Wireless communication terminal

The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal that performs wireless communication by a wireless communication method such as wireless LAN.

In recent years, an endoscope device in which an elongated insertion portion is inserted into a body cavity or a conduit to observe a subject image in the body cavity or the conduit on a monitor has been widely used. Such an endoscope device generally includes an endoscope having an insertion portion inserted into a body cavity or a conduit, and a main body device having a light source device and a video processor, and the endoscope and the main body device. Is connected by a light guide cable that guides illumination light from the light source device to the endoscope and a signal cable that transmits an imaging signal obtained by the endoscope to a video processor. This limits the range of movement of the endoscope and hinders the operability of the endoscope.

Therefore, for example, in Patent Document 1, a lighting device composed of an LED (light emitting diode) or the like is built in the endoscope, so that a light guide cable extending from the endoscope is removed. Further, the endoscope is provided with a video signal processing circuit that processes the image pickup signal to obtain a video signal that can be displayed on a monitor and a transmission circuit that transmits the video signal by radio waves, and receives the radio waves. By providing a receiving device that demodulates the video signal separately from the endoscope, the signal cable extending from the endoscope is removed. Such an endoscope device is also generally called a wireless endoscope device, and has an advantage that restrictions on the range of movement of the endoscope are relaxed and operability is improved.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-4811</text></patcit>

<p> In the conventional wireless endoscope device, since the receiving device is provided separately from the endoscope, the communication channel of the endoscope on the transmitting side is set according to the communication channel set in the receiving device. It is necessary to perform and connect by wireless communication. A method in which the combination of the receiving device and the endoscope is uniquely determined and the communication channel is fixedly set to an arbitrary channel in advance is also conceivable. However, in hospitals that use multiple receivers and multiple endoscopes, the combination of receiver and endoscope cannot be uniquely determined because the disinfection and sterilization process of the endoscope and the examination proceed at the same time. .. Further, in order to prevent radio wave interference, the communication channels of the receiving devices need to be set differently.</p><p> For this reason, a communication channel selection switch is provided for each of the receiving device and the endoscope, and the same communication channel as the communication channel set for the receiving device to be used at the start of use of the endoscope device is used for endoscopy. By setting for the mirror, wireless communication connection between the receiving device and the endoscope is performed. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when receivers 1 and 2 are installed in each of the examination rooms A and B and different communication channels are set for each receiver, the endoscope 3 is a receiver. You can make a wireless connection to 1 normally.</p><p> However, as shown in FIG. 11, when the same communication channel as the receiving device 1 of the examination room A is set in the receiving device 2 installed in the examination room B due to a setting error of the operator, the examination room A When the operator sets the same communication channel as the communication channel set in the receiving device 1 in the endoscope 1 and starts the wireless connection, the wireless connection may be made in the receiving device 2 in the examination room B. There was a problem that the intended wireless connection between the endoscope 3 and the receiving device 1 was not performed normally.</p><p> Further, as shown in FIG. 12, when the receiving devices 1 and 2 are installed outside the range in which they can wirelessly communicate with each other, but the receiving devices 1 and 2 are within the wireless communication range of the endoscope 3. , There was a problem that the endoscope 3 was erroneously connected to the receiver 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, when the endoscopes 3 and 4 exist within the wireless communication range of the receiving device 1 and the power of the endoscopes 3 and 4 is turned on at the same timing, the receiving device 1 is connected. There was a problem that the endoscope 4 was erroneously connected.</p><p> The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication terminal capable of preventing erroneous connection of wireless communication.</p>

