JP7428586B2 - Wireless communication devices and wireless communication systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless communication device and a wireless communication system.

DSR (Dynamic Source Routing) has been proposed as a route search method for a mesh network using millimeter waves that includes a plurality of wireless communication devices. Furthermore, AODV (Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector), RPL (Routing protocol for Low power and Lossy networks), etc. have also been proposed.

For example, in the DSR disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a transmission request is issued to a terminal, it is checked whether route information to the destination terminal exists in the cache held by the transmission source terminal. If there is no route information, the terminal floods an RREQ (Route-Request packet) with its own terminal ID included in the route information. A terminal receiving the flooded RREQ adds the route information to its cache and then checks the destination of the RREQ. If the destination is itself, the cached route information is inverted to generate a route, and an RREP (Route-Reply packet) is transmitted to the source terminal. If the destination is not itself, it is checked whether there is route information to the destination terminal in its own cache. If there is no route information to the destination terminal, the terminal floods an RREQ with its own terminal ID added to the route information. Transfer of the RREQ is repeated until the RREQ is received by the destination terminal or a terminal that holds route information of the destination terminal. After receiving the RREQ, the terminal adds the route information to the cache and then transmits an RREP that includes route information that is an inversion of the cached route information. The source terminal that receives the RREP starts transmitting data packets according to the route information included in the RREP.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-187615

However, in the case of the above-mentioned routing, if the communication path to the destination node is long, it may take a long time to determine the communication route.

For example, according to the configuration of Patent Document 1, in an environment where the radio wave environment changes from time to time, the route information held by each node is valid only for a very short period of time. It is necessary to perform route discovery for the entire network.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device and a wireless communication system that can shorten the time required to determine a communication route in a mesh network even when the communication path to a destination node is long. It's about doing.

A wireless communication device according to an aspect of the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves, is capable of transmitting and receiving microwave route search packets using microwaves, and is capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves. A wireless communication device that can be used to transmit and receive communication data, and when the wireless communication device functions as a source wireless communication device of the communication data, the destination wireless communication device that is the destination of the communication data. A microwave route search packet in which identification information is stored as destination node information, identification information of the source wireless communication device is stored as source node information, and identification information of the upper relay wireless communication device is stored as relay node information is A millimeter wave route search packet in which identification information of a microwave transmission unit that transmits waves and the upper relay wireless communication device is stored as source node information, and identification information of the source wireless communication device is stored as destination node information. a millimeter wave receiving unit that receives the information in millimeter waves; a shortest route extraction unit that extracts a millimeter wave route search packet having the shortest route information that can be obtained from the millimeter wave route search packet information among the millimeter wave route search packets; The identification information of the destination wireless communication device is stored as destination node information, the identification information of the source wireless communication device is stored as source node information, and the millimeter wave route search packet containing the shortest route information is sent to the source wireless communication device. a millimeter wave transmitter that transmits a communication packet containing the communication data, in which identification information of the wireless communication device that last transmitted to the communication device is stored as relay node information, to the wireless communication device that transmitted last, using millimeter waves; It is preferable that the millimeter wave receiving unit not transmit a response packet to the millimeter wave route search packet when the millimeter wave receiving unit receives the millimeter wave route search packet.

A wireless communication device according to another aspect of the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter-wave route search packets using millimeter waves, is capable of transmitting and receiving microwave route search packets using microwaves, and is capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter-wave route search packets using microwaves. When the wireless communication device is capable of transmitting and receiving communication data using waves, and the wireless communication device functions as an upper relay wireless communication device, the microwave route search packet is received using microwaves. If the relay node information of the received microwave route search packet corresponds to the own node, the receiver stores the identification information of the source node of the microwave route search packet as destination node information, and a millimeter wave transmitter that stores identification information of its own node as information and broadcasts the millimeter wave route search packet without relay node information in millimeter waves; and a millimeter wave receiver that receives the millimeter wave route search packet in millimeter waves. If the destination node information of the received millimeter-wave route search packet is the own node, the source node information of the millimeter-wave route search packet, and if the relay node information is stored, If the relay node information is stored in the storage unit as route information, and a response packet to the received millimeter-wave route search packet is not transmitted, and the source node information of the received millimeter-wave route search packet is the own node, ignores the received millimeter wave route search packet, and if the destination node information of the communication data received by the millimeter wave reception section is not the own node, the destination node of the route information stored in the storage section is ignored. It is preferable that route information having the same destination node information as destination node information of the communication data is extracted from the information, and the millimeter wave transmitter transmits the communication data according to the route information.

When the wireless communication device functions as a destination wireless communication device for the communication data, a microwave receiving unit that receives the microwave route search packet and destination node information of the microwave route search packet corresponds to its own node. When transmitting a millimeter-wave route search packet that stores the identification information of the upper relay wireless communication device as the destination node information, stores the identification information of the own node as the source node information, and does not contain the relay node information, a millimeter-wave transmitter that broadcasts a millimeter-wave receiver, and when the source node information of the millimeter-wave route search packet received by the millimeter-wave receiver is the own node, the millimeter-wave It is preferable to ignore the route search packet and execute the reception process of the communication data when the destination node information of the communication data received by the millimeter wave reception section is the own node.

When the wireless communication device functions as a relay wireless communication device for the communication data, it includes a millimeter wave receiving unit that receives the millimeter wave route search packet, and includes source node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet and If another millimeter-wave route exploration packet with the same destination node information has been received, the received millimeter-wave route exploration packet is discarded, and the source node information and destination node of the received millimeter-wave route exploration packet are discarded. If no other millimeter-wave route exploration packet with the same information has been received, and the destination node information of the received millimeter-wave route exploration packet is not the own node, the identification information of the own node is added to the relay node information. a millimeter-wave transmitter that broadcasts the millimeter-wave route search packet storing the millimeter-wave route search packet, the source node information of the millimeter-wave route search packet, and, if relay node information is stored, the relay node information as route information. and a microwave receiving section that receives the microwave route search packet by microwave, in the case where the destination node information of the received microwave route search packet is not the own node, and the destination node information is the own node. If the device is not an upper-level relay wireless communication device, the microwave route search packet is discarded, and when the millimeter wave receiving section receives the communication data in millimeter waves, the millimeter wave transmitting section transmits the communication data according to the route information. , it is preferable that the communication data be transmitted using millimeter waves.

A wireless communication system according to another aspect of the present invention includes a wireless communication device that functions as a source wireless communication device of communication data, a wireless communication device that functions as an upper relay wireless communication device of the communication data, and a wireless communication device that functions as an upper relay wireless communication device of the communication data. It is preferable to include a wireless communication device that functions as a destination wireless communication device and a wireless communication device that functions as a relay wireless communication device for the communication data.

A wireless communication device according to still another aspect of the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves, and is capable of transmitting and receiving microwave route search result packets using microwaves. , a wireless communication device capable of transmitting and receiving communication data using millimeter waves, when the wireless communication device functions as a source wireless communication device of the communication data, transmitting the communication data using millimeter waves. Before transmitting the communication data, the identification information of the destination wireless communication device of the communication data is stored as destination node information, and the millimeter wave route search packet in which the identification information of the source wireless communication device is stored as the source node information is broadcast using millimeter waves. a millimeter wave transmitting unit that receives a microwave route search result packet storing first route information from the transmission source wireless communication device of the communication data to the upper relay wireless communication device from the upper relay wireless communication device; After receiving a microwave route search packet storing the first route information from the receiving unit and the upper relay wireless communication device, transmitting communication data including the first route information according to the first route information. It is preferable to include a millimeter wave transmitter that transmits in millimeter waves.

A wireless communication device according to still another aspect of the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves, and is capable of transmitting and receiving microwave route search result packets using microwaves. , a wireless communication device capable of transmitting and receiving communication data using millimeter waves, and when the wireless communication device functions as an upper relay wireless communication device, the communication data is transmitted from the source wireless communication device of the communication data to the upper layer. a millimeter wave receiving unit that receives a millimeter wave route search packet including first route information from which a route to the relay wireless communication device can be extracted; a microwave transmitting unit that uses node identification information as source node information and transmits a microwave route search result packet including the first route information of the millimeter wave route search packet; and a microwave transmitter that receives the millimeter wave route search packet. a millimeter wave transmitter that broadcasts the millimeter wave route search packet in which identification information of its own node is added to relay node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet and stored; a microwave receiving unit that receives a microwave route search result packet that includes second route information capable of extracting a route to a destination wireless communication device of communication data; and a microwave receiving unit that receives the communication data that includes the first route information. In this case, millimeter wave transmission of transmitting the communication data including the second route information instead of the first route information to a node next to the own node using millimeter waves according to the second route information. It is preferable to include the following parts.

