Radio communication system, radio communication apparatus and method, radio communication managing apparatus and method, and computer program

The present invention relates to wireless communication systems, wireless communication devices and wireless communication methods, wireless communication management devices and wireless communication management methods, and computer programs for communicating with each other between a plurality of wireless stations, and particularly for multi-hop transmission. It relates to a wireless communication system, a wireless communication device and a wireless communication method, a wireless communication management device and a wireless communication management method, and a computer program to be performed.

More specifically, the present invention provides a wireless communication system, a wireless communication device, and a wireless communication method for smoothly operating multi-hop communication by providing a private communication terminal or an access point as a repeater for communication of another person. A wireless communication system and wireless system that realizes multi-hop communication using a private access point while preventing an increase in residual interference such as interference, in particular, related to wireless communication management devices, wireless communication management methods, and computer programs. Concerning communication devices and wireless communication methods, wireless communication management devices and wireless communication management methods, and computer programs.

Wireless LAN is attracting attention as a system that frees users from LAN wiring by wired method. According to wireless LAN, most of the wired cables can be omitted in a work space such as an office, so that a communication terminal such as a personal computer (PC) can be moved relatively easily.

In recent years, the demand for wireless LAN systems has increased remarkably as the speed and price of wireless LAN systems have decreased. In particular, recently, the introduction of a personal area network (PAN) has been considered in order to construct a small-scale wireless network and perform information communication between a plurality of electronic devices existing around people. For example, different wireless communication systems and wireless communication devices are specified by using frequency bands such as 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band that do not require a license from a regulatory agency.

Further, in a wireless network, the communication range of each terminal is limited to the reach of radio waves. Therefore, the communication partner is not always accommodated in its own communication range, and there is a problem that the network utilization efficiency is lowered. Therefore, "multi-hop communication", in which a large number of terminals are connected to each other without the intervention of an access point, is considered to be promising.

When communicating between terminals by the multi-hop method, for example, the source terminal broadcasts a packet within its own communication range. Hereinafter, the other terminal that can receive the packet further repeats the operation of rebroadcasting the received packet within its own communication range until all the terminals receive the packet (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, proposals have been made regarding traffic routing in small-scale wireless data networks (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this case, when the node of the wireless network relays the received data with the route identifier and the route update message attached, the route table is updated based on the route update message attached to the received message data, and the route table is updated. Select a nearby node based on the table, replace the route identifier and route update message based on the updated route table, and forward the message data with the replaced route identification and the replaced update message to the neighboring node. To do.

According to the multi-hop method, the transmitting communication station communicates via a peripheral station existing in the vicinity, so that the transmission power is reduced as compared with the case of directly communicating with a long-distance receiving station, and the transmission power is reduced. , Enables communication with long-distance communication stations or access points.

Here, there is a problem that a privately owned communication terminal or access point must provide its own equipment and power for another person when it is used as a repeater in the case of multi-hop. In other words, since there are no rewards or other arrangements associated with the provision of equipment resources, it is considered that there is resistance to providing them as repeaters. Especially in the case of wireless terminals, it is considered that the number of users who intend to provide them as repeaters is small due to the limitation of battery life. As a result, the number of terminals of the communication system that relays the private terminals of other people and performs multi-hop communication decreases, and it becomes difficult to spread the multi-hop communication system.

On the other hand, with the spread of wireless LAN, the number of users who install wireless LAN access points at home is increasing. For example, in an apartment house, it is assumed that a plurality of wireless access points are installed in neighboring rooms. As wireless LAN becomes more widespread, problems such as channel shortage and bandwidth limitation may occur. In addition, fraudulent activities such as hacking into another person's private access point and using its function for free have also occurred.

<patcit num="1"><text>U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,363</text></patcit><patcit num="2"><text>Special Table 2002-512479</text></patcit>

<p> An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent wireless communication system, a wireless communication device and a wireless communication method, a wireless communication management device and a wireless communication management method, and a computer program capable of suitably performing multi-hop transmission. is there.</p><p> A further object of the present invention is an excellent wireless communication system or wireless communication device capable of smoothly operating multi-hop communication by providing a private communication terminal or access point as a repeater for communication of another person. And to provide wireless communication methods, wireless communication management devices and wireless communication management methods, and computer programs.</p><p> A further object of the present invention is an excellent wireless communication system, wireless communication device, and wireless communication method capable of realizing multi-hop communication by using a privately owned access point while preventing an increase in residual interference such as interference. , A wireless communication management device and a wireless communication management method, and a computer program.</p>