<p> The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is a wireless communication terminal that performs wireless communication with another terminal, and information that holds information on a communication channel setting for wireless communication and communication attributes for wireless communication. Before the logical connection of wireless communication between the holding unit and the other terminal is established, the other terminal can be subjected to wireless communication using the communication channel indicated by the communication channel setting held by the information holding unit. Based on the communication unit that receives the information of the communication attribute held by the other terminal and the information of the communication attribute received by the communication unit, the process of establishing the logical connection with the other terminal is controlled. It is a wireless communication terminal characterized by having a control unit.</p><p> Further, in the wireless communication terminal of the present invention, the control unit has a terminal having the same communication channel setting and the communication attribute as itself, or a terminal having the same communication channel setting as itself. When it is detected that a plurality of terminals are present, the process of establishing the logical connection with the other terminal is stopped.</p><p> Further, the wireless communication terminal of the present invention further includes a notification unit that notifies the operator of information indicating the cancellation of the establishment process when the control unit cancels the process of establishing the logical connection with the other terminal. It is characterized by that.</p><p> Further, in the wireless communication terminal of the present invention, the notification unit further notifies the operator of information prompting the change of the communication channel setting.</p><p> Further, in the wireless communication terminal of the present invention, the information of the communication attribute is transmitted to the terminal that establishes the logical connection with the other terminal and the other terminal in response to the connection request for wireless communication from the other terminal. It is characterized in that it is information indicating which attribute of the other terminal and the terminal for which the logical connection is established by making a connection request for wireless communication.</p>

<p> According to the present invention, among other terminals, only a terminal having the same communication channel setting as the wireless communication terminal transmits communication attribute information to the wireless communication terminal. By controlling the process of establishing a logical connection with another terminal based on the information of this communication attribute, it is possible to prevent erroneous connection of wireless communication.</p>

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, IEEE 802.11, which is a wireless LAN protocol, is used as an example of the wireless communication method. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the endoscope device according to the present embodiment. This endoscope device is composed of an endoscope 100 that transmits captured image data by wireless communication and a receiving device 200 that receives image data transmitted from the endoscope 100 and displays the image on a monitor. ing. The endoscope 100 includes an operation unit 100a including a plurality of switches for the operator to input an operation instruction. The receiving device 200 includes a communication setting display unit 201 including a plurality of LEDs indicating the communication setting status of the receiving device 200.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the endoscope 100 is viewed from the arrangement surface of the operation switch. The operation unit 100a of the endoscope 100 includes a power switch 101, a plurality of operation switches 102, a CH (channel) setting switch 103, and a status display LED 104. A number for identifying the setting channel is added to the CH setting switch 103. Further, the status display LED 104 has an LED capable of displaying two colors (green and orange).

FIG. 3 shows the electrical configuration of the endoscope 100. The endoscope 100 includes a control unit 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, an imaging unit 304, an illumination unit 305, a wireless communication circuit unit 306, an antenna 307, an operation unit 308, and a power supply circuit unit 309.

The control unit 301 operates according to the program stored in the ROM 302, and controls the operation sequence of the endoscope 100. The ROM 302 is a non-volatile memory such as a Flash ROM, and various setting information including program data for controlling the endoscope 100 and communication setting parameters are stored in the ROM 302.

Figure 7 shows the contents of the communication setting parameters. A communication channel (frequency), SSID (Service Set Identifier), and WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) are associated with each number assigned to the CH setting switch 103.

The RAM 303 is used as a buffer for temporarily buffering image data output from the imaging unit 304, a work area used for calculations of the control unit 301, and an area for temporarily storing various settings and the like. The RAM 303 is also used as an area for storing information on communication setting parameters and communication attributes. The communication attribute information is information that identifies whether the endoscope is the endoscope 100 or the receiving device 200. The endoscope 100 of the present embodiment establishes a logical connection to the receiving device 200, which will be described later, by making a wireless communication connection request to the receiving device 200. Further, the receiving device 200 of the present embodiment establishes a logical connection from the endoscope 100 to the endoscope 100 in response to a connection request for wireless communication.

The image pickup unit 304 converts an analog electric signal output from a lens that forms an image of incident light, a photoelectric converter (CCD, CMOS sensor, etc.) that converts the formed light into an electric signal, and a digital electric signal. It consists of an AD converter (analog-digital converter) to convert.

The illumination unit 305 is composed of an irradiation lens, an LED, an LED drive circuit, and the like, and is arranged at the tip end 100b (FIG. 1) of the endoscope 100. The light emitted from the LED is applied to the observed body in the body cavity through the irradiation lens. It should be noted that the LED may be arranged inside the operation unit 100a instead of the tip portion 100b, and the light guide may be used to guide the light to the tip portion 100b.

