Information processing device and program

Abstract

An information processing device and a program for easily checking the status of a wireless connection with an external device are provided. [Solution] An information processing device (10) that causes a light-emitting unit to emit light in a light-emitting pattern according to the communication status with a higher-level device and a terminal device has a communication unit capable of wireless communication with two or more external devices, a light-emitting unit, and a control unit (100), and the control unit controls the communication unit and includes a communication control unit that controls connection to a first access point provided by a first external device and connection of a second external device different from the first external device to a second access point provided by the information processing device (10), and a light-emitting control unit that controls the light-emitting pattern of the light-emitting unit based on the communication status with the first external device and the second external device.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an information processing device and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are information processing devices with wireless LAN functionality that have relay functions for mobile hotspots, tethering, etc. Such information processing devices perform wireless communication with an access point provided by a higher-level device such as a router, and by operating themselves as an access point, relay data communication between the higher-level device and a lower-level device such as a terminal device connected to the access point provided by the information processing device.

[0003] In the above-described information processing device, for example, when data communication becomes unstable, the communication status with external devices (host devices, subordinate devices) is checked. For example, a conventional technology is known for wireless communication devices that controls a light-emitting unit provided in the device to report the radio wave intensity transmitted from the access point to which the device is connected. However, when wireless communication is performed with multiple external devices, as in the above-described information processing device, it is not easy to determine which device is causing the poor communication status using conventional technology. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device and a program that can easily check the status of a wireless connection with an external device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The information processing device of the embodiment includes a communication unit capable of wireless communication with two or more external devices, a communication control unit that controls the communication unit and controls connection to a first access point provided by a first external device and connection of a second external device different from the first external device to a second access point provided by the information processing device itself, a light emitting unit, and a light emitting control unit that controls the light emitting pattern of the light emitting unit based on the communication state between the first external device and the second external device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a light emission pattern management table according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the information processing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control process performed by the information processing device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information processing device and a program will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0008] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 1 includes an information processing device 10, a higher-level device 20, and a terminal device 30.

[0009] The information processing device 10 is an example of an information processing device. The information processing device 10 has a wireless LAN function that enables wireless communication with an external device. The information processing device 10 also has a relay function (hereinafter also referred to as a mobile hotspot) such as a mobile hotspot or tethering, and can operate as a wireless LAN access point.

[0010] The information processing device 10 is realized by, for example, a server device such as an edge server, a PC (Personal Computer), an I / O box (also called a device broker), etc. The information processing device 10 can also be referred to as a child device or a guest device relative to the higher-level device 20. The information processing device 10 can also be referred to as a parent device or a host device relative to the terminal device 30.

[0011] Furthermore, the information processing device 10 controls the light emitting unit 106 (see FIG. 2) depending on the state of communication with the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30.

[0012] The higher-level device 20 is an external device located higher than the information processing device 10 in the network configuration of the information processing system 1. For example, the higher-level device 20 is a communication device such as a router connected to a network such as the Internet. The higher-level device 20 has a wireless or wired communication interface and performs wireless or wired communication with external devices. Specifically, the higher-level device 20 provides an access point for wireless communication and establishes wireless communication with a guest device that accesses the access point.

[0013] The terminal device 30 is an external device positioned below the information processing device 10 in the network configuration of the information processing system 1. The terminal device 30 is a terminal device used by a user of the information processing system 1, and has a wireless LAN function that enables wireless communication with external devices. The terminal device 30 can wirelessly communicate with the information processing device 10 by accessing an access point provided by the information processing device 10. For example, the terminal device 30 may be a portable terminal device such as a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or a notebook PC (Personal Computer).

[0014] In the information processing system 1, the information processing device 10 connects itself to an access point (hereinafter also referred to as a first access point) provided by the higher-level device 20, and operates itself as an access point (hereinafter also referred to as a second access point), thereby relaying data communication between the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30 that has accessed the access point provided by its own device. In this way, the information processing device 10 can connect the terminal device 30 to a network, such as the Internet, to which the higher-level device 20 belongs.

[0015] Next, the hardware configuration of the information processing device 10 will be described.

[0016] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing device 10 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103.

[0017] The CPU 101 is an example of a processor and controls the overall operation of the information processing device 10. The ROM 102 stores various programs. The RAM 103 is used as a working memory for expanding various data.

[0018] The control unit 100 is connected to a memory unit 104 via a bus 107 or the like. The memory unit 104 is configured with a non-volatile memory such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that retains stored information even when the power is turned off. The memory unit 104 includes a control program 121 and a light emission pattern management table 122.

[0019] The CPU 101, ROM 102, and RAM 103 are connected via a bus 107 or the like to constitute a control unit 100. The control unit 100 executes various processes as the CPU 101 operates in accordance with programs stored in the ROM 102 and a memory unit 104 (described later). The light emission pattern management table 122 will be described later.