<p> The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and the first aspect thereof is composed of a plurality of communication stations, and multi-hop communication is performed by allowing each other to use its own station as a repeater when communicating from peripheral stations. A communication path forming means for forming a multi-hop communication path between a source communication station and a reception communication station via one or more communication stations permitted to be used as a repeater. Based on the provided resource measuring means for measuring the equipment resources provided by each communication station permitted to be used as a repeater on the multi-hop communication path during the period of the multi-hop communication, and the measurement result by the provided resource measuring means. It is a wireless communication system characterized by comprising a point management means for managing points of each communication station.</p><p> However, the "system" here means a logical collection of a plurality of devices (or functional modules that realize a specific function), and each device or functional module is in a single housing. It does not matter whether or not it is.</p><p> Here, each communication station may be provided with a relay permission mode for permitting the use of its own station as a repeater and a relay refusal mode for refusing to use its own station as a repeater. That is, the operation mode can be autonomously determined in consideration of the communication status of the own station, the remaining battery level, and other device status.</p><p> In addition, each communication station does not uniformly provide equipment resources when permitting the use of its own station as a repeater, but provides time, bandwidth, number of times, power consumption, or the like as a repeater. You may specify an instruction value indicating the use of the equipment resource of the device, and transfer the data within the range allowed by the repeater.</p><p> Further, for example, in a communication environment in which a plurality of wireless networks coexist, a communication station operating as an access point of each wireless network may be permitted to be used as a repeater. In such a case, the communication station can connect to the access point by the multi-hop method and use the Internet connection service via the access point.</p><p> In the multi-hop communication method according to the present invention, the source communication station requests transmission from peripheral stations, and each communication station intervening between the source communication station and the reception destination communication station permits or rejects relay in response to the transmission request. When making a response and permitting relaying, a transmission request is made to a peripheral station, the receiving communication station returns reception permission in response to the transmission request, and the source communication station starts transmission in response to the reception permission. To do.</p><p> Then, the communication path forming means forms a multi-hop communication path between the source communication station and the reception destination communication station on the route obtained with the relay permission and the reception permission.</p><p> At this time, each communication station may also notify the transmission speed when returning the relay permission and the reception permission, and the communication path forming means may set the communication rate to the lowest rate on the multi-hop communication path.</p><p> Then, the provided resource measuring means determines the amount of data handled, the provided time, the bandwidth used, the number of times, the amount of power used, or the indicated value of the equipment resource use for each communication station permitted to be used as a repeater on the multi-hop communication path. The point management means measures and gives each communication station points according to the indicated value.</p><p> The points held by the communication station may be returned to a discount fee for communication charges for the user of the communication station, point addition for present or present application, and the right to use the communication station of another user as a repeater. For example, the point management means may cancel the points owned by the source communication station and the points used for relay at the time of data transmission.</p><p> Therefore, according to the wireless communication system according to the present invention, when each user provides the functions and resources of his / her terminal as a repeater for communication of another person, points are added according to the provided amount. The benefits make it easier to provide privately owned terminals or access points for multihop communication. Further, by increasing the number of people who provide privately owned terminals and access points as multi-hop relay terminals, the service area of the wireless communication system according to the present invention can be increased.</p><p> The second aspect of the present invention is a computer program written in a computer-readable format so as to execute a process for operating as a communication station in a multi-hop communication environment on a computer system. It has a relay permission mode that allows the station to be used as a repeater, and a relay refusal mode that refuses to use the own station as a repeater. When permitting relay, the step of requesting transmission from the peripheral station, and when the own station is used as a repeater for multi-hop communication, the amount of data handled, provision time, band used, number of times, power consumption, or The computer program comprises a step of measuring an instruction value for using the equipment resource and a step of acquiring points according to the instruction value.</p><p> The computer program according to the second aspect of the present invention defines a computer program written in a computer-readable format so as to realize a predetermined process on the computer system. In other words, by installing the computer program according to the second aspect of the present invention in the computer system, a collaborative action is exerted on the computer system and the computer system operates as a wireless communication device. By activating a plurality of such wireless communication devices to construct a multi-hop wireless network, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the wireless communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention.</p>