When the wireless communication device functions as a destination wireless communication device of the communication data, the communication data includes second route information from which a route from the source wireless communication device to the destination wireless communication device can be extracted. A millimeter wave receiving unit that receives a millimeter wave route search packet, the identification information of the destination wireless communication device as source node information, the identification information of the upper relay wireless communication device as destination node information, and the received millimeter wave route search When the destination node information of the communication data received by the microwave transmitter that transmits the microwave route search result packet including the second route information of the packet and the millimeter wave receiver is the own node, It is preferable to perform communication data reception processing.

When the wireless communication device functions as a relay wireless communication device for the communication data, it includes a millimeter wave receiving unit that receives the millimeter wave route search packet, and includes source node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet and If another millimeter-wave route exploration packet with the same destination node information has been received, the received millimeter-wave route exploration packet is discarded, and the source node information and destination node of the received millimeter-wave route exploration packet are discarded. If no other millimeter-wave route exploration packet with the same information has been received, and the destination node information of the received millimeter-wave route exploration packet is not the own node, the identification information of the own node is added to the relay node information. a millimeter-wave transmitter that stores the millimeter-wave route search packet and broadcasts the millimeter-wave route search packet, and a microwave receiver that receives the microwave route search result packet by microwave, and a destination of the received microwave route search result packet. If the node information is not the own node, the microwave route search result packet is discarded, and if the millimeter wave receiver receives the communication data in millimeter waves, the millimeter wave transmitter discards the microwave route search result packet. It is preferable that the communication data be transmitted in millimeter waves according to the first route information or second route information included in the first route information or the second route information included in the first route information or the second route information.

A wireless communication system according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a wireless communication device that functions as a source wireless communication device of communication data, a wireless communication device that functions as an upper relay wireless communication device of the communication data, and a wireless communication device that functions as an upper relay wireless communication device of the communication data. The wireless communication device preferably includes a wireless communication device that functions as a destination wireless communication device for the communication data, and a wireless communication device that functions as a relay wireless communication device for the communication data.

According to the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication device and a wireless communication system that can shorten the time required to determine a communication route even when the communication path to a destination node is long in a mesh network. becomes possible.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system according to the present embodiment. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a case where a wireless communication device included in the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment operates as a source node. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a case where a wireless communication device included in the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment operates as a central node. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a case where a wireless communication device included in the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment operates as a relay node and a destination node. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an RREQ frame used in the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a wireless communication device included in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a central node included in the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of a central node included in the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system for explaining conventional DSR.

(Overview of wireless communication system)
The wireless communication system of this embodiment includes a plurality of wireless communication devices, and each wireless communication device configures a wireless communication network that can function as a transmitting terminal, a relay terminal, and a receiving terminal. Further, in the wireless communication network, there is an upper relay wireless communication device, and the wireless communication device can function as an upper relay wireless communication device, but when the upper relay wireless communication device does not receive a request to transmit communication data. There is also. In wireless communication networks, data is generated frequently and the number of nodes may be large, so millimeter waves, which can achieve high-speed communication, are used for data communication. Additionally, wireless communication networks utilize microwaves and millimeter waves for route searching. Note that in this specification, a wireless communication device may be referred to as a node.

In other words, each node in the wireless communication system has a millimeter-wave wireless communication module for high-speed communication and a microwave wireless communication module for relatively long-distance communication that covers the entire interior of a vehicle such as an automobile, that is, wide-area communication. Be prepared.

When a wireless communication network is constructed inside a vehicle, the upper relay wireless communication device is installed at a position where the entire inside of the vehicle can be easily seen. As an example, the upper relay wireless communication device is installed in a position where the entire interior of the vehicle can be easily seen, such as on the ceiling, the rearview mirror, or the floor. The upper relay wireless communication device is also referred to as a central node in this specification.

Because millimeter waves are severely attenuated and do not reach the entire interior of the vehicle, a node making a data transmission request uses microwaves and millimeter waves together at the beginning of communication to determine the communication route for data communication. Perform route search. Route searching using only millimeter waves takes time, so microwaves are used, the network is divided into multiple networks starting from a central node, and routing, or route searching, is executed.

The wireless communication system according to the present embodiment described above can be mounted on a moving object such as a vehicle. In this case, the communication data sent by the transmitting terminal may be information such as sensor information that detects the situation of the mobile object, information that controls the mobile object, information about electronic devices installed on the mobile object, etc. .

Note that the wireless communication system according to this embodiment may or may not include a controller that controls the transmission and reception timing of each wireless communication device. For example, if a controller does not exist, the wireless communication system employs a protocol such as CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance).

(Example of wireless communication system operation)
An example of the operation of the wireless communication system 1000 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a network configured by a wireless communication system 1000 according to the present embodiment. In the wireless communication system 1000 of FIG. 1, each node forms a network to connect devices in a car.

In the network of FIG. 1, a procedure for executing communication from a node 100s that transmits communication data to a node 100d that receives the communication data will be described. In the wireless communication network of FIG. 1, the central node is node 100b, and wireless communication network 1 is a wireless communication network composed of nodes 100a, 100e, 100s, and 100b. Furthermore, the wireless communication network 2 is a wireless communication network that includes nodes 100b, 100c, 100d, and 100f.

The route search will be explained below by dividing it into creating a route from the node 100s to the node 100b, which is the central node, and creating a route from the node 100b, which is the central node, to the node 100d.

1) First, the node 100s that has received the data transmission request broadcasts an RREQ, which is a route search packet that stores the identification information of the destination node, the node 100d, using microwaves that can reach the entire interior of the vehicle.

2) Upon receiving the microwave RREQ, the central node 100b starts searching for a route to the node 100s using millimeter waves for data communication. An example of the procedure at this time is a procedure based on DSR.

3) The node 100b, which is the central node, broadcasts the RREQ using millimeter waves, with the source node being the node 100b and the destination node being the node 100s, without storing any information in the relay node information.

4) The node 100a that received the RREQ broadcast in millimeter waves from the central node 100b stores the identification information of the node 100a in the field for storing relay node information of the received RREQ because the destination node is not its own node. Store. Then, the node 100a broadcasts an RREQ in which identification information of the node 100a is stored in a field storing relay node information using millimeter waves. The RREQ broadcast by the node 100a using millimeter waves is received by the nodes 100b, 100s, and 100e.

5) Since the destination node is the node 100s, the node 100s obtains the route information from the node 100s to the node 100a to the node 100b from the information stored in the RREQ. In DSR, an RREP is sent in response to the received route information, but in this embodiment, the route search from the node 100s to the central node 100b is completed without sending the RREP. Therefore, it becomes possible to suppress an increase in traffic within the wireless communication system 1000.

The node 100e that receives the RREQ broadcast by millimeter waves from the node 100a stores the identification information of the node 100e in the field for storing relay node information of the received RREQ because the destination node is not its own node. Then, the node 100e broadcasts an RREQ in which identification information of the node 100e is stored in a field storing relay node information using millimeter waves. The node 100s receives the RREQ broadcast in millimeter waves from the node 100e, but because it has received shorter route information from the node 100a as route information, it discards the RREQ broadcast in millimeter waves from the node 100e. . Furthermore, since the node 100b is a source node, it ignores the RREQ broadcast by millimeter waves from the node 100e.

The above procedure is the procedure for creating a route from the node 100s to the node 100b, which is the central node. Next, a procedure for creating a route from the node 100b, which is the central node, to the node 100d will be described.

6) The node 100d, which has received the RREQ broadcast by microwave from the node 100s, broadcasts the RREQ using millimeter waves because the destination node is its own node. That is, the node 100d is the source node of the RREQ broadcast by the node 100d in millimeter waves, the destination node is the node 100b which is the central node, and the RREQ is broadcast in millimeter waves without storing any information in the relay node information.

7) The node 100c receives the RREQ broadcast in millimeter waves from the node 100d. Since the destination node of the RREQ broadcast from the node 100d using millimeter waves is not its own node, the node 100c stores the identification information of the node 100c in the relay node information of the RREQ, and broadcasts the RREQ using millimeter waves.