[0020] The control unit 100 is connected to the communication unit 105 via a bus 107. The communication unit 105 is an example of a communication unit. The communication unit 105 is a communication interface that complies with a wireless LAN standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The communication unit 105 has a communication circuit such as an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit, and performs wireless communication (also referred to as wireless connection) with an external device such as a higher-level device 20 or a terminal device 30. Note that the communication unit 105 may be a communication interface that supports short-range wireless communication such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy (registered trademark)).

[0021] The light emitting unit 106 is, for example, a light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that can emit light in a plurality of colors. The number of light emitting units 106 provided in the information processing device 10 may be plural. Furthermore, when the number of light emitting units 106 is plural, it is preferable to provide two light emitting units 106, one reflecting the communication state between the device itself and the higher-level device 20 and the other reflecting the communication state between the device itself and the terminal device 30 (lower-level device). Furthermore, the light emitting unit 106 may also serve as a light emitting unit that indicates the state of the information processing device 10 (for example, power on / off state).

[0022] The light emission pattern management table 122 is a data table or database for managing the radio wave intensity, which is an indicator of the communication state between the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30, in association with the light emission pattern of the light-emitting unit 106.

[0023] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the light emission pattern management table 122 according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the light emission pattern management table 122 stores information such as light emission patterns in association with combinations of first radio wave intensities and second radio wave intensities.

[0024] The first radio wave intensity is the radio wave intensity when the information processing device 10 communicates with the first access point provided by the higher-level device 20. For example, the first radio wave intensity is expressed by an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value.

[0025] The second radio wave intensity is the radio wave intensity when the terminal device 30 (lower device) communicates with the second access point provided by the information processing device 10. For example, the second radio wave intensity is expressed by an RSSI value.

[0026] The physical quantities indicating the first and second radio wave intensities are not limited to the RSSI values. In addition, indicators other than radio wave intensities may be used as the communication status between the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30.

[0027] The light emission pattern is information indicating the light emission pattern of the light emitting unit 106. For example, the light emission pattern includes information such as the light emission color, lighting, and blinking patterns of the light emitting unit 106.

[0028] For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the first radio wave intensity is defined by a first radio wave intensity threshold THa. The second radio wave intensity is defined by a second radio wave intensity threshold THb. Here, the first radio wave intensity threshold THa and the second radio wave intensity threshold THb can be set to any value. The first radio wave intensity threshold THa and the second radio wave intensity threshold THb may be the same value or different values.

[0029] Furthermore, when the information processing device 10 and the higher-level device 20 are not connected, in other words, when the information processing device 10 is not accessing the first access point provided by the higher-level device 20, the first radio wave intensity is classified as "not connected." When the information processing device 10 and the terminal device 30 (lower-level device) are not connected, in other words, when the terminal device 30 (lower-level device) is not accessing the second access point provided by the information processing device 10, the second radio wave intensity is classified as "not connected."

[0030] 3, a light-emitting pattern is set for each combination of the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity. Here, different light-emitting patterns are set for "light-emitting pattern 1" to "light-emitting pattern 9" so that a user of the information processing system 1 can easily check the light-emitting pattern of the light-emitting unit 106. For example, different light-emitting colors may be assigned to each of the light-emitting patterns "light-emitting pattern 1" to "light-emitting pattern 9." Furthermore, among the light-emitting patterns "light-emitting pattern 1" to "light-emitting pattern 9," a blinking light-emitting pattern may be set in addition to the above-described light-emitting patterns for a light-emitting pattern in which the first radio wave intensity or the second radio wave intensity is below a threshold value, in other words, for a light-emitting pattern in which the first radio wave intensity or the second radio wave intensity is weak. In this case, the blinking cycle may be set arbitrarily.

[0031] The light emitting unit 106 emits light in a light emitting pattern according to the state of communication with the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30 under the control of the control unit 100 .

[0032] In addition, when there are multiple light-emitting units 106 (for example, when there are two light-emitting units 106, a first light-emitting unit and a second light-emitting unit), the light-emitting pattern management table 122 may set the light-emitting pattern corresponding to the first radio wave intensity as the first light-emitting pattern and the light-emitting pattern corresponding to the second radio wave intensity as the second light-emitting pattern, and may reflect the first light-emitting pattern in the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting pattern in the second light-emitting unit, respectively.

[0033] Next, a description will be given of the functional configuration of the information processing device 10. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device 10 according to the embodiment.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 100 of the information processing device 10 includes a communication control unit 1001 and a light emission control unit 1002 as functional components.

