. The wireless LAN terminal according to any one of Items 4 to 6. Information on the channel used by the first access point apparatus that belonged before the handover and the location of the own terminal when the handover is required from the affiliated access point apparatus or the handover and said position of the terminal information is assumed to be required, for the server, directly or via a second access point device that belongs to after the handover, comprising means for transmitting,
The server device receives the received information on the channel used by the first access point device before the handover, and a wireless LAN terminal when a handover is required from the access point device to which the server belongs position of, or on the basis of the handover and is required and the position information of the wireless LAN terminal is assumed by obtaining communication range of the first access point device, all included in the wireless LAN seeking communication range of the access point device, wherein the respective information of the communication range of the access point apparatus has stored in association with each of the user channel information in the access point device determined,
When belonging to the second access point device, the communication range of all the access point devices constituting the wireless LAN directly from the server device or via the second access point device And an access point device information acquisition means for acquiring information on each channel and information on each channel used,
The storage unit stores the communication range information acquired by the access point device information acquisition unit and the information of each used channel in the storage unit in association with each other. 4. The wireless LAN terminal according to any one of 4 above. A computer provided in a wireless LAN terminal that performs channel scanning for wireless connection with a plurality of access point devices connected to each other via a LAN,
The location of the access point device to which the wireless LAN terminal belonged to the access point device, and the location of the own terminal when a handover is required from the access point device to which the own terminal belonged, Or, it is used between the information of the communication range of the access point device including the location of the own terminal where the handover is assumed to be necessary and the access point device to which the own terminal belonged Storage means for associating and storing information on the channels used in the storage unit;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the terminal before performing a channel scan for wireless connection with the access point device;
Determining means for determining whether or not information on the communication range of the access point device including the position of the terminal detected by the position detecting means is stored in the storage unit;
When the determination unit determines that the communication range information of the access point device including the position of the terminal detected by the position detection unit is stored in the storage unit, the storage Scanning means for starting the channel scan from the channel specified by the information on the used channel stored in the storage unit in association with the information on the communication range determined to be stored in the unit;
As a wireless LAN terminal program.

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