8) The node 100b, which is the central node, receives the RREQ broadcast by the node 100c using millimeter waves. Since the node 100b which is the central node is the destination node of the RREQ broadcast by the node 100c using millimeter waves, the node 100b obtains the route information from the node 100d to the node 100c to the node 100b from the information stored in the RREQ. Therefore, when the node 100b, which is the central node, receives a data communication packet whose destination node is the node 100d, it determines from the route information that the destination node to which the data communication packet is sent is the node 100c. becomes possible. In DSR, an RREP is sent in response to the received route information, but in this embodiment, the route search from the node 100d to the central node 100b is completed without sending the RREP. Therefore, it becomes possible to suppress an increase in traffic within the wireless communication system 1000. Furthermore, since the node 100d is a source node, it ignores the RREQ broadcasted by millimeter waves from the node 100c. Furthermore, the node 100f that has received the RREQ broadcast from the node 100c stores the identification information of the node 100f in the field for storing relay node information of the received RREQ, since the destination node is not the own node. Then, the node 100f broadcasts an RREQ in which identification information of the node 100f is stored in a field storing relay node information using millimeter waves.

The above procedure is the procedure for creating a route from the node 100d, which is the destination node, to the node 100b, which is the central node. Next, a procedure for transmitting a data communication packet from the node 100s to the node 100d will be described.

When the node 100s receives the RREQ in which the central node 100b is stored as the source node in millimeter waves, the node 100s acquires the route information from the node 100s to the node 100a to the node 100b as described above. The node 100s sends a data communication packet containing the identification information of the node 100s in the source node information, the identification information of the node 100d in the destination node information, and the identification information of the node 100a in the relay node information to the node 100a according to the route information. Transmit by waves.

Node 100a receives data communication packets from node 100s. Since the source node of the data communication packet received from the node 100s is the node 100s, and the first area of relay node information is the node 100a, the node 100a transmits the data communication packet to the central node, the node 100b, based on the route information. Forward.

Node 100b, which is a central node, receives data communication packets from node 100a. Node 100b, which is a central node, forwards the communication packet to node 100c based on the route information.

Node 100c receives data communication packets from node 100b, which is a central node. The node 100c forwards the communication packet to the node 100d based on the route information.

As described above, the area for route search is made small, microwaves are used in one direction of route search, millimeter waves are used in the other direction of route search, and no response transmission is performed for each route search transmission. This reduces the number of packets required for route search. As a result, it becomes possible to suppress the amount of traffic for route searching and shorten the search time for route searching.

(Example of operation of a source node that sends communication data)
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a source node that transmits communication data.

In step S201, the source node that has received a communication data transmission request broadcasts an RREQ containing identification information of the source node and destination node using microwaves. Next, the source node proceeds to step S202.

In step S202, the source node determines whether or not it has received an RREQ from the central node using millimeter waves. If the source node receives the RREQ from the central node using millimeter waves (step S202: YES), the source node proceeds to step S204. If the source node has not received the RREQ from the central node using millimeter waves (step S202: NO), the source node proceeds to step S203.

In step S203, the source node determines whether a certain period of time, which is a predetermined period of time, has elapsed. If a certain period of time has elapsed (step S203: YES), there is a high possibility that the transmission of the RREQ by microwave has failed, so the source node returns to step S201 and broadcasts the RREQ by microwave again. . If the certain period of time has not elapsed (step S203: NO), the source node returns to step S202. The predetermined period of time can be set at any time by the source node or the wireless communication system.

In step S204, the source node obtains route information by referring to the source node information and relay node information of the RREQ received from the central node using millimeter waves. Next, the source node proceeds to step S205.

In step S205, the source node transmits the data communication packet containing the source node identification information, destination node identification information, and relay node information identification information to the relay node information node according to the route information. Transmit by waves.

(Example of central node operation)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the central node. The central node is normally waiting to receive communication data.

In step S301, the central node determines whether communication data has been received using millimeter waves. If communication data is received using millimeter waves (step S301: YES), the central node proceeds to step S302. If communication data is not received using millimeter waves (step S301: NO), the central node proceeds to step S305.

In step S302, the central node determines whether the destination node of the communication data received using millimeter waves is its own node. If the destination node of the communication data is the own node (step S302: YES), the central node proceeds to step S303. If the destination node of the communication data is not the own node (step S302: NO), the central node proceeds to step S304.

In step S303, the central node executes a process of receiving communication data transmitted using millimeter waves.

In step S304, the central node identifies the destination node from the destination node identification information of the communication data transmitted using millimeter waves, determines the next node to which the communication data is to be transferred from route information obtained in advance, and is transferred to the next node using millimeter waves.

In step S305, the central node determines whether the RREQ has been received via microwave. If the central node receives the RREQ by microwave (step S305: YES), the central node proceeds to step S306. If the central node has not received the RREQ by microwave (step S305: NO), the central node proceeds to step S307.

In step S306, the central node extracts the source node identification information of the RREQ received by microwave, and broadcasts the RREQ using millimeter waves with the source node identification information of the RREQ received by microwave as the destination node identification information. Note that the identification information of the central node is stored in the source node identification information of the RREQ broadcast in millimeter waves.

In step S307, the central node determines whether the RREQ has been received using millimeter waves. If the central node receives the RREQ using millimeter waves (step S307: YES), the central node proceeds to step S308. If the central node has not received the RREQ in millimeter waves (step S307: NO), the central node ends the process.

In step S308, the central node acquires route information from the source node identification information and relay node identification information of the RREQ received by millimeter waves, and ends the process.

(Example of operation of destination node and relay node)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the destination node and the relay node. The destination node and the relay node are normally in a state of waiting to receive communication data.

In step S401, the node determines whether communication data has been received using millimeter waves. If communication data is received using millimeter waves (step S401: YES), the node proceeds to step S402. If communication data is not being received using millimeter waves (step S401: NO), the node proceeds to step S405.

In step S402, the node determines whether the destination node of the communication data received by millimeter waves is its own node. If the destination node of the communication data is the own node (step S402: YES), the node proceeds to step S403. If the destination node of the communication data is not the own node (step S402: NO), the node proceeds to step S404.

In step S403, since the node is the destination node, it executes a process of receiving communication data transmitted in millimeter waves.

In step S404, since the node is a relay node, the communication data transmitted in millimeter waves is transferred to the next node in millimeter waves according to the route information.

In step S405, the node determines whether the RREQ has been received via microwave. If the node receives the RREQ by microwave (step S405: YES), the node proceeds to step S406. If the node has not received the RREQ by microwave (step S405: NO), the node proceeds to step S408.

In step S406, the node determines whether the destination node of the RREQ received by microwave is its own node. If the destination node of the RREQ received by microwave is the own node (step S406: YES), the node proceeds to step S407. If the destination node of the RREQ received by microwave is not the own node (step S406: NO), the node ends the process.

In step S407, since the node is the destination node, it is necessary to create a route to the central node, so it broadcasts the RREQ using millimeter waves for data communication. That is, an RREQ is broadcast using millimeter waves, in which the source node stores its own node's identification information, the destination node stores the central node's identification information, and no information is stored in the relay node field.

In step S408, the node determines whether the RREQ has been received using millimeter waves. If the node receives the RREQ using millimeter waves (step S408: YES), the node proceeds to step S409. If the node has not received the RREQ in millimeter waves (step S408: NO), the node ends the process.

In step S409, the node functions as a relay node, adds its own node identification information to the relay node information of the RREQ received by millimeter waves, and broadcasts the RREQ using millimeter waves.

(An example of RREQ)
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of RREQ500. The RREQ 500 includes source node information 501 that stores identification information of a source node that transmits the RREQ, and destination node information 502 that stores identification information of a destination node that is the final destination of the RREQ. Further, when the RREQ 500 is transmitted and received using millimeter waves, the RREQ 500 includes relay node information 503, 504, and 505 that stores identification information of the relay node that relayed the RREQ 500. Further, when the RREQ 500 is transmitted and received by microwave, identification information of the central node is stored in the relay node information.

A transmission source node from which a communication data transmission request has been generated will be referred to as a source node and will be described below. When a source node broadcasts an RREQ using microwaves for route search, the source node information 501 records the address of the source node, and the destination node information 502 records the address of the destination node to which the communication data is sent. recorded. Furthermore, when the central node receives the RREQ broadcast by microwave and creates a route to the source node, the central node broadcasts the RREQ by millimeter waves. The source node information 501 of the RREQ records the address of the central node, and the destination node information 502 records the address of the source node. Furthermore, when the destination node receives the RREQ broadcast by microwave and creates a route to the central node, the destination node broadcasts the RREQ by millimeter waves. The source node information 501 of the RREQ records the address of the destination node, and the destination node information 502 records the address of the central node.