[0035] Specifically, the control unit 100 (CPU 101) of the information processing device 10 realizes the above-mentioned functional configuration by executing the control program 121 stored in the memory unit 104. Note that in this embodiment, the above-mentioned functional configuration is a software configuration realized by cooperation between the processor of the information processing device 10 and the program, but is not limited to this, and may be a hardware configuration in which part or all of the functional configuration is realized by a dedicated circuit or the like. Also, the functional configuration of the information processing device 10 is not limited to this.

[0036] The communication control unit 1001 is an example of a communication control unit, a first acquisition unit, and a second acquisition unit. The communication control unit 1001 controls communication with an external device by cooperating with the communication unit 105. Specifically, the communication control unit 1001 accesses the higher-level device 20 via the communication unit 105, thereby establishing wireless communication with the higher-level device 20.

[0037] Furthermore, when the communication control unit 1001 receives access from the terminal device 30 to the second access point, it establishes wireless communication with the terminal device 30. Then, the communication control unit 1001 relays communication between the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30.

[0038] Here, setting information related to the wireless communication between the information processing device 10 and the higher-level device 20 and the wireless communication between the information processing device 10 and the terminal device 30 may be stored in advance in the memory unit 14, or may be provided from the higher-level device 20 or the terminal device 30. Also, the setting information may be input by an operator of the information processing device 10 via an operation unit (not shown). Note that the setting information may include a band and a channel in addition to an SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​and a password of the first (second) access point.

[0039] The communication control unit 1001 also acquires radio wave intensity when the information processing device 10 communicates with an external device. Specifically, the communication control unit 1001 acquires radio wave intensity when the information processing device 10 communicates with a first access point provided by the higher-level device 20, i.e., first radio wave intensity, via the communication unit 105. The communication control unit 1001 also acquires radio wave intensity when the terminal device 30 communicates with a second access point provided by the information processing device 10, i.e., second radio wave intensity, via the communication unit 105.

[0040] Here, the timing for acquiring the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity can be set to any timing. For example, the communication control unit 1001 may acquire the first radio wave intensity and / or the second radio wave intensity at a predetermined cycle (every second). Alternatively, the communication control unit 1001 may acquire the first radio wave intensity in accordance with the timing for transmitting and receiving information with the higher-level device 20. Alternatively, the communication control unit 1001 may acquire the second radio wave intensity in accordance with the timing for transmitting and receiving information with the terminal device 30.

[0041] The light-emission control unit 1002 is an example of a light-emission control unit. The light-emission control unit 1002 controls the light-emission pattern of the light-emitting unit 106 based on the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity acquired by the communication control unit 1001. Specifically, the light-emission control unit 1002 refers to the light-emission pattern management table 122 and identifies a light-emission pattern corresponding to the combination of the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity acquired by the communication control unit 1001. Then, the light-emission control unit 1002 causes the light-emitting unit 106 to emit light based on the identified light-emission pattern.

[0042] This allows the information processing device 10 to cause the light emitting unit 106 to emit light in a light emitting pattern according to the communication status with the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30. Therefore, for example, an administrator of the information processing device 10 (information processing system 1) can easily check the status of the wireless connection with the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30 (external device).

[0043] Next, the control process performed by the information processing device 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0044] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of control processing performed by the information processing device 10 according to the embodiment. The flowchart shown in Fig. 5 shows a processing example in which the information processing device 10 acquires the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity, and controls the light emission pattern of the light-emitting unit 106 based on the acquired radio wave intensities.

[0045] First, the communication control unit 1001 accesses the host device 20 via the communication unit 105 to establish wireless communication with the host device 20. Furthermore, upon receiving access to the wireless access point from the terminal device 30, the communication control unit 1001 establishes wireless communication with the terminal device 30 (step S101).

[0046] Next, the communication control unit 1001 acquires, via the communication unit 105, the radio wave intensity when the information processing device 10 communicates with the first access point provided by the higher-level device 20, i.e., the first radio wave intensity (step S102). Next, the communication control unit 1001 acquires, via the communication unit 105, the radio wave intensity when the terminal device 30 communicates with the second access point provided by the information processing device 10, i.e., the second radio wave intensity (step S103).

[0047] Next, the light emission control unit 1002 refers to the light emission pattern management table 122 and identifies a light emission pattern corresponding to the combination of the first radio wave intensity acquired in step S102 and the second radio wave intensity acquired in step S103. Then, the light emission control unit 1002 controls the operation of the light emission unit 106 based on the identified light emission pattern (step S104). When the process of step S104 ends, the control unit 100 returns the process to step S102.

[0048] As described above, the information processing device 10 (an example of an information processing device) of this embodiment has a communication unit 105 capable of wireless communication with two or more external devices, and controls the communication unit 105 to connect to a first access point provided by the higher-level device 20 and to connect a terminal device 30, different from the higher-level device 20, to a second access point provided by the information processing device 10 itself. The information processing device 10 also has a light-emitting unit 106, and controls the light-emitting pattern of the light-emitting unit 106 based on the state of communication with the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30.