The wireless communication circuit unit 306 is composed of a high frequency circuit unit, a coding / decoding circuit unit, a buffer memory, etc. necessary for wireless communication, and an antenna 307 is connected to the wireless communication circuit unit 306. In order to carry out wireless communication with the receiving device 200, it is necessary to set the same communication channel, SSID, etc. as the communication channel, SSID, etc. set in the receiving device 200.

The operation unit 308 (corresponding to the operation unit 100a in FIG. 1) has the power switch 101, the operation switch 102, and the CH setting switch 103 shown in FIG. 2, and outputs the states and state changes of these buttons and switches as electric signals. To do. Further, the operation unit 308 is provided with a status display LED 104 that notifies the connection status with the receiving device 200.

The power supply circuit unit 309 is composed of a battery, a DC / DC converter, and the like, detects that the power supply switch 101 is turned on, and supplies power to each of the blocks described above.

FIG. 4 shows the electrical configuration of the receiver 200. The receiving device 200 includes a control unit 401, a ROM 402, a RAM 403, a wireless communication circuit unit 404, an antenna 405, an image signal processing unit 406, a monitor 407, and an operation unit 408.

The control unit 401 operates according to the program stored in the ROM 402, and controls the operation sequence of the receiving device 200. The ROM 402 is a non-volatile memory such as a Flash ROM, and various setting information including program data for controlling the receiving device 200 and communication setting parameters are stored in the ROM 402.

The RAM 403 is used as a buffer for temporarily buffering image data received by the wireless communication circuit unit 404, a work area used for calculation of the control unit 401, and an area for temporarily storing various settings and the like. The RAM 403 is also used as an area for storing information on communication setting parameters and communication attributes.

The wireless communication circuit unit 404 is composed of a high frequency circuit unit, a coding / decoding circuit unit, a buffer memory, etc. necessary for wireless communication, and an antenna 405 is connected to the wireless communication circuit unit 404. The wireless communication circuit unit 404 performs wireless communication according to the wireless LAN protocol in the same manner as the wireless communication circuit unit 306 of the endoscope 100.

The image signal processing unit 406 converts the image data received by the wireless communication circuit unit 404 into an NTSC signal or a PAL signal, and outputs the image data to the monitor 407. The monitor 407 is composed of a liquid crystal display device and a control circuit thereof, and operates as a notification unit that displays an image and notifies the state of wireless connection.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 408 has a CH setting switch mounted on the back surface of the receiving device 200, and outputs the state and state change of the CH setting switch as an electric signal. Further, the operation unit 408 is provided with a communication setting display unit 201 (FIG. 1) that displays the communication channel selected by the CH setting switch with an LED.

Next, the operation of the receiving device 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The operator sets the communication channel with the CH setting switch of the receiving device 200, and then turns on the power of the receiving device 200. When the power of the receiving device 200 is turned on, the control unit 401 initializes each functional block of the receiving device 200 (step S501).

Subsequently, the control unit 401 stores the communication setting parameters including the communication channel setting set by the CH setting switch and the communication attribute information of the receiving device 200 in the RAM 403. Further, in the communication setting display unit 201, the LED corresponding to the set communication channel lights up (step S502). Subsequently, the control unit 401 initializes the values T and R for counting the communication terminals for each communication attribute to 0 (step S503).

Subsequently, the receiving device 200 makes a physical connection of wireless communication on the communication channel selected by the operator as follows. In the physical connection, the radio frequency and SSID used for the connection in the physical layer are determined, and the packets sent and received with the communication partner can be captured on the hardware. First, the receiving device 200 shifts to the search phase of the communication terminal (endoscope 100 or receiving device 200).

In the search of the communication terminal, the search request packet is transmitted, and the search request response packet for the search request packet is received for a predetermined period. The control unit 401 causes the wireless communication circuit unit 404 to broadcast the search request packet (step S504). Figure 8 (a) shows the contents of the search request packet. Following the header 800, SSID801, supported communication rate 802, and FCS (Frame Check Sequence) 803 are stored.