<p> According to the present invention, an excellent wireless communication system, wireless communication device and capable of smoothly operating multi-hop communication by providing a private communication terminal or access point as a repeater for communication of another person. A wireless communication method, a wireless communication management device and a wireless communication management method, and a computer program can be provided.</p><p> Further, according to the present invention, an excellent wireless communication system, wireless communication device and wireless communication capable of realizing multi-hop communication by using a privately owned access point while preventing an increase in residual interference such as interference. Methods, wireless communication management devices and wireless communication management methods, as well as computer programs can be provided.</p><p> According to the present invention, when the function of one's own terminal is provided as a repeater for communication of another person, points are added according to the amount provided and a privilege is obtained, so that a privately owned terminal or an access point can be obtained. It becomes easier to provide points for multi-hop communication.</p><p> Further, according to the present invention, the service area of the multi-hop wireless communication system according to the present invention can be increased by increasing the number of people who provide privately owned terminals and access points as multi-hop relay terminals.</p><p> By using the multi-hop communication of the present invention when using a wireless LAN access point in an apartment house, etc., it is possible to prevent an increase in residual interference such as interference and increase points for a private access point provider. Profitable.</p><p> Further, according to the present invention, when there is a request for multi-hop from another terminal, permission for use is given according to the situation of the terminal, so that when oneself uses it, transmission cannot be performed due to insufficient battery. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of defects.</p><p> Still other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be clarified by more detailed description based on the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings described below.</p>

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

FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of a multi-hop wireless communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, let us consider the case where the mobile terminal A performs communication such as access to the Internet. However, each communication station that supports multi-hop has a relay permission mode that permits the use of its own station as a repeater and a relay refusal mode that refuses to use its own station as a repeater. To do.

Mobile terminal A first searches for an adjacent station or access point with which it can communicate. Here, when a communicable public access point is found, communication with that access point is started.

On the other hand, if the mobile terminal A does not have a communicable public access point, it issues a relay request to an adjacent station capable of multi-hop.

The communication station that receives the relay request returns a signal of permission or refusal of relay according to the communication status of its own station, the remaining battery level, the request of the owner, and the like. In the case of relay permission, information such as the permitted communication speed, time, and communication capacity is also transmitted.

The relay device may be not only a communication terminal having a different owner but also a privately owned access point having a different owner. In the figure, access point 1 and mobile terminal B'are devices that refuse to relay.

The mobile terminal B that allows relaying searches for a communicable terminal or access point in the same manner as the mobile terminal A. In this way, multi-hop is performed one after another, and the access point 2 is connected via the terminal that is allowed to relay.

Here, if the user of the mobile terminal A is a subscriber to the Internet connection service of the access point 2, the user authenticates and starts using the Internet connection. On the other hand, if the user of mobile terminal A is not a subscriber to the service, the Internet can be obtained by concluding a temporary use contract between user A of mobile terminal A and the operator of Internet connection service 2 of access point 2. It is possible to start using the connection. For example, electronic money or a credit card is used to pay the usage fee. However, since the payment method itself is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, it will not be described here.

For terminals that allow relay (including mobile terminals B and C in Fig. 1 and access point 2 if it is privately owned), the amount of relayed information, communication time, bandwidth, and terminal battery Points according to the amount used (terminal usage points in the figure) are added. The number of points earned is stored in a terminal or a server on the network. Then, the acquired points are used for discounts on communication charges for users, points for applying for gifts, and the right to use another person's terminal as a repeater. It is assumed that payment of connection fees and other charges will not be incurred on the relayed terminal.

In this way, points are added to the terminal or privately owned access point that became a repeater during multi-hop according to the amount of equipment resources used during relay, and the terminal provided as a repeater by that point. It is possible to construct a communication different environment in which it is easy to provide a terminal as a repeater by allowing the user of the above to obtain a privilege. In addition, other people's private access points can be effectively used.

FIG. 2 shows the flow from the data transmission request to the start of data transmission in the multi-hop wireless network according to the present invention.

In the example shown in the figure, it is assumed that the transmitting node A transmits data to the receiving node C. First, when the transmission node A detects a terminal existing in the communicable range, it issues a transmission request. Conditions for use as a repeater (for example, point information) may be added to the transmission request.

Here, the relay node B'that has received the transmission request returns the relay refusal because it is in the relay refusal mode according to the owner's setting. The relay node that has received the transmission request may also consider the usage conditions and the like added to the transmission request to determine whether or not the relay permission is met.