When an RREQ is received by a node using millimeter waves and the node functions as a relay node, the relay node adds and records its own address in relay node information 503, 504, and 505 in order, and transmits the RREQ using millimeter waves. broadcast on. The recording order of the relay node addresses recorded in the relay node information 503, 504, and 505 is determined by the wireless communication system, and the relay node addresses are additionally recorded in an arbitrary order such as descending order or ascending order.

In addition, each node uses node identification information such as the node address recorded in the relay node information 503, 504, and 505 of the RREQ received by millimeter waves, and node identification information such as the node address recorded in the source node information 501. Retain information as route information. Note that the format of the RREQ 500 shown in FIG. 5 is an example, and is not limited to the order and format shown in FIG.

(Modification 1)
In the above embodiment, RREQ using microwaves is sent and received before sending and receiving communication data, but RREQ using millimeter waves is sent and received before sending and receiving communication data, and in reply to the route search using millimeter waves, It is also possible to transmit and receive RREP using microwaves. An example of the operation of the wireless communication system having the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIG.

H1) The node 100s, which is the source node where a communication data transmission request has occurred, broadcasts an RREQ using millimeter waves. The identification information of the node 100s is recorded in the source node information 501 of the RREQ, and the identification information of the node 100d is recorded in the destination node information 502 indicating the destination node of the communication data.

H2) The node 100a that receives the RREQ broadcast by the node 100s in millimeter waves records its own node identification information in the relay node information 503, and broadcasts the RREQ in millimeter waves.

H3) The node 100b, which is a central node that received the RREQ broadcast by the node 100a using millimeter waves, transmits the RREP to the node 100s using microwaves. The identification information of the node 100b is recorded in the source node information 501 of the RREP, the identification information of the node 100s is recorded in the destination node information 502, and the recorded identification information of the node 100a is recorded as is in the relay node information 503. Remaining. Note that this modification is not limited to this recording format of RREQ, and route information from node 100b to node 100a to node 100s can also be recorded in other fields of RREP.

H4) The node 100s that received the RREP via microwave from the node 100b, which is the central node, obtains route information from the relay node identification information recorded in the relay node information 503 and the central node identification information recorded in the source information. Determine. Further, if route information is included in the RREP received by microwave, it is also possible to extract the route information. The node 100s, which is a source node that has issued a request to send communication data, refers to the route information and transmits the communication data using millimeter waves to the node 100a, which is the next node after the node 100s.

H5) After the node 100b, which is the central node, transmits the RREQ to the node 100s using microwaves, it broadcasts the RREQ using millimeter waves. The identification information of the node 100b is recorded in the source node information 501 of the RREQ broadcast in millimeter waves, the identification information of the node 100d is recorded in the destination node information 502, and the information is recorded in the relay node information 503. do not have.

H6) The node 100c that receives the RREQ broadcast by the node 100b in millimeter waves records its own node identification information in the relay node information 503, and broadcasts the RREQ in millimeter waves.

H7) The node 100d, which is the destination node that received the RREQ broadcast by the node 100c using millimeter waves, transmits the RREP to the node 100b using microwaves. The identification information of the node 100d is recorded in the source node information 501 of the RREP, the identification information of the node 100b is recorded in the destination node information 502, and the recorded identification information of the node 100c is recorded as is in the relay node information 503. Remaining. Note that this modification is not limited to this recording format of RREP, and route information from node 100d to node 100c to node 100b may be recorded in other fields of RREP.

H8) The node 100b, which is the central node that received the RREP from the node 100d via microwave, obtains route information from the relay node identification information recorded in the relay node information 503 and the identification information of the node 100d recorded in the source information. Determine. Further, if route information is included in the RREP received by microwave, it is also possible to extract the route information. When the node 100b, which is the central node, receives communication data in millimeter waves from the node 100s via the node 100a, it transmits the communication data to the node 100c, which is the next node after the node 100b, by referring to the route information. Transfer with .

H9) Communication data transferred from the node 100b, which is the central node, is transferred using millimeter waves based on route information held by each node, and in FIG. 1, is transferred to the node 100d via the node 100c.

(Modification 2)
In the above description of Modification 1, after the node 100b, which is the central node, transmits the RREQ by microwave to the node 100s, which is the source node, the route search to the node 100d is executed. However, it is also possible to execute the following process after the node 100b, which is the central node, completes the route search to the node 100d. That is, after the node 100b completes the route search, it is also possible to have a configuration in which the node 100b transmits an RREP containing information regarding the route from the source node 100s to the node 100d by microwave to the node 100s. .

(Modification 3)
In the above embodiments, the antenna directionality is not specified in the route search performed by each node using millimeter waves. However, in any of the above embodiments, even if the antenna is omnidirectional, the antenna It may be directional. That is, when the antenna of a node is omnidirectional, nodes around the node that broadcasts the RREQ in millimeter waves receive the RREQ. If the antenna of the node is directional, the directivity of the antenna is switched between at least two directions, and the same RREQ is broadcast in each direction using millimeter waves.

(Modification 4)
In the description of the above embodiment, a network constructed by a wireless communication system 1000 installed in a car is taken as an example. However, the embodiment is not limited to inside a car, and can be applied to mesh networks in general built inside moving objects such as trains, airplanes, and ships, and inside structures such as houses and factories. It is.

(Modification 5)
Although the above embodiments have not described specific data as communication data, the application is not limited thereto. For example, the communication data may be information such as information on a sensor that detects the status of a moving object, information that controls the moving object, information on electronic equipment installed on the moving object, and the like. Examples of sensors include various sensors such as a door opening/closing detection sensor, a seat belt sensor, an engine rotation sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a brake and accelerator sensor. Examples of electronic devices include navigation devices and entertainment devices such as radios and televisions.

(Modification 6)
Although the above embodiment has been described using two wireless communication networks, wireless communication network 1 and wireless communication network 2, as shown in FIG. 1, the number of divided wireless communication networks is limited to two. It's not like that. For example, the number of wireless communication networks equal to or less than the number of wireless communication devices 100 existing in the wireless communication system 1000 may be formed.

(Comparative example)
A typical procedure of conventional general dynamic routing used in DSR, AODV, RPL, etc. will be described below with reference to FIG. 9 as a comparative example. In the following description, a case will be described in which data communication is executed from the node 200s to the node 200d. In FIG. 9, the wireless communication network is constituted by one of the wireless communication networks 3.

C1) When transmitting communication data from the node 200s to the node 200d, first broadcast RREQ using millimeter waves. The source node of the RREQ is the node 200s, the destination node is the node 200d, and no relay node information is recorded. The RREQ broadcast in millimeter waves is received by the nodes 200a and 200e, and cannot be received by other nodes due to communication distance or the like.

C2) Since the destination node of the received RREQ is not the own node, the nodes 200a and 200e record the identification information of their own nodes in the relay node information of the RREQ, and broadcast the recorded RREQ using millimeter waves. The RREQ broadcast by the node 200a using millimeter waves is received by the nodes 200s and 200b. The RREQ broadcasted by the node 200e using millimeter waves is received by the node 200s. The node 200s receives the RREQ broadcast by the node 200a using millimeter waves, but ignores the RREQ because the source node is its own node. Similarly, the node 200s receives the RREQ broadcast by the node 200e using millimeter waves, but ignores the RREQ because the source node is its own node.

C3) Since the destination node of the RREQ received in millimeter waves is not the node 200b, the node 200b records the identification information of its own node in the relay node information of the RREQ, and broadcasts the recorded RREQ in millimeter waves. The RREQ broadcast by the node 200b using millimeter waves is received by the node 200c and the node 200a. The node 200a receives the RREQ broadcasted by the node 200b in millimeter waves, but since the source node is the same and the destination node also receives the same RREQ from the node 200s, the node 200b broadcasts it in millimeter waves. Ignore RREQ.

C4) Since the destination node of the RREQ received by millimeter waves is not the node 200c, the node 200c records the identification information of its own node in the relay node information of the RREQ, and broadcasts the recorded RREQ by millimeter waves. The RREQ broadcast by the node 200c using millimeter waves is received by the nodes 200d and 200f.