The communication terminal to which the same communication channel as that of the receiving device 200 is set receives the search request packet transmitted from the receiving device 200, and transmits the search request response packet. Figure 8 (b) shows the contents of the search request response packet. Following the header 810, SSID811, supported communication rate 812, communication attribute 813, and FCS814 are stored. The communication attribute 813 is 0 if the communication terminal that is the source of the search request response packet is the receiving device 200, and 1 if the endoscope 100. In the above physical connection, wireless communication is performed using the communication channel indicated by the communication channel setting stored in the RAM 403.

After transmitting the search request packet, the control unit 401 determines whether or not the search request response packet has been received (step S505). If the search request response packet has not been received, the process proceeds to step S509. When the search request response packet is received, the control unit 401 determines the communication attribute included in the search request response packet (step S506).

If the communication attribute indicates a receiver, the control unit 401 increments the value R by 1 (step S507). If the communication attribute indicates an endoscope, the control unit 401 increments the value T by 1 (step S508).

Subsequently, the control unit 401 determines whether or not the search request packet has been received (step S509). When the search request packet is received, the control unit 401 causes the wireless communication circuit unit 404 to broadcast the search request response packet (step S510). After this, the process returns to step S505.

If the search request packet has not been received, the control unit 401 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the search request packet was transmitted in step S504 (step S511). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S505. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 401 determines whether or not the sum of the values R and T is 0 (step S512).

If the sum of the values R and T is 0, it means that the communication terminal does not exist in the communicable range of the receiving device 200. In this case, the process returns to step S504, and the search for the communication terminal is performed again. If the sum of the values R and T is not 0, another communication terminal exists in the communicable range of the receiving device 200. In this case, the control unit 401 determines whether or not the value R is 1 or more (step S513).

When the value R is 1 or more, another receiving device 200 having the same communication channel set exists in the communicable range of the receiving device 200. In this case, the control unit 401 causes the image signal processing unit 406 to execute a process for displaying a warning, and causes the monitor 407 to output an image signal for displaying the warning. This causes a warning to be displayed on monitor 407 (step S517). FIG. 9 shows an example of a warning displayed on monitor 407 of receiver 200.

Subsequently, the control unit 401 determines whether or not the communication channel in the CH setting switch has been changed (step S518). If the communication channel has not been changed, the process of step S517 is performed again. If the communication channel is changed, the process returns to step S502 again.

On the other hand, if the value R is less than 1 (that is, 0) as a result of the determination in step S513, the control unit 401 determines whether or not the value T is greater than 1 (step S514). If the value T is greater than 1, there will be multiple endoscopes 100 with the same communication channel set. In this case, the process proceeds to step S517, and a warning is displayed on the monitor 407 of the receiving device 200.

When the value T is 1 or less, the value T is 1 because the sum of the values R and T is not 0 and the value R is 0. In this case, since only one endoscope 100 having the same communication channel set exists in the communicable range of the receiving device 200, the receiving device 200 shifts to the logical connection phase and establishes a logical connection. (Step S515).

In the logical connection, the combination of two specific communication terminals, that is, the endoscope 100 and the receiving device 200 is determined among the plurality of physically connected communication terminals. In the present embodiment, when the logical connection is completed, the destination (MAC address) to which the endoscope 100 transmits the image data is determined. In the logical connection phase, the endoscope 100 transmits a MAC address request packet containing the MAC address of the endoscope 100, and the receiving device 200 receiving the MAC address request packet is a MAC including the MAC address of the receiving device 200. By transmitting the address request response packet, the MAC address is exchanged between the endoscope 100 and the receiving device 200.

When the logical connection is completed, the receiving device 200 starts receiving the image data transmitted from the endoscope 100 (step S516). According to the above operation, a logical connection is established when there is only one endoscope 100 with the same communication channel set in the communication range of the receiving device 200, so that a wireless communication error connection is made. Can be prevented.