Next, the transmitting node A attempts a transmission request to the subsequently detected relay node B. Here, since the relay node B is in the relay permission mode, the relay permission is returned. At this time, the relay node B also notifies the transmission speed and the like. Then, the transmission node A stops the transmission request in response to the reception of the relay permission, and waits until the reception permission is received.

The relay node B that allows relaying detects a terminal that exists in a new communicable range and issues a transmission request. Here, if the receiving node C is detected, a transmission request is made to the node C. Then, when permission is obtained, it is relayed again and passed to the transmitting node A.

The transmission node A that has received the reception permission starts data transmission to the relay node B. The communication rate is the lowest rate for all paths.

Figure 3 shows a mechanism in which points are added according to data transfer at each communication station during multi-hop communication.

In the example shown in the figure, a case where the transmitting node A transmits data to the receiving node D via the relay node B and the relay node C is shown. The number of points for each relay node associated with the transfer may be managed independently by each terminal, but in the example shown in the figure, the server E centrally manages the points.

When the communication terminal is detected and the communication path is determined, the transmission node A starts data transmission. The relay node B and the relay node C transfer the data while sequentially measuring the amount of the transferred data by themselves.

When the transmission node A notifies the end of data transmission and the data transmission is completed, the transmission node A, the relay node B, the relay node C, and the reception node D notify the server E of the amount of data handled.

Server E verifies the amount of data handled by each node. Then, if there is no defect, the number of points of each node is updated. When the transmitting node A transmits using the points held by the transmitting node A, the number of points of the transmitting node A is also subtracted according to the amount of transmitted data.

Finally, in the multi-hop wireless network according to the present invention, a processing procedure for connecting from a source communication station to a destination communication station will be described.

First, the communication station serving as the transmission source or the repeater detects the communicable device. Then, it is determined whether or not the detected communicable device is a communication partner. Here, it is determined whether or not the device can transfer if it is not a communication partner.

If the communicable device is refused transfer (that is, relay), the process returns to the detection of the communicable device. If it can be transferred to a communicable device (that is, relaying is permitted), it is further determined whether or not the device is an access point. If it is not an access point, the transferring device repeatedly detects communicable devices in order to search for the next transfer device.

Here, when the communicable device can connect to the access point, it is determined whether or not the user who is the transmission source is a contract user of the wireless communication service that operates the access point. If you are not a contract user, conclude a temporary usage contract with an Internet service provider and start communication. Since the access point is used temporarily, the service usage fee is settled by a simple and temporary payment method such as a credit card or electronic money.

By making it temporarily available to non-contracted users in this way, it will be possible to use not only access points on the street but also access points in the home owned by others if transfer permission is obtained. ..

FIG. 4 shows in the form of a flowchart a processing procedure for sequentially searching for repeaters and establishing a route from a source communication station to a destination communication station in the multi-hop wireless network according to the present invention. There is.

First, the subject is the transmitting node (step S1). The transmitting node searches for a communicable device (step S2) and determines whether the detected device is the desired communication partner (step S3).

If the detected communicable device is the desired communication partner, establish a route. Terminate the entire processing routine (step S8).

On the other hand, if it is not a communication partner, it is further checked whether the communication device is a multi-hop compatible terminal (step S4). Then, if it is a multi-hop terminal, the transfer request is notified to the terminal (step S5). At this time, along with the transfer request, the usage conditions such as the amount of communication desired by the transmitting node and the number of points brought to the transfer terminal by the transfer are also notified.

The multi-hop terminal that has received the transfer request notifies the transfer, that is, the permission or denial of the relay from the obtained information (step S6). For example, the multi-hop terminal may decide to allow or deny the transfer based on whether or not it meets the permission of the relay in consideration of the usage conditions attached to the transfer request. Furthermore, if the multi-hop terminal has the amount of communication and the number of points that can be permitted, on the contrary, the transmitting node side is notified of those values, and both parties negotiate to determine the amount of communication and the number of points. It may be.

If transfer by a multi-hop terminal becomes possible due to negotiations, etc., the subject is moved to the transfer destination node (step S7). Then, the process returns to step S2, and the search process of the communication partner by the multi-hop terminal is sequentially repeated until the receiving node is reached.

In the multi-hop wireless network according to the present invention, the communication station can connect to the access point by multi-hop transfer and use the Internet connection service via the access point of the connection destination (described above). ). FIG. 5 shows in the form of a flowchart a processing procedure for sequentially searching for repeaters and establishing a route from a source communication station to an access point in the multi-hop wireless network according to the present invention. ..