C5) Since the destination node of the RREQ received by millimeter waves is not the node 200f, the node 200f records the identification information of its own node in the relay node information of the RREQ, and broadcasts the recorded RREQ by millimeter waves. The RREQ broadcast by the node 200f using millimeter waves is received by the node 200c. The node 200c receives the RREQ broadcast by the node 200f in millimeter waves, but since the source node is the same and the destination node also receives the same RREQ from the node 200b, the node 200f broadcasts it in millimeter waves. Ignore RREQ.

C6) Since the destination node of the RREQ received by millimeter waves is the node 200d, the route information is extracted from the node identification information recorded in the source node information and relay node information. The route information is communication route information shown as node 200s→node 200a→node 200b→node 200c→node 200d. Based on the route information extracted from the RREQ received in millimeter waves, the node 200d transmits an RREP including the route information to the node 200c, which is one place before the node 200d, in millimeter waves.

C7) The node 200c receives the RREP from the node 200d in millimeter waves, and transmits the RREP to the node 200b in millimeter waves according to the route information included in the RREP. Node 200c holds route information to node 200d.

C8) The node 200b receives the RREP from the node 200c in millimeter waves, and transmits the RREP to the node 200a in millimeter waves according to the route information included in the RREP. Node 200b holds route information to node 200d.

C9) The node 200a receives the RREP from the node 200b in millimeter waves, and transmits the RREP to the node 200s in millimeter waves according to the route information included in the RREP. Node 200a holds route information to node 200d.

C10) The node 200s receives the RREP from the node 200a using millimeter waves, and acquires the route information included in the RREP. That is, the node 200s acquires route information from the node 200s to the node 200d, which is the destination node of the communication data. (End of route search)
Based on the route information, the node 200s records the identification information of the node 200s in the source information, the identification information of the node 200d in the destination node information, and the identification information of the node 200a in the relay node information, and creates a communication data packet containing communication data. generate. The node 200s transmits the communication data packet to the node 200a using millimeter waves based on the route information.

C11) The node 200a receives a communication data packet from the node 200s in millimeter waves, and transmits the communication data packet to the node 200b in millimeter waves according to the route information held by the node 200a.

C12) The node 200b receives a communication data packet in millimeter waves from the node 200a, and transmits the communication data packet to the node 200c in millimeter waves according to the route information held by the node 200b.

C13) The node 200c receives a communication data packet from the node 200b in millimeter waves, and transmits the communication data packet to the node 200d in millimeter waves according to the route information held by the node 200c.

C14) The node 200d receives the communication data packet from the node 200c using millimeter waves, and since the destination node is its own node, the node 200d executes the communication data reception process.

As explained above, before transmitting and receiving communication data, each node repeatedly transmits and receives RREQ and RREP using millimeter waves, constructs a route within the wireless communication network 3, and transmits and receives communication data according to the constructed route. Execute.

Note that in order to shorten the time required to acquire relay node information, each node retains RREQ and RREP information for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time can be set to an arbitrary time by the wireless communication system or each node. If the node that received the RREQ can use the information held by itself, it may use the information to send back the RREP in millimeter waves.

In addition, when multiple pieces of route information are received by the source node, the route information may be selected using, for example, a metric (evaluation value such as weighting) that indicates the RSSI (Receive Signal Strength Indicator) between each node. Can be done. In addition to RSSI, it is also possible to use past communication success rates, inter-node distances, line speeds, etc.

(Example of configuration of wireless communication node)
An example of the main functions of the wireless communication device 100 (sometimes simply referred to as a node as described above) for realizing the above-described functions will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 6. The wireless communication device 100 may function as a source wireless communication device for communication data, a destination wireless communication device for communication data, a relay wireless communication device for communication data, and an upper relay wireless communication device for communication data.
The source wireless communication device of communication data may be referred to as a source node, and the destination wireless communication device of communication data may be referred to as a destination node or destination node.

Wireless communication device 100 includes a microwave antenna ANTa for transmitting and receiving microwaves, a microwave transmitting and receiving section 110, a millimeter wave antenna ANTb for transmitting and receiving millimeter waves, and a millimeter wave transmitting and receiving section 120. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 is configured to include a microwave control section 130, a millimeter wave control section 140, a storage section 150, and an external control section 160.

Microwave transmitter/receiver 110 includes a microwave receiver 111 and a microwave transmitter 112.

The microwave receiving unit 111 has a function of receiving and processing an RREQ transmitted by microwave from another node. The RREQ transmitted and received by microwave is sometimes referred to as a microwave route discovery packet.

The microwave transmitter 112 has a function of transmitting the RREQ generated by the RREQ generator to another node by microwave.

The microwave control section 130 includes an RREQ determination section 131 , a microwave destination determination section 132 , an RREQ generation section 133 , and a time measurement section 134 .

The RREQ determining unit 131 has a function of determining whether the microwave received by the microwave receiving unit 111 is an RREQ used in the wireless communication system 1000.

The microwave destination determination unit 132 has a function of determining the destination of the RREQ determined by the RREQ determination unit 131 to be an RREQ. As an example, the destination of the RREQ can be determined by the microwave destination determining unit 132 from the destination node information 502 or relay node information. If the identification information of the own node is recorded in the destination node information 502 or the relay node information, and the RREQ received by microwave is referred to as microwave RREQ, the microwave RREQ is output to the millimeter wave RREQ generation unit 149. do.

The RREQ generation unit 133 has a function of generating an RREQ for transmission using microwaves. As an example, when a source node generates an RREQ for transmission by microwave, the destination node's identification information is stored or recorded in the destination node information 502, and the central node's identification information is stored or recorded in the relay node information. Record.

When the RREQ generated by the RREQ generation unit 133 is transmitted using microwaves and the RREQ to be received using millimeter waves is not received within a predetermined period of time, the timer 134 detects the RREQ. Contains a timer for microwave retransmission. A timer (not shown) has a function of timing a certain period of time, which is a predetermined period of time. Note that the fixed time can be set to an arbitrary time by the source node or the wireless communication system 1000.

The millimeter wave control unit 140 includes an RREQ/data determination unit 141 , a millimeter wave destination determination unit 142 , a route information acquisition unit 143 , a shortest path extraction unit 144 , a transmission data generation unit 145 , a reception data processing unit 146 , and a transfer data generation unit 147 , a relay node information adding unit 148. Furthermore, millimeter wave control section 140 includes a millimeter wave RREQ generation section 149.

The RREQ/data determining unit 141 has a function of determining whether the millimeter wave received by the millimeter wave receiving unit 121 is an RREQ or communication data. If the received millimeter wave is an RREQ or communication data, the received millimeter wave is output to the millimeter wave destination determining section 142.

The millimeter wave destination determination unit 142 has a function of determining the destination of RREQ or communication data received by millimeter waves. When the destination node information of the millimeter wave RREQ is the own node, the millimeter wave RREQ is output to the route information acquisition unit 143. If the destination node information of the millimeter-wave RREQ is not the own node, the millimeter-wave RREQ is output to the relay node information addition unit 148 in order to add the identification information of the own node to the relay node information of the millimeter-wave RREQ. If the destination node information of the communication data is the own node, the communication data is output to the received data processing section 146. If the destination node information of the communication data does not include the own node, the communication data is output to the transfer data generation unit 147.

The route information acquisition unit 143 has a function of generating route information from the source node information of the millimeter wave RREQ and the relay node information if the relay node information is stored, and acquiring the route information. The route information is output to the storage unit 150, and the storage unit 150 stores the route information.

The shortest route extracting unit 144 has a function of extracting route information that provides the shortest route from route information stored in the storage unit 150 in which the source node information and destination node information are the same. The extracted shortest route information may be stored in a specific area of the storage unit 150. The shortest route can also be extracted by the shortest route extraction unit 144 using RSSI, past communication success rate, distance between nodes, line speed, number of hops, etc.

In the transmission data generation section 145, the transmission request determination section 162 receives data information from an external electronic device etc. via the I/F (Inter/Face) section 161, and the transmission request determination section 162 determines that there is a transmission request. Then, it has a function to input the data information. The transmission data generation unit 145 has a function of generating transmission data as communication data from the data information. In the relay node information of transmission data as communication data, identification information of a node to which communication data should be transmitted next is recorded from route information that is the shortest route.

The received data processing unit 146 has a function of performing reception processing such as demodulation of the communication data addressed to the own node determined by the millimeter wave destination determination unit 142. When the received communication data is referred to as received data, the received data is output from the I/F unit 161 to an external electronic device or the like.