Next, the operation of the endoscope 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The operator sets the communication channel with the CH setting switch 103 of the endoscope 100 according to the communication channel displayed by the communication setting display unit 201 of the receiving device 200, and then turns on the power of the endoscope 100. When the power of the endoscope 100 is turned on, the control unit 301 initializes each functional block of the endoscope 100 (step S601).

Since the processing of steps S602 to S612 is the same as the processing of steps S502 to S512 of FIG. 5, the description thereof will be omitted. As a result of the determination in step S612, if the sum of the values R and T is not 0, another communication terminal exists in the communicable range of the endoscope 100. In this case , the control unit 401 determines whether or not the value T is 1 or more (step S613). If the value T is greater than or equal to 1, there are other endoscopes 100 with the same communication channel set. In this case, the control unit 301 lights or blinks the status display LED 104 in orange in order to notify the operator of the warning (step S617).

Subsequently, the control unit 301 determines whether or not the communication channel in the CH setting switch 103 has been changed (step S618). If the communication channel has not been changed, the process of step S617 is performed again. If the communication channel is changed, the process returns to step S602 again.

On the other hand, if the value T is less than 1 (that is, 0), there is no other endoscope 100 having the same communication channel set in the communicable range of the endoscope 100. In this case, the control unit 301 determines whether or not the value R is greater than 1 (step S614). If the value R is greater than 1, there will be multiple receivers 200 with the same communication channel set. In this case, the process proceeds to step S617, and the status display LED 104 notifies the operator of the warning.

When the value R is 1 or less, the value R is 1 because the sum of the values R and T is not 0 and the value T is 0. In this case, since only one receiver 200 having the same communication channel set exists in the communicable range of the endoscope 100, the endoscope 100 shifts to the logical connection phase and makes a logical connection. Execute the process to be established (step S615). When the logical connection is completed, the endoscope 100 starts transmitting image data to the receiving device 200 (step S616). According to the above operation, when only one receiving device 200 having the same communication channel set exists in the communication range of the endoscope 100, a logical connection is established, so that the wireless communication is erroneously connected. Can be prevented.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when only one communication terminal having the same communication channel setting as itself and having different communication attributes is detected in the endoscope 100 or the receiving device 200, it is logical. The connection establishment process is executed. Further, in the endoscope 100 or the receiving device 200, there is a communication terminal having the same communication channel setting and communication attribute as itself, or there are a plurality of communication terminals having the same communication channel setting as itself. When this is detected, the logical connection establishment process is stopped. This makes it possible to prevent erroneous connection of wireless communication.

Further, when the establishment process of the logical connection is canceled, the operator is notified of the information indicating the cancellation of the establishment process and the information prompting the change of the communication channel setting (step S517 in FIG. 5 and step S617 in FIG. 6). , It is possible to make the operator recognize that the endoscope 100 and the receiving device 200 are not normally wirelessly connected, and prompt the operator to change the communication channel setting.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above embodiments, and includes design changes and the like within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. ..

<figref num="1">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the endoscope apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is an external view of the endoscope according to one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the endoscope by one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="4">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the receiving apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="5">It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the receiving apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="6">It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the endoscope by one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="7">It is a reference figure which shows the content of the communication setting parameter in one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="8">It is a reference figure which shows the content of the search request packet in one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="9">It is a reference figure which shows the content of the search request response packet in one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="10">It is a reference figure for demonstrating the problem of the prior art.</figref><figref num="11">It is a reference figure for demonstrating the problem of the prior art.</figref><figref num="12">It is a reference figure for demonstrating the problem of the prior art.</figref><figref num="13">It is a reference figure for demonstrating the problem of the prior art.</figref>

Code description

100 Endoscope (wireless communication terminal), 101 Power switch, 102 Operation switch, 103 CH setting switch, 104 Status display LED (notification unit), 200 Receiver (wireless communication terminal), 201 Communication setting display unit, 301,401 Control unit, 302,402 ROM, 303,403 RAM (information holding unit), 304 Imaging unit, 305 Lighting unit, 306,404 Wireless communication circuit unit (communication unit), 307,405 Antenna, 308,408 Operation unit, 406 Communication setting display unit, 407 Monitor (notification unit)