First, the subject is the transmitting node (step S11). The transmitting node searches for communicable devices (step S12) and determines whether the detected device is an access point (step S13).

If the detected communicable device is an access point, it is checked whether the transmitting node is a contract user (step S18). Then, if it is a contract user, it connects to the access point after undergoing predetermined authentication (step S20).

Here, if the sending node is not a contract user, a new temporary use contract is concluded with the Internet service provider (step S19), and the connection with the access point is made (step S20). Since the access point is used temporarily, the service usage fee is settled by a simple and temporary payment method such as a credit card or electronic money.

If the detected communicable device is not an access point in step S13, then it is checked whether or not the device is a multi-hop compatible terminal (step S14). Then, if it is a multi-hop terminal, the transfer request is notified to the terminal (step S15). At this time, along with the transfer request, the usage conditions such as the amount of communication desired by the transmitting node and the number of points brought to the transfer terminal by the transfer are also notified.

The multi-hop terminal that has received the transfer request notifies the transfer, that is, the permission or denial of relay from the obtained information (step S16). For example, the multi-hop terminal may decide to allow or deny the transfer based on whether or not it meets the permission of the relay in consideration of the usage conditions attached to the transfer request. Furthermore, if the multi-hop terminal has the amount of communication and the number of points that can be permitted, on the contrary, the transmitting node side is notified of those values, and both parties negotiate to determine the amount of communication and the number of points. It may be.

If transfer by a multi-hop terminal becomes possible due to negotiations, etc., the subject is moved to the transfer destination node (step S17). Then, the process returns to step S12, and the access point search process by the multi-hop terminal is sequentially repeated until the receiving node is reached.

The route search process in a wireless network as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is, for example, AODV (Ad-hoc On) being studied by the MANET (Mobile Ad-hoc Networks) WG of the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). -Demand Distance Vector) It can be implemented by extending it based on the protocol.

If a data transmission request is made at a node and the corresponding route does not exist in the route table, the route discovery process is started. In the AODV protocol, route discovery is performed by the following procedure.

(1) The source broadcasts a route request message (Route Request: RREQ).

(2) The node that receives the RREQ message sets a reverse route to the source of the message and rebroadcasts it unless it is the recipient.

(3) The recipient who receives the RREQ message sends a route reply message (Route Reply: RREP) to the source by unicast.

(4) The node that receives the RREP message sets a reverse route to the source of the message (data reception destination) and forwards it unless it is the source of RREQ.

(5) When the source of the RREQ message receives the RREP message, the route discovery process is completed.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the extended PREQ message header when the AODV protocol is applied to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the desired amount of communication (bit rate, bandwidth used, etc.) and the number of points that can be provided (or the number of points per bit) are added to the message header. Alternatively, information other than these regarding the conditions of use as a repeater may be added. Based on this information, the node that receives the RREP message decides whether to allow or deny the transfer.

However, regarding the packet structure shown in FIG. 6, the above-mentioned MANET is only an example, and the gist of the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, the usage conditions such as global information and point information used for negotiations between the transmitting node and the repeater are not the packets shown in the figure, but the MAC (Machine Access Control) layer, DLC (Data Link Control) layer, or IP. It can also be added to packets in other communication protocol layers such as the (Internet Protocol) layer.

[Supplement]

The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments. However, it is self-evident that a person skilled in the art can modify or substitute the embodiment without departing from the gist of the present invention. That is, the present invention has been disclosed in the form of an example, and the contents of the present specification should not be interpreted in a limited manner. In order to judge the gist of the present invention, the column of claims described at the beginning should be taken into consideration.

<figref num="1">FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a multi-hop wireless communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="2">FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a flow from a data transmission request to the start of data transmission in the multi-hop wireless network according to the present invention.</figref><figref num="3">FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a mechanism in which points are added according to data transfer at each communication station during multi-hop communication.</figref><figref num="4">FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for sequentially searching for repeaters and establishing a route from a source communication station to a destination communication station in the multi-hop wireless network according to the present invention.</figref><figref num="5">FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for sequentially searching for repeaters and establishing a route from a source communication station to an access point in the multi-hop wireless network according to the present invention.</figref><figref num="6">FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the extended PREQ message header when the AODV protocol is applied to the present invention.</figref>