In order to relay the communication data, the transfer data generation unit 147 generates communication data in which the identification information of the next node to be transferred is recorded in the relay node information, according to the route information that is the shortest route stored in the storage unit 150. It has a function of outputting to the millimeter wave transmitter 122.

The relay node information addition unit 148 has a function of adding identification information of its own node to the relay node information of millimeter wave RREQ. The millimeter wave RREQ with the identification information of its own node added to the relay node information is output to the millimeter wave RREQ generating section 149.

The millimeter wave RREQ generation unit 149 has a function of generating a millimeter wave RREQ in which identification information of its own node is added to relay node information. Further, when a microwave RREQ is input from the microwave destination determination unit 132, the destination node information or relay node information of the microwave RREQ is recorded in the source node information, and the destination node information is recorded in the source node information of the microwave RREQ. A millimeter wave RREQ is generated.

The storage unit 150 has a function in which information such as identification information of the own node, identification information of the upper relay wireless communication device, and route information serving as the shortest route is recorded. In addition, the storage unit 150 inputs and/or outputs information such as identification information of its own node, identification information of an upper relay wireless communication device, and route information serving as the shortest route to the microwave control unit 130 and the millimeter wave control unit 140. It is possible to do so.

External control section 160 includes an I/F section 161 and a transmission request determination section 162.

The I/F unit 161 inputs data information output from an electronic device such as an in-vehicle device connected to its own node, outputs it to the transmission request determination unit 162, or receives data information processed by the received data processing unit 146. Has the ability to input data. Examples of in-vehicle devices include switches, sensors, navigation devices, and entertainment devices such as radios and televisions. Note that the electronic equipment is not limited to electronic equipment installed in a vehicle.

The transmission request determination unit 162 has a function of generating a transmission request and outputting the data information to the transmission data generation unit 145 when data information output from an electronic device is input.

Furthermore, the microwave antenna ANTa for transmitting and receiving microwaves, the microwave transmitting and receiving unit 110, and the millimeter wave antenna ANTb for transmitting and receiving millimeter waves can be placed inside or outside the wireless communication device 100.

(Configuration of upper relay wireless communication device as central node)
As mentioned above, the central node can also be implemented by the wireless communication device 100 shown in FIG. However, since the central node needs to be placed in a position with good visibility and a good communication environment within the wireless communication system 1000, there is no need to output data information from external devices other than the wireless communication device 100. There are cases. FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration of the central node in such a case. The block diagram of the central node in FIG. 7 shows a configuration in which functional blocks that are characteristic when the wireless communication device 100 in FIG. 6 functions as a source node are removed.

That is, the block diagram of the central node in FIG. 7 has a configuration in which the clock section 134, transmission data generation section 145, relay node information addition section 148, and transmission request determination section 162 are removed from the block diagram of the wireless communication device 100 in FIG. 6. It is. Note that the central node may have a configuration in which the received data processing section 146 and the external control section 160 including the I/F section 161 are removed from the block diagram of the central node in FIG.

Furthermore, the block diagram of the central node in FIG. 8 has a configuration in which the transmission data generation section 145, relay node information addition section 148, and transmission request determination section 162 are removed from the block diagram of the wireless communication device 100 in FIG. Note that the central node may have a configuration in which the received data processing section 146 and the external control section 160 including the I/F section 161 are removed from the block diagram of the central node in FIG.

As explained above, according to the wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication system 1000 of the present embodiment, even if the communication path to the destination node is long in a mesh network, it takes a long time to determine the communication route. It becomes possible to shorten the length.

Below, features of the wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication system 1000 of this embodiment will be described.

The wireless communication device 100 according to the first aspect of the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves, and is capable of transmitting and receiving microwave route search packets using microwaves. , it is preferable that communication data can be transmitted and received using millimeter waves. When the wireless communication device 100 functions as a source wireless communication device of communication data, it is preferable to include a microwave transmitter 112 having the following functions. Preferably, the microwave transmitter 112 stores identification information of a destination wireless communication device, which is the destination of communication data, as destination node information, and stores identification information of a source wireless communication device as source node information. Furthermore, it is preferable that the microwave transmitter 112 transmits a microwave route search packet containing identification information of the upper-level relay wireless communication device as relay node information using microwaves. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 transmits a millimeter-wave route search packet in which the identification information of the upper relay wireless communication device is stored as source node information and the identification information of the source wireless communication device is stored as destination node information. It is preferable to include a millimeter wave receiving section 121 for receiving. Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a shortest route extraction unit 144 that extracts a millimeter-wave route search packet having the shortest route information that can be obtained from the millimeter-wave route search packet information among the millimeter-wave route search packets. Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a millimeter wave transmitter 122 having the following functions. Preferably, the millimeter wave transmitter 122 stores identification information of the destination wireless communication device as destination node information, and stores identification information of the source wireless communication device as source node information. Furthermore, the millimeter wave transmitting unit 122 transmits communication data including communication data in which identification information of a wireless communication device that last transmitted a millimeter wave route search packet including shortest route information to a source wireless communication device is stored as relay node information. Preferably, the packet is generated. Further, it is preferable that the millimeter wave transmitting unit 122 transmits the generated communication packet to the last transmitting wireless communication device using millimeter waves. When the millimeter wave receiving unit 121 receives the millimeter wave route search packet, it is preferable not to transmit a response packet to the millimeter wave route search packet.

According to the above configuration, in a mesh network, even if the communication path to the destination node is long, the time required to determine the communication route is reduced by the wireless communication device that functions as the source wireless communication device of communication data. It becomes possible to do so.

The wireless communication device 100 according to the second aspect of the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves, and is capable of transmitting and receiving microwave route search packets using microwaves. , it is preferable that communication data can be transmitted and received using millimeter waves. When the wireless communication device 100 functions as an upper relay wireless communication device, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a microwave receiving unit that receives microwave route search packets using microwaves. Preferably, the wireless communication device 100 includes a millimeter wave transmitter 122 having the following functions. If the relay node information of the received microwave route search packet corresponds to the own node, the millimeter wave transmitter 122 preferably stores identification information of the source node of the microwave route search packet as destination node information. . Further, it is preferable that the millimeter wave transmitting unit 122 stores identification information of its own node as source node information and broadcasts a millimeter wave route search packet without relay node information using millimeter waves. Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a millimeter wave receiving unit that receives the millimeter wave route search packet using millimeter waves. Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a storage unit 150 having the following functions. The storage unit 150 stores the source node information of the millimeter wave route search packet when the destination node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet is the own node, and the corresponding relay node information when the destination node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet is stored. It is preferable to store relay node information as route information. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 does not transmit a response packet to the received millimeter-wave route search packet, and if the source node information of the received millimeter-wave route search packet is its own node, the wireless communication device 100 Preferably, the packet is ignored. If the destination node information of the communication data received by the millimeter wave receiving unit 121 is not the own node, the destination node information of the communication data is the same as the destination node information of the communication data from the destination node information of the route information stored in the storage unit 150. Preferably, route information with node information is extracted. Preferably, the millimeter wave transmitter 122 transmits communication data according to route information.

According to the above configuration, in a mesh network, even if the communication path to the destination node is long, the time required to determine the communication route can be shortened by the wireless communication device functioning as the upper relay wireless communication device. It becomes possible.

The wireless communication device 100 according to the third aspect of the present invention may include a microwave receiving unit that receives a microwave route search packet when the wireless communication device 100 functions as a destination wireless communication device for communication data. preferable. Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a millimeter wave transmitter 122 having the following functions. When the destination node information of the microwave route search packet corresponds to the own node, the millimeter wave transmitter 122 stores the identification information of the upper relay wireless communication device as the destination node information, and stores the identification information of the own node as the source node information. Generates a millimeter wave route discovery packet that stores information. Further, it is preferable that the millimeter wave transmitter 122 broadcasts the millimeter wave route search packet using millimeter waves without including relay node information in the millimeter wave route search packet. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 includes a millimeter wave receiving section 121, and when the source node information of the millimeter wave route search packet received by the millimeter wave receiving section 121 is the own node, the wireless communication device 100 transmits the received millimeter wave route search packet. Preferably ignored. Further, when the destination node information of the communication data received by the millimeter wave receiving unit 121 is the own node, it is preferable to execute the communication data reception process.

According to the above configuration, in a mesh network, even if the communication path to the destination node is long, the time required to determine the communication route is shortened by the wireless communication device that functions as the destination wireless communication device for communication data. becomes possible.