[0049] As a result, the information processing device 10 can acquire the radio wave intensity of each wireless communication with both the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30, and report the acquired radio wave intensity state using the light-emitting unit 106. Therefore, an administrator of the information processing device 10 can easily check the state of the wireless connection with an external device by looking at the light-emitting pattern of the light-emitting unit 106. For example, in the case where data communication between the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30 in the information processing device 10 becomes unstable, the administrator can easily check whether the wireless communication with either the higher-level device 20 or the terminal device 30 is the cause by looking at the light-emitting pattern of the light-emitting unit 106.

[0050] The above-described embodiment can be modified as needed by partially changing the configuration or functions of each of the above-described devices. Therefore, several modifications of the above-described embodiment will be described below as other embodiments. The following mainly focuses on differences from the above-described embodiment, and detailed descriptions of commonalities with the content already described will be omitted. The modifications described below may be implemented individually or in appropriate combination.

[0051] (Variation 1) In the above-described embodiment, the information processing device 10 is configured to perform wireless communication with the higher-level device 20, but this is not limiting and the information processing device 10 may be configured to perform wired communication with the higher-level device 20. In this case, the information processing device 10 includes a wired communication unit (not shown). The wired communication unit preferably has a connector for wired connection that complies with a general-purpose standard such as USB, and is connectable to an external device (e.g., the higher-level device 20) via a cable or the like. Furthermore, the wired communication unit preferably has a connector that complies with a wired LAN standard, and is connectable to an external device (e.g., the higher-level device 20) via a LAN cable.

[0052] In this case, when the information processing device 10 and the higher-level device 20 are connected by wire via the wired communication unit, the communication control unit 1001 establishes a wired connection with the higher-level device 20. Then, the communication control unit 1001 relays communication between the higher-level device 20 and the terminal device 30.

[0053] When the information processing device 10 and the higher-level device 20 perform wired communication, the communication control unit 1001 may identify the light emission pattern in the light emission pattern management table 122 by regarding the first radio wave intensity as a value equal to or greater than the first radio wave intensity threshold THa. In this case, the communication control unit 1001 may identify the light emission pattern by referring to a light emission pattern management table in which different light emission patterns are set in the same data format as the light emission pattern management table 122. This makes it possible to achieve the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment.

[0054] The programs executed by the information processing device 10 of the embodiment and the modified examples may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Also, the programs executed by the information processing device 10 of the embodiment and the modified examples may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0055] The programs executed by each device in the above-described embodiments are provided in a state where they are pre-installed in a ROM, a storage unit, etc. The programs executed by each device in the above-described embodiments may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disk (DVD).

[0056] These novel embodiments and their modifications may be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, changes, and combinations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the inventions, and are also included in the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1. Information Processing Systems 10. Information processing equipment 20 Upper device 30 Terminal Equipment 1001 Communication control unit 1002 Light emission control unit [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0058] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6181605

Claims

1. a communication unit capable of wirelessly communicating with two or more external devices; a communication control unit that controls the communication unit and controls a connection to a first access point provided by a first external device and a connection of a second external device different from the first external device to a second access point provided by the device itself; A light-emitting portion; a light emission control unit that controls a light emission pattern of the light emitting unit based on a communication state with the first external device and the second external device; An information processing device comprising:

2. a first acquisition unit that acquires a first radio wave intensity when communication with the first external device is performed via the communication unit; a second acquisition unit that acquires second radio wave intensity when communication with the second external device is performed via the communication unit; Further provided with the light emission control unit controls a light emission pattern of the light emitting unit based on the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the light emission control unit controls the light emission pattern of the light emission unit using the light emission pattern corresponding to the combination of the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity acquired by the acquisition unit, based on setting information in which a combination of the first radio wave intensity and the second radio wave intensity is associated with the light emission pattern of the light emission unit corresponding to the combination. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. the first acquisition unit acquires the first radio wave intensity every time communication is performed with the first external device; the second acquisition unit acquires the second radio wave intensity every time communication is performed with the second external device; The information processing device according to claim 2 .

5. the light-emitting unit includes a first light-emitting unit that indicates a communication state with the first external device and a second light-emitting unit that indicates a communication state with the second external device; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. A computer of an information processing device including a communication unit capable of wirelessly communicating with two or more external devices and a light emitting unit, a communication control function that controls the communication unit and controls a connection to a first access point provided by a first external device and a connection of a second external device different from the first external device to a second access point provided by the device itself; a light emission control function that controls a light emission pattern of the light emitting unit based on a communication state with the first external device and the second external device; A program to achieve this.

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