The wireless communication device 100 according to the fourth aspect of the present invention may include a millimeter wave receiving unit 121 that receives a millimeter wave route search packet when the wireless communication device functions as a relay wireless communication device for communication data. preferable. Furthermore, if the wireless communication device 100 has received another millimeter-wave route search packet with the same source node information and destination node information of the received millimeter-wave route search packet, the wireless communication device 100 transmits the received millimeter-wave route search packet It is preferable to discard it. Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a millimeter wave transmitter 122 having the following functions. The millimeter wave transmitter 122 transmits the destination node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet without receiving another millimeter wave route search packet with the same source node information and destination node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet. Executes the following processing if it is not the own node. That is, the millimeter wave transmitter 122 broadcasts a millimeter wave route search packet in which the identification information of its own node is stored in the relay node information. Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a storage unit that stores source node information of the millimeter wave route search packet and, if relay node information is stored, the relay node information as route information. Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a microwave receiving unit that receives the microwave route search packet using microwaves. The wireless communication device 100 discards the microwave route search packet when the destination node information of the received microwave route search packet is not its own node, and when its own node is not an upper relay wireless communication device. is preferred. When the millimeter wave receiving section 121 receives communication data in millimeter waves, it is preferable that the millimeter wave transmitting section 122 transmits the communication data in millimeter waves according to the route information.

According to the above configuration, in a mesh network, even if the communication path to the destination node is long, it is possible to shorten the time required to determine the communication route by using the wireless communication device that functions as a relay wireless communication device. becomes.

A wireless communication system 1000 according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a wireless communication device according to the first aspect that functions as a source wireless communication device of communication data, and a second wireless communication device that functions as an upper relay wireless communication device of communication data. It is preferable that the wireless communication device according to the aspect of the above is included. Furthermore, the wireless communication system 1000 includes a wireless communication device according to a third aspect that functions as a destination wireless communication device for communication data, a wireless communication device according to a fourth aspect that functions as a relay wireless communication device for communication data, It is preferable to include.

According to the above configuration, in a mesh network, even if the communication path to the destination node is long, it is possible to shorten the time required to determine the communication route.

The wireless communication device 100 according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves, and is capable of transmitting and receiving microwave route search result packets using microwaves, It is preferable that communication data can be transmitted and received using millimeter waves. When the wireless communication device 100 functions as a transmission source wireless communication device of communication data, it is preferable to include a millimeter wave transmitter 122 having the following functions. Before transmitting communication data using millimeter waves, the millimeter wave transmitter 122 stores the identification information of the destination wireless communication device of the communication data as destination node information, and stores the identification information of the source wireless communication device as the source node information. Broadcast the stored millimeter wave route search packet using millimeter waves. The wireless communication device 100 also receives a microwave route search result packet storing first route information from the source wireless communication device of communication data to the upper relay wireless communication device from the upper relay wireless communication device. It is preferable to include parts. Further, after receiving the microwave route search packet storing the first route information from the upper relay wireless communication device, the wireless communication device 100 transmits communication data including the first route information according to the first route information. It is preferable to include a millimeter wave transmitter that transmits in millimeter waves.

According to the above configuration, in a mesh network, even if the communication path to the destination node is long, the time required to determine the communication route is reduced by the wireless communication device that functions as the source wireless communication device of communication data. It becomes possible to do so.

The wireless communication device 100 according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves, and is capable of transmitting and receiving microwave route search result packets using microwaves, It is preferable that communication data can be transmitted and received using millimeter waves. When the wireless communication device 100 functions as an upper relay wireless communication device, a millimeter wave route search packet containing first route information from which a route from the source wireless communication device of communication data to the upper relay wireless communication device can be extracted. It is preferable to include a millimeter wave receiving section that receives. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 uses the source node information of the millimeter wave route search packet as the destination node information, uses the identification information of its own node as the source node information, and sends the microwave route search result packet containing the first route information. It is preferable to include a microwave transmitter for transmitting. Furthermore, when receiving a millimeter wave route search packet, the wireless communication device 100 broadcasts a millimeter wave route search packet in which the identification information of its own node is added to the relay node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet and stored. Preferably, it includes a millimeter wave transmitter. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 includes a microwave receiving unit that receives a microwave route search result packet that includes second route information from which a route from the source wireless communication device to the destination wireless communication device of communication data can be extracted. It is preferable. Further, when the wireless communication device 100 receives communication data including the first route information, the wireless communication device 100 transmits the second route information to the next node after the self-node in accordance with the second route information instead of the first route information. It is preferable to include a millimeter wave transmitting unit that transmits communication data including communication data using millimeter waves.

According to the above configuration, in a mesh network, even if the communication path to the destination node is long, the time required to determine the communication route can be shortened by the wireless communication device functioning as the upper relay wireless communication device. It becomes possible.

When the wireless communication device 100 according to the eighth aspect of the present invention functions as a destination wireless communication device for communication data, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a millimeter wave receiving section 121 having the following functions. It is preferable that the millimeter wave receiving unit 121 receives a millimeter wave route search packet that includes second route information from which a route from a transmission source wireless communication device to a destination wireless communication device of communication data can be extracted. Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a microwave transmitter 112 having the following functions. The microwave transmission unit 112 sets the identification information of the destination wireless communication device as source node information, the identification information of the upper relay wireless communication device as destination node information, and includes the second route information of the received millimeter wave route search packet. Preferably, a microwave route search result packet is transmitted. Further, if the destination node information of the communication data received by the millimeter wave receiving unit 121 is the own node, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 executes the communication data reception process.

According to the above configuration, in a mesh network, even if the communication path to the destination node is long, the time required to determine the communication route is shortened by the wireless communication device that functions as the destination wireless communication device for communication data. becomes possible.

The wireless communication device 100 according to the ninth aspect of the present invention may include a millimeter wave receiving unit 121 that receives a millimeter wave route search packet when the wireless communication device functions as a relay wireless communication device for communication data. preferable. If the wireless communication device 100 has received another millimeter-wave route search packet with the same source node information and destination node information of the received millimeter-wave route search packet, the wireless communication device 100 discards the received millimeter-wave route search packet. It is preferable to do so. Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a millimeter wave transmitter 122 having the following functions. The millimeter wave transmitter 122 does not receive another millimeter wave route search packet with the same source node information and destination node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet, and If the node is not the own node, perform the following processing. The millimeter wave transmitter 122 stores the identification information of its own node in the relay node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet, and broadcasts the millimeter wave route search packet. Furthermore, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes a microwave receiving unit that receives the microwave route search result packet using microwaves. If the destination node information of the received microwave route search result packet is not the own node, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 discards the microwave route search result packet. When the millimeter wave receiving unit 121 receives communication data in millimeter waves, the millimeter wave transmitting unit 122 transmits the communication data in millimeter waves according to the first route information or second route information included in the communication data. It is preferable.

According to the above configuration, in a mesh network, even if the communication path to the destination node is long, it is possible to shorten the time required to determine the communication route by using the wireless communication device that functions as a relay wireless communication device. becomes.

A wireless communication system 1000 according to a tenth aspect of the present invention includes the wireless communication device 100 according to the sixth aspect, which functions as a source wireless communication device of communication data, and the wireless communication device 100, which functions as an upper relay wireless communication device of communication data. Preferably, the wireless communication device according to aspect 7 is included. Furthermore, the wireless communication system 1000 includes a wireless communication device according to an eighth aspect that functions as a destination wireless communication device for communication data, a wireless communication device according to a ninth aspect that functions as a relay wireless communication device for communication data, It is preferable to include.

According to the above configuration, in a mesh network, even if the communication path to the destination node is long, it is possible to shorten the time required to determine the communication route.

Although the embodiments have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the contents described in the above embodiments. Further, the constituent elements described above include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art and those that are substantially the same. Furthermore, the configurations described above can be combined as appropriate. Further, various omissions, substitutions, or changes in the configuration can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

100 Wireless communication device 111 Microwave receiving section 112 Microwave transmitting section 121 Millimeter wave receiving section 122 Millimeter wave transmitting section 144 Shortest path extraction section 150 Storage section 1000 Wireless communication system

Claims (10)

Wireless that can send and receive millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves, can send and receive microwave route search packets using microwaves, and can send and receive communication data using millimeter waves. In a communication device, when the wireless communication device functions as a source wireless communication device of the communication data,
The identification information of the destination wireless communication device that is the destination of the communication data is stored as destination node information, the identification information of the source wireless communication device is stored as source node information, and the identification information of the upper relay wireless communication device is relayed. a microwave transmitter that transmits a microwave route search packet stored as node information by microwave;
a millimeter wave receiving unit that receives a millimeter wave route search packet in which identification information of the upper relay wireless communication device is stored as source node information and in which identification information of the source wireless communication device is stored as destination node information; and,
a shortest route extraction unit that extracts a millimeter wave route search packet with the shortest route information that can be obtained from the millimeter wave route search packet information among the millimeter wave route search packets;
The identification information of the destination wireless communication device is stored as destination node information, the identification information of the source wireless communication device is stored as source node information, and the millimeter wave route search packet containing the shortest route information is stored as destination node information. a millimeter wave transmitter that transmits a communication packet containing the communication data, in which identification information of the wireless communication device that last transmitted to the wireless communication device is stored as relay node information, to the wireless communication device that transmitted last, using millimeter waves; , including;
A wireless communication device that does not transmit a response packet to the millimeter-wave route search packet when the millimeter-wave receiver receives the millimeter-wave route search packet. Wireless that can send and receive millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves, can send and receive microwave route search packets using microwaves, and can send and receive communication data using millimeter waves. In the communication device, when the wireless communication device functions as an upper relay wireless communication device,
a microwave receiving unit that receives the microwave route search packet by microwave;
If the relay node information of the received microwave route search packet corresponds to the own node, the identification information of the source node of the microwave route search packet is stored as destination node information, and the own node is stored as the source node information. a millimeter wave transmitter that broadcasts the millimeter wave route search packet with no relay node information stored therein, using millimeter waves;
It includes a millimeter wave reception unit that receives a millimeter wave route search packet in millimeter waves, and if the destination node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet is the own node, the source node information of the millimeter wave route search packet. , and if relay node information is stored, the relay node information is stored in the storage unit as route information, and the response packet to the received millimeter wave route search packet is not transmitted, and the received millimeter wave route If the source node information of the search packet is the own node, ignore the received millimeter wave route search packet,
If the destination node information of the communication data received by the millimeter wave receiving section is not the own node, the destination node information of the communication data that is the same as the destination node information of the communication data is determined from the destination node information of the route information stored in the storage section. A wireless communication device in which route information having destination node information is extracted, and the millimeter wave transmitter transmits the communication data according to the route information. When the wireless communication device functions as a destination wireless communication device for the communication data,
a microwave receiver that receives the microwave route search packet;
If the destination node information of the microwave route search packet corresponds to the own node, storing the identification information of the upper relay wireless communication device as the destination node information, and storing the identification information of the own node as the source node information; a millimeter wave transmitter that broadcasts millimeter wave route search packets without relay node information;
a millimeter-wave receiver, and if the source node information of the millimeter-wave route search packet received by the millimeter-wave receiver is the own node, the received millimeter-wave route search packet is ignored, and the millimeter-wave route search packet is ignored. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein when the destination node information of the communication data received by the wave receiving unit is the own node, the wireless communication device executes the reception process of the communication data. When the wireless communication device functions as a relay wireless communication device for the communication data,
The device includes a millimeter wave receiving unit that receives the millimeter wave route search packet, and when another millimeter wave route search packet having the same source node information and destination node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet is received. discards the received millimeter wave route discovery packet,
In the case where another millimeter wave route discovery packet with the same source node information and destination node information of the received millimeter wave route discovery packet has not been received, and the destination node information of the received millimeter wave route discovery packet is If the node is not a node, a millimeter wave transmitter that broadcasts the millimeter wave route search packet in which identification information of the own node is stored in relay node information;
a storage unit that stores source node information of the millimeter wave route search packet and, if relay node information is stored, the relay node information as route information;
The apparatus includes a microwave receiving unit that receives the microwave route search packet by microwave, and the destination node information of the received microwave route search packet is not the own node, and even if the own node is an upper relay wireless communication device. If not, the microwave route search packet is discarded, and when the millimeter wave reception section receives the communication data in millimeter waves, the millimeter wave transmission section transmits the communication data in millimeter waves according to the route information. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the wireless communication device transmits data using a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, which functions as a source wireless communication device of communication data;
The wireless communication device according to claim 2, which functions as an upper-level relay wireless communication device for the communication data;
The wireless communication device according to claim 3, which functions as a destination wireless communication device for the communication data;
A wireless communication system comprising: the wireless communication device according to claim 4, which functions as a relay wireless communication device for the communication data. It is possible to send and receive millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves, it is possible to send and receive microwave route search result packets using microwaves, and it is possible to send and receive communication data using millimeter waves. In a wireless communication device, when the wireless communication device functions as a source wireless communication device of the communication data,
Before transmitting the communication data using millimeter waves, identification information of the destination wireless communication device of the communication data is stored as destination node information, and identification information of the source wireless communication device is stored as source node information. a millimeter wave transmitter that broadcasts route search packets in millimeter waves;
a microwave receiving unit that receives a microwave route search result packet storing first route information from the source wireless communication device of the communication data to the upper relay wireless communication device from the upper relay wireless communication device;
After receiving a microwave route search packet storing the first route information from the upper relay wireless communication device, transmitting communication data including the first route information using millimeter waves according to the first route information. A wireless communication device comprising: a millimeter wave transmitting unit. It is possible to send and receive millimeter wave route search packets using millimeter waves, it is possible to send and receive microwave route search result packets using microwaves, and it is possible to send and receive communication data using millimeter waves. In a wireless communication device, when the wireless communication device functions as an upper relay wireless communication device,
a millimeter wave receiving unit that receives a millimeter wave route search packet including first route information capable of extracting a route from the source wireless communication device of the communication data to the upper relay wireless communication device;
A microwave route search result packet including the source node information of the millimeter wave route search packet as destination node information, the identification information of the own node as the source node information, and the first route information of the millimeter wave route search packet. a microwave transmitter that transmits
a millimeter-wave transmitter that, when receiving the millimeter-wave route search packet, broadcasts the millimeter-wave route search packet in which identification information of its own node is added to relay node information of the received millimeter-wave route search packet and stored; ,
a microwave receiving unit that receives a microwave route search result packet including second route information capable of extracting a route from the source wireless communication device to the destination wireless communication device of the communication data;
When the communication data including the first route information is received, the second route information is transmitted to the next node of the own node instead of the first route information according to the second route information. a millimeter wave transmitting unit that transmits the communication data including the communication data using millimeter waves. When the wireless communication device functions as a destination wireless communication device for the communication data,
a millimeter wave receiving unit that receives a millimeter wave route search packet that includes second route information capable of extracting a route from the source wireless communication device to the destination wireless communication device of the communication data;
Microwave route search including the second route information of the received millimeter wave route search packet, with identification information of the destination wireless communication device as source node information, identification information of the upper relay wireless communication device as destination node information. a microwave transmitter for transmitting a result packet;
7. The wireless communication device according to claim 6, wherein when the destination node information of the communication data received by the millimeter wave receiving unit is the own node, the wireless communication device executes the reception process of the communication data. When the wireless communication device functions as a relay wireless communication device for the communication data,
The device includes a millimeter wave receiving unit that receives the millimeter wave route search packet, and when another millimeter wave route search packet having the same source node information and destination node information of the received millimeter wave route search packet is received. discards the received millimeter wave route discovery packet,
In the case where another millimeter wave route discovery packet with the same source node information and destination node information of the received millimeter wave route discovery packet has not been received, and the destination node information of the received millimeter wave route discovery packet is If the node is not a node, a millimeter wave transmitting unit stores identification information of the own node in relay node information and broadcasts the millimeter wave route search packet;
a microwave receiving unit configured to receive the microwave route search result packet by microwave, and when the destination node information of the received microwave route search result packet is not the own node, the microwave route search result packet is When the millimeter wave receiving section receives the communication data in millimeter waves, the millimeter wave transmitting section discards the communication data according to the first route information or second route information included in the communication data. The wireless communication device according to claim 6 or 8, which transmits data using millimeter waves. The wireless communication device according to claim 6, which functions as a source wireless communication device of communication data;
The wireless communication device according to claim 7, which functions as an upper-level relay wireless communication device for the communication data;
The wireless communication device according to claim 8, which functions as a destination wireless communication device for the communication data;
A wireless communication system comprising: the wireless communication device according to claim 9, which functions as a relay wireless communication device for the communication